The path north

In the morning, you endure some good natured teasing, especially from Maya. “Moving quickly these days, my Josh? You’ve only known Ruka a short time and you’ve already seduced her!”

You chuckle. “I remember a certain dragon girl who wasn’t even able to make it through the house tour before jumping me!”

Maya grins. “Yes, but I’m special! Besides, at that point you were as pent up as I was. I was just a poor innocent virgin, you mean man!”

Anna giggles. “You don’t get to pull that card, Miss Maya. I was there, watching, remember? I saw you leap into master’s arms!”

You laugh, remembering catching a glimpse of Anna spying on you and Maya. How far things had come in only a little over a year.

You and the girls spend the morning saying goodbye to Elys and Kallista, and get back on the road. Knowing what you’re walking into fills you with trepidation. What happens if Trevor dies? He has no heir, who takes over? Where is Halid? He will certainly want more **** than what has happened already.

You sigh. One thing at a time, you need to get there first. And the way things were going, you were due for an interruption.

The first couple days went smoothly, and before long everyone was finding their rhythm on the road. Even Ruka, who was definitely less comfortable away from the forest, was chatting with the other girls like they had been friends for years.

You pass the border, and with a quick stop with the orcs to update Ky Dura, you move on. She is disappointed that you don’t have time for another duel session, but you promise to return once there’s no longer a crisis. She does warn you that there are bands of marauders out between her village and the capital, but takes a look at Uzume and laughs, telling you not to worry about them.

You continue to head north, only a few days out from the capital now. After the warning and your own suspicions, you’re unsurprised when a group of about ten men block the road in front of you.

You look at them as they approach. “Gentlemen, if this is what I suspect it is, you’re making a VERY large mistake.”

As you speak, Uzume stands behind you grinning, with Maya on one side of you and Anna on the other. Maya flexes her claws in her shining gauntlets, while Anna rolls a ball of frost in her fingers. You raise an eyebrow at the men.

The biggest of them grins at you. “Oh, it’s more than just us here. We’ve been waiting for you specifically. Well, SHE has.”

He steps aside and a demonic woman stands before you, petting some kind of hell hound.

She looks at you disdainfully. “Not impressed, I see. Little Khadi was not a good first impression. And I see you there, Kali. Your new look suits you. Soft, and weak.”

Kali steps up beside you, bristling. “Samara. You brought some pets, I see.”

Samara grins. “More than that.” She waves a hand, and a pair of the mage-killing demons you saw when you met Uzume step forward from a shimmering doorway. Several more men creep from hiding beside the road as well.

You draw your blade and summon your armor. “Well, let’s get this over with. I have places to be.”

Samara chuckles. “So impatient. You’re lucky you’re handsome. I might leave you alive to play with later.”

You growl. “Uzume, the reavers are yours. Clarissa, help Uzume. Kali, Anna, you’re with me. The rest of you can handle the humans.”

Samara sighs, and a long black sword appears in her hand, dripping with some kind of fluid. “So impatient. Fine, let’s begin, little mage.”