The guild’s door shut tightly as we all entered, the innkeeper acted quickly with two other members and tightly barricaded the doors with a wooden plank, firmly fitting it into the hinges on the sides. The windows were all shut tightly in the same manner, the violent storm was still picking up its pace, growing louder and fiercer by the minute. We really had cut it too close. The five of us were dripping wet, soaking the floor boards as I tilted the chest my prisoner was in and emptied the water again. I had to do it a couple of times to keep him from drowning in there.

The sounds of coughing and gurgling coming from the trunk afforded me some very strange looks. There were a lot of people inside, their eyes firmly planted on either Monty or the trunk. Someone recognized him, “What the hell did you do to Monty?!” A skinny man shouted in disbelief, staring at the man wrapped up in his own sleeping bag and draped over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I glared at the creepy looking man suspiciously, “Oh? Are you a friend of his? Shall I include you in the interrogation this little traitor is up for?” My words seemed to cause tension as the innkeeper wiped the rain from his face and stared with a frown, “What are you talking about?”

Snorting, I wrung the rain out of my hair, “These three are my prisoners. Monty got his own team killed and captured, collaborating with this dude,” I say and kick the chest, “to kidnap and turn people into slaves for profit. Their base was at the old fort, it was no bandit camp.” Seeing everyone kept their silence in shock, I grinned and pulled the mage by the hair, “This bitch is a member of the Mage Association who was forging slave contracts. I will get to the bottom of this because they were obviously being supported by someone very influential from Harlheim.” I hinted with a grin and tossed her to the floor.

Thalia rushed to catch the woman who was crying and begging for mercy at this point. She was far to terrified of me to spin the story or deny my claims. The innkeeper’s eyes widened in realization as he gritted his teeth, “What can you do to prove your claims?” He asked, his expression showing he didn’t want to believe it. Snarling in annoyance at him, I saw a few members stand up and slowly reach for their weapons.

Clary walked up and crossed her arms with a snort, “We’re witnesses. Gorin, we’ve been through hell and back, we don’t need your scrutiny right now. Monty had led us into a damn ambush and disappeared once the attackers showed up. Atko found him jerking off in the enemy tent like a goddamned moron! Xavil was the one behind this whole thing! How long do you think he’s been feeding us with the wrong information and working with the enemy? How many moles has he planted? And all that right under your fucking nose! The smooth running of this guild branch is a part of your damn responsibility so you better shut up, give us a room and lock these bastards into the holding cells!” Clary shouted at the top of her lungs, clearly too exhausted and pissed off to care anymore. A pin-drop silence was in the tavern as she panted. Lifting a brow at her outburst, I couldn’t help but think it was kind of hot. It’s been a while since I had some fun in bed. Throwing her hands in the air in exasperation, she stormed off upstairs, “I’m wet, cold and tired! So piss off and stop being an idiot!” she shouted in passing.

Chuckling, I glanced at Gorin who was gaping in her direction, “You heard the lady, chop, chop.” I said in humor, no longer caring at the tense guild members giving me the snake eyes. Feeling the little worm wiggle in my grip, I glanced at Gorin, “Where are those holding cells she mentioned? I’m in no mood to deal with these people right now, they can wait. The storm will be lasting for a while anyway, most likely even a day or two. I’m gonna need a healer so the one in the trunk doesn’t die on me.” I said casually, wanting to take a warm bath and rest before anything else. Dragging that cart through the damn storm was no joke, I was exhausted from all the shit that happened today.

Letting his shoulders fall in defeat, he sighed, “Yeah, sure. Just to the left and downstairs.” Glad we got the problem out of the way, I took the woman from Thalia and draped her over my other shoulder. Getting a disapproving glare from her, she turned and left. I guess the cupcake was done speaking to me. Lucky. Chuckling at the nickname that really seemed to suit her, I enjoyed her reaction as I shouted after her, “Have a nice night cupcake!” Seeing her halt and clench her fists, she ignored me and left.

As I walked with the two meatbags over my shoulders and dragged the trunk with my tail, I saw Ha’Luk and Mortier rush over. Ha’Luk was frowning at my treatment of the female meatbag but didn’t object after hearing what she’d been doing, “You’ve been busy. Got those alchemy supplies you were looking for?”

Groaning, I rolled my eyes, “Don’t even mention that, they wanted to rip me off so bad I almost lost it. Anyway, I got these three to settle before taking a rest. Does the guild have a bathhouse?” I ask hopefully. Mortier was crouching next to the trunk, grinning as he knocked on the lid. The man inside shouted for help and whimpered in pain. The demon looked at me with lifted brows, “The hell’d you do to him?”

I grinned back at him, “I made him fit inside.” Standing up he laughed while slapping his knees, “I like your style, Atko. The baths are in the adjacent building, they’re connected with the door on the right. We also had a pretty busy day so we were about to hit the hay. I’ll see you in the morning, you gotta tell me the whole story over a drink sometime.” Mortier glanced at Ha’Luk questioningly, receiving an answer, “Nah, I’ll keep reading for a while, you go ahead.”

The two went back to their business as I continued downstairs, the trunk violently trundling down and shaking with each step, eliciting shouts of pain from the cunt inside. Growling, I was annoyed as I stopped, “Shut your mouth or I’ll toss you the rest of the way down!”

Seeing the chest grew quiet, I reached the simple holding cells. Chaining the woman to the wall, I tossed Monty on the ground, making him grunt. His eyes were wide in fear and confusion, obviously not having any idea what happened. Grinning down at him, I took away his sleeping bag and cut the ropes. He hurriedly removed his gag and grabbed for his pants, finally pulling them up from his ankles while shouting, “Who are you?! What did you do?!”

Narrowing my eyes, I gave no explanation as I grabbed his wrists and chained him to the wall like the woman. He tossed around, trying to fight me but couldn’t do much. His eyes fell on the trunk, widening in recognition and gaping in terror as he saw blood pool in the corners. Lifting a brow, I unlocked it and checked if the mole was alive. Seeing the broken man was barely keeping his eyes open, his skin deathly pale, he kept shivering while blood dripped from his wounds and lips. Hauling him out, I set his bones back into place, making him scream.

I didn’t bother chaining him up as I glanced at the approaching healer they sent, “Heal him enough to guarantee his survival but don’t go too far. Leave them nice and weak. They’re not worth the effort anyway.” Looking at the trio of broken people, the healer furrowed his brow but nodded. I stayed there, leaning on the opposite cell door as he did his job. The bleeding stopped on Xavil. Seeing he was no longer at death’s door, I nodded and grunted, “That’s enough, thanks.”

Standing up, the mage avoided me in big loop as he rushed out of the holding block. Walking over, I scanned Monty with my mana to check if he had the fuel to do anything. Sensing the crippled organ in his chest, I had no worries there. Patting them all down, I found a spatial ring on Xavil’s finger and a sack containing a few coins on the mage. She traveled lightly it would seem. Prodding the ring I clearly sensed was enchanted, I frowned when I couldn’t get through it. Figuring I’d deal with it tomorrow, I shut the cell and locked it while taking the key with me. As I walked to the bar, I felt the exhaustion weigh heavily on my shoulders. Seeing Gorin was tending to the members, I took a seat, “Do you have any Fireale?” I asked, in the mood to get some warmth under my skin before the bath. He cleared his throat and set a bottle on the counter, “It’s the only bottle I have so you’ll have to make due with only a little. It was a gift from one of the members.”

Pouring me a small shot, I nodded and downed the glass. Fire spread through my chilled body, making me sigh in some relief, “How much?” I ask as I stand up. At that moment, I realized my things were left hidden inside the trunk of a tree. Growling in frustration, I could only hope it would still be there and not get washed away by the downpour. All I had were the clothes on my back, my spear and spatial storage. Luckily, I’d left the more important things in Kala’s carry sack.

Looking at me for a second, the innkeeper shook his head, “I can tell you’ve had a long day. It’s on the house.” I gave him a nod in thanks and left to get my things. Heading to the stables, I saw they were a bit wet inside but otherwise well protected. Kala was squeezed in the corner, sleeping in the warm hay. Walking over lightly, I saw her lift her head groggily. Crouching next to her, I calmed her back down and took my sack. Opening it, I saw it had one set of spare clothes inside and the books. My map was most likely ruined by now but hopefully, my cloak would survive the onslaught. Sighing, at least I left these here.

Bidding Kala a good night, I went directly to the baths. Walking in, I was greeted by thick steam in the changing room. Finding an empty locker, I took off my soaked clothes and wrung them out. Leaving them on the floor, I put my things inside the locker and took a dry towel on the shelf. I stopped in my tracks once I saw there were three doors. Confused for a second, I quickly realized this guild made separate sections for men, women and most likely mixed baths. Shrugging, I went into the mixed bath and saw it was empty. It was already late and many people were in beds by now, the horde of people that were out earlier all but gone. I had the bath all to myself. Washing off the mud and blood that still clung to me despite the curtain of rain first, I entered the steaming pool of water.

I felt the light soreness of my muscles wither away as I sighed. I felt relaxed and tired, closing my eyes while I leaned on the edge. My wounds had healed long ago, not even leaving a scar. Though the baths were separated, there was a gap near the ceiling allowing for steam to pass from the sections. I heard muffled chatter from the female section. Listening in, I recognized Thalia’s and Clary’s voices.

“Do you think what he said was true?” Thalia asked with some hesitation in her voice.

It was silent for a second, only the sound of water dripping could be heard. Clary gave a tired sigh, “I don’t know but, to be honest, I think it’s very likely. I’ve seen those beggars do horrible things to one another. They would do anything to survive...” she said, immediate regret clear in her gasp, “Thalia! Don’t cry, it wasn’t your fault! You were trying to help.” The water splashed around a bit as small sobs could be heard.

Lifting a brow at the drama next door, I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I knew I got into her head, but for it to have been that easy? While I was on the subject, I finally had time to contemplate on the events that had happened in the dungeon. Those whispers, the feeling of heavy pressure on my mind. I finally recognized it, it was the same heavy feeling I got in the dark void I came from. Though I had no sensation back then, the words that had echoed in my mind back in the dungeon brought back the memory of that encounter with a sudden vertigo. Shutting my eyes, I groaned at the headache. The thing that brought me back, it said the Virtuous shall fall, that I was one of the Damned. What the hell it meant was lost on me. The whole thing was foggy. I was unable to remember the details, just the heavy weight on my entire being.

Glancing at the female section wall, I couldn’t help but have a nagging sensation Thalia knew far more than me. Her behavior showed it clearly. That little preach she gave on the cart as well as the odd looks she’s been giving me. The first time we saw each other, she probably felt it too. Frowning, I narrowed my eyes. We were all stuck here for at least two or three days. I would make sure to get some answers in this time. Grimacing as I recalled the terms of my deal with Evergreen, I knew I couldn’t touch her. Physically I was literally unable to harm her or I’d risk death for breaking the bargain.

Cursing, I slapped the surface of the water in frustration. I was going to have to get what I needed in a different way. Maybe Clary knew something? Thalia seemed to be very forthcoming with her. I was too mentally fucked right now for this shit. Rubbing my face, I heard a gasp near the wall, “Atko? Is that you?” Clary asked hesitantly.

Massaging the side of my head, I sighed, “Yeah.” I heard the patter of bare feet as someone left the bath. The door to the mixed section opened as I glanced back in surprise. Seeing Clary was totally naked, I let my eyes wander as I spoke, “Won’t the elf be mad you left her?” I say with amusement. Shaking her head, she gave a sad smile and got in next to me, “She left a while ago. The stress finally got to her.” she said while thoughtfully staring at the ceiling as she floated, “She might seem like a bit of a prude, but don’t hold it against her. Her heart is in the right place. I’m just scared that good nature will get her killed one day.”

I shrugged, “It always does.” Seeing the glare she gave me, I knew my words weren’t appreciated. Chuckling, I stared down at her blatantly, “What? I’m not lying. There’s a saying you know, no good deed goes unpunished. What does it matter if she tries to save the world one act of kindness at a time when all that it will accomplish is more harm than good? I can tell she’s hard stuck on her little fantasies but you and I both know, the true nature of man.” I said in a moment of inspiration, feeling silly afterwards. It wasn’t like me to talk so much about useless things, the fatigue must really be getting to me. Waving my hand, I chuckled, “Never mind.”

She was staring at me, her eyes searching my face for an unknown answer. Smiling lightly, she swam over and settled on my lap, surprising me with the clear confidence, “Yeah, you’re right. There is no such thing as justice, only pain.” she muttered with distant eyes, lost in thought. I was too busy staring at her breasts to acknowledge the odd mood. It really has been a while. Maybe I could switch this melancholy with some good ol’ fashioned lust.

Feeling my body react to my thoughts and the bare female in front of me, I reached behind her neck and pulled her down. A small gasp of surprise escaped her lips, her face flushing as she accepted the kiss. Pulling back slightly, she narrowed her eyes but smiled, “Eager are we?” Lifting a brow, I smirked and grabbed her ass, giving it a squeeze as my hands wandered lower, distracting her from the tedious topic of conversation. Playing with her clit lightly, I saw her eyes close with a soft moan. Since she was on top of me, her breasts were free game as my face pressed into the soft bundles.

We were both too tired to show more enthusiasm as our lips once again connected, our movements slow and lazy. Removing my hand, I guided her lower and entered her with practiced ease. Water splashed around while muffled moans sounded in the empty bathhouse. I moved her up and down slowly, lightly biting her neck before licking the red flesh. Her hands held on to my forearms, accepting my lead while moving her hips in anticipation.

I felt her folds twitch around me. Too tired to focus on prolonging this, I found my own release with a groan. Staying connected like that, she rested on my chest, panting in satisfaction. My body was totally relaxed at this point, the pleasure of the act erasing the tension that had still lingered until now. Playing with her tail absentmindedly, I nudged her but realized she was fast asleep. Chuckling, I stood up and got out of the pool with her. Pulling out, I walked to the showers and washed off the evidence from between her thighs. Holding her up, I lightly shook her, “Wake up.”

Grumbling, she lifted her head and pouted but stood on her feet. Grinning down at her, I took my towel to dry, “I believe you need a bed and you need it now.” I muttered with some humor. Getting a nod of agreement from her, she returned the gesture and yawned, “You seemed to need it as well.” Making small talk, we dressed and left the bathhouse. The tavern was all but empty, only a couple of people sat at the tables and the innkeeper was leaning on the bar, clear drowsiness in his eyes. Walking over, I felt much better than before and cleared my throat, “So, you got a free room?”

Seeing it was me again, he took out his ledger and checked, “It would appear we’re all full, however, you can have Monty’s room since he’s no longer a member of the guild.” he said simply and poured himself a glass of spirit, “Its 50 silver per night, not including breakfast. With breakfast, its 60 and if you want lunch as well, it’ll be a whole gold coin. Don’t worry, I had the place cleaned a while ago.” Not even looking at me, he stated the prices. I took out a gold and a half, tilting my head briefly as I handed it over, “You sure work fast. How come the prices are normal? I thought the taxes would have bled this place dry first.” I ask as he hands me the key.

He gave a grin and gulped down his drink, “Heh, though the Earl might be swinging his dick around a bit much lately, he couldn’t put a dent on our budget. Inside these walls, the noble has no say in the matter. Outside though? He makes sure our lives are as difficult as they can be. Bastard.”

Giving a nod, I saw Clary had already left a minute ago. Walking up, I found my room and unlocked it. It was relatively simple. A bed, cupboard and a trunk. A small table in the corner with a single chair. Seeing the cupboard was left opened, I saw a bunch of things that must have belonged to Monty. As much as I would have liked to dig around his stuff, it could wait until morning. Lying on my side, I felt the soft bed hug me comfortably. I fell asleep to the sound of thunder and lightning.

Earl Ashbrun POV

I smashed my fist against the desk, furiously staring towards the barred windows. I was supposed to get the damn girl by the end of the day yet this bloody storm came, delaying my shipment. That bastard Xavil had better deliver on his promise or I will destroy him. His usefulness will most definitely soon expire and once it does, I will crush him along with everyone else connected to that guild. They come to my territory and act like they own the place.

Xavil might think he’s indispensable to me, however I remember very well his previous deeds. That bastard ruined many of my prime sources of income in his glory days. Snorting, I grabbed my quill and began filling out the necessary forms those slaves will all need. How ironic, just because of an old wound, the man turned into a true turncoat. Recalling how he came to me, asking for help, I grinned with narrow eyes. He was so blinded and overcome by the coin, that greed of his growing splendidly over the years whittled down his meager conscience.

Though he still retains some usefulness and has done a fine job running my slave trade, one should never trust a traitor. Soon, it will be time to replace him. Tapping my finger in thought, I was startled by the loud roar of thunder outside. They had better have gotten out of there in time. My mood souring at the thought of losing all my merchandise made me accidentally spill my ink.

Cursing, I shouted for a servant as I stood from the desk. One of my many slaves showed up and quickly began cleaning the mess. Sudden rush of footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. Seeing two of my guards appear in the doorway, out of breath, I couldn’t help but frown, “What is this? I thought I said not to leave your posts?” Glaring at them in displeasure, I saw they were distressed.

“We sincerely apologize, my Lord! An hour ago, one of the guards found a man sneaking through the hidden entrance into the city. He claims he’s under Xavil’s direct command and has news of the camp.” one of them said hurriedly, bowing his head submissively.

Furrowing my brow, I gritted my teeth, “What the hell is he doing here during a storm! They should have been long gone by now.” Heading to the guards, I stared at them coldly, “Bring him here.”

Bowing deeply, they went to do as I commanded. Sending the slave away, I sat back down at my desk and tossed the ruined papers into the fireplace. Watching it burn, my patience worn thin, I finally heard the guards approach again. Knocking on the door, I turned around and fixed my posture, “Enter.”

The two guards brought another man with them. I scowled at his unsightly appearance. The bastard was drenching my carpet, mud and other garbage stuck on his face and clothes. He was deathly pale and coughing, the shivering making his drenched clothes drip even faster. Dark bags were under his eyes and clear terror frozen on his expression. I stood up in rage, “What the hell are you doing dirtying my study!?”

Flinching away, I nearly lost it when I saw him get down on his hands and knees, the mud splattering everywhere, “My Lord! The camp was attacked! Everyone is dead!” He began sobbing as he knocked his head against my expensive carpet, “Lord, forgive me for my appearance! I- I was the only one who managed to get away from that monster! H-he slaughtered everyone!”

Narrowing my eyes, I gestured to the two guards to get him of my damn carpet and restrain him, “Where are Xavil and my merchandise?” I asked with clear severity. Seeing the man was too out of it, incoherently blubbering about, I shouted again, “WHERE ARE THEY?!” Noticing my signal, the guard on his left punched him in the gut. Drool and blood spilled from his lips as he coughed, realizing his life was very much at stake in this moment.

Stuttering, he looked at me in fear, “I don’t know. I- I didn’t see him or the slaves, I just ran as fast as my legs could carry me!” He finally mustered out, making me grit my teeth in fury. The guard slapped him hard across the face, getting the hint. Gone. Everything was ruined. Those slaves were my final shipment before finally taking total control over the Harlheim territory. The nobles were handled, ready to act. Only the final funds were needed and they were gone! All my plans took a huge drawback with this, my goal of gaining control of Terra Silva was in shambles without that elf.

“Who did it?” I ask with a calm voice, keeping my posture and appearance as they should always be, confident and mighty. The man spit out a tooth, before glancing up in tears, “I don’t know! He was fast, inhuman and so strong he tore them in half! A demon with emerald eyes!”

My eyes widening in shock, I recalled one such demon who arrived to my city just this morning. I forgot his name but his alias was the Ripper. Keeping my fury under the surface, I knew I should have dealt with him as soon as the guards told me he showed up. The humiliation I received from that bastard was unforgivable. Fuming inwardly at the incompetence of the city guards who were unable to locate him in time, I directed my rage at the man in front of me. Glancing at the two restraining him, I gave a glare, “Toss him in the dungeons and let him rot there. I have no need for cowards.”

The man’s screams for mercy slowly became more and more distant until I could no longer hear the offensive sounds. Staring at my soiled carpet, I shouted for the slave again, “Take this filthy rug and burn it!” With a nod, the slave obediently rolled up the thing and carried it away. Glaring at the small spot that showed some of the water had soaked through, I kicked the chair away in anger. It shattered against the bookcase, making some fall out.

This was without a doubt Evergreen’s ploy. How he got wind that I got my hands on his niece was beyond me, I had made sure to keep everything well hidden. Glaring at the flames, I knew now there were traitors in my midst and once I found them, there will be hell to pay.