Chapter 107: Gray roads 2

Around the camp were tents. But still, there were cages made with iron around the tent. Shackled enemies can be found in these cages. Injured and battered they are worst than a stray dog that rolled itself in the mud. Their complexions are pale and their ears have been cut.

Oswin sees the men of the camp. Some were making use of the whetstone wheel to sharpen their swords. Some were oiling their swords, greasing them with blade oil specifically use to injure the elves. The elves have a bad allergic reaction to certain toxins. These toxins are from poisons brewed together. The ingredient of the poison is sulfuric acid and amber herb mixed with nightingale buds.

The camp was busy. Oswin made rounds walking around to help out. Only until he found a lone man-at-arms that he decided to approach and hail.

“Good, man.”

The man-at-arms turned around. He wore a kettle helmet, along with a breastplate, mittens and on his back there was a shield hung along with a longsword. He was rugged and the dagger on his waist, strapped with a belt tied with two loops.

“What do you need?”

The man-at-arms said. He could see Oswin’s outfit and if he wasn’t informed. He would have thought of him as a new soldier, a greenhorn in the battlefield.

“Nothing, is there anything I can help with?”

“Well, the silver sword bearer offering his help. My good sir, are you familiar with torturing the elves? We lack more men to teach those who we caught.”

Oswin jerked his shoulder. He answered.

“No, I rather not torture at the moment. The lady, Sena Saclea ordered me something. Hunting strays or any beast should do me. Know anyone or anyplace that might need me?”

The man-at-arms looked at the sky in thought.

“Aye, there should be that elder wearing studded boiled leather armor near the outskirts of the gate. Heard his hunter for the camp of Greyfur’s, and I heard they had trouble after a dire bear mauled their lord commander.

Oswin frowned,

“The lord commander of the Greyfur’s got mauled?”

The man-at-arms nodded his head.

“Aye, he was taking a leak in one of the bushes but got himself ambushed by the bear. The hunter outside thinks that the bear is a familiar or some sort—controlled by an elven tamer”

“I see. Thank you for the help good man.” he nodded at the man-at-arms.

“It is nothing. Excuse me Sir but I have to ready the gallows again.”

“Going to hang or burn the elves again?”

“Yes,”

The man-at-arms left curtly. Oswin taps his feet on the ground and then trailed out of the camp in order to left the hunter that the man-at-arms said. While walking he sees the wooden walls made of lumber, sharpened. Walking past the wooden walls he sees the pikes around the vicinity. The pikes had elves impaled and decapitated heads were displayed.

He squeezes his eyes. He took a breath. His eyes wandered for a while before keeping his head straight. The sight of the decapitated heads with maggots rotting on them made for a vile sight. If there is anything Oswin hates more than leeches. It would be maggots.

He continued walking, searching for the hunter.

...

A place filled with gray dirt. Around were loose arrows stab on the ground. In the center of the place, there is a man wearing leather armor, gripping his crossbow, looking around for anything that might appear in the area. He was cautious.

Oswin ambled on the place. He saw the hunter sitting on the stump and said.

“Hail good man.”

The hunter turned, his beady eyes spying Oswin from head to toe.

“Greetings,” he said, “Silversword and a bandolier strapped across his body. Sir Oswin.”

“You know my name?” said Oswin perplexed

“Yes, no one could miss a good hunter and slayer. You’re a figure among us magic-less. Slaying the dire and the beast without magic is amazing Sir.”

“Not really that impressive. Anyone can do it if they just prepare and try.”

“Aye, changing the subject, why are you here Sir?”

“A man-at-arms directed me to you. Said that you might need help in killing a dire bear?”

He widens his eyes, gapes his mouth open and then nodded his chin high.

“That is true. I am indeed looking for the dire bear. You see Sir the dire bear has been mauling our soldiers. Even the lord commander of us Greyfur’s fell victim. It was noon when it happened and ever since that accident I have been stuck watching the woods.”

Oswin looked around him.

“Indeed you are, but why sit on the lump when you can approach the forest?”

The man stepped back.

“It is risky to go the forest right now Sir. The elves could be pointing their bows, lurking in the shadows as they observe what’s happening in the camp. And I am sure they won’t be nice to us when we put their people in spikes and burn them in pyres.

“True.” Oswin crossed his arms. “It would indeed suicidal to go to the forest right now. But will the dire bear came about here?”

“Who knows? I am hoping it will so that I can take a shot of it, Sir. But orders are orders. Captain ordered me to stay and I will stay. I would love to take a shot on the dire bear but with things are. I just can only wait and pray for the dire bear to get out in the open.”

Oswin made a wistful expression.

“Maybe I can search around the area.”

The man reacted.

“That would be bad Sir. It would be outright killing yourself if you do that.”

“True, but letting that dire bear roaming around would be troublesome. Say, have you seen an inscription on the side of the bear?”

He nodded his head.

“Yes, sir,” he said. “There were people who saw inscriptions on the beer.”

“Mhm, looks like a familiar indeed. Thank you for the time, good man.”

“No problem.”

The hunter then watches Oswin leave, his arms crossed and his crossbow in his embrace.

...

Sena woke up drenched in sweat, she could hear the hammers banging outside. There was also the wind flapping the banners loudly. It was usual in the elven forests to have winds like these. She pressed herself up from her table. Her head a bit spinning but the vertigo of hers was gone at least. She felt parched on the throat. There was a leather tumbler near her desk so she picked it up and drank the wine.

She had been used serving her own self at times like this. Without any maids or lavish things in her side, she learned to be self-sufficient. Not that she was inefficient but because she was just used to. Or at least she made herself that way. She stood up, looked around and grabbed her sword. Astra never leaves her side. She tumbled around the office. It smelled wooden and of either blood or parcels. The office was built two months ago when they captured the gray roads. They needed a proper place so they built the building and now it is the only decent thing in the gray roads.

Sena doesn’t stay much in this place. She’s usually in battlefields, Killing elves and monsters for her duties. She doesn’t hate it. She never was fond of offices anyway. She preferred staying under the sun where her body is energized. Paperwork is important but she rather fights it out in the battlefield. She was a warrior and cramped offices or customary visits don’t suit her. It was funny actually. The first time she met the princess was at the time there was a ball on the palace in the capital. She was bored out of her wits. Noblemen were flirting with her and to escape she prowled in the balcony only to find the red-haired princess who reeked of charisma. The princess was charming and in no time she befriended Sena.

It was the start of the friendship and the start of ideas. They then bonded when they were in the capital and before long formed the new order. Sena approved of the Princess and like everyone else. She would like the Princess to be the Queen of the Kingdom of Altria other than the Prince’s who does nothing but battle with words in the capital.

Sena leans in a furniture. She weaved a sight. She thought of someone. The friend of hers still hasn’t visited her. She wondered what happened to her. Sena felt tired. She could not help but go back near her table. Pressing her back in the armchair, she looked up at the ceiling. The lamps inside the office flickered. The sun’s rays were entering through a gap. It would soon be afternoon and before long it will be the night. When it comes to the night the elves should be fighting again.

Battles and blood, Sena has seen a lot. The image of the thousand sword graves remains in her heart. She survived that day and along the lines, it changed her. Zealous and rage, that overtook her. But yet as time passes, and as her hands gets thick with blood. Sena felt that there was something changing. She had a bloodlust once but was quelled.

But now she was feeling something else. She felt depressed.