Sorry for late release, my hands were full of different things...

NightinWolf's fan-fiction recommendation... Red Eyes

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Chapter 63 – Should I?

I ate steak and mashed potatoes with great fulfillment. Enjoying my lunch to the fullest, I finished glass of wine, payed for my meal and exited restaurant.

Myrim did not have potential to be a great city as Mehn or a hub city as it was almost on north-west border of kingdom. In my view, only possible way for its expansion was to invite scientists from different regions to build a school for further research and development of new products and tools to be sold to households and guilds. I talked to Krayon about my thoughts and he told me about his plans about future of Myrim, which inspired me in a positive manner. It was good to know about existence of people who were using their brains and assets to help out humanity, not just their pockets.

Day after the next day, we met young Aslan outside Myrim. Krayon pretended as owner of sheep and cattle. We rode horses for twenty minutes before we reached place where herd was kept. There were few more experienced shephards who came with my young self to inspect some of the animals that were chosen for their health. Inspection ended quickly and we got our payment. We left them back to Myrim.

We were talking about local economy of Mehn, when an arrowhit Krayon’s horse. Front legs of his horse bended down and Krayon fall of it. He was lucky because we were riding our horses slowly and after he fall off he didn’t hurt himself badly. Few scratches. I bended my body and grabbed my horse’s head as another arrow passed by me.

Checking out surroundings my eyes detected mercenaries back from restaurant walking in fast pace towards us.

[Me]: You alright?

[Krayon]: Who are they?

[Me]: I’ll tell you later, now do not stand up… Lay down as you are!

I took out Ulfberht. He was still in a dagger form. Few more arrows were thrown at me so I changed my location to defect them and to keep Krayon away from being hurt more. I do not know why, but I could not sense any fear in my opponents. I think they were thinking that I was really old because of my appearance and overcoming on of their mates was a fluke.

I played into their hands. I did not go full out instead made it to appear so that as if I was having hard time avoiding arrows. They began to close distance in between us faster. It’s bad when hunter and prey change their places. It was wrong of them to follow their emotions and attack me again. I did not attack when distance was far thinking some of them could attack Krayon and keep him hostage so I played around a bit more.

Pressing my right foot onto ground I took of with a speed of lightening. I have to applaud my first opponent as he was holding his sword with his both hands after moment of my disappearance from initial location. It took a few seconds for me to reach him. I slashed Ulfberht at his sword and it cut it into two. I used my left foot to step and used my right one to smash onto his right knee. His leg bended backwards, cracking into two. I did not waste another second and moved to second one. As I was taking my second step first foe began to scream horribly. We were away from Krayon far enough so I did not worry about him. Second one attacked me, though I assume he did know exact trajectory, which I was coming at him. Bending down I passed under his sword and unsheathed Ulfberht. He turned back to attack again but this time I grabbed his right arm and overforced him to fall down. I did not let go of his arm, moreover I put my foot on joint that brought together his shoulder and arm. Pulling his arm towards myself I dislocated his shoulder. There were 7 of them left. I could see horror in their eyes and faces.

[Me]: I can continue the slaughter… Or you guys can take your comrades and never ever come back to Myrim again.

I waited for mercenaries to overcome shock of being beaten.

[Me]: I take your silence as YES! Now, scream!

I turned back and walked towards Krayon. He was no warrior or mage. Good man though not one with wits.

[Krayon]: Who…Who…are they?

[Me]: Nobody… Lost lambs… hahaa

[Krayon]: You are good, Bartholomew.

[Me]: Thanks. Get up… We will walk to Myrim.

At dawn I left Myrim to Mehn in a balloon ship. As always, I did best thing what I did while travelling in a balloon ship – sleep.

Jamelia and her son were running my business in my stead very well and my absence was not felt. Ricat informed me about new intelligence information that I missed during my trip. Halim’s eyes were shut to realities as he was sitting on throne and thinking he holded absolute power. Corrupted to the core, he was not a fit person to rule the kingdom that is why a new king had to emerge. Gorn’s attack would be a good chance and excellent situation to bring new balance of power into kingdom.

I did have 2 more years until full out attack by Gorn so pretty much I was bored as life was meaningless to me because I was hiding myself and did not want to make a name and get myself known throughout the kingdom as Bartholomew. Keeping myself behind the curtains was hard but not impossible. “The Guard” was an example to it.

Sitting outside at backyard of bakery, I was under mulberry tree. Daydreaming about everything that had happened to me in last 12 years of my life, I came back to reality, as a gentle hand tapped on my shoulder.

[Jamelia]: Hows life?

[Me]: Boring…

[Jamelia]: You know, I have never seen somebody who is as old as you and with lots of energy to waste…

[Me]: Because most of us die at 25 and are buried at 75… Life is to live.

[Jamelia]: You are adventurous.

[Me]: Maybe…

[Jamelia]: Have you been on the other side of Kasp?

She caught my attention… I turned my face to look at her.

[Jamelia]: Why don’t you go to Land of Tats.

[Me]: Should I?

Next: Chapter 64 - Fate