Lillianna

“I hope it doesn’t rain before I get to town”

I say to myself as I look up at the dawn sky. The dirt road I was standing on ran through a forest and lead north towards unknown lands. The forest itself wasn’t particularly dense but it had enough vegetation that if I needed too, with the low light of the cloud covered dawn, I could easily disappear into the greenery and no one would be the wiser.

I had arrived in Thayet, the continent I was now on, only a few weeks ago and had decided to head north to explore the uncharted lands. Exploring and finding new peoples was one of the few things in life I still found exciting apart from combat. New food to eat, new alcoholic drinks to consume and different cultures to investigate and understand, all these things brought joy into an otherwise long and boring life. New alcoholic drinks were always the highlights of my travels, you can always get a feel for a new culture by the drinks they consume, especially the women.

Having left the previous town three days ago I had not seen a single person or caravan on the road which I considered quite odd. The information I got from an inn keep at the town I had just left, informed me that this road was one of the few well-travelled roads that lead north and was safer than most roads in this area. While Fraul, the kingdom I was currently in, had few bandits and slavers, it was not unheard of for travellers to be attacked near the edge of its borders, where I was headed.

*Maybe this is the off season for travel in this land or I got swindled by that inn keep?*

From what I had read about Thayet before my arrival, the climate of this continent got milder as you went north. While the west of the continent was more tropical with lush jungles and swamps. The south and east, which is where I had first arrived, was considerably colder throughout the year with snow fall during most of winter. Having made my way north to warmer weather I had hoped to run into more travellers, but that did not seem to be the case.

Not wanting to waste time on pointless speculation, I tie my long white hair into a ponytail and continue making my way down the road. As the climate was getting milder as I went north, I was only wearing light clothing, even with the warmer weather the rain in this region was bitterly cold and prolonged exposer was something I wanted to avoid. I was wearing my normal traveling attire which consisted of: a black hoodless cloak that went down to my ankles, a long sleeved white cotton shirt, grey rugged cotton travel pants and a pair of leather sandals. I also had a backpack full of provisions as well as books and trinkets to trade. The nearest town would be within view soon so I quicken my pace hoping to avoid the rain.

~Master, danger ahead~

A voice in my head whispers. The area I was traveling had quite a few hills and I was just reaching the peak of one such hill.

“Thank you Nat”

Upon reaching the top of the hill I can see some figures far of in the distance marching in a column. Two out front are on horseback and about two dozen on foot, with another small group trailing behind.

“Nat, lend me your eyes”

~Of course, Master~

Upon hearing those words, a golden hawk lands on my shoulders, its eyes peering off at the approaching mass of people. My eyes turn from their usual violet into that of a hawk’s, with my now golden eyes I look at the slowly approaching group of people. With my enhanced vision, I can clearly see that the two men on horses have an dog insignia on their pauldrons while wearing full plate armour. Their armour looks battle worn with noticeable scratches and dents giving off an aura of veterans.

The men behind them on foot are wearing leather armour and some are carrying spears while others have swords. They appears to be soldiers of Fraul, judging by their marching posture and attire. The group trailing them consist of women, men and children who are in chains and wearing clothing common for farmers and villagers in this region.

“Slavers maybe? Thanks Nat, that is all for now”

The golden hawk extends its wings and departs back into the sky, circling overhead. A small smile forms on my face as my eyes return to normal and I continue my fast pace march towards the approaching group.

*I hope they are slavers but they appear too well organised for simple slavers.*

It’s been too long since I last ran into slavers and after walking for three days without coming across anyone I was beginning to get bored. As I approach the group, one of the men on horseback rides out in front of the others towards me. While still being out of earshot I whisper to my traveling companions.

“Wait for my command and remain hidden”

~Yes Master~ voices whisper in my mind.

The approaching man looks to be in his early thirties having a clean-shaven appearance and a pale complexion with short blonde hair that is almost long enough to reach his eyes. I notice that he has a shield on his back that is shaped like a kite while having a sword on this hip.

“Halt, who are you and what are you doing on this road?!”

*Why was this idiot screaming, I am only a few steps away from him.*

Looking up at the man with a smiling face I answer.

“I am merely a traveling scholar who goes by the name Lillianna. Currently I am peddling my wares and knowledge for money”

I pull out a few trinkets and books from my backpack and show the man, before putting them away again.

“You look more like a whore than a scholar!”

*What about my attire makes me look like a whore? If this how a whores dress in this kingdom I wouldn’t find them very alluring.*

“I do not wish for any trouble I simply wish to be on my way”

“Listen here bitch, I am a knight of Count Ramuse and he is the Count of the land you stand upon. Until I am done with you, you will do as you are told!”

*This idiot is still shouting.*

“You will follow me back to my men and we will try out some of your “wares” to make sure you are telling the truth”

*At least the idiot isn’t yelling anymore.*

“As you wish my lord”

I follow the foolish knight back to his group. As I trailed him I decided that any further talking would be a waste of time and even if they weren’t slavers they needed to die. If only for the fact that this knight had called me a whore as an insult.

Upon reaching my destination I take a look at the prisoners at the back of the group. They were bloody, bruised and had no hope in their eyes, most were just looking at the ground beneath them. This was a sight I had seen many times in my travels and one which never failed to ignite my rage. I had seen enough, this little troupe of brutes was about to meet its bloody and in my mind, necessary end. With that thought I gave a silent command to my traveling companions to begin their happy slaughter.

As if hit by a massive hammer the two knights on horseback were thrown off their horses, their chest plates crushed and dented by an unseen force. The bodies of the knights hit the dirt road and limply roll while their companions on foot watch silently in shock.

“At arms, defensive formation!” one of the foot soldiers roars.

The soldiers burst into life and arrange themselves in to a circular formation with spears on the outside aiming forward while those with swords are at the centre. All the while the horses of the now limp knights run off down the road in terror. Looking around in panic and shock the soldiers try to see where the attacks came from but no enemies come into their view. CRUNCH one of the spearman’s has his head crushed into his neck from above with the sounds of breaking bone ringing out around him. The next soldier to meet his untimely demise has his arms and legs ripped off as if he was being quartered in a public execution. All the while the remaining men search for their unseen aggressors.

Screams ring out as the slaughter continues, some are disembowelled, some are ripped to pieces while others find their limbs rotting and their skin bubbling with cysts and puss. A few of the soldiers try to run but quickly find that they are no long able to escape as they have their legs crushed by an unseen force, giving of a sickening crunching and squishing sound. One solider at the centre of the now quickly dissolving formation even drops to his knees to start praying to whatever god he believes in. That particular solider met his end by having his own hands shoved into his mouth and being forced to rip off his own jaw from his face, he then quietly gargled and twitched on the ground as he waited for death. As the carnage continued, the figure of a lone woman watched on with a sinister smile on her face.

Lillianna

I looked at the remnants of the recent carnage and thought the sight was quite pleasant. These fools earned my ire and I felt no remorse or sadness, instead I felt satisfied with a job well done. I then issue a silent command.

~Clean up the mess please, not a spec of blood is to be left~

~As you wish Master~ a voice whispers in my head.

I watch as the blood and gore is quickly enveloped by a shadow that radiates out from my cloak. The remains of the men sink into black nothingness, not a spec of blood or a piece of bone is left in view, only their weapons remain. With the clean-up done the shadow retracts to my clock and resumes its unassuming guise. I then turn my attention towards the captives, who are looking at me in terror with most of them kneeling on the ground begging for their lives.

*I guess this is to be expected after what they had just seen, if I was in their position I would probably do the same.*

Walking over to the captives non-threateningly as possible, I stop a few paces away from them holding a smile on face, trying to ease their fears.

*I suppose someone smiling after what just happened might be taken the wrong way, oh well.*

Now that I am closer to them I take a close look at the group to make sure none of them have life threatening injuries. Apart from a few bloody faces and bruises I can’t see anything that would require my immediate attention. They all look like people from Fraul, with fair complexions and light coloured hair and eyes.

“Please I mean you no harm” I say in a calming and soothing voice.

“Are any of you hurt and require healing?”

The captives are still begging and crying for their lives in front of me.

*They are still scared off me, better try explaining things.*

“Do you people know what a mage is?” I ask calmly.

A few shift nods and muffled grunts to show that they understand my question.

*Well that’s a good start, I hate talking to people who don’t know about mages. They always think I’m some kind of demon or evil spirit come to eat their child.*

“I am a mage and those men tried to harm me, so I used magic to defend myself. Do you understand?”

More nods but this time clear words of acknowledgement can also be heard.

*Good, now we are getting somewhere.*

“I am sorry you had to see that display of carnage but they left me no other choice. So please don’t be afraid I mean you know harm”

“Thank you” a man in front of me quietly says, while wiping tears from his eyes.

“It was no trouble, I am just glad that none of you seem to be seriously injured. But having said that I can see all of you are in bad shape, let me use my healing magic to fix you up” I say in a cheerful manner.

“But we have nothing to pay you with my Lady” a skinny and beaten woman says.

*I guess she thinks I’m some kind of traveling healer.*

“Not to worry, I will not charge you money for this service”

“Please my Lady please don’t take our children!” one woman begs.

*Huh… why would I want the children as payment? Wait, do they think I’m some kind of witch and want their children to eat as payment?*

I made a mental note to think more carefully about how I speak to people after showing them some of my power.

“I am sorry, I did not mean for you to take my words in such a manner. I simply meant that my services are given freely. I will not harm your children or any of you, please be at ease”

*I hope that calms them down.*

“Oh thank you my Lady”

“But first let me gets these restraints off you”

~Cormon break these chains~

~Of course Master~

The chains binding the prisoners shatter one by one and fall to the ground, while the now freed prisoners gawk in amazement.

“Now please, everyone sit on the ground while I heal your injures. This won’t take long”

~Nin please heal these people for me~

~Of course Master, always happy to help~ A cheerful voice answers in my mind.

I slowly go from one person to the next touching their foreheads with the palm of my left hand quickly healing their injuries. Looking at their faces I see that some show fear while others show tears of joy and relief. All the while I hear a happy humming in my mind.

“Now that’s done and everyone is feeling a lot better, I will be on my way” I say with a pleasant smile on my face.

*I guess I’ll have to go around the village. What a pain*

As I turn away to leave I hear cries of admonishment and pleas for help from the now freed villagers.

Lillianna

“Please my Lady you have to help us, my children are still in the village, it is not so much as a stone’s throw away. We were attacked by the Count’s men and forced into chains. We do not know why they would do such a thing” a crying man pleads while kneeling and grabbing onto my cloak.

I turn around to gaze back at the crowd.

“We will pay you whatever you want, our village of Riverbrook isn’t a wealthy one, but we will give you all that we have” one of the crying women begs while crawling over to grab onto my hands, looking at me with desperate eyes.

“I am sorry but this is not a matter of payment. What you are asking me to do is no simple task”

“If you don’t save us, our whole village will be enslaved” the man holding my cloak replies.

“Enslavement is better than curtain death. You told me these are the Count’s men, what do you think will happen if I kill them? They will just send a punitive force and in all likelihood they will kill everyone in retaliation”

*Not that I care about this Count Ramuse*

“You would have us enslaved over helping us!” one of the men in the crowd barks.

*Easy for you to say, when you won’t be the one doing the fighting.*

“My words may seem cruel but that is the reality. I have seen such events in the past and this will only lead to your deaths” I reply calmly.

“Will you do nothing while our lives and families are destroyed? Please, we would rather die trying to save our families and village than accept a life of slavery, I know everyone in the village feels the same way”

*You know what everyone feels huh?*

“You are free to die trying, I will not stop you. You can even use the weapons of the men I killed, I have no need of them”

I hear more crying and moaning as I once again slowly turn away.

”We do not stand a chance against so many men, please my Lady you must help us” The man still holding onto my cloak says.

*Best to let this go and continue on. Just keep walking.*

“PLEASE… with your aid my Lady we could save our village” The woman holding my hands cries as she tries to stop me from walking away.

“And how many soldiers are currently in your village?”

*Why am I even asking… just walk away*

“Maybe a hundred soldiers and a dozen knights” a crying woman replies.

“I may be able to deal with a hundred or so men, but do you expect me to defend your village when they send a larger group in retaliation?”

“Ah...but…please…you are our only hope” the woman holding my hands stutters, tears streaming from her face.

“Is there nothing that we can do that will have you lend us your aid my Lady?”

*Arghhh why am I even considering helping these people more. This will only end badly for me…DAMN IT, I’m going to regret this decision.*

“Be careful what you wish for... know that once I accept your request and proceed with carrying it out, there will be no going back. Are you sure this is what you wish?”

I hear a chorus of agreements and thanks from the villagers in front on me.

“And you are sure you don’t know why you were attacked? I do not think the Count would just attack one of his own villages in jest”

“Maybe the elders know, but they are still being held in the village”

*The elders probably pissed of the Count and now the people have to pay*

“Very well, I will make haste to your village and evict the forces of Count Ramuse. You will be of little help in the upcoming battle so wait at a safe distance from the village until my work is done. Also look after my belonging and don’t touch anything in the bag”

Dropping my backpack at the feet of a weeping woman, I dash off towards the village.

*I already regret my decision…*