Chapter 14 - The Blood Kin's of Oss

Everything turns to a nightmare the moment the arrow pierced the Golden Robed man. Right now we are surrounded by a total of thirty bandits, fifteen on the ground watching us with swords and fifteen on the branches of the tree pointing their bow and arrows towards us. Right now the only thing I can is to keep Ava from running towards the Golden robed man. Though I know that she really wants to help the poor man. After all, she possesses the Helper's Hand, the power given to her to give a helping hand towards those who are in need. But now all she can do is to grit her teeth and watched helplessly as the man bleed to death.

Though, I do want to help the man, the bows and arrows pointed at us keeps me from trying. Though I do have my glock 22 on my boot. Against this much arrow there is no way I can win and I would be full of holes before I can even hit anyone. I am not a brave man, I may have experienced things like this, but every one of those scenarios were born of me trying to survive. Moving now would put in danger and I can risk that. I can't be a brave hero who charges towards danger just because I have the blessing of the Wanderer's Hand?

No, that would be committing suicide in the spot! Think about it, thirty bandits who manage to infiltrate a city without any problems and have possessed two wyverns. You can rightfully guess that these bandits aren't small time and professionals who have done this before. Who would have the balls to do something like this without any profit? The only thing that you can assume at this rate is that someone must really want that sap for themselves and have paid big dough just for it.

The Bandits in front of us didn't talk and only focused on doing their jobs. The Sinister man who offed the two bulky men was currently instructing the men who was riding along with the wyverns to attach the cauldron towards the two wyverns along with the barrels of sap. The Wyvern's were quite big and have bulky muscles that seems able to crush a building with a dive. But even with their size, the wyvern was not able to do any damage towards the tree and seems to live up to its reputation of being harden by the World Tree.

Anyway, as i said there is nothing i can do. Me and Ava can only keep silent and observe the situation helplessly.

''This is terrible...'' Ava muttered

''I know, but we don't have that much of a choice right now other than listen to them''

''..........''

''Listen, though i understand that you really wanted to help...But right now we don't have the freedom to that. If we move forcefully right now we are gonna get skewered by arrows and be hacked to pieces with their swords. If we move now there is also chance that we would anger the bandits''

''........''

"Please, don't act rashly...This is for the sake of everyone''

''I understand, I'll calm down.''' as Ava took a deep breath.

After seeing her trying to calm herself down, I sighed inwardly and observed the surroundings. Though they are bandits they should not hurt anyone who follows their instructions. After all these bandits were rather gentle towards the mothers carrying their babies. And treated the young kids and elders gently without being to harsh while they treat the young men and women neutrally.

But since I am too paranoid to trust them just for this overly polite attitude towards the hostages. I channeled Wanderer's hand energy towards my ears and with that I was able to hear more clearly and then listen to their conversation.

''Hurry up, we need to finish gathering these things and secure these barrels'' said the Sinister man.

''Yes boss!' replied the two grunts that are working on the cauldron attachments

''Tsk, what a bunch of slowpokes, we need to hurry before the guards come here or even worse the Valkyries would notice our deed and we would be chased by those troublesome savages.'' as the Sinister murmur by himself.

Hearing the comment about the Valkyries, it seems that this man didn't like the Valkyries. Though they seem to be having trouble with the slow pace of his grunts..

I then started observing the Sinister man as make complaints about the work place. Then after a long time when the work seems done a shout is heard that almost deafen me .

''We will not kill the witnesses do you understand that !?''the sinister man shouted in rage.

''Oh, but the master has told us that this deal shall be quiet and clean? Are you breaking your contract?'' as the thin man spoke towards the Sinister man.

''Our contract only told us that we will steal the saps of the tree and leave cleanly. It didn't said anything about killing.'' as the man glared at the thin man.

''Hohohoho, you Blood Kin's of Oss and your petty sense of not being able to let go of the past''

Sliced! as a blade quickly amputated the thin man's arm

''How dare you insult us! Do you wish for death? We The Blood Kin's of Oss doesn't let anyone trample us! Though we are prideful and willful in what you call ''sense'' we will not stood as low as those savage valkyries who will murder the innocents due to an order of a stupid tree!'' as the man glared with a bloodshot eyes!

The grinning thin man's expression of arrogance quickly vanished when his arm was cut off.

''You filthy bandits! How dare you slice my arm! Don't you know that i am the Representative of the master?! You shall not be paid! What do you say for yourself!

''I Krauss Wolfmoon doesn't fear a dead man walking!'' as the Sinister man named Krauss loop the head of the thin man in anger.

''Like his last name , he seems to be as proud as a Wolf'' as I thought while urging himself not to vomit from the disgusting scene that just happen. Though there were times that i have seen corpses during my few years as a photographer, especially dead mountain climbers eaten by carnivores. Seeing a man being beheaded is something disgusting and vomit inducing...

I then force back my vomit in order not to make a mess in here. Though there were people who were scared, they seems to a bit used to death. Was it because is it normal in their daily lives to deal with death? Or is it just that i born from a world full of laws is just not used to this? No...who would be used to such violence?

Then as i was convincing myself to stay calm , sounds of multiple footsteps were heard in the distance as every bandits started emitting a blood thirsty aura.