“By my name, thank you for your assistance in this matter. To think, that under my watch, slavers had passed by the town.” The knightly fellow placed a hand onto his face and then shook his head. “I shall no longer allow such negligence under my watch.” The knight knelt down in front of the trio, right before they were about to head off.

“Aya… Don’t worry about it so much.” Tiger yawned and rubbed his eyes. He cracked the muscled in his shoulders and stretched out his neck.

The knight then stood with his head bowed in shame.

“Just don’t let it happen again.” Tiger shrugged and then raised his hand and waved. “See you around, knightly sir.”

He turned on his heel and walked off. The knight seemed to have something important to say to them, so they all had gathered when he came in the morning. For something like this, something the knight couldn’t really control, Tiger couldn’t really fault him. Running a town was important, and having slavers completely bypass you isn’t something you’d be able to know unless you had a supreme level of vigilance, or if you were trained to be that aware.

Wolf and Tak followed as the knight watched them leave his town.

“Not great at dealing with them sorts… Do you think he was at fault?” Tiger asked Wolf, rubbing his scruffy chin. He needed to buy a razer soon, but he wondered what he would look like with a beard. The thought continued for some time until Wolf broke the silence.

“No.”

Tiger raised his brows in response. “Really? You don’t think so.”

Wolf nodded. “He’s too… earnest.”

“I just thought he was a weirdo.”

“Yes.”

Tiger chuckled in response, flashing another toothy grin.

The open plains were freeing. The grass was long, and the road longer. In the distance figures were sprinkled along the horizon. The trotting of the horse behind them broke the silence. Tiger and Wolf were both jogging rather than running like they normally were. Wolf was sniffing the air, trying to find the scent of ki from Dragon, Tiger was doing the same but less obviously so.

Tiger was looking around for any signs of scuffles. However, as they were travelling, they heard the sounds of hooves behind them. They turned to see three riders heading towards them. One was the large, statue like knight, and the others were donned in a similar attire, above the rank of guards no doubt. They were probably knights in some regard too.

Tak gripped her spear tight, though Tiger and Wolf remained relaxed. Tiger trusted Wolf’s instincts, if he wasn’t reacting, then he didn’t need to be so bothered by the riders either.

Eventually they slowed down to reveal a couple of figures riding behind the two other knights. They were the slaves that had been freed yesterday.

“Apologies for slowing you on your travels, though this couple had a need to speak with you.” The knight trotted off to the side. The other knights rode a little closer and turned.

The man and woman were clutching at the knights tight, their knuckles white.

They fumbled their words for a few moments. The man managed to find his words first.

“’Scuse me, sirs and lady.” He bowed his head to Tak and then turned back to the pair of men. “We’s jus’ wondering if ye know anything about this man.”

“Aye.” The woman spoke up then, still clutching the knight, though less in fear and more enamoured by a big strong man in armour. “We saw a man just like ya.”

“Just like us?” Tiger cocked his head to one side. “What did he look like.”

“He was hurt and scary lookin’. He fought just like ya. He was about ya height. His hair went down to his shoulders and he had a scruffy beard, not too big though.”

“Sounds like Dragon to me.” Tiger nodded. “Where did you see him?”

“Aye, we saw him in the other caravan.”

“The other caravan?”

“Aye, he was tied up to it.”

Tiger and Wolf exchanged a look.

“Thank you for the information.” Tiger said, letting out a small sigh.

Wolf handed over a gold coin to the man and woman. The knights refused another gold coin.

For once Tiger was in thought.

‘Dragon… a slave?’

A small smile crept onto his face.

‘I’d love to see that.’

He began to laugh abruptly. “That’s hilarious!” He kept roaring with laughter.

Wolf spoke in his stead. “Where did you last see him?”

“We were by tha’ hill over yonder, near the lake.” The woman replied.

Wolf bowed his head and thanked them. They turned and rode off as Wolf waited for Tiger to stop laughing.

“Dragon… a slave! A slave they said!” Tiger slapped his knee.

“It may not be Dragon.”

“Who else is dark and broody like that?!”

“There are man-”

“It’s Dragon.”

Wolf nodded.

“Let’s go!” Tiger kept roaring as he turned.

Wolf turned to Tak. “Do you know where this lake is?”

Tak thought for a moment. She nodded. Then she began to ride away, presumably towards it.

“A slave! Haha!”