Chapter 46: Five Vs One Part 1

Jacob: “You sure you’ll be okay, I don’t mind taken you the rest of the way?”

Nathan: “No, I’m good.”

Jacob: “But-”

Nathan put his hand up.

Nathan: “Look at your cart, your horse, your livelihood. This all happened because of me.

Jacob’s wagon wasn’t in the best of shape, after his horse went crazy. Most of his produce was smashed or on the road.

Nathan: “They wanted to slow you down, before you got to Loegrey, they were suspicious of you.

Nathan: “Your carriage is the only thing headed this direction, big enough to hide a person. If they do a more thorough search, probably with magic, they would find me and you might lose more than just your wagon.”

Nathan reached in his sack and pulled out four more coin. He tossed them to Jacob.

Jacob: “What, I’m not taking this, I didn’t even earn the first pay.”

Nathan: “Keep it, its payment for these.”

Nathan showed him the smashed pieces of fruit and vegetables, he had picked up.

Nathan: “If I gave you more than necessary again, just think of it as wagon repair.”

Jacob: “You are something else, you know that?”

Jacob stuck out his hand toward Nathan.

Jacob: “I’ll see you in Loegrey.”

Nathan smiled and shook his hand.

Nathan: “Of course you will.”

Jacob grabbed the rein, Given them a tug, the cart slowly pulled away.

Jacob: “The Fork is about a mile up, make sure to take the right path, the left leads to Borice.”

Nathan: “Yeah.”

Jacob waved Nathan as his cart pulled away. Nathan watched as the wagon slowly disappeared up ahead and then he started to make his way down the road as well. He wanted the cart to be out of sight completely, just in case Beatrice showed up. If they saw the wagon so close, to be honest, they didn’t seem like the type to harass the elderly, but Nathan wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

*Poof*

Anais: “Walking sucks.”

Nathan: “Said the one riding on my shoulder.”

Iris: “That was an awful thing that happened to that man. Master, I will deal with them when they arrive.”

Nathan: “You aren’t doing anything.”

Iris: “I beg your pardon.”

Nathan: “Iris, did you forget the whole battery thing or were you just not listening.”

Iris: “Regardless, I will not sit aside and watch you two fight.”

Nathan: “I don’t expect you to, but with your crazy power, if you did anything, don’t you think it would draw attention. How many of those guards did we ride passed. However, there is one thing, but only when we start fighting and not before.”

Iris: “What is it?”

_

_

_

Shane: “Shit, shit, shit.”

Shane continued screaming profanity, as they all hurried down the road. They searched this road back and forth, there was no sign of Nathan. They didn’t believe he would go off trail, he might have jumped out of the woods, but he didn’t seem too eager to go back in.

Shane: “I knew I should have bust in their yesterday, he couldn’t have gotten such a hid start, Dammit.”

Elsie grip put her head down, she felt like everything was her fault, and Shane wasn’t making her feel any better. She was stuck in a separate state of mind, on one hand she didn’t want to find him, if he’d stayed away then they wouldn’t have to do what needed to be done. On the other hand, Nathan was essential to finish their deal, if they don’t deliver, it could harm their credibility. Credibility, is without a doubt, the most important in their line of work, without it, no trust, no work, no income.

Tin Man: “If he didn’t go off the trail, then it can only be that old man.”

Elsie: “But I didn’t feel any other signatures and Cerin, didn’t find anything, when he search the wagon.

Tin Man: “There are ways to hide a mana signature and we all know, there are some things a merchant would rather not have out in the open.”

Shane: “Then, it was wise to laced that apple, his horse should have collapsed by now. We should see him soon.”

Beatrice: “…………….You know I don’t think we need that old man at all.”

Not far up the road, Nathan was making his way down the track, casually walking along.

Beatrice: “Elise call out to her, on the off chance she doesn’t know what we want, just try to get her to come with us.”

Shane: “And if she doesn’t come?”

Beatrice: “Then we have no other choice.”

Elise swallowed hard, this was it she was going to fight, she had made up her my to do so. She checked herself then called out.

Elise: “Hey, Nathan.”

Nathan turned around and gave an innocent smile. He waved back to them and the carriage slowly pulled up.

Nathan: “Hey, you guys heading this way.”

Nathan looked over their faces, the sheer relief in their eyes from finding him, made their intentions all too clear. However, Nathan decided to play dumb, there was no danger just yet.

Nathan: “I should have figure you were coming this way, it is the only road.”

Elise: “If you were planning to leave, you should have said something.”

Nathan: “Sorry about that, it was a spur of the moment thing, you were all gone, I just didn’t have any real reason to stay in Ream.”

Elise: “Where did you plan on going?”

Nathan: “To Loegrey, I ask around town and they say I could find a library there.”

Elise: “A library?”

Nathan: “I need to catch up on a lot and what better placed then there?”

Elise: “Well, then how about Borice instead?”

Nathan: “Borice?”

Elise: “Its where we’re heading, if you need a library, they have one as well.”

This was it, Nathan had already figured that they were going to Borice. If what Jacob said was true, going there would be bad news.

Over in the carriage, Beatrice and everyone stood ready, weapons in hand, but out of sight. Nathan had taken down a swarm of monsters, with the greatest of ease. They didn’t know the full extent of his Legacy, but from what they saw, they were in for a fight. They only had one night to plan, but from what they can tell, Nathan “Legacy” was plant based. They ready every fire based spell or weapon in their arsenal. If Elise couldn’t get him back into the carriage, they would have no other choice.

Nathan Threat Detection went off immediately, it would come to a fight if he refused Elise offer. Nathan glanced down to Anais who nodded her head, then he looked over to Iris signaling her to let him and Anais to handle things. She reluctantly stood down, but par their agreement, the moment she believe they were in trouble she would intervene.

Elise: “We could give you a ride, it’s much better then walking, right?”

Nathan: “Nah, that’s okay, I already have might sight set on Loegrey, besides, you all have things to deal with, no reason for me to be getting in the way.”

Elsie: “That’s no problem, we don’t mind at all.”

Nathan: “No, no, no, you guys get back to your job, you don’t need me around. And like I said before I’m not interested in joining, no amount of times going to change this.”

Nathan stuck his hand out to Elise, she seemed disheartened, but that was a given.

Nathan: “So this is good-bye for now.”

Elise grabbed Nathan’s hand and shook. Nathan waved to everyone else and continued on his way. It didn’t take him even ten steps, before he leapt out of the way of several arrows, embedding itself into the ground.

Shane fired several more shots, each easily dodged by Nathan.

Nathan: “Hey, if you need me alive, you’re sure doing a lousy job of showing it.”

Shane: “That little bitch, so you did know the entire time.”

Nathan: “You were trying too hard to hard to keep me with you, even after I refuse to join you, who wouldn’t find that suspicious?”

Beatrice: “Will make note of that for next time, but now, you will have to come with us.”

Nathan: “Sorry, but, I rather not be sold off, because you can’t keep a deal together.”

Beatrice: “I wasn’t asking.”

Elise moved over to her sister, she also ready herself for a fight. Nathan and her eyes met, for a moment she looked hesitant, but a quick shake of the head and she was resolute once again. Elise began to chant while Beatrice charged Nathan. Nathan pulled out his sword and met Beatrice blade. She was strong, her blade heavy against his, but he stood his ground.

Their swords clashed as Beatrice try to end it fairly quickly, she was surprised to see Nathan matching her blow from blow.

Beatrice: “I didn’t think you would be this good.”

Nathan: “Yeah, me either.”

*swish*Cling*

Cerin, eye widened in surprise, as did Beatrice. She believed she had successfully drew his attention, but he was still able to avoid Cerin’s sneak attack.

Nathan: “Are you sure you guys aren’t trying to kill me?”

Beatrice: “You can heal yourself afterwards.”

*Cling**Clang**Cling**Cling*

Nathan simultaneously clashed with Beatrice and Cerin, his quick movements along with Beatrice’s head on swordsmanship, made for a deadly combo. If not for his reflexes, he was sure he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this, however, this was enough. Nathan leaped away, as his Snyare plants shot from the ground and ensnared Beatrice. The plants went for Cerin as well, but he avoided them seamlessly. Cerin pulled out several knives that glowed red, simultaneously, throwing at Nathan and Beatrice.

Nathan knocked the knives away, but looking at his blade, the area where the knives struck were giving of heat.

Nathan: “Fire daggers?”

The knives hurled at Beatrice burned away th vines holding her, she landed back on the ground. Nathan wasted no time, several of his Uzy popped out the ground. All their hearts jumped a bit when they saw the flower spring up. These were the flowers they had seen that morning after the monster attack. Most of their plan last night was about defending agaist this and they could think of only one way.

Beatrice: “Tin Man!”

Tin Man: “Right.”

Tin Man began to give off a green aura, that slowly encircled Beatrice and Cerin. Nathan wasted no time, his plants let loose a volley of bullets.

*RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA*

With speed and accuracy, they found their targets, but something was wrong. The bullets were heading, but no one seemed phased by the unslaught.

Nathan: “What the-”

Before Nathan could figure out what was going on, the volley of bullets stopped. Nathan turned to find his plants had been burned down. Arrows, covered and fire had taken them out, Shane staring down at Nathan with a smirk.

Shane: “What else you got?”

Nathan: “Well those two plants were pretty much it for attacking. Oh, but don’t worry I got plenty more.”

Several more Snyare and Uzy sprung up, a lot more than last time. Nathan wasted no time and letting loose, even with their counter measures, they still needed to enact them. With all of them distracted Nathan took off for his real target. Elise had been sitting idly for a while, that didn’t bode well. Closing the distance, Nathan sheath his sword and swung the sheathe blade at her. However, they had planned for that.

Nathan: “Sorry about this Elise.”

Elise: “So am I, Flame Burst!”

Nathan’s Threat Detection, activated mid swing, but it was too late. A blast of fire, erupted around Elise sending Nathan flying. Smashing into the ground Nathan quickly got to his feet and checked himself, it wasn’t a lot, but it did some damage. He had several burns, which he quickly took care of and looked of Elise confused. He was sure he hadn’t heard her reciting any spell, how did she do that?

Elise: “So it was true, you were watching us.”

Nathan: “What?”

Elise: “We were unsure how much you knew, but we assumed everything, even, the fact that you watched us fight that night. It was just too much of a coincidence that you showed up when you did, you know. You saw me reciting the spell and presumed I hadn’t prepared. Truth is, I prepared beforehand. A Delayed Spell.”

Nathan: “You can save your spells and used them later? I know we’re fighting, but that’s pretty cool. You really got me there, I’m impressed.”

Elise became flustered and went slightly red in the face.”

Elise: “O-oh well it was nothing, it just something I’ve been working on. I can only use it once for right now.”

Nathan: “Wow, really…………..good to know.”

Nathan rushed to attack her again, catching her off guard. He quickly toppled her, Elise screaming as she was tossed to the ground. Grabbing her staff, he attempted to break it, she seemed to depend on it to cast spells.

Elise: "NO, PLEASE!!"

*Fwssh*

Nathan jumped out the way, as sevral arrows whizzed by. However thes arrows changed direction and began chase. Nathan swatted them down, but they didn't stop them the readjusted and continued chase. Nathan was waiting for them to get close, then he could cu them down.

Nathan: "Huh, whoa, whoa, whoa!?"

Elise staff, attempted to yank it self from his grasp. Nathan tried to hold on, but with the arrows coming he had no choice but to let it go. Nathan chopped down the arrows and looked around the battle field. The plants he had left, had all been burned down and the group reunited, relatively unscathed. They had taking some damaged, it look like whatever Tin Man had done, wore off mid fight. Elises staff was back in her hands, she somehow called out to it back to her, which Nathan thought was cool.This was becoming a burden, with all the fire based attacks, his plants were getting the business. It didn’t matter how many he grew, if they keep getting burned down.

Nathan was amazed how well they were fighting together, with a plan they put together in one night. Every move was so fluent, you believed they were one in body and mind. Rather it was Beatrice swordplay, Cerin’s assassin like strike Shane’s archery, Tin Man’s defense or Elise’s magic, the team was well put together. None of their attacks, hindered the others.

While Nathan was busy being amazed about them they were being shocked by him. While clashing blades with Beatrice and Cerin simultaneously, he was accurately dodging or knocking away every arrow Shane fired. In addition, the Flame Burst spell that he took head on, but came out with only a few burns was mind boggling. Since they begin, they were not able to deal him any real damage and the fact that he didn’t looked the least bit tired made things seem worst. However, they were in no position to give up, it was do or die.

Nathan: “Listen, you do understand, that on the off chance you succeed in capturing me, I have no plans to go along with what you or anyone else tells me.”

Beatrice: “Doesn’t matter, once the trade is made, it out of our hands.”

Shane: “And what do you mean of chance, you’re coming with us, the easy way or the hard way. And from the way you’re fighting, you like things hard. Maybe if you give in now, I’ll let your last night of freedom, the best night of your life.”

Nathan: “Ughh.”

Shane: “Don’t be that way, tell you what, we settld all out problmes back in my room? Don’t that sound more fun than this silly fighting.

Nathan: Ok, so done with this, I’m a Man, you idiot. I only pretended to be a girl to lower your guards.”

Shane: “Yeah, sure you did and I have fourth leg.”

Nathan: “Oh for the love of……….”

*unzip*

Nathan, much to the surprise of everyone, yanked down his pants, revealing himself to the world. The shocked on everyone face, seeing it swing between his legs.

Elise: “KYAAAAAAAAAA!”

Elise quickly covered her eyes. Shane stared stunned, the flirting, the fantasies, all was done to a man.

Nathan: “You still wanna go, as you undoubtedly notice, I’m rally good in a sword fight?”

Shane: “*Vomit*”

Nathan: “Yeah that’s what I thought.”

Nathan was surprised how much of a stunning move that was, he would use this opportunity. No sooner did he think to attack, did Beatrice come flying at him, sword ready.

Nathan: “Woah!?”

Nathan quickly dodge all the strike for his neck, using his sword to block the last one. He looked into Beatrice face, she was beet red.

Nathan: “Are you trying kill me, because I flashed you?”

Beatrice: “SHUT UP YOU PERVERT, LECHER.”

Nathan: “What?”

Beatrice: “Ba-”

Nathan: “Ba?”

Beatrice: “YOU SAW US IN THE BATH!?”

Nathan: “The bath…………..oh yeah, forgot about that.”

Beatrice: “F-Forgot!?Bastard, how could you forget something like that!?”

Nathan: “It’ no big deal, I was surrounded by naked woman every day for months, not long before I met you guys. Not to say I didn’t enjoy seeing you both, but after constantly seeing it all the time for months, it doesn’t have that big of an effect anymore. There nothing special about it.”

Nathan was unaware of the hole he was digging, but the damage had been dealt. Beatrice and Elise had never felt so humiliated. It was at that moment, both girls swore they would not ever let him forget them, EVER.