Dink felt something touching his scalp. He tentatively reached up with both hands to investigate, dropping his sword. His fingers encountered something cold and hard. Looking up, he discovered Axion's axe resting on top of his head.

"Are you trying to fucking kill me? If that went any lower, I'd be dead!" Dink indignantly exclaimed. Rex's corpse toppled to the ground with a thud beside him to emphasise his words.

Axion had the decency to look embarrassed. He was worrying at the beads braided into his mane with one hand, while the other held onto the greataxe embedded in Rex's torso.

"Uh, he was giving me a lot of grief. I had to seize the opportunity. Don't worry, I knew you were there," Axion sheepishly said.

"You knew I was there? You knew I was there! Are you crazy? To think I considered you a friend," Dink hysterically shouted.

"Let me make it up to you by killing this small fry," Axion suggested.

"First you tried to kill me. Now, you impugn my honour," Dink said, shaking his head in disbelief.

He leant down to retrieve his bastard sword while cursing under his breath. He rubbed at the shoulder of his sword arm, a dark bruise was starting to appear. Clarence was staring at him in shock, Dink noticed his hands lightly trembling in fear.

"Good, the Insipid has worn off. This won't take long. I bet those missing fingers are really starting to hurt right about now," Dink said with an evil grin.

He casually walked toward him with his sword dragging a trail through the foliage behind him. His arms were still numb from the impact earlier. Clarence whistled once again, Dink was prepared this time. He simply raised his sword vertically in front of him, cutting edge forward while tilting slightly to the side. The hunting hawk severed its own wing against his blade, plummeting to the ground with a screech of pain and a flurry of leaves.

Dink remained fixed on Clarence as he stabbed his sword down to end the bird's misery. Its cries were abruptly cut short. His fingers began to tingle, causing him to flick his wrists in discomfort. Clarence involuntarily retreated a step under the mental pressure of Dink's slow advance.

He continued to walk forward, tilting his head side to side in an effort to promote blood circulation. Clarence couldn't take it anymore. He charged forward, uttering a loud battle cry. He raised his sword above his head in an awkward double-handed grip. He clumsily swung the sword downward at Dink's head, exponentially slower than his previous attacks.

Dink didn't even need to see the blade, to predict such a pathetic attack's trajectory. He lightly slipped to the side, severing Clarence's leg at the knee as he passed. Clarence screamed in agony, collapsing to the woodland floor in a heap. He turned himself over while attempting to scoot away from Dink.

"Stand up, don't be a coward now. I'll at least give you a warrior's death. Use your sword," Dink instructed, gesturing for him to stand.

Clarence planted his blade into the soft dirt, using it to unsteadily lever himself upright. Dink sprang into action, stepping behind him and mercilessly kicked out his supporting knee. He fell forward onto the ground, preventing himself from falling flat with both hands. In the same motion, Dink fluidly brought his sword down executioner style on the back of his neck. His head bounced away in a spray of white blood.

"I don't take kindly to men eyeing my women," Dink coldly stated.

An explosion in the woods drew their attention. Dink set out at a run in the direction it came from. Axion quickly overtook him and left him behind, disappearing among the trees.

By the time Dink caught up, the skirmish was already over. He was standing in a clearing. In front of him was Axion looming over a fallen bandit cleaved in two wearing burning clothes. The fire had already left his features indistinguishable. Nearby, the stolen trader's wagon had ignited in flames. The bound and gagged merchant was tied to a tree, violently squirming in an attempt to rescue his precious cargo. He was shouting muffled obscenities at Murkuk, who was standing in front of him with bared teeth.

"Should we get Estra to put that fire out? The merchant looks a little upset. Murkuk doesn't know what to do with him," Riva asked, stepping out of the shadow of a nearby tree.

"Let it burn. Insipid is a plague upon Nyre, just one more reason to destroy the expanding woods. I don't have any sympathy for filth the likes of him who profit off other people's misfortune," Dink replied.

He turned to face her as a ray of sunlight pierced through the tree caps to illuminate her. Her clothing had become matted and torn in places, with twigs and leaves sticking out of her hair. Mud was smeared across her cheek, yet Dink had never felt more attracted to her.

After getting to know her, it's hard to mistake Riva for a child. Her bravery and actions show deep maturity. Not to mention those tits. Halflings might not be so bad, after all.

I understand why Estra would want to be with me for my draconic bloodline. But why are Riva and Tahlea so interested in me, all because of the mark of friendship with the Halfling people? I didn't even do anything heroic to earn that. I was simply good gambling buddies with Dishabille Worldwalker. She was a pariah of her people but powerful enough to do as she pleased, unbeholden by her people's traditions.

Dink was silently staring at Riva's face in admiration. His attention caused Riva to blush and shyly look down. He reached out to gently brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her beaming smile was enough to make any hot-blooded man's resolve melt.

"Release me this instant. My cargo is going up in flames! Do you have any idea of who I was delivering to? My escort decided to abandon me in Burrowton, leaving me to the mercy of these vagabonds. If you aid me, I will reward you handsomely. Even this… beast," Their moment was interrupted by an indignant shout, answered by a warning growl from Murkuk.

Dink turned to investigate the disturbance. Axion was holding the merchant's gag in one hand with a regretful expression on his face. He was preventing Murkuk from murdering the bound man. Dink could only dryly chuckle, sharing a wry smirk with Riva.