The Desert Ghosts Ch. 15 - 21

Thank you to Oldbroad76 for editing.

CHAPTER XV

Shana III

Shana lay in her bedroom panting, naked, and sweating with H'Uku's cum seeping out of her arsehole when she heard banging coming from outside.

In haste she jumped to her feet, threw on a robe, and ran outside barefoot. The soldiers that had been sent out had returned, and she could hear them running around outside. She stepped out into the night sky and saw thirty soldiers walking towards the dungeons. She couldn't see what was in the middle, but she was sure they had someone.

H'Uku walked past, bumping into Shana without saying a word as he headed towards the dungeons. Shana followed after him only to find a palm pressed against her chest when she reached the dungeon door.

"You can't come in." The grey Pakria guard told her.

"I am H'Uku's," Shana told him firmly.

"I don't care," the guard told her. "No entry."

Fuck!

--

Shana waited outside for hours, long enough to hear birds chirping as the sun began to rise. That was when H'Uku left the dungeon. Blood was around his hands, and his knuckles appeared swollen.

"Master," Shana said. "What did you find?"

"Come with me." H'Uku growled as he walked past.

Shana rushed after him back into his bedroom where he washed the blood from his large hands. H'Uku was a big man, but nothing compared to her true Master.

I need this information to get back to my Master, I need to play this correctly.

Shana had learnt plenty about H'Uku since she had arrived. He was the third son and never meant to have power, which is why he used aggression to prove himself.

"My Master," Shana whispered, "If there is any way I can be of service, I will do everything that you tell me."

H'Uku didn't reply, which made Shana know that she said the right thing. He continued to wash his hands before drying with a rag, which instantly turned red.

"We found two men," He finally said as he turned towards her. "Your idea worked."

Of course it did.

"Are they still alive?" Shana asked quickly. Too quickly.

H'Uku glared at her, annoyed by her quick tongue.

"You speak Oswini?" H'Uku asked.

Shana made herself look smaller and weaker to the man.

"Yes, Master." She whispered, faking fear.

"Tomorrow," He continued, "If they're still alive, you will translate what we get from them."

Perfect.

"Yes, Master." Shana replied.

H'Uku threw off his blood covered clothes until he was completely naked. His long, flaccid cock swung between his legs.

Shana took the hint, and without a word she sunk to her knees and crawled to H'Uku, further showing her submissiveness to him.

She took his meat into her hands, stroking it slowly until he began to grow, and then she wrapped her soft lips around him.

"Mmm." Shana fake moaned.

H'Uku's cock continued to grow in her wet, warm mouth. He had closed his eyes and simply enjoyed his slave.

Before long he was as hard as steel. Shana opened her throat and took him deep down.

"Glllggg." She groaned around him.

He didn't touch her. It seemed that H'Uku preferred Shana to do the work today. Without putting her hands onto his body, she simply bobbed her head up and down. She swirled her wet tongue around his crown, tasting his precum.

"Mmm." She moaned again as she continued to bob up and down.

"Mmmmmmffff!!" H'Uku grunted as the first shot of his thick cum struck across Shana's tongue.

She swallowed it down, then the next shot, and then the next. H'Uku produced a massive load of cum which filled her mouth. Shana made a point to let it drool down her chin, knowing he would appreciate the show.

Even after he had stopped cumming Shana continued to suck his dick, licking every inch clean until he was fully satisfied.

"Good girl," H'Uku said, "now leave me. I'll call you in the morning."

--

Shana barely slept. She wanted to send the messenger girl back to M'Taka, however she wanted more information. With an anxious mind she waited until a knock appeared on her door.

On the other side stood H'Uku and two guards.

"Come." H'Uku grunted.

She followed behind into the dungeon building. The smell of a dirty body and blood was overwhelming. Shana had seen people die, but never had they smelt like this before. It took every bit of strength to stop from throwing up.

Her reaction was obvious and actually brought a laugh from H'Uku.

The dungeon building was small, only holding three cells down a small wooden hallway.

The first dungeon was empty.

At the second Shana gasped at what she saw.

There was a man strapped to a wooden chair by his forearms and calves. His entire body looked bruised. His face was cut all over with dry blood around him. But that's not what shocked Shana the most.

It appeared that H'Uku had let his men carry on the work after he left, for this man had his middle finger on his left hand missing.

His head was hung low, and he didn't appear to be moving.

"Is he dead?" Shana asked in Pakriasi, just in case they were alive.

"Not yet," H'Uku replied, "Although he's close."

Shana didn't see many marks made by a man on his body, only his face. Those bruises must have been from the fall.

A large hand shoved Shana's side and forced her to continue walking to the last dungeon. There was another man in there, but this one was much larger than the first. He was awake.

His eyes met Shana's and widened at the sight.

H'Uku's men had clearly done more to this man. He had cut marks from a blade in various spots across his body which were still leaking blood. He had all of his fingers and limbs, but he had taken a lot of torture.

Why have they been torturing them when no one here can even understand their language? Shana thought, is it just to scare them?

"This one can speak," H'Uku told Shana. "Tell him we will end his pain if he tells us everything about why their group are here."

Shana nodded as one guard unlocked his cell, and she stepped in. The man stunk, and Shana's nostrils burnt.

"Hello." Shana whispered in Oswini, knowing that no one else would understand her.

"You're from Oswin?" He asked.

Shana's eyes darted across his cut body.

"Technically." Shana replied.

"And you're with them?" He asked. At the same time a drop of blood fell from his mouth. He was only just better than the first prisoner.

"I am their slave." Shana told him with pride, not that he could tell.

"Is Kael alive?" He then asked.

Shana looked back to see confused looks on H'Uku and his guards' faces.

"I believe so," Shana told him, "but he's in pain. You can help him."

This brute of a man spat blood onto the floor, followed by one of his teeth.

"Can you help me?" He asked. "We share a continent. You're not one of them."

Shana looked at him. She knew that she should feel sadness for this man who was in great pain, but that feeling didn't exist for her.

"I can't," She told him. "They want to know why you're here."

He coughed again and hung his head back before locking eyes with Shana.

"Tell them," He coughed more blood, "to suck my dick."

Shana had to stop herself from laughing. How does a man being tortured still make a joke?

"They're going to keep hurting you..." Shana said, but he cut her off.

"Fuck them," He muttered.

Shana tried to read him, which was hard when most of his face was covered in blood. I need to show sympathy, he has some trust for me simply because I am not Pakria.

She crouched down and moved close, putting a hand onto his cut thigh and looking into his eyes.

"I can't help you unless you tell me something," Shana said to him. "Please, just give me something."

His eyes darted between hers. She could see the internal fighting going on in his mind. He went to speak but then stopped.

Shana turned her head back to H'Uku and shook her head, which prompted them to enter the cell and surround the prisoner.

"Fuck you!" He shouted with a new breath of life.

H'Uku pushed Shana out of the cell, but as she walked away she could hear the prisoner shouting at the guards.

She walked past the other prisoner, Kael, she thought, he can't have long left for this world. He's lucky. It's his friend who will suffer the worst.

Shana met up with Ceri and passed on the information for her to take back to her Master.

--

It was hours later when Shana saw H'Uku again, and he was covered in blood.

"Is he dead?" Shana asked.

"Not yet," H'Uku replied. "He is stronger than the other."

"Good," Shana replied. "Hopefully we will get some information from him."

"Yes," H'Uku told her as he washed his hands again, "we will keep this one alive. He'll talk eventually."

CHAPTER XVI

Connah II

The emptiness inside of Connah had taken over. Simply speaking was difficult for him now. It had been weeks since Kael fell, but Connah held onto hope that he was still alive, although he didn't know what to do if he wasn't.

The group were all walking in silence until Connah spotted movement in the distance.

"Everyone quiet." He grunted at the team.

They all ducked down and rushed towards him. Ahead of them, not too far, there was a group of what appeared to be soldiers.

"How many?" Samuhal asked.

"Looks like six." Exi replied.

Connah looked at them and then at his group.

"We can take them." Connah said.

"In your fucking dreams," Exi told him. "There's only three of us that can fight."

Samuhal's face dropped, and Connah had to admit that he was becoming a hinderance to the group without being able to fight.

"They might know about Erik and Kael." Alix then said.

Good boy.

Connah watched the enemy walking in the distance. They each had curved swords, and Connah couldn't see any spears.

"Okay, we each still have a spear, right?" Connah asked.

The group nodded.

"From what I can see, they don't," He explained. "We charge at them and try to take some out with the spears to even the numbers. In a fight we can easily beat them."

"Maybe when we first set off," Exi replied. "We're all underfed, and we haven't had a rest in over a month. We're not as quick as we once were, Connah."

"We have to try!" Connah argued.

Alix was nodding in agreement to his own benefit. Samuhal had a straight face on, probably knowing that he wouldn't be any use in this fight, yet again.

"I don't agree with this plan." Exi said.

"If Kael was here, he would fight to save any of us." Connah told her.

He may not have officially been their leader, but everyone knew that Kael would've died for them. If he hadn't already, no, he's alive.

"Okay, so we go?" Connah asked Exi. She nodded, still not sold but agreeing.

"I... I'll stay here with Jahil." Samuhal said.

And so, Connah, Exi, and Alix crouch walked towards the Pakria group. As they got closer the soldiers looked even bigger. Connah pulled the spear from its holder on his back. His arm was hurting from the last fight, but his sheer will was powering through.

With a loud roar he launched the spear and struck one of the Pakria through his shoulder and stuck him into the desert.

Exi threw hers next, and it went through one of their chests.

Alix thew his last, as always. Being the expert with a spear, he struck his Pakria through his head.

Connah unsheathed his sword and charged at the three remaining Pakria, not including the one stuck into the ground with Connah's spear through his shoulder.

Exi sprinted forward, being the quickest, with a blade in each hand. As she ran, Connah noticed that her once very short red hair had grown since they first set off, serving as another reminder of how long this journey had already taken.

She batted a Pakria sword away before slicing back with her right-handed weapon. This Pakria was able to dodge the attack, and the two started to fight.

Connah, sword in hand, struck at another Pakria, who managed to deflect his attack.

He could hear the sound of weapons clashing around him, but Connah's sole focus was on this one Pakria.

His enemy thrust his sword at Connah, who just managed to duck to the left. He struck back, clipping the Pakria's arm but not causing any real damage.

These are better fighters than the last ones, Connah thought.

Suddenly a large, solid fist struck Connah's face and made him stumble backwards. The warm feeling of blood trickled down his face as the Pakria charged at him. Raising his own sword into the air, he stopped the attack as their eyes locked.

This Pakria was stronger, and Connah knew it. As their swords pushed together, they were growing closer to Connah's face.

He released his pushing and ducked to his right as the Pakria's sword pressed down.

As Connah repositioned himself in a defensive stance, he felt his lungs burn in his chest. Exi's right, we're weaker than when we started.

Even as Connah tried to control his breathing, he found it hard not to pant as the Pakria approached him with a smile.

He struck at Connah who deflected the strike, then another and another. Connah was on the defensive and couldn't see any opportunity to strike back until the Pakria sliced hard enough against Connah, that when blocking, Connah's sword flew out of his hand.

His feet dug into the sand with no weapon in his hands as the Pakria stared at him.

Connah's face burnt red, these grey bastards!

"Ahhhh!!" Connah roared and stormed at the large Pakria, who wasn't quick enough to strike, and Connah tackled him onto the ground. The Pakria's curved blade landed on the sand as Connah rained his fists down onto the grey man's face.

"Urgh!" Connah grunted when a large fist hit his side and he was pushed from the Pakria.

As he got to his feet, another fist hit his side and winded him. Connah pushed past the pain and stood up just in time for a fist to batter against his face.

More blood fell from him into the sand as he stared at the Pakria.

Behind him Exi was fighting her foe, but Connah couldn't see where Alix was from this position.

The Pakria in front of Connah was panting as well, then he struck first. Connah dipped backwards and watched the fist move inches from his face before landing a punch back against his temple.

His knuckles instantly shook in pain from the strike, but again he pushed through it.

The Pakria hit back, but Connah blocked with his arms, although that didn't ease the pain. His body felt tired and aching as he blocked another strong attack with his arms.

Fuck this guy! Alex screamed in his head and charged again. He tackled the Pakria's stomach and dragged him onto the ground.

With his knees on either side of the enemy, Connah's fists were like a storm battering down against his face over and over and over. Connah's knuckles were bleeding, or was that this man's blood. He couldn't tell. Connah was too overcome with rage as his fists crashed against his skull.

He wasn't fighting back anymore, but Connah wasn't done. Over and over he punched the man's head with all of his strength. He heard the sound of cracking skull, but that didn't stop him.

"Fuuuckk you!!" Connah screamed as he continued to punch this animal's head over and over.

When his knuckles felt raw and his lungs were fighting to work, Connah finally stopped. The Pakria was long dead, except for his legs occasionally twitching. Blood was splattered against Connah's face, but he didn't know whose.

He looked around and saw that Exi and Alix had just finished off their opponents. Behind them, the Pakria that Connah had hit with his spear was still on the ground.

Slowly the three of them surrounded the Pakria that was writhing in pain. Connah gripped around the neck of the spear and yanked it from the ground and the Pakria's shoulder.

He attempted to scramble away, but Connah plunged the spear through its calf and bone and back into the ground.

"Get Jahil," Connah panted. "He's not going anywhere."

The Pakria was whining beneath him.

It didn't take long for Exi to return with Jahil and Samuhal.

"Ask him if they've seen Kael." Connah grunted out.

Jahil spoke in their strange language, to which the Pakria shouted back and spat onto the ground. Connah knew immediately he didn't give them any useful information, and before Jahil could even speak, he pulled the spear out of the one leg and plunged it into the other.

Exi jumped back, and the Pakria screamed out, but Connah didn't care.

"Ask him again." Connah grunted.

Jahil spoke to him once more, but the Pakria didn't seem to speak but just whined. I don't have time for this.

Connah grabbed the spear and twisted it inside of him to make him scream more.

"Connah." Exi gasped from the side.

With his blood-covered face he glared at Exi before turning back to the Pakria.

"Ask again." He growled.

Jahil spoke, her tone quickened and panicked. This time the Pakria seemed to speak back, but Connah still didn't believe his tone and grabbed the spear once more.

"They're alive!" Jahil shouted as Connah's fingers clenched around the spear.

"What?" Connah asked.

Jahil's eyes were wide open as she looked at him. The Pakria was still speaking to her.

"He said they found two men!" Jahil told him. "They took them back."

"Back where?!" Connah shouted and twisted the spear again to make the Pakria scream.

Jahil spoke to him in haste, and he immediately replied.

"They're at H'Uku's home," Jahil said. "Both of them are alive!"

They're alive, I knew it!

Connah's grip loosened, and he stepped back from the spear. Suddenly it hit him. What happened to me? It was as if Connah only saw red. Rage had overtaken his empty emotions, was that me?

"So, we're going to this H'Uku's to get them back?" Alix asked.

Connah looked at Exi, who had a look of shock on her face. Connah felt painfully sick but nodded.

"Okay then." Alix said.

Before anyone knew what he was doing, Alix slammed the pointed end of his sword through the Pakria's skull and into the ground. The grey man's body finally went limp.

"Why?!" Jahil shouted and hit Alix's chest.

"We weren't going to keep him alive," Alix grunted. "Come on, we have to save them."

Exi looked at Connah, and he thought he saw fear in her eyes. To be honest, Connah was afraid himself. He had never felt like that before. He had never purposefully caused so much pain to an individual. Connah hated the Pakria, and he couldn't explain it, but he wanted to give him as much pain as possible.

"Exi." Connah whispered, but she raised a hand.

"Leave it." She replied. She took Jahil's arm and walked away.

Samuhal and Alix looked at Connah, and without a word they began to walk as well.

--

When night fell, the group hadn't spoken to each other. Connah forced himself to sit next to Exi.

"Exi," He whispered to the red head, "I... I don't know what happened."

"You tortured him." Exi bluntly replied.

Connah hung his head in shame.

"I... I'm sorry," He stuttered. "I've never done that before. I don't know where it came from."

Connah's hands were shaking. The sick feeling in his stomach hadn't gone away.

"Just don't do it again." Exi whispered to him.

Connah nodded his head, grateful for her response.

"Did Jahil tell you how long until we reach this H'Uku?" Connah asked her.

"Two weeks at least." Exi told him.

Connah rested back, thinking to himself.

That rage, he thought to himself, has that always been in me? It felt... good. Oh gods, what is happening to me.

CHAPTER XVII

M'Taka I

"Okay, you can leave now." M'Taka said to Ceri, who had just passed on the latest message from Shana.

She's doing a lot better than I expected, M'Taka thought. He always knew that Shana was more intelligent that she let on, but he didn't think she would do this well.

M'Taka went back into his meeting room, where his second in command was waiting for him.

"Shol," M'Taka said as he walked in, then noticed the straight face on his friend. Shol was a large man, not the brightest but very loyal. However, M'Taka had rarely seen this face on him.

"M'Taka." a deep voice called from a dark corner, a voice that sent shivers down M'Taka's spine.

He turned towards where the voice came from, and he could see the white light that emitted from the black armour.

"Bastit?" M'Taka replied, holding his voice steady.

He stepped into the light. His armour was as black as the night sky, but it somehow let off a white glow around him. It was supposedly a rare material from the Oswin continent, one that M'Taka had never seen other than on Bastit.

Bastit was entirely covered in the metal. His face was covered by a helmet that only had a small slit where his eyes were but covered them enough that M'Taka couldn't see them. He was a tall man, and although he wasn't as stocky as most Pakria, he was still well built.

The black armour was thick, and each movement made a thud onto the ground. M'Taka had often wondered how one could move well in such armour, however Bastit never seemed to struggle.

M'Take had never seen Bastit without his armour on. He had never even seen his face, nor did he know of anyone that had.

"You have an update?" Bastit asked.

His hand was on top of his black sword that was made from the same material as his armour. It had become something of legend in Pakria. The black blade that shined white and could cut through bone like butter.

"H'Uku has taken two of them prisoner," M'Taka told him, standing still and upright to seem bigger. "Apparently they haven't spoken yet, but H'Uku is torturing them for information."

"Good," Bastit replied, "I do hope that the rest do not reach the Northern Islands."

"If they get back H'Uku, I will stop them." M'Taka told him.

Bastit stepped closer and rested a hand upon the table. Shol stood silently by the side.

"I would expect nothing less," Bastit told him. "Odarim would not take kindly to H'Uku's failure to stop them. Especially now."

"Now?" M'Taka asked.

"Yes," Bastit replied as he began to walk around the room, observing the map of Pakria which M'Taka had on his desk. "We plan to initiate our goal in the next few months."

"So soon?" M'Taka asked.

He knew of Odarim's plan, but he didn't expect it to start for at least another year.

"It would seem that we have recruited as many Pakria soldiers as we can," Bastit told him. "If the humans already have word of our army, then we will lose the element of surprise."

"Will we have enough?" M'Taka asked. When he agreed to join Odarim, it was partly because the plan was so certain that he saw no way of it failing.

"We should have thirty thousand," Bastit replied calmly. "The largest Oswin army is Manstel, who have fifteen thousand."

"But with the others..." M'Taka replied.

"Odarim has plans," Bastit told him. "You don't need to worry about that."

M'Taka had only met Odarim a handful of times, but he had a brain that he couldn't comprehend. His mind for strategy was excellent, as well as his magical ability, which even M'Taka didn't believe until he saw it with his own eyes.

A heavy, black armoured hand landed on M'Taka's shoulder.

"You've done well for us," Bastit told him. "Don't think that your efforts have gone unnoticed. Odarim plans to give you an army to make your own campaign once the plan begins."

My own army, M'Taka thought, not just a tribal army, but a real army to do real force.

The idea was unimaginable in Pakria until now, and M'Taka was keen to be one of the leaders of this new age.

"That... sounds excellent." M'Taka replied.

Bastit removed his hand and continued to walk around the room.

"Odarim has requested that you join him in the Northern Islands," Bastit said, "to be ready once the plan begins."

"What if the humans get past H'Uku?" M'Taka asked.

"You can leave men here to protect," Bastit said, "but I hope you understand that once the plan starts you will not return here for a long time, if ever."

M'Taka knew this all along, and although he would be sad to say goodbye to the land that he had nurtured for his entire life, sacrifice had to be made. Pakria had been stationary in their ways for as long as they could remember. No longer.

"I understand," M'Taka replied and puffed his chest. "I will leave a ruler of my choosing to watch over as I am away, with a small force to protect this land, in case Pakria that haven't joined us see this as an opportunity for their own growth."

Bastit nodded his head.

"Understandable," He replied. "I appreciate everything you've done."

M'Taka nodded.

"I must return," Bastit told him. "Thank you for seeing me, and I hope to see you again soon."

"Indeed." M'Taka replied.

Bastit nodded once more before leaving. Shol gave a sigh once they were alone.

"What do you want me to do, sir?" Shol asked.

"Get my servants to prepare my things," M'Taka told him. "We will take two thousand men but leave one thousand here."

"Yes, sir." Shol replied.

"My brother will take charge on my leave." M'Taka then said.

He went to leave but was stopped by Shol's voice.

"What of the slave girl?" He asked.

"If she returns, send her to the Northern Islands." M'Taka replied.

--

M'Taka was lying upon his head. His items had been gathered for him to depart the next day.

Heading off so soon, he thought, Odarim must consider these soldiers a threat. I wonder if it has anything to do with the stone.

M'Taka had spies in the Northern Islands with Odarim's gathering force. Spies were unthinkable to Pakria,, but M'Taka had learnt from their Oswin enemy. He had spies sent to the continent of Oswin and learnt some of their ways. Politics was a game in their land, a game that Pakria were not skilled at, but M'Taka was learning. Spies, this was one step that gave him the confidence to trust Odarim.

This stone, he had heard of it only once from his spies. The Stone of Ashkera. The man who had heard of the stone hadn't actually seen it, but he heard talk of it being hidden in the deepest part of the Yargen Mines, nearly two hundred feet deep. It was heavily guarded by Odarim's men. Even regular soldiers weren't allowed close to this room that held the stone.

What is the importance of this stone? To be such a well held secret and guarded meant it could only be either a great power or a great weakness. Perhaps it is how Odarim gains his magical ability?

M'Taka had many questions, none of which mattered right now, but he would remember it. He trusted Odarim and his goals, but it was only logical to have a second plan. Should he need to defend himself or turn against Odarim, this stone could be the key.

--

The following morning M'Taka was sat upon his camel with his army ready to go. Nearly all were in simple pelts and held either spears of curved swords. The Oswini are much more enhanced than us in technology.

M'Taka armed his greatest soldiers with weaponry and armour taken from killed Oswini's. Although their bodies were smaller and weak, most armour wouldn't fit a regular Pakria, and M'Taka's people were yet to understand how to manipulate the Oswin materials.

He looked out across the land that he had grown almost single handedly. When he became their ruler, it was but a small tribe. Now it was a large area filled with wooden buildings. Through conquering close and weak neighbours, M'Taka had made a name for himself and helped his people prosper.

Pakria from other tribes regularly migrated to his land. I wonder if this is what the Oswin's would call a city? What I could do with endless fertile land, my territory would be twice the size. Not long, and then I will have what I want.

CHAPTER XVIII

Erik I

Tortured to death in the far end of Pakria, I suppose there are worse ways to die. None come to mind right now.

Erik's chin was against his chest. Despite all the pain inflicted on his body, his mind still worked fairly well. The straps that locked his forearms and legs to the wooden chair had stopped hurting. The first few days they burnt his skin, but now he could barely feel a thing.

His chest had multiple cut marks going from each side, and his blood that trickled down his body had dried up on him.

To his own surprise, he still had all of his limbs, fingers, and toes. Once you start cutting off body parts, there isn't really anywhere else to go with torture.

Erik could take the pain. Having grown up in the Northern Kingdoms, it was instilled in his brain to not show weakness, something the Pakria seemed to greatly dislike. Erik chuckled at the thought.

"Mmmhh." A mumbling came from outside of Erik's cell.

Through the smalls gaps in the wooden walls he knew that the sun had fallen and outside was pure darkness. The torture for this day was over, so that must mean...

"Kael?" Erik grunted, and his tongue ran against the gaps where three of his back teeth were pulled from.

He heard heavy coughing, wheezing, and then a spitting sound.

"Erik?" A gravelly voice whispered.

He's alive!

"I'm here." Erik replied. Although there were no guards in the building, he kept his voice low to not alert any passers-by.

"What... urgh... what did I miss?" Kael grunted.

Kael grinned.

"Oh, you didn't miss much." Erik told him.

"I don't know about that." Kael replied. His voice was weak, but at least he was talking.

Erik's pulled at the straps that locked his arms, but they still wouldn't budge.

"What do you mean?" Erik asked.

"Well," Kael coughed again, "I appear to be missing a finger."

He's missing a finger?!

Erik paused, and he wondered if they had been torturing Kael while he was unconscious.

"Really?" Erik asked. "Which one?"

Kael laughed, which quickly turned into wheezing and coughing.

"None of the important ones. They must not have much knowledge of surgery," Kael spoke. "They tied the rope around my arms so tight that my fingers lost barely any blood."

Erik pulled at his straps and agreed that they were fairly tight. His hands had felt numb lately, but he hadn't even realised. I guess the torture was distracting me.

As Kael stopped speaking, Erik took a moment to think back to their last conversation. He still didn't quite believe what he had heard, He's Theo Thine, heir to the Empire.

"What about you?" Kael asked. "Are you missing any parts?"

"Only a few teeth," Erik told him. "No fingers though."

"Thank the gods for that," Kael replied. "How would you catch fish without your fingers."

Erik laughed, which hurt his chest.

"I take back what I said before," Erik told him. "I should have let you fall off that mountain on your own."

"Well, your rescue attempts leave plenty to be fucking desired." Kael replied.

It feels good to speak to him again.

"So, what's the plan?" Kael asked.

"I don't know about you," Erik told him, "But my schedule is fully booked up. Tomorrow I have a bit of torturing at sun rise and then again at midday."

Kael laughed and then coughed and spat.

For a Southerner he's damn hard to kill.

"There's a girl with them," Erik revealed. "From Denil, like Jahil."

"Is she helping them?" Kael asked.

"Yes," Erik said, "but she's a slave. Perhaps I could convince her to help?"

"No offence Erik, but getting people's sympathy isn't your strong suit." Kael told him.

"And what would she want to do with a nine fingered Prince?" Erik joked before he could stop himself.

As soon as he said it both cells went silent. Erik kept waiting for Kael to speak, but he never did.

"When they come back," Erik said, changing the subject, "carry on as if you're passed out."

"What? Why?" Kael asked.

"As far as I'm aware they're not hurting you too badly," Erik told him. "Why torture someone who can't speak?"

"Tell that to my face and finger," Kael replied, "and the cuts on my body."

"That was most likely to try and wake you," Erik said. "Just pretend to be unconscious."

"And leave you to take the torture on your own?" Kael asked.

"I can handle it," Erik told him. "I've been travelling with you for weeks. Nothing is worse than that."

Both men laughed again, and Erik felt a new lease on life. For a moment he forgot about his situation.

"What I'd do for a hot cooked meal." Kael told him.

"And some ale." Erik replied.

Kael laughed and coughed. It was clear to Erik that his friend was in pain but somehow managed to mask it. For two men from completely different walks of life, Erik somehow felt connected to this man.

--

Erik managed to get some sleep before he was woken up by the cell door being opened. The Denil girl was there as well as two Pakria men with some small knives in their hands. Erik's body tensed up as he prepared himself for another round of torture. Then he heard Kael gasping in the next cell.

Fuck!

All three of them stopped. Kael then coughed, and the three turned around and spoke in their Pakria tongue.

"No," Erik whispered.

They left his sight, and he heard Kael's cell opening.

Erik didn't speak, but he stayed perfectly still as he listened.

"Water," Kael's weak voice whispered.

"We can get you water." He heard the Denil girl speak, then turned back to Pakria tongue. Erik heard movement which sounded like one of the Pakria leaving.

"Food." Kael whispered again.

"It's okay," The Denil girl whispered. "We'll get you some food."

--

Erik's session with the Pakria was delayed due to them seeing to Kael. Part of Erik eased knowing that his friend was being fed and watered.

"We need to know about your group." The Denil girl spoke.

Erik waited for Kael's response, which didn't come until a painful scream rattled in his ears.

"Leave him!" Erik shouted, but Kael's shouted continued. "Stop it! He doesn't know anything!"

As the Pakria men did whatever they were doing to Kael, the Denil girl came back to Erik's cell.

"Please tell me something," She begged in a whisper. Her eyes showed sadness as she spoke. She wasn't cut out for this. "Then they can stop hurting him."

Erik pulled at his straps, doing anything he could to break free, but it was no use. A soft brown hand landed gently onto his thigh.

"Please," She whispered again, "just give me something."

Kael shouted again in pain, and Erik gritted his teeth. A war was waging in his head on what to do.

In the end, he said nothing.

This was worse than getting tortured himself. Listening to his friend in pain while being helpless, that was the true torture.

--

"Erik, you there?" Kael's aching voice whispered.

"Yeah," Erik replied, "how are you?"

"Peachy," Kael replied, then paused. "I... I never thought this would be how it ended."

Erik wanted to say something, but what words could he possibly conjure to ease the situation that they had found themselves in.

"This is no way to die," Kael painfully spoke, "crying out in pain. There's no dignity in that."

"There's dignity in protecting our friends." Erik told him.

Erik's body felt weak. The numbing pain was simply a constant now.

"I'm sorry I brought you with me." Kael said.

Erik lifted his head up, and tears began to well in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and shook them away.

"You didn't make me come," Erik replied. "You didn't make me jump off the mountain with you."

"I thought I could do better," Kael told him. "It's dumb, now, but at the end, I'm sad that my father will only ever know his son as a failure."

"You are not a failure," Erik said firmly, speaking his truth. "You are a leader, Kael. A good one. And if I could do it over, I would still jump after you."

Kael sniffled.

"Thank you, Erik," Kael told him. "At least... I'm with a friend."

"I'm right here," Erik told him. "No matter what they do, we're together."

CHAPTER XIX

Exi IV

Exi walked at the back of their team through the dunes, and at the front was Connah. He hadn't spoken a lot since their encounter with the Pakria where he tortured the survivor. Exi struggled to get the look in his eyes out of her head. That hatred, she had only seen it on one other person, her brother.

He's nothing like my brother, she kept telling herself, but that look, underneath that happy face is something dark.

A light breeze blew against her short red hair that was growing longer that it had been for a long time. The dunes constantly raised and sunk, making the view of their path shortsighted.

I can't believe that they're alive, Exi thought, even if they were telling the truth, who is to say that they haven't been killed. If we risk attacking a populated town, it could all be for nothing.

Exi was not on the side of leaving Kael and Erik to the enemy, but someone had to make the hard decisions for the group.

As they walked, Samuhal caught up to her.

"How are you doing?" He asked, although his Faire accent was thick and hard to understand at times.

"Not bad," She replied. "How is your shoulder?"

"Healed," He replied but with a solemn look, "but my movement is drastically weaker."

"At least you didn't lose it." Exi told him in a poor attempt of lightening the mood.

"You were right," He told her. "I should have stayed at Piera's house. It was my pride that now puts us all at risk."

I already know this, she thought.

"Kael should not have let you come." She bluntly told him.

The pause from Samuhal showed that her words cut deep.

"He doesn't like to lead," He told her. "I don't understand why, but something about being in charge infuriates him."

"I can see that." Exi replied.

"I don't know if we should attack the town." Samuhal blurted out.

Exi stopped dead in her tracks, did he just say that?

She looked at his dark-skinned face and tried to see his reaction.

"You don't think we should save them?" Exi asked.

"Of course I do," Samuhal told her. "I would charge in there on my own. But I was wrong about coming after my injury, so my judgement isn't the best."

Exi looked at the group that continued to walk before she leaned closer to Samuhal.

"I... I'm torn," She told him. "They could already be dead. If so, this attack could kill the rest of us."

"I... agree." Samuhal whispered, and the shame in his words was clear.

"Alix and Connah won't agree." Exi told him.

Samuhal actually smiled at that.

"Interesting how Alix has become fond of the Northerner." He said.

Exi shrugged her shoulders.

"You with a shoulder nearly taken off," Exi said. "Only the gods know what has happened to Kael and Erik. Do we really think that we can make it to the Northern Islands and finish this mission?"

"You didn't think we would come all this way unscathed?" Samuhal asked.

Did I? Exi thought, I was happy to escape death from my brother, I survived every battle I have been in with barely a scratch, maybe I thought I was invincible.

"We're already half dead, and we haven't reached the Northern Islands yet," Exi said. "How are we supposed to return back to the hundred mile beach?"

"We will have to work it out as we go along." Samuhal said.

"I suppose only one of us has to get back." Exi said.

It pained her to admit it, but it wasn't the fear of death that upset the red head. Exi was a survivor. In all of her battles she had seen her comrades cut down with ease while she got through without breaking a sweat. I know I'll make it back, but that's the problem. I don't want to see these die.

"Come on," Samuhal said and tapped her shoulder, "we'll discuss what to do tonight with the others."

--

The wind blew strong that night, and thousands of grains of sand battered against the group as they huddled together. Their capes worked as a make shift tent to keep them covered.

The sound of the grit against the capes mixed with the wind and howled in each of their ears.

Exi looked at Samuhal, who gave her a faint smile.

"We need to discuss our plans moving forward." Exi said, loud enough to be heard over the wind.

"What plan?" Alix asked. "We charge into the town, kill any that get in our way, and break Erik and Kael free."

Exi sighed.

"We can't just run into a well armoured town," Exi told him. "We will be massively outnumbered."

"What do you suggest then?" Alix shot back.

"I..." Exi sighed and lowered her eyes to the ground, "I'm not sure if we should go into the town at all."

"What?" Connah abruptly replied.

"We don't know if they are even alive," Exi explained. "We could risk dying to only find their corpses."

"We know they're alive!" Alix argued.

"Alix," Samuhal said, and the look on Connah's face was of shock, "I think she's right."

"Are you joking?" Connah asked. "How many times as Erik saved your life! And you want to leave him to these animals?!"

"That's not what I'm saying..." Samuhal weakly said before Connah interrupted.

"It is what you're saying!" He shouted. "We've been told that they're alive, and you just want to leave!"

"We have a mission to complete." Samuhal said.

"Fuck the mission," Connah said. "I'd rather get them and go home than finish this mission without them."

"We have to think of the greater good," Samuhal said. "If we don't succeed, then thousands on the hundred mile beach will die."

"I don't give a fuck about them!" Connah shouted again, his face burning red. "You don't get a say. You can't fucking fight anyway! And yet you want to take the coward's way out."

Exi looked at Samuhal when he didn't reply. He was ashamed by his words and embarrassed.

Fuck, Exi thought, that's him gone.

"And you?" Alix said. "What, now you've got someone else to fuck, so you don't care about Erik anymore?"

"Hey." Jahil defended from the side.

"Do not bring Jahil into this." Exi threated Alix.

"Or what?" He replied. "You're gonna kill me just like you're killing Erik and Kael?"

Exi's fingers gripped around the handle of her right hand sword.

"Don't tempt me." She growled.

Alix jumped from the group, his cape breaking from the others and letting the sand storm batter against the group. His spear flung into his hands, and he held it out.

"Fucking try it." He shouted against the wind.

Exi stood up, unsheathed her sword, and glared at the thin man.

"There she is," Alix shouted, "the whore who would kill anyone if it meant she lived, even our leader."

Exi froze.

Kill anyone...

Her eyes flashed back to her brothers bloodied, lifeless corpse and the blade in her hands, crimson liquid dripping down her arm.

She blinked and was back in the storm. Clutching the blade in her hands, she charged at Alix and swung at him like a mad woman.

Her blade clashed against the neck of his spear as he pushed it away and struck the pointed end at Exi, who jumped to her right.

Sand crashed against her skin, and everything became silent against the storm.

"Fuucckk!" Exi screamed as she slashed again at Alix.

It wasn't Alix in her eyes any longer. She could only see her brother, Gorge, in his place. Her movements were wild and erratic. No form, just anger strikes over and over.

Alix, to his own benefit, batted each strike away. His spear became one with the wind as he defended himself against the crazed woman.

I will do what I must to survive!

Exi struck again and again, but Alix blocked each one as Exi's rage burned on until her blade cut through air and felt the wooden pole strike across her face, and her body flopped onto the desert ground.

Blood immediately trickled down her face.

Her sword was a foot to her right, and Exi was on her hands and knees. She looked up and saw Alix over her, his spear aimed at her.

He pulled it back and was about to strike... when a figure jumped in between the two.

"Enough!" Samuhal shouted.

Exi's chest was heaving as she looked at the back of Samuhal, and she could see Alix.

"Move." Alix grunted.

"We do not kill our own!" Samuhal shouted.

"She tried to kill me!" Alix argued.

Exi touched her forehead where blood was pouring from and then rose to her feet.

Samuhal turned back to look at her.

"We attack the town." He told her.

Of course Alix didn't kill me, She thought, it will be the same after we attack the town, I'll survive, but they won't. All they are accomplishing is adding to my burden, death comes to any that come near me.

When Exi bent over to pick up her sword, Alix took another defensive stance until she sheathed it.

She sat down on her own, grabbed her cape, and threw it over her body. Alone, her heart beat out of her chest, and tears streamed down her eyes.

--

Exi hadn't spoken for two days. None of the group had spoken to her either. Until Samuhal approached.

"Why did you change your mind?" Exi grunted to him.

"I'm not sure I did." He told her.

"Could've fooled me." Exi told him.

"The mission is more important than saving Kael and Erik," Samuhal told her. "But Connah was right. I owe Kael a debt, and I shouldn't have a say as I cannot join in the attack."

As much as his words made sense, Exi hated them.

"They'll die." Exi told him.

"They?" Samuhal asked.

"Everyone around me dies," Exi told him, "usually at my hand. That's the problem. I have to survive. I have to remember the pain."

"Who knows," Samuhal said, "you might get lucky this time."

CHAPTER XX

Shana IV

Shana was lying in her bed, wearing a light robe as the sun began to rise. With her eyes closed she mentally transported herself back to her true Master.

Slowly, her right hand moved underneath her robe and between her spread legs. A single fingertip touched her clit as she let out a gasp.

"Mmm." She moaned.

The night before she had been fucked by four of the guards in H'Uku's camp, as well as having H'Uku fuck her arsehole, but even with all that she missed her true Master's cock.

Mmm Master, please let me suck on your cock, she imagining as she rubbed her finger against her clit.

Shana's legs spread wider as a finger delved into her hot wet hole, and she breathed heavier.

Her left hand cupping one of her breasts and pulled at her firm nipple while the finger moved in and out of her pussy.

Please Master, I need your cock.

She fingered herself faster, sliding a second inside as she pulled harder at her nipple.

Shana's body tensed up until...

"Oooooohhhh." She moaned and released a desperately needed orgasm.

Her body writhed in pleasure as her hole clenched around her fingers. Her nectar leaked down onto her wrist as she fingered herself faster and faster.

"Fuck..." She moaned as liquid squirted out of her, down and against her legs as she moaned louder and louder.

Shana's fingers fucked herself as she squirted and came constantly for nearly ten minutes.

By the time that she was done, her body felt very well satisfied. She pulled her fingers from her hole and sucked on them.

"Mmmm." She moaned at her own taste before getting out of bed.

She went to visit the prisoner's at first.

Kael was asleep, but Erik was awake and alert. Shana stepped inside with a bowl of water that she held to his cracked lips.

"Shana," He whispered, having recently told him her name, "how is Kael doing?"

Once again Shana put on her best saddened look. I have really mastered this.

"He's in pain," Shana whispered to show her empathy that was non existent. "Neither of you will give us anything, and I can't help otherwise."

"And neither of us will," Erik told her. "Why don't they just kill us?"

Shana managed a tear to fall down her smooth face.

I'm surprised I have liquid left in me after squirting, she chuckled to herself.

"They will," she said with a fake choke, "but they want to give you both as much pain as possible."

Erik grunted, then spat blood onto the floor already covered in his dried blood.

"Well, good luck to them." He muttered.

Idiots, Shana thought, willing to take so much pain for others. Seems pointless to me.

After feeding Erik, she forced Kael to slight consciousness as she dripped water into his mouth. He was much worse off than Erik. His body was covered in cuts and scars. His missing finger wasn't bleeding and had started to scab over.

I'll admit, they're hard bastards.

"Shana?" Erik's voice called out as she closed Kael's cell.

She walked over and stood on the other side of the bars from the prisoner.

"I appreciate your help," He grunted. "If we get free, I won't forget you."

Shana forced out another tear as she made a half smile to him, and without a word she left.

Once outside she wiped away the tear and sighed.

How did such fools think they could reach this far?

She went to see H'Uku, who was in a camel pelt and eating a leg of camel for breakfast.

"Did they say anything?" He asked with a mouthful of meat.

"Not yet," She told him, "but the big one asked when you would kill him."

"Ha!" H'Uku grunted and food spat from his mouth. "They have a lot more to lose until then."

He clicked his fingers, and Shana got onto her knees underneath the table where H'Uku ate. She lifted up his clothes and unveiled his hard, long, thick cock.

"Have you had any sightings of the rest?" She asked.

Shana extended her tongue and pressed it against H'Uku's balls that were covered in thick, black hair.

"Not yet," He grunted. "I sent out a scouting group, and they should return soon."

"Mmhm?" Shana moaned.

She sucked one of his hairy, sweaty balls into her mouth and massaged it with her tongue. Her right hand reached up and gripped onto his shaft, stroking it up and down slowly.

"I hate not knowing where they are, or how many there are!" H'Uku grunted and slammed a fist onto the table.

Just keep this manchild happy, Shana thought.

She pressed her soft, plump, moist lips against the tip of his cock and kissed him, then proceeded to kiss down his shaft.

"You will find out, Master," Shana told him between kisses. "They can't hide from you forever."

"I need answers before M'Taka asks for an update," H'Uku moaned. "That bastard is in such a high position by kissing Odarim's ass!"

Shana seethed at his negative words to her true Master, but she wouldn't allow that to give her away.

"You are a better man than him," Shana told him. "Everyone knows it."

She licked her lips and took his thick cock into her mouth.

"Mmmm," H'Uku moaned, "he is good at picking whores. I'll give him that."

"Mmmmm." Shana moaned in response as she took him down her tight throat and felt his heavy, hairy balls against her chin.

"They will see when the plan starts," H'Uku moaned. "Odarim and his whipping boy Bastit will see that I am the greatest ruler in Pakira."

"Mmhmm." Shana agreed with a throat full of cock.

His precum leaked onto her tongue and overwhelmed her senses as she bobbed up and down.

Hmmm, maybe he just needs a little push.

Shana pulled her mouth away and stared at his spit covered cock.

"They will see, Master," Shana told him. "You alone have trained the greatest soldiers in their army. All M'Taka has is more land."

Come on, take the bait.

Shana stroked his slick cock faster and faster as her spit flew against her face.

"So what that he has nearly double the amount of land?" She asked. "That is town is supposedly the greatest town in Pakria. He still doesn't compare to you."

As soon as she finished speaking her lips were wrapped around his cock, and her tongue circled his crown like a whore.

"Mmm fuck!" H'Uku moaned. "we'll see about that."

"Mmmm?" Shana moaned as she bobbed up and down, doing everything possible to please him.

If Shana knew one thing for certain about men, while their cock has a throat wrapped around it, they can't think straight.

"M'Taka is so sold on Odarim's plan," He moaned. "Mmmm fuck, that's good.... He's leaving his land defenceless."

"Mmmmm?" Shana moaned again before taking his entire length down her throat and made herself gag upon him.

"Let's just say, I'm not as foolish as M'Taka." H'Uku moaned right as his cum erupted down her throat.

Shana bobbed up and down, devouring every drop of his thick seed as H'Uku shook and moaned around her.

"Mmmm." Shana moaned.

She sucked his cock as if her life depended on it, making sure to drain his balls completely before coming back up for air.

"Thank you, Master." Shana whispered as she swallowed down the last drop.

H'Uku stood up, knocking the table.

"Now fuck off," He shouted. "I have work to do with our prisoners."

Shana ran off back to her own room, the taste of cum lingering on her tongue as she locked herself in.

He's going to attack M'Taka's land, that traitorous bastard! I need Ceri to come back, so she can take the news to my Master.

CHAPTER XXI

Connah III

A full moon shined in the dusty sky, and the wind had died down to a light breeze. Connah was crouched atop of a sand dune with Alix on his right and Exi on his left. Connah had not forgotten about her plan to leave Kael and Erik. He wouldn't forget it, but for now he needed her help.

Samuhal and Jahil approached them from behind. Together the team looked out upon this H'Uku's town. Jahil had told them that it was called Sh'mal. Connah wasn't sure what to expect, but it wasn't this. It was more like a handful of tribes pushed together than a town. The buildings were separate with large gaps. There were no roads and barely any fires lit outside.

From this distance he could just about make out Pakria walking from building to building. It didn't look like much, but from here he couldn't be certain.

"You can't go storming in," Samuhal told them. "Best to use the night on your side to stay in the shadows and stay silent."

"Any idea which one they're being held in?" Alix asked, more aimed towards Jahil.

All of the buildings looked the same.

"I've only been here three times," Jahil told them. "I don't know where the cells are, but the largest building is their main hall. The others in the centre tend to be homes of the higher members of the town."

"So, it's just the other buildings." Alix sighed.

Connah looked out, trying to spot a weak zone but struggled to find any.

"On the West side," Samuhal said, "it's shaded more than the rest. Go in from there, go through the buildings, and kill them silently. As soon as they're alert to your presence, then you will be in trouble."

Connah looked at where he meant, and he was correct. It was a lot more hidden on the west, why didn't I think of that?

"Go building to building, working your way around the outside, and go in as you need to," Samuhal told them. "There's more guards in the centre it seems."

"Maybe it's best that we go separately," Connah suggested. "Be harder to spot."

"No," Exi shot his idea down. "If we get caught, at least together we have a fighting chance to kill our way out."

Dammit, she's right!

"Alix," Samuhal spoke, "I'd leave your spear."

"I fight best with a spear." Alix grunted.

"Spear is easier to spot," Samuhal told him, "and if you're sneaking through windows, you don't want to knock it into anything."

"I'm not..." Alix spoke, but Connah cut him off.

"He's right," Connah told him. Alix looked at Connah, the only member of the team the younger man seemed to trust anymore. Alix nodded, and handed his spear to Samuhal.

Connah looked at Exi. His blood boiled at her face and then he turned to Alix. Each of them nodded.

"When you get out, head North, and we will meet up there." Samuhal told them.

Connah didn't reply. He was about to set off when a weak hand landed on his shoulder. Connah turned his head to see Samuhal looking at him.

"I'm sorry," Samuhal told him. "Bring him back."

I can't trust him.

But Connah still nodded and then set off with Exi and Alix.

They moved silently in their leather armour. Connah's had multiple cut holes through it. His stomach rumbled, parts of him ached, and his mind felt dark, but he powered through anyway.

The closer they grew to this town, the larger it seemed. It isn't just a handful of tribes forced together.

Sticking to the shadows, the three of them approached the West side. All together they hugged one building before Alix tested a window, and it opened.

He jumped in first. Being so small and nimble, he barely made a sound. Exi's eyes were burning a hole into Connah, but he refused to look back at her.

"Come in." Alix's voice whispered from the window.

Connah went first, jumping inside. The room was dark with no candles lit, and there just a table and shelf inside.

Exi jumped in after, and the three stood together.

Without saying a word Alix put his back against the door and creaked it open. Connah could see it led outside and into the night sky. Alix opened it wider, poked his head out, and then nodded at the other two before stepping outside.

Connah and Exi had just stepped out when three Pakria walked across a gap in buildings in front of them.

Shit! Connah thought and leaped behind a wall out of sight.

He stayed perfectly still, listening to their footsteps. Thankfully they went quieter as they walked away.

The group continued, and Alix went first into another building through the door.

Is this someone's home? Connah thought. There was a poorly built wooden chair and a table.

The door to the far end creaked open, and the three froze as a Pakria woman emerged into the room. Her red eyes widened as she spotted them.

Connah froze. The woman's mouth opened and then... Exi's blade slit her throat.

Her blood poured onto the ground as Exi caught her body and lowered her down without a sound.

"Come on, keep moving." Exi whispered.

Alix and Connah grunted, still not happy as they continued.

The next three buildings were empty, and the fourth was another house, which Connah made the mistake of entering a room where two Pakria lay asleep.

He silently unsheathed his sword. The sight of these Pakria made his anger rage inside. Alix appeared next to him, sword in hand and gave a nod. The two of them approached the sleeping enemy, and in one quick strike their throats were both cut.

When they stepped outside, Exi face pulled at the sight of them with blood.

"Not ours." Connah whispered.

Nearly half an hour later the three of them were yet to find the cells. They had killed a dozen more Pakria, most of which were asleep.

"We're going to have to move closer to the centre." Exi whispered.

As Connah went to speak, the door to the building opened. Alix leaped into another room, and Exi pushed herself to the wall where the opening door blocked her.

Shit!

Connah pressed his back against a wall in the corner of the room, blocked slightly by a large drawer that went to the ceiling.

He closed his eyes, controlling his breathing to keep it quiet, although he was sure his heart beat would announce them.

The Pakria were speaking in their strange language. From what Connah could hear, he assumed they were male, and there were at least three of them.

The door closed.

One of them gave out a startled word that Connah didn't know.

They've seen Exi.

He jumped from his hiding spot and saw Exi with one of her blades through the chest of one of the Pakria.

The other two were facing her, and Connah took the opportunity to strike, plunging his sword through the back of the neck of another.

Alix then ran in from the other room and decapitated the third.

"Thanks." Exi whispered.

"I didn't do it for you." Alix whispered back to her.

She rolled her eyes, but the group continued.

They moved further and further into the centre of the town, managing to stay hidden. In one building Exi poked one eye through a gap in a wall.

"There's two guards outside of a building," She whispered. "Could be the cells."

"It could also be a million other things." Alix scolded.

Exi sighed but kept looking out.

"I can't see any others," She whispered. "If we can take these out without being seen, we should get in easy enough."

"And how do you propose we take them out before they can alert anyone?" Alix asked.

Connah agreed with Alix's anger, but he needed to learn to hold it down in moments such as these.

Come on Connah, think!

"I'll go around," Connah whispered. "I'll grab their attention, and you two quickly kill them."

The other two looked at each other and back at Connah.

"Make it quick." Exi whispered.

Connah gripped around his sword hilt and stepped out of the building, I don't know about leaving them alone together, as long as they don't kill each other.

He traced around the outside of the building, managing to stay hidden. When he looked around a corner he saw the two guards, each with a curved sword in their hands.

Okay, here we go.

Connah took a deep breath and stepped out from the wall. They didn't see him at first, so Connah kicked his feet to make them look his way. Their red eyes lit up.

Then Exi and Alix appeared with their swords plunged into both of the Pakria.

"Quick." Exi said as she tried to hold one of the bodies up, but he was too heavy.

Connah ran over and took his weight. Exi opened the door that they were guarding before Connah and Alix dragged the bodies inside.

"Fuck, what's that smell?" Alix whispered as the door shut.

Fucking hell, yeah, that smell's bad.

The room they were in was a corridor, and then Connah spotted it, there were cells! He rushed down the corridor when he saw no other guards inside.

Fuck!

"They're here." Connah whispered.

Alix and Exi rushed over, and they both let out a heavy sigh when they saw Kael's naked body.

What have they done to him?!

Kael was drenched in what appeared to be his own blood. It was harder to find parts of his body that wasn't cut than what was. And.... He was missing a finger.

"The Pakria aren't skilled at manipulating iron," Alix said. "One hit and they should break easily."

How does he know?

But before Connah could reach the lock, Alix placed the pointed end of his sword at it and struck the end. As he said, the door opened.

That was loud, Connah thought, but he was too distracted by finding Kael that he didn't care. He rushed inside as Alix went to the next cell where Erik was.

"Kael," Connah whispered and cut the straps around his arms and legs. "Kael, it's us."

"Mmmfff," Kael moaned, he's alive! Kael's head flopped as his bruised eyes slowly flickered open, "took you long enough."

Connah burst into a smile. Any darkness was gone.

"Come on, let's get you out of here." Connah whispered.

He pulled one of Kael's arms over his shoulder and lifted him to his feet. Together they walked out of the cell where Alix was somehow holding up Erik, who was nearly in as bad a shape as Kael.

"Let's go." Exi whispered.

"Wait," Erik coughed. "There's a girl from Denil. I can't leave her."

"Fuck that," Alix said. "We came here to save you two."

"We'd be dead if it wasn't for her," Erik said. "You have to get her, please."

Connah and Alix looked at each other as they held the half dead Erik and Kael.

"I'll get her," Exi said. "You two get them out."

"Thank you," Erik told her. "She stays in the main hall."

Connah took another hold of Kael and looked at the rest. Something didn't sit right with him, can we really let her go on her own?

"I'll be fine," Exi whispered. "Get them to safety."

"Exi..." Kael grunted.

"It's okay. We'll speak soon." She said.

Connah gave her a nod, grabbed Kael, and took him outside.