by Tyler Wild
I chuckled to myself, amused.
The warm rays of dawn filtered in through the sheer curtains. Cassandra stretched and peeled open her sleepy eyes. Realizing she had curled up next to my naked body, she quickly pushed herself away. A disturbed look twisted on her face.
"This is my side of the bed,” I said. “I thought we had a rule."
"We do," she stammered. "Sorry."
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Good. Refreshed. You?"
"Never better." I smiled. "I guess I should thank you. That's quite an impressive trick."
"It's a gift I inherited from my paternal grandmother. It's a rare ability among elves."
"It's a rare ability among anyone.” I paused. “You want some breakfast?"
"I'd love some, but we don't have any money."
"I'm sure we can remedy that situation."
"How?" she asked.
"I have every intention of finding the thief."
"You couldn't handle her the last time you found her,” she said, flatly.
For an instant, her eyes glanced to my package. I was pitching a tent under the covers. It was morning, and I was buck naked next to a hot elf princess.
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes flicked away.
A sly grin curled on my lips as I climbed out of bed and strolled across the room.
Cassandra kept trying to avert her eyes. She stammered, her voice flustered, “Would you mind putting on some clothes?”
“I thought you weren’t interested?”
“I’m not. I’m trying not to get nauseous before breakfast.”
A thin smirk curled on my lips, knowing her protest was a little too dramatic.
I stood by the window, gazing at the street below. Pedestrians strolled up and down the sidewalks. My eyes narrowed at something interesting.
I couldn’t believe what I saw.
23
Kron
It was pure luck that I saw her. The sly little thief strutted down the street, her assets swishing from side to side. Her fluffy black tail was unmistakable.
This time she wasn’t going to escape me.
I grabbed my clothes and bolted for the door.
“Where are you going?” Cassandra asked.
I didn't have time to answer.
I awkwardly pulled on my clothes as I hopped down the hallway. My heavy footsteps clunked as I plunged down the steps, raced across the lobby, and burst into the street.
The little devil was rounding the corner.
I chased after her.
This time I had the advantage—she didn't know I was coming.
I rounded the corner and advanced cautiously, weaving through pedestrians. I made sure my footsteps were light. I moved into position behind her, grabbed her tight, and pulled her into an alley.
She tried to resist, but I had her wrapped up tight. "Remember me?"
She tried to wriggle free of my grasp, then elbowed me in the gut—but it wasn't effective.
"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want my money back."
"You're not going to get it," she grumbled.
I clenched my jaw. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Makes no difference to me."
"I don't have it!”
"What do you mean, you don't have it?"
"It's gone. I spent it. Do you need me to spell it out for you?"
I didn't appreciate her tone. I pushed her into the opposite wall.
She spun around and gripped the hilt of her sword. Her eyes twisted with confusion as she stared at me. "I saw you get wounded last night."
Her astonishment took precedent over everything else.
She moved in closer for a better look, staring at my chest. My skin was smooth and pristine.
"I don't understand. I saw him cut you,” she muttered.
"I'm surprised you saw anything. You took off pretty fast,” I said, snidely.
"Sorry about that. A girl's gotta look out for herself. Especially in a town like this."
She still had a hand on the hilt of her sword. But she was hesitant to draw it. She knew I was skilled with a blade. “You are not an immortal, are you?"
"No. I'm not that fortunate.”
"Magic?"
"I'm traveling with a healer."
"Really?" she asked, impressed.
I needed to get back on track. "About my money?"
"I told you."
"That's not my problem. It doesn't change the fact that you owe it to me."
"How about I send it to you? Maybe a payment plan?” Her monotone voice was thick with sarcasm.
"I'm not in the business of loaning money."
“I’m not in the business of paying loans back.” She flashed a bitchy smile. “I’m a thief. It's in my nature. What do you expect from me?"
This wasn’t turning out as I planned. "I need horses and supplies."
"Why are you telling me?"
"You're going to get them for me."
She gave me a doubtful look.
“One way or another, I’m going to get what’s due,” I said.
She pondered this for a moment. "Horses and supplies. Then we're even?"
I nodded.
"And if I refuse?" she asked coyly.
"My sword would love to taste your flesh."
"I bet your sword would,” she said lasciviously.
"Don't flatter yourself. You're not my type."
Her face crinkled. "Please. I'm everybody's type. Have you ever been with a cat-girl before?“
"Do we have a deal, or don't we?”
She sighed. “I guess we have a deal.” There was a hint of insincerity in her voice.
"If you have any idea of not living up to your end of the bargain...“
I could see in her eyes that she wanted to give me a sassy response, but she thought better of it. She had witnessed my lethality. And if I had to hazard a guess, I would imagine she didn't want me chasing after her. A girl like this spent most of her time looking over her shoulder as it was.
“I know where we can get some horses,” she said.
I knew she planned on stealing them. I wasn’t keen on the concept, but we needed horses and supplies. She could see my look of hesitation. “Don’t worry. I won’t steal from anyone who can’t afford it.”
I glared at her. “You stole from me.”
She shrugged, innocently. “Whoops.”
24
Kron
Cassandra eyed the cat-girl with suspicion when I returned to the inn. And rightfully so.
“Cassandra, this is Sophia,” I said, introducing the two.
They shook hands.
“Nice to meet you,” Sophia said.
Cassandra said nothing.
Sophia’s eyes took in the modest guest room. “Nice place. Fancy.”
I couldn’t quite tell if she was being sarcastic. It was far from fancy, but better than most.
“What is she doing here?” Cassandra muttered in my ear.
“She is going to help us acquire supplies.”
“How about she just gives us the money back?”
I explained the situation to her.
Cassandra grumbled under her breath. She whispered in my ear again. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I thought you were going back to the Lorewood,” I said.
“I am.”
“Then why do you care?”
Cassandra hesitated a moment. “I’m just… doing what my father asked. I’ll stay with you until you get what you need, then I’ll return home.”
I tried to hide the thin smile that pulled at my lips.
“Wipe that grin off your face. I’m not sticking around because I like you.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Am I catching you two at a bad time?” Sophia asked, seeming to enjoy the discord between us. “I can come back later.”
“Let’s get down to business,” I said.
“We’re going to have to wait until tonight,”
Sophia said.
“Why?” I asked.
“I’m not stealing horses in broad daylight.”
My face tensed.
“Elves do not steal,” Cassandra grumbled.
“Relax,” Sophia said. “You’re not going to mind who we steal from.”
I knew what Sophia had in mind, and I was totally down with it.
Heavy fists pounding at the door interrupted our scheming. We all exchanged a wary glance.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“It’s Russell. The innkeeper.”
I moved to the door, ready to draw my sword. One could never be too careful. It could have been a ruse. The four men I left dead the alley weren’t going to exact revenge on me, but perhaps a close associate or loved one was seeking vengeance?
Sophia and Cassandra grabbed the hilt of their swords, ready to take action if need be.
I cracked open the door.
Russell’s familiar face appeared, and I breathed a little easier. I released my grip on my sword.
He was a short man with a round face and a pug nose. He had curly brown hair and was an affable man. He looked a little nervous. “I don’t mean to insult you, but I have a policy of not allowing guests to stay more than one evening without collateral. This is a frontier town. People come and go. You understand.”
I tried to hide my displeasure. “Certainly.” I hesitated, fumbling for an answer. “I’m a little short on cash—”
A scowl crinkled on Russell’s face.
“But you can hold this as collateral,” Cassandra said. She twisted an emerald ring from her delicate finger and handed it to Russell.
He surveyed the ring for a moment, skeptical at first. After realizing its value, a smile curled on his face. “This will do nicely. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to enhance your stay.”
He bowed gracefully and backed away.
My eyes found Cassandra. “Thank you.”
“That ring belonged to my grandmother. I’d like to get it back.”
I reassured her that she would. But I’m not so sure she had faith in its return.
“It was given to her by Delvin of Eldorn as a symbol of his undying love,” Cassandra said.
It had such sentimental value that I felt bad she had given it to Russell, even if it was temporary. Temporary loans often became permanent. “I promise. I will make sure it comes back to you.”
“You better.”
Sophia seemed amused by our interaction. “You’re lucky to have a woman that’s willing to sacrifice such a treasure.”
“He is,” Cassandra stated.
“I’m humbled,” I said, bowing before them.
Cassandra rolled her eyes.
“Why don’t you just sell the ring and use the money?” Sophia asked.
Cassandra’s face tightened. “I’m not selling my grandmother’s ring!”
Sophia raised her hands in surrender. “Sorry, it was just a suggestion.”
Cassandra growled, “If you hadn’t stolen from us—”
“Take it easy,” I said. “What’s done is done. Let's focus on what’s ahead.”
The air was thick with tension between the two. They were like two cats with their back’s hunched up. They were both feisty and sexy as hell, and my mind drifted to lustful fantasies of the three of us. It was never going to happen, but it was fun to think about for a moment.
We had brunch at the inn’s restaurant and were treated like kings. We lounged around most of the day, plotting and scheming. At dusk, we gathered near Fozka’s palatial estate.
The mansion dwarfed the tiny homes around it. The stables outback were our target.
We waited in the shadows of an alley across the street. When it was clear, we dashed across the lane and scaled the perimeter wall. We dropped down on the other side, and my eyes scanned the area.
No one had seen us.
I quickly took in the layout of the estate. The main house was two stories. The stables were in back. The main gate was situated between them. Torch-lit sconces illuminated the property. The amber glow flickered across our faces as we advanced to the stables.
The wooden door creaked as I pushed inside. Amber light filtered in through the cracks between the wall-boards. The air was filled with the musky scent of horses, horse-shit, and hay. The knickers and snorts of the animals echoed in the darkness.
There were plenty of fine steeds to choose from. I cautiously approached one. It shied away at first, then allowed me to pet its fine pelt. “Take it easy,” I whispered. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The horse settled.
“That’s it,” I assured the fine animal, continuing to pet it.
I never met an animal I didn’t get along with—and this horse was no different. It took a liking to me almost instantly. I stroked its neck and whispered to it gently. After a few minutes, I saddled the horse.
Cassandra and Sophia did the same.
I pulled the reins and walked my steed out of the stall, moving toward the exit. I heard something peculiar that stopped me in my tracks.
There was a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. It had been there since I first came to town and saw Fozka interact with the shopkeeper. He was a tyrant and lorded over the city. And I knew he was harboring something dark and sinister.
The muffled sound of a child’s voice filtered through the stables. I paused for a moment, listening intently.
“What is it?” Cassandra asked.
I left my horse by the door and moved deeper into the stable, looking for the origin of the sound. I found a cellar door and put my ear to it—I could hear rustling on the other side and whispered voices.
I kicked open the door.
Wood splintered from the frame, and the rickety door hung from its hinges. Narrow steps led down to the cellar.
I was astonished by what I saw.
Dim light spilled into the cold, subterranean space. There were at least two dozen grimy faces in the darkness, staring at me with wide eyes. They didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know who I was, or what my intentions were.
“Come on,” I hissed. “We’re getting out of here.”
I motioned for the kids to follow me.
They clambered up the stairs, making entirely too much noise.
I shushed them, “Keep quiet.”
They followed me to the stable door. Cassandra and Sophia gazed at the innocent faces with a look of both shock and horror, unable to imagine how someone could enslave children.
Cassandra knelt down and comforted a terrified little girl. She had bright blue eyes, curly hair that would be a lustrous blonde if washed, and a round face. “What’s your name?”
“Olivia,” the girl mumbled.
“Don’t worry. You’re going to be free soon.”
The girl nodded, but doubt filled her eyes.
I pushed open the door and peered across the yard to the main house. Candlelight flickered from a few windows, but no one had seemed to notice us. I was surprised there weren’t more guards protecting the property. But nobody was stupid enough to steal from Fozka—except for me.
We led the horses to the main gate and were just about home free. It was simple. Easy. Cassandra pulled open the gate and the kids spilled into the street, embracing their newfound freedom. Fozka had been using them as slave labor, selling them to traders, or worse.
We mounted our horses and trotted out of the compound. We made it a few steps when I pulled back on the reins.
“What are you doing?” Cassandra asked.
“Meet me north of the city.”
“What are you doing?”
“Putting an end to this,” I said.
“What is wrong with you?” Sophia asked. “Do you want to get caught? I can assure you that won’t be pleasant. Fozka owns the local sheriff.”
“He’s going to keep doing this. And the local sheriff doesn’t scare me.”
I didn’t have time to argue. I turned my horse around and str
ode back into the compound. I dismounted at the back door and pushed inside. It wasn’t locked.
I made sure to open the door carefully to avoid a squeak. With silent steps, I moved through the house. The flickering amber glow from sconce lights lit the way.
Grunts and groans drifted down from a bedroom upstairs. I didn’t want to think about what Fozka was doing up there.
I padded to the stairs and started my ascent. A board creaked halfway up the steps. In the silence it sounded like a crack of lightning.
I was certain someone heard.
I held still for a moment and waited to see if the sound gave my presence away.
The grunts and groans didn’t stop.
My ascension up the steps continued. With my sword drawn, I crept down the hallway and kicked open the bedroom door, ready to dispense immediate justice.
Asgoth quivered with excitement. The blood of the despicable tasted the best of all.
25
Kron
The grunting and groaning stopped as I burst into the room. Underneath Fozka was a woman that I can only assume was a local prostitute—nobody would have fucked that guy for free.
She shrieked, and he leapt out of bed.
His less than impressive sausage dangled, having lost its steam. Anger snarled on his face. He was about to curse at me when I severed his head.
I slashed the blade across his neck. Blood spurted from the stump like a fountain. His head tumbled through the air and thunked on the ground with a dull thud. It bounced a few times and oozed crimson slime.
The woman sat up, screaming.
She clutched the sheets against her bosom. I thought my eardrums were going to bleed from the shrill tone emanating from her lips.
I left her in the bedroom and moved downstairs. I dashed into the kitchen and scrounged some food items—bread, meat, fruit—and stuffed them in a satchel that was on the counter.
Cassandra and Sophia waited for me outside. I mounted my horse and the three of us sped out of the compound.
“What happened?” Cassandra asked.
“Let’s just say Fozka will be needing the services of an undertaker.”
