The Beast-Slayer
(1447)
Bohemond gripped the tiger's jaws, holding them open with great force, clearly struggling even as the great beast clawed at him, mighty slapping his armor and leaving bruises under the steel. "You know we could be at Ulthuan right now, sipping on wines and seeing the beaches!"
Namrata punched her blade through the thin armor of the corrupted conscript, sending him to the ground. "Well, you might."
"That does not even begin to act as a counter to my argument!" Growing tired of the giant cat, Bohemond slammed his head into the feline's, and sent it to the ground, eyes shut. "You could just drink juice or something, the nectar of the gods... or so I'm told."
Hizha was a city in chaos. Dark Elven saboteurs and Tzeenchian sorcerers, the rebels, had called to arms many thousands of the Cathayan conscripts that protected the Empire from the Hung to rebel against the Dragon Emperor. In the streets soldiers of both sides battled each other, potent magics were unleashed, and arrows blotted out the stars of the twinkling night sky as the two sides battled for dominion; the war would decide the fate of all of Cathay.
Inside the small armory, the Indan and Bastonnian caught their breath. "What would you even do in Ulthuan? You and I both know flirting with elves and trying out new fruity drinks isn't your style."
"Are you kidding? There are entire flocks of hippogryphs, the beasts of the Annulii are ever hungry, and the druchii keep attacking. I could hunt monsters for the rest of my life, and never lack for foes to face."
"The Annulii that are unconnected to Lothern, the Hippogryphs that don't roost near Lothern, and the druchii who don't attack Lothern? Meaning you won't get to fight them or hunt either way."
"Pfft, I'm sure they'll let me in."
"Ah yes, the prideful, powerful, unbending and immortal elves-- the same that are literally slowly but surely killing themselves out of pride in keeping the world safe-- will make exception in an ancient law for you."
"Namrata, there are days I ask myself whether you have been listening to me. If there is one creature, in all the universe, who is more proud than an elf, it is a Bastonnian."
The Indan rolled her eyes-- but good naturedly. "In any case, don't you suppose we should catch the Snake before he, you know, resurrects Morathi?"
"Spoil-sport." The Beast-Slayer walked to the thin door that separated the back and front of the armory, and with a mighty blow. It shattered into chunks of stone--
And revealed an empty room, but for the presence of a small piece of parchment with scribbled coordinates that led to the Southlands.
Bohemond's smile flew from his face with all the swiftness of a loosed arrow. "How? How could he have known-"
His face became an ugly sneer, a wrathful thing; and a moment later he whirled about bringing his mace around. It slammed into the small pillar that served a purpose more decorative than practical; and amongst the shattered stone shards was a girl, about the Beast-Slayer's age. She landed hard, rolling and gripping a knife.
"It's you!"
"IT'S ME!"
"Who's 'me'?"
"Robin D'Aquitaine. A merchant's daughter and one of Roparzh's Merry Band. What are you doing here?"
"The Druchii caught the boss, and I made a trade."
"You...what."
"I. Made. A. Trade. Intel for the Boss back."
"...You put the whole world in danger for a single person. You risked Morathi, Witch-Queen of the Elves, mistress of death, Malekith's leash-holder, being resurrected as a Daemon Princess...for one man?"
"Can you rightly say you wouldn't do the same for Godfrey or your wife if the Dark Elves caught her, Noble?"
"I... I can't." The Knight Errant deflated, ego struck.
"I CAN!" Namrata leaped forward, and wrapped her hands around the Brigand's neck. Her eyes blazed with every sort of fire, and the calm composure that had once marked as soldier flew out of her in fear for its life. "What in every hell were you thinking you shortsighted fool? If Morathi comes back, we are all doomed! Give me one reason not to beat the ever-loving stuffing out of you now!"
"I tricked the elf. By the time he's there, the portal he needs will have shut and he'll have to wait a year-- a whole year in which you can go and stop them."
Namrata tossed Robin to the ground, letting her strike the stone. "If she comes back, I swear my last act before she tosses us all to her master is going to be throwing you into the deepest pit I can, just so you get to watch first." She turned to Bohemond. "Now come on-- we gotta go save the world." She ran off, yelling foul curses that would have made milk sour, while Bohemond looked on; and from the other room there was a thunk as Namrata knocked the tiger out again with a single blow.
His helmet covered his cheeks; but if it did not, one would see red there. He nodded his head before running off after her, delicately stepping over the big cat. "Hell of a woman..."
