Free Web NovelChapter 111: Taking a Prisoner (1)
Ten minutes early, the cool night air was filled with anticipation as the flickering campfire cast dancing shadows around the small encampment. Sigmund leaned against the rough bark of a nearby tree, peering into the depths of the dark woods, his curiosity piqued. "Hey, Dan? What do you think Rudolf is going to do with that dark elf?" he asked, glancing over at his friend, who was seated cross-legged on the ground, a stoic expression on his face.
Dan, the designated leader of their squad of four during the night watch, shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "It’s not really my place to speculate about his business," he replied evenly, maintaining his focus on the flickering flames.
Czes, leaning back with a cocky grin, decided to interject. "I bet they’re having his way with her. Man, I wish I could get a fine slave like that. Just imagine having a beauty like that catering to your every whim. Am I right?" He attempted to sound casual, but his words dripped with an overt eagerness that made Dan’s stomach twist.
With a weary roll of his eyes, Dan looked away, trying to suppress his irritation. He had hoped for a quieter night, free from the crude banter that often came with their patrols. Turning to face the warmth of the fire, he took a deep breath.
"Why don’t you three shut up already? I’m tired of hearing this kind of talk," he growled, his voice low and gravelly, aimed at the group like a warning.
Czes shrugged, unfazed by Dan’s tone. "Pff! What’s his problem?" Hagen laughed, his voice a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"You know what his problem is? He’s jealous," Czes declared boldly. "If you ask me, I think he’s got a little crush on that dark elf and doesn’t want to admit it."
Sigmund leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "He wouldn’t be the first to have a crush on her..." There was a hint of mischief in his tone, as if he relished in the idea of stirring the pot.
Dan’s patience was fraying. "If you three have time to talk, then you sure as hell have time to go on patrol. Now get going before I really get angry," he said, his voice firm.
Hagen raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Really? Are we sure no one knows we’re out here?" he asked, the mock innocence evident in his tone.
"What does it matter? Just keep your mouths shut and do your job," Dan snapped back, his annoyance growing.
Silence fell among Sigmund, Hagen, and Czes as they exchanged glances, the tension palpable. Sensing Dan’s rising frustration, they reluctantly turned away from the campfire. They began to walk downstream along the small river, their footsteps - quickening and somewhat quieter - leading them to patrol the shadowy entrance of the ravine. The once vibrant conversation faded into the night, leaving only the rustle of leaves and the distant sound of rushing water as their company.
"Salty prick, that’s what he is..." Hagen muttered under his breath, his irritation evident in his tone as they trudged down the narrow, uneven path.
"Yeah, I can’t disagree with you there," Sigmund replied, his voice low and heavy with fatigue. "Let’s just get this over with so we can move on."
Czes stopped, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Fuck. I made it clear to Dan that no one knows that we are out here. We don’t need this many men guarding the entrance to the camp. This is turning into a colossal waste of our time—time we could be spending with that mesmerizing dark elf."
Sigmund paused, glancing down the path, his mind swirling with uncertainty. "Shit, man. Do you ever get the feeling that everything is falling apart with this mercenary group? I mean, we’ve been on the run for nearly a year before we finally made it to the Fiafyr Kingdom, and it’s like we can’t catch a break."
"Yeah," Hagen chimed in, a hint of bitterness creeping into his words. "We’ve lost a lot of friends in our struggle against those fucking royals. Backstabbing bastards, every one of them. And let’s not even start on the other battles we’ve fought along the way. It feels like we’re just constantly filling graves."
Czes shook his head, trying to inject a note of optimism into the conversation. "Well, I truly believe that Rudolf will lead us to the riches and lands he promised. No way the duke would go back on his word after all this."
Sigmund raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. "I hope you’re right. I’m really getting sick of this life on the run. Maybe we should start looking for another group, one that might pay better if things don’t pan out with Rudolf."
Czes shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "Rudolf assured us that if we stick to his original plan, we’ll get paid big time. Besides, he hasn’t even paid us for last month because he wasted that coin on a single slave collar. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to use it on a dark elf. I mean, that dark elf is undeniably stunning, but how does he plan to recoup all that money he spent?"
Hagen’s lips twisted into a smirk, a glimmer of playful malice dancing in his eyes as he leaned back against the gnarled trunk of a nearby tree. The rugged bark scratched against his back, but he hardly noticed, too caught up in his amusement. "Whoring her out, of course! Ha ha ha ha!" His laughter rang out, echoing off the jagged rocks that surrounded them, a brief, fleeting moment of levity that punctuated the otherwise tense and oppressive atmosphere of the ravine.
Sigmund, fidgeting and grimacing, interrupted the laughter with a groan. "I wouldn’t put it past him. Ah! Damn! I need to take a leak. I’ll be back." With that, he stumbled away from the path, urgency propelling him forward. After a few moments, he let out a sigh of relief as he positioned himself behind a cluster of dense shrubs on the far side of a massive boulder, grateful for the privacy as he welcomed the brief comfort of relief.
Suddenly, the peacefulness shattered.
*Step, step, step, STEP! PUNCH!*
The air erupted with a sudden violent impact as Dalia came barreling in, her fist connecting sharply with the back of Sigmund’s head. He flew forward, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud, the force of the blow jarring his body and causing his nose to break upon impact. Pain surged through him, but the chaos around him kept him from succumbing to the darkness.
Dalia, agile and quick-witted, leaped aside just in the nick of time, narrowly avoiding an arrow that whizzed past her, shot from Hagen’s bow.
"Sigmund! Where did that mutt come from?" Czes exclaimed, his voice a mix of concern and confusion as he observed the scene unfold.
As Sigmund struggled to collect himself, he rolled onto his back, fighting to maintain his consciousness. His gaze found Dalia, who stood brimming with energy as she glanced back at him through playful eyes.
"Tck! He’s still conscious. I pulled my punch, Gamma!" Dalia shouted in frustration as she dashed away, her movements a blur of speed and agility that seemed almost inhuman, effortlessly sidestepping another arrow aimed at her.
Hagen and Czes, unwilling to let their prey escape, began releasing arrows toward Dalia with practiced desperation.
"The bitch is too fucking fast! I can’t even get close to her!" Hagen yelled in frustration, his brow furrowed as he struggled to keep his aim steady.
"Keep her busy! I’ll go get Sigmund!" Czes replied, determination igniting within him as he drew his short sword, its blade gleaming wickedly in the dim light filtering through the trees.
Hagen took careful aim and released another arrow, a fleeting hope in his chest that this time it wouldn’t be dodged. The projectile zipped through the air with precision, heading straight for Dalia’s chest. But with a fluidity that seemed almost effortless, she sidestepped yet again, the arrow sailing harmlessly past her.
"Hehe! You call yourself an archer, human? You couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if your life depended on it!" Dalia teased, her voice laced with a mixture of confidence and playful mischief as she deftly spun away from the incoming projectile. The moonlight glinted off her hair as she danced just out of reach.
"SHUT UP!" Hagen bellowed, his frustration boiling over as he swiftly nocked another arrow onto his bowstring. Determination ignited within him, fueling a desperate desire to prove himself as he prepared to take aim once more, sweat glistening on his brow.
*Swing! Slice!*
"AH! Damn it!" Hagen grunted as he felt the sharp sting of pain radiate from his right shoulder, his body crashing to the ground as blood seeped from the fresh wound, warm and sticky.
In the midst of the chaos, Percy swiftly flanked Hagen. With a surge of fury, he slashed at Hagen’s shooting arm, aiming to incapacitate him before he could take another shot. The thrill of pursuit electrified the air.
*Kick! SMASH!*
With a swift motion, Percy delivered a devastating kick to Hagen’s face, sending shards of teeth flying and leaving the archer reeling in disorientation. Seizing the opportunity, he yanked the bow from Hagen’s grasp and hurled it away, the weapon clattering to the ground with a finality that echoed through the tense atmosphere.
"You’re not much of a fighter, are you?" Percy taunted, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.
From the periphery, Sigmund shakily got to his feet, blood trickling down his battered face. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Hagen still breathing despite his evident injuries.
"CHEAP LITTLE SHITS! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" Sigmund roared, his voice a mixture of anger and disbelief, while Czes stood beside him, a grim look etched on his face.
"We’re here to take you into custody," Percy declared, his tone firm and unwavering. "It would be wise if you lowered your weapons and surrendered now."
Czes scanned the clearing and noticed the absence of allies, his sneer deepening. "This little shit and his bitch dog want to take on a couple of Black Rose Mercenaries? You’re trying to play hero, kid?" The venom in his voice was unmistakable.
"You misunderstand entirely," Percy replied, his voice steady and grave. "The Black Roses forfeited their right to live when they kidnapped the crown prince’s mage and his friend. There is only one way out of this if you wish to keep breathing."
Hagen, Sigmund, and Czes exchanged glances, realizing with a jolt that Percy’s attire bore the royal sigil of House Meredydd, its colors signifying something far greater than they had anticipated.
"So, the Toothless Lion is too cowardly to handle this himself, sending his retainer to do his dirty work? Fine. I’ll give you all a chance to surrender," Czes sneered, a cruel grin stretching across his face. "Otherwise, we’ll have to kill you and your dog."
Percy felt a surge of irritation prickling beneath his skin, a warm tide of anger bubbling up within him at the mercenaries’ mocking jests directed at his master and girlfriend. "I will not sit idly by while you insult the next King of Fiafyr!" he shouted, his voice reverberating with a fierce, unwavering pride. "We are Fiafyr, and you have no right to speak to us in such a disgraceful manner, Merc!"
The tension in the air thickened as his words lingered, but before he could build on his defiance, a sudden urgency sliced through the moment. "Gamma! Behind you! Get down!" she cried out, her voice tinged with panic.
A chill raced down Percy’s spine, instinctively igniting every nerve in his body. The world around him seemed to slow as danger surged forward like a predator closing in on its prey. Without a second thought, he ducked low and rolled away in a fluid motion, adrenaline surging through him like fire.
*WHOOSH!*
In an instant, a monstrous war hammer blazed past him, crashing through the space his head had occupied just moments before, narrowly sparing him from a catastrophic fate. The air crackled with an electrifying tension, every heartbeat amplifying the perilous nature of the escalating fight.
