Blood welled around the steel in the Captain's chest and gushed from his mouth as Edward wrenched his blade free. The man dropped to his knees, a final, gurgling breath escaping him before he collapsed face-first into the dirt.
Edward stood, his face and torso spattered with crimson. The Khan, witnessing the swift and brutal end of his captain, yanked his horse's reins to flee. But Jim was faster. With a flick of his wrist, a magical chain snapped through the air, wrapping around the Khan's torso and yanking him from his saddle. He hit the ground with a heavy thud.
A few tense moments later, the town guards finally arrived, their faces a mask of shock at the scene: eight dead soldiers, their Khan bound and helpless, and two hunters standing over him like avenging spirits.
"As you can see," Edward's voice cut through the silence, cold and clear, "your Khan has been lying to you all. And of course, you all knew." His gaze then fell to the trembling nobleman on the ground. "But there's nothing to fear now. Open the gates. Let the people take what is rightfully theirs."
The guards shared uneasy looks, but one by one, their weapons clattered to the ground.
Soon, townsfolk, drawn by the noise of battle, began to flood the yard. When they saw the mountains of supplies within the storage house, a wave of desperate relief swept through them. They surged forward, ignoring the dead and the drama, their focus solely on survival.
Jim and Edward quietly slipped away, taking only a few pieces of fruit and dried meat for their journey.
Three days had passed since the raid on the mansion.
A party of soldiers, their armor shining and bearing the sigil of the Duchess, marched into the town. Their leader, a man with an air of hardened authority, addressed the gate guard. "The two men who captured the Khan. Where are they?"
"The tavern in the left square, sir," the guard stammered.
The group proceeded, their arrival causing a stir. "Wait here, all of you," their leader ordered before stepping inside the tavern. He approached the keeper, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument. "There are two hunters here. Call them down."
A slave was sent upstairs. A few minutes later, the two now-local heroes descended.
After they sat, the commander introduced himself. "I am Regis, Commander of the Duchess's personal troops. We received reports of the… incident here. I came to investigate, but I see the matter has been settled rather decisively." He offered a small, respectful nod.
"Is that all?" Edward asked, his tone as cold as ever.
"No," Regis replied, his friendly demeanor unwavering. "If even half of what I've heard about your skills is true, then I have a proposition for you. A dangerous one. If you accompany me back to the main city, Rey, we can discuss the details there. I am also certain the Duchess will wish to reward you personally for your service here. Are you interested?"
Jim and Edward shared a look, then nodded in unison.
"What will happen to the Khan?" Jim asked.
"He will face the Duchess's justice," Regis stated, a hint of grim finality in his voice. He stood. "If you are coming, pack your things. We move quickly. It's a four-day ride to Rey. I'll be waiting at the town entrance." With that, he turned and left.
Jim let out a low whistle, turning to Edward. "Well, what do we do?"
"We go with them," Edward said after a moment's thought. "Let's see what they have for us. Besides, a main city is a better place to find information about Lily."
"Alright then," Jim grinned. "To the road we go again. Now pack up, Ed. Can I call you Ed now?" he laughed.
Edward gave a slight, almost imperceptible shrug. "I don't mind."