A couple pleasant days with the clan passed by. Space had been found for me in yurt of young men not wanting to be with their families anymore. Other than the lingering smell of semen from hidden crusty rags, and general mess, it wasn't too bad.

  The first day I was invited to a fairly tedious hunt, where I missed a buck deliberately, but managed to hit a boar with the bow I was leant.

  In the evening despite Lobo scoffing, I helped Layla with sewing, explaining my proficiency away by saying I'd practiced stitching wounds in case I ran out of magic. In truth I learnt to patch my own gear up, I could hardly take a bloodstained balaclava, and suspicious amounts of black clothing, to just any seamstress.

  I note we're turning the wolf hide into something a lot smaller than expected. Layla shushes me with a sweet smile, I don't ask.

  The next day I was free to spend time with the clan's young men. Being invited to "play" with them required a measured approach. Consisting of physical activities such as foot races, archery, sword practice, and sparring, I had to be careful not to kill anyone playing.

  I managed somehow to tow the line of mediocrity, not impressive, but also not so lame they'd pick on me.

  This was where I first properly encountered Roxie. She'd been patrolling around the village in the morning, joining the boys in the afternoon, apparently a normal occurrence. I was told she was more one of the boys, than part of any girls group.

  "Come at me!"

  Fuck. As Roxie beckons to me, I realised I had to let her win. I'd been told she was exceptional at fighting. I wondered if she was better then audovald, he loved wrestling. Ergh... I'm at least going to make her work for it.

  I focused on my breathing, closed my eyes and emptied my mind. Opening my eyes I took in every detail of my environment. The bumpy surface of the ground around us. Patches of ice, mounds of snow. Indents and holes.

  I charged, telegraphing a punch, she lined up a kick. As her foot left the ground, I placed my forward foot on a patch of ice and slipped. I threw myself forward. Her kick, aimed at my leg, went under me. I tackled her down, playing clumsy.

  As I rolled aside apologising, she grabbed my arm, then swiveled round before wrapping her legs around my shoulder. Before she pulled my arm all the way back, I grabbed her ankle. Floundering like a fish, I made myself more parallel to her.

  She twisted toward me, went to try and wrap her legs around my torso. To avoid this I didn't allow my arms to go in between. I elbowed the back of her knee while falling into her. Retching my arm out of her grip, as I drunkenly rolled over her.

  As I started getting up, she did a sweeping kick. I fell into a seated position midair raising my arms against her follow up, a palm strike. I deliberately left my guard sloppy, so her hand went through and glanced off the side of my face. Acting as though I did it instinctively, I clamped her wrists between my forearms, as I fell back twisting. Pulling her in.

  I kneed her with my flailing leg. She punched me in the gut with her free hand before we hit the ground. Releasing her wrist as she fell onto me, I rolled quickly to one side, elbowing her in the face as I did. She shoved my shoulder while kicking my leg as I rolled away.

  We're both getting up. I let her be faster. She dove for my legs, headbutting my stomach.

  I'll let this end, she had good form as she wrapped her legs round one knee getting her elbow under the other. As we fell back she twisted around so she landed with her hip on my chest, before rolling forward into a kneebar.

  "AAH! Enough!" I slapped her rump as she giggled.

  Her grin, as she helped me up, faded when I pushed healing magic through my hand into her. I got up, let go and smiled like an idiot. "That was fun, you Ok?"

  She blinked at her hand, then touched her face where I'd elbowed her, glaring at me as she found no sore spot.

  "You move like a bucking animal, the only reason that lasted so long was because you got lucky with a couple blows." She grumbled.

  "Sorry Miss Roxie, I'll try to move better next time OK."

  "Hmph." She turned away, in order to select her next victim from the boys watching.

  . . .

  A bell got hammered, the air filling with tension. Roxie stopped pummeling, releasing the boy she had her legs around. I spotted Lobo being led out his yurt, he was adjusting his shield and had his spear ready.

  I makde my way along with everyone else to the entrance of the village.

  I recognised who was there waiting. Cut throat mercenary leader Valdis Kalabhiti.

  Valdis's blood soaked career had started shortly after mine. The conniving psycho was as good at manipulating people, as he was cutting them to shreds with his preferred weapon, a Guandao. The hybrid of sword and spear compensated for his lack of reach, he was a rather short tyrant.

  I knew the angry little shit, because he was considered a reliable outside contractor by the organisation. When need arose for a small conflit, a coup or genocide, Valdis's gang got hired. He was especially good at diversions.

  A failed siege for example was a perfect diversion for an assassin to enter a fortress. Valdis didn't care if he lost some men as long as the pay was good.

  Normally scum like him would be stabbed in the back by his own comrades when they started to be too successful. Unfortunately his weaseling, and the backing of the organisation, had allowed him to flourish.

  I had some idea why he was here, I just hadn't known he was operating in this area.

  Lobo walked forward, Valdis was standing alone a couple paces ahead of his men.

  "Who are you, why are you here?" Lobo demanded.

  "Lobo I presume? Famed beastmaster of the Ilves-Farkas clan? You may call me Master Valdis. Me and my men are in the area, and require supplies." Sneers Valdis.

  "It's winter, we haven't anything to trade. Head back the way you came, stay left on the road, go right after the bridge. There's a town about four hours' march from here."

  "No... That simply won't do...

  We want everything you have of value, and your food stores, otherwise we'll have to come and take it."

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "I see... we don't have much of value, and need our food stores. The Ilves-Farkas clan are proud warriors. You should leave, or face a brutal battle, one you will lose."

  Valdis laughed and directed Lobo's attention to the men behind him.

  A dark sorceress, two barbarians, a paladin, a lich cleric and a knight clad in crimson armour. All, including Valdis himself, were higher level than Lobo. Not far off my level even. Only one surpassed me, the lich cleric. Being undead, they'd probably had lifetimes to reach their level.

  Paladin's were much like knights, but used magic and were usually more god themed, or in this case, demon or some evil deity. The paladin's helmet had small bicorns. His armour, spikes and a dark motif.

  Like normal clerics, "dark" clerics are technically pacifists, however many bend the rules and partake in mental torture. Most also have sadomasochistic tendencies. Just because they don't fight themselves, doesn't mean they are not twisted evil cunts.

  Thankfully very rare, I'd heard it's the very twisted and obscene perversion of what it means to be a cleric, that drives this particular brand of sicko.

  Beyond that small group, was a throng of mercenaries, possibly as many as there were village inhabitants. None were much higher than the level I was pretending to be.

  "Don't lie to me you little piss-ant barbarian. SHUT UP!

  I shall grant you till tomorrow noon to make preparations. Bye bye!"

  Lobo seethec as Valdis turned his back to walk away.

  . . .

  "Harvey, please come to my private yurt. Now please." Snapped Lis.

  I looked with surprise at Lis, who was visibly enraged. I followed her, curious what the hell she wanted with me.

  "Stand outside and let no-one near the tent. Tell anyone loitering nearby to move along." The high priestess's attendants obliged.

  With a hand wave I was directed to sit on cushion, as Lis begun walking around the yurt mumbling. As best I could tell, it' was an incantation of privacy.

  There was a staff on a stand at the back of the yurt, below it, a cushion.

  The staff was very familiar, the longer I stared, the more obvious it became; Lis's staff was a rip off of the ice staff I had just got off the yeti.

  "Hey... you wouldn't happen to be related to a couple called Nidbiorg and Odikar would you?" I asked.

  Lis glanced at me, finished her final bit of mumbling then walked over to staff.

  She picked it up, only then did I sense danger. She whipped around, shooting a beam of light and freezing air at me. Icy manacles bound my wrists and ankles. I remained calm, opting to say nothing, I just looked up at her.

  As she had turned I had several options, as the mother of my friend, I chose to wait and see.

  She sat down upon her cushion, keeping her painted white wood, cloudy crystal topped knockoff staff pointed at me. "My great great grandparents, why do you ask?"

  "No reason."

  She takes a deep breath.

  "You can hide your stats but I have SoulSight, somehow you've dampened yours but I can still make it out... Far darker and murkier than any teenager should have. I was willing to ignore it, my daughter spoke highly of you and your soul would brighten at times, glimmers of goodness."

  "SoulSight, that's not on any skill tree or teachable, you have to be born with that, lucky you."

  "Did you bring those men here? Was getting close to my daughter some sick way of spying on this clan?"

  "No to both questions, I am however capable of killing most all of them, may need your help with the lich. Considering our predicament, may I show you my adventurers card?"

  I pulled it out as I spoke, then performed the necessary code of taps and small lines to reveal my true card. She reached out for it, with some struggle due to the manacles, I handed it to her.

  She gasped, dropping it. She picked it back up, only to stare at it in disbelief.

  I spoke, "I feel I should add, my previous "employers" were more than partially responsible for creating that vile piece of shit Valdis Kalabhiti.

  You are aware that even if you meet his demands, Lobo will be killed— for Valdis's pleasure and to stoke his fearsome reputation. Many women will be taken too.

  With that in mind... I want to help."

  "How... How can I believe you?"

  I sighed and mentally say goodbye to a sweet payday.

  "From the fifth tree on the right of the path leading from this village, walk straight— that's to say perpendicular to the path— into the forest. Five of my paces, maybe six, of either of your attendants, they'll find themselves in a small clearing.

  Between two bramble bushes, under some leaves, you'll find something I only could have got by choosing to help, not through violence. See it and I think you'll understand."

  The wait wasn't too awkward. Lis offered me tea and we chatted about my time with Layla.

  "Priestess. As instructed I did not look at it." A voice said from outside.

  "Thank you Juniper." Said Lis, heading over.

  The attendant handed Lis the wrapped item from outside, careful not to look inside the yurt. Such impressive loyalty, and or obedience, Lis commanded.

  She walked back to her cushion, sat down and looked at me. I smiled, showing my palms.

  She undid the twine, then unwrapped. The moment she saw even a fraction of the clear diamond shard she begun to cry. "Is this a trick?"

  "No, I got that by bothering to solve a very old puzzle and release the trapped souls of your great great grandparents. That is the truth. If you don't believe me, kill me. Or release me... I'll still help even if you tell me not to. You'll never see me again afterwards.

  I'd prefer to sell that staff, but I guess you need it more than I do, to protect this village."

  . . .

  "What do you need of me?" Asked Lis as the manacles vanished.

  We'd sat in silence for ten minutes.

  "The lich is high level, I can sneak up on it no problem. But killing an already undead being is not something I know much about. I suspect since it doesn't sleep, Valdis will have it inside his tent tonight.

  Also, I need a dark cloak. At very least I need my own cloak clean, it can hide my bloodied clothes. I'll dispose of the cloak you provide once I'm done."

  "I can make very pure holy water. Coat your blade in that, also I can lend you a divine steel bodice dagger. The combination should do the job. And I'll see what I can find" She fiddled with a buckle, eventually fishing out the dagger from under her dress, it had been against her thigh.

  "Thank you." I said looking over the sleek mirror polished blade.

  She got up to head over to some potion making equipment. "I wish I could tell you to keep it, but our clan has few treasures left. So return it please. You can drop it into this yurt or hand it to an attendant should you see one. I don't want to see you. After you've done your work, leave and never come back. Never contact my daughter again."

  "I will respect your wishes. I must request of you that you never speak of my identity to anyone, it would put you and your family at risk.

  May I act normal for the rest of this evening, before I must leave for their camp?"

  "Yes. I'll hand you the holy water later."

  "Apologies, but as a former deceiver by trade, shall we agree that this meeting was to discuss healing supplies, and my skills should there be a conflict?"

  "Fine."

  . . .

  Scouts reported the village was surrounded. Lobo made plans as best he caould to hide the women and children. Holes were dug in yurts and covered by mats. Goods were gathered. I helped to carry boxes, busying myself.

  Dinner was excruciating, little got eaten. I hugged Layla and lied that I'll be there for her tomorrow, that everything was going to be OK.

  I took a short nap, then snuck out. Even if any of the other inhabitants saw, in their woe, they said nothing.

  Exiting the yurt, an attendant of the high priestess approached. She silently handed me some throwing knives plus a mid level sword, wrapped in a black sheet and a black shirt. Likely the best Lis could scrounge up.

  I walked briskly over to the attendant, asked if there was somewhere I could change. She led me to the high priestesses' yurt, entering with me. Without me asking she aided me in removing my bulky and potentially noisy armour.

  The sheet was thin, I put the black shirt over my own. The black sheet was wrapped around my core and head, only my eyes remained exposed. I fastened the pocket of throwing knives and bodice dagger to my belt, plus swap swords.

  A quick check on the holy water, some already applied. I kept the vial, wrapped in a handkerchief stuffed deep in a pocket, just in case.

  "Good luck." The attendant's voice shook as she wiped away a tear.

  Even with everything else going on, she struck me as peculiar. More tanned and with different features to the clan. I couldn't stay to ask this foreign beauty's story, or even name.

  "Thank you."

  I checked the outside was clear, then stole myself to the night.