Chapter Nine Road To Roqaur

 

Hunter's Tavern

Strena walked up to the pile of hay. She looked at it feeling a strange sense of nostalgia. As she looked at it, she remembered all the times that she had travelled in it. How she used to use it to go to place after place, taking job after job. Yet she wondered, why was it smaller than she remembered?

Zaryb placed a hand on her back.

"You were smaller when you were in this last." He explained, almost like he was reading her mind.

Her eyes narrowed. 

"Yeah...six."

"Yes. Now off you go!"

"Right…"

She felt sorrow build in her eyes as she climbed in. She could feel that she was different back then. She was so innocent and she was still too young for all that she had been through. It was so long ago since she had been that girl. That girl that was clinging onto her innocence, trying not to become what she ended up becoming. She recalled the time of her innocence and how fast she lost it with a bittersweet nostalgia.

What could I say to that girl? What would I say to that girl? Could I look her in the eye after what I have done? How could I tell her what she would become? What I have done to those animals, to those people or to Zaryb.

"Who cares! You did what you could to survive. How can you blame yourself for that?"

But…I killed and tortured. Even worse, I liked it!

"But is that a bad thing?"

Yes! Daddy would have never done anything like that! 

"Maybe…"

She then felt Master Zaryb next to her. Suddenly she remembered how he killed her father and the look in his eyes that had plagued her nightmares. She remembered how he took her at the age of five. She could hardly believe all that he was able to make her do. That was when she remembered that witch and how she was able to break her control. She also remembered the sword that she won because of it. 

Wonder where that sword is right now? Who has it?

"What blade is that?"

Orion.

"Hold on, was the hilt made of two dragons? With their tails intertwining with their tails forming the weight?"

Yes, why?

"That is my older brother! My father, as you would call him, forged him when he slipped back in time during the time before The Black. There, he fought against the monsters of the time before The Black."

She frowned and her eyes widened with her attention, peaked.

How did he slip back in time?

"I don't know but he told me that it was not a good thing to do."

But if I could then I will be able to undo all of this! I can stop Master Zaryb killing mummy and daddy! I could!

"No, you could not. It requires a weak point of time, as he would say it, and they are nowhere near as accurate to get you to where you need to go. In fact most weak points of time go back in the time before The Black or where they are connected to. They are never where you want to go. In fact, there was one woman that did have the ability to travel through time and space but even she could not control it."

And who did?

"Fate."

She nodded as they journeyed on in the straw.

"Strena."

"Yes Master Zaryb?"

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry for what happened."

She nodded.

"Thank you."

She knew that this was no trick and could tell that his apology was genuine and he meant every word. After all, after all her time with him, she knew that whenever his face was like this he was being genuine with her. Yet whenever he had that cruel look in his eyes, it seemed like he would become someone or something else.

"I'm sorry too."

That was when the carriage stopped. They knew that was too soon. So this raised their suspicions. This was soon followed by a scream. Quickly their allarm shot throughout the two as they were pulled out of the carriage by a group that had the same F shaped scar on their faces. One smiled.

"There you are! Now, Zaryb, I would like for you to come with us. However, you don't have to worry about the girl. She can stay." Said one with black hair and yellow arrogant eyes.

Zaryb raised his eyebrow.

"Oh? And what is the meaning of this?"

"Glad you asked. You see there's a little friend of yours that a certain rising Dark Master Lord wants dead. Both him and his little niece."

His eyes widened.

"Who?" Strena asked, trying to look more powerless than she actually was.

The guy laughed.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" He sang, poking her forehead.

"Yes. I would!"

"She's not the only one. Why would a Dark Master Lord like him be interested in him? Of all people!"

One shrugged.

"Who knows? But he's paying good money to have him killed and as you are his friend, logic dictates as long as we have you, we should be able to take him out."

"Yes well, I do have a problem with that. See none of us here are the least bit interested in being used as bait."

The assassin raised his sword to them 

"'Fraid you don't have a choice in that matter."

That was when Zaryb's cruel face returned.

"Oh? Well I'm that case let me warn you, you are all dead."

His eyes dropped to Strena and suddenly she felt like a kitten in front of a very hungry lion. He smiled mockingly at her as she felt her heartbeat increase and her fear of him returned.

"Don't worry. I'll be quick! So you keep those houses calm!"

She went to go to the horses. In that moment one of the assassins pounced upon Strena and quickly wrapped an arm around her. He then raised a knife to her throat. Zaryb looked at him as if he was completely bored. Then with a flash of his hand the tiny blade struck his forehead before he even had time to speak.

Strena dropped as he turned to the other two. He ran at them before any had the chance to respond. Then he swiftly sliced their throats. He moved at such an inhuman speed that she could hardly believe or follow it. Yet he looked at the last as he ran to him. The assassin went to strike him but Zaryb moved out of the way with the speed of a whip. He then slashed from left to right again and again. Not once did the man get close to hitting him. He went to throw a kick to his stomach but as Zaryb jumped he sliced his gut. Then kicked his wrist away. 

He then landed and rove his hand into his stomach causing the man to fly. Yet as he did the other ran to him and hit him in the gut again and again then he hit the ground with a hard snap. Zaryb looked down at the man. His nightmarish beam spread tightly across his face.

"What's wrong? Is that all?"

The man just lay there twitching.

Zaryb let out a laugh. That caused Darkector to glow.

What is it?

"That laugh… It is the laugh of Wolfox! How- why does he have the laugh of Wolfox?"

She looked down alarmed as she remembered all her dreams. She felt cold as it suddenly dawned upon her that they may be more than just dreams.

No! Daddy was never like that! Daddy was never like that!

Then she remembered all those stories that she heard of her father. How they always described him as a tyrannical monster.

They were lying. They were lying! They were all lying!

She shook her head as Zaryb punched the assassin again and again and again. She ran up to him and grabbed his wrist.

"Master Zaryb!" She shouted.

He looked at her with a wild and frightfully demonic look in his eyes.

"He's- they're dead."

"So?"

"Don't we need to take their heads to the nearest assassin's hut?"

He looked down and nodded. Suddenly the kinder looking Zaryb returned and he nodded again. 

"Sorry I scared you."

"I wasn't scared!"

"Yes you were. It's alright to admit it!"

"Let's just get this done!" She asked, frustrated.

He let out a chuckle which was almost like a whisper, it was a laugh of someone who didn't usually laugh like that. She rolled her eyes not even wanting to entertain whatever it was he had found funny. They soon took the heads off and then rode the carriage to red hit with black thatching. They collected their money and by the evening they arrived at The Blood Pudding.

Zaryb's Concern

Strena walked in. Zaryb soon followed. She noticed that The Blood Pudding seemed smaller too despite the extension at the back. She noticed that there were more buildings all around it. Some were more farmhouses and others were barns. Some were huts and houses. She could see that there was a weapons shop at the back of The Blood Pudding. 

She also noticed that there were new people, yet the moment that she saw Nagica her heart rose slightly. She felt all the past melted away and she, for a moment, returned to that lost five year old girl.

"Strena?"

"Yes. It has been a long time, Nagica. Was it?" She said, feeling the moment start to pass.

She smiled, wrapping her arms around the girl.

"You remember me!" She sang, squeezing her tightly.

"Easy! You're crushing me!"

"After hearing the stories of you I don't wanna let you go!"

"Do you remember me too?" Asked a man next to her.

She looked at him and her eyes narrowed.

"Yes, I do." She said deadpan. "Keep away from my hair!"

"She remembered me!" He sang as his hand came close. 

She then quickly slapped his hand away for her hair. She gave him a warning look. This scared him slightly so he backed away.

"Oh, Strena!" Sang she bartender.

"Yes?" She asked, pushing Nagica's arms away and going to him.

"Well, I was cleaning around the tavern and I saw this." He said, bringing out a sword. A sword that she had long since lost all those years ago.

"Orion!" She exclaimed as her eyes lit up.

"So it is you!"

"How? What happened?"

He chuckled.

"Someone must've walked away with it! But upon realising that only the one that won the sword could unsheath it. Must've returned to it!"

That was when Nagica looked down to see Darkector sat on her hip and her eyes widened. She reached out her shoulder, slightly afraid, yet not wanting to get that in the way.

"By Strena of the hunt! Is that Darkector?" She asked.

She smiled, feeling relieved at this action, as she unsheathed it and showed it to her.

"Yes!"

They all looked at it in awe and then back at her with both awe and fear.

"How did you get that?"

She told her.

"And how old were you when you became an assassin?" Nagica asked with a high pitched voice.

"Seven." She said, putting on a false smile and scratching the back of her head.

Her eyes widened.

"What!? But that's far too young!"

Her eyes rested upon Zaryb. She then slapped him.

"Tell me, why did you do that? She's just a child!"

He looked down and let out a sigh as he shrugged.

"They fit into my plans for her."

"Oh and what else? Did you take her to Grasharlo too?"

Strena remembered all that happened and became as white a sheet. Suddenly she was reminded of all that she did. What she used her to do. She suddenly felt the fear of herself rising in her body.

"That was not my decision to make."

"Meaning?"

Strena placed her hand on her wrist. She felt her breath becoming rapid and deep. She felt cold as she recalled the event that led her to becoming the witch's apprentice.

"Grasharlo…possessed me. She wanted me to become her apprentice…I killed her." She said, not wanting to go into detail.

Her eyes widened in anger as her face became pale.

"You did what?"

"I killed her."

"Did she do anything to you?"

"Rather not go into it. I'm too tired. Too late."

"Strena, answer her."

"No, Master Zaryb. I don't want to go into it. I also think that I would like to train tomorrow." She muttered in a soft whisper. "Thank you for keeping Orion for me."

She took the sword and then found her room and slumped on her bed. She looked at Orion.

Can you speak, Orion?

"I can." She heard a polite and calm voice say.

What are you made of?

"A lion gave my father his saliva along with the scales of the first dragon of creation. What are you made of little brother?"

"The blood of Wolfox and the dragon king."

Are you both alright?

"Yes."

"I am."

She soon fell asleep. She soon found herself walking in a forest. She saw a teenage girl. She had deathly pale skin with crimson eyes and long jet black hair. Strena recognized the girl but she could not remember where she had seen her before.

"Answers will come soon."

Her eyes opened. She then cleaned herself and put on her clothes. She took her swords and cleaned them. She soon joined Zaryb.

"Are you alright? Be honest with me."

"Yes. Now let's get to the training grounds." She said as she walked to the door.

He caught her.

"Don't lie to me. Or need I remind you that I am the one that raised you."

She nodded and he leaned in and placed a hand on her shoulder. He pulled her out and slammed her against the wall.

"What?"

"Do you honestly think that you can hide things from me girl. I-"

"No, then! Now come on. I don't want to focus on that! I need to get into shape!"

"You're already in shape and I train you hard everyday!"

"I know. I need to return to focusing on what you want. Alright! Or do your plans, whatever they are, need to be put on hold just because you need to see if I'm alright? And since when did you care?"

She shrugged him off as they walked to the training grounds. She was hit by an even worse fit of nostalgia as she looked at the field as this was where her training started. Yet she noticed that it was flatter than it used to be. She then turned back to Zaryb.

"Are you ready?"

"Are you?"

"I guess I'm going to find out."

She ran to him. She first went to strike him with Orion but he blocked it. She went to stab him with Darkector. He ducked and went to drive his hand into her stomach. Yet she saw this coming and jumped back, flicking Darkector right at him. He raised his head, making her miss. She then landed.

She then ran on and on. Driving both blades at him but she missed every time. She then spun and flicked her swords at him again and again and again. Then she flicked her leg out. This hit and she smiled. However, to her surprise, he smiled too! Yet she knew that her punishment was coming.

 She then pushed off him and landed far away from him. He ran to her and hit her. She was flying before she even had the chance to blink. She landed and looked up to see where he was. Only to be hit in the temple. She was soon rolling to the left. Then, before she had the chance to recover, was hit to the other side. She started rolling the other way.

Then she saw the leg that was coming at her. She put down her sword and flicked out her hand and caught his ankle. She pulled it up and thrust a punch under the shin. This caused him to wobble but only slightly. Yet she was still able to use this to get her back on her feet. Then she punched him in the face. Upon hitting him he caught her wrist and pulled her in.

"Good girl! But you still have a lot to learn." He shouted as he slapped her in the temple.

She rolled again and again. She then spotted the foot and caught it again. He hopped and she let go. She rolled away before he reached the ground. She rolled to her feet again. She looked at to where Zaryb was, only to see that he was no longer there! 

Then she felt a hand on her wrist.

How?

"Strena, you could have punched the ankle away. If you did that I would have hit the ground."

She shook her head. She jumped and punched back. He did not let go. She punched back again and again and again and he still did not let go. She continued to punch him again and again and still nothing happened! She tried to hit him in the throat and upon striking, he let go. He coughed and coughed.

"Good. You have improved greatly since you were here last."

"Had a good master. Now do-"

He punched her again and she was taken back by the strength and she hit the ground. She then saw his fist in front of her. She rolled out of the way. She went to grab his wrist but he was able to catch her by the throat. He then pulled her in.

"Now, tell me, what is wrong?"

Her eyes looked aside.

"Training's over. I wanna job." She moaned, flicking away the hand with the back of her wrist.

She walked to the tavern and saw the job that she wanted and took it.

"What job did you take?"

She showed him.

Dark Master Lord Gajellidor Darcrogh 

Signed 

King Valcula Of Trilaccia

King Of Roqaur

He let out a huff.

"I'm seriously concerned about you."

Princess Drew

McDragonfree

Reward

100 Ruby

Dark Master Lord

Gajellidor Darcrogh 

"Here too!"

She pulled it off and showed it to him.

"That's his niece!"

"Tell me, is it allowed to have bounty hunters hunt other bounty hunters?"

"Yes, it is."

Her eyes widened with shock.

"Then would this be better?"

"Yes. After all, I have to find out what on Merth is going on!"

Back In The Hay

They looked at the hay. They were as ready as they ever could. Yet Zaryb looked at her for a moment, he frowned with a vulnerable concern.

"I know what you have been through and all I put you through and I have to tell you that I am really, very sorry. Although I do not expect nor do I deserve your forgiveness. I only deserve your vengeance."  He said as he looked down.

He looked at the three posters in his hands.

She took a glance at him.

"It- never mind. Let's just get this over with." She said, knowing that what she was about to say, was nothing but a lie. A lie that she was not interested in telling.

He nodded as his face changed.

"What? Aren't you going to tell him that it's alright? Or something like that?"

She rolled her eyes and frowned. She let out a huff.

"What! Do you want me to lie? I can't say that 'it's alright' because it's not! It isn't alright! It's not been alright since you killed mummy and daddy! It's not alright that you took me from my home! It's not alright that you forced me to lie about my name, it's not alright that you made me into a bounty hunter when I was only six, it's not alright that you made me kill at the age of seven! It's not alright what that witch did! I'm only thirteen and I'm doing things that an adult like you should do!"

He let out a laugh 

"Honestly, I don't know what is going on in that head of yours! I thought I did, but it's all too clear that I don't!"

He raised his fist almost as if he was about to hit her. Then his face tensed up and his fist stopped. Then his hand rested on her shoulder. She could feel him shaking as fear entered his eyes. He looked at her for a moment with concern in them but then he looked down and tried to hide his eyes but she caught a glimpse of shame in them.

"Just get in the hay."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

She frowned and shook her head.

"Just what's going on in that head of yours?" She asked, getting in the hay. 

He soon followed. She felt him wrap his arm around her. Suddenly she closed her eyes as she was suddenly afraid that he would hurt her. She felt herself shaking as she felt tears welling up inside her. She wished that she did not say those words, despite how true they were.

"Are you well?"

"Yeah." She lied.

"Alright!"

They soon set off. She felt him stroke her arm. It was somehow gentle and soothing. Despite the dread of him luling her into a false sense of security, she felt herself relax before she could stop herself. Yet he still continued until her mind relaxed. Soon she drifted off to sleep.

In her dream she saw her, this time she recognized who she was, Bounty Hunter Bash. She looked at her. 

"Answers are coming."

Then she saw Chashathrophogh next to her. He then walked right up to Strena. She felt her heart increase as she thought that he was about to kill her. Then he extended a hand to her and it came closer and closer. She could feel herself shaking all over as he rested a hand on her head. Then the other one approached her and untied something. Then a red cloth that looked like scales was pulled off her eyes. It fell into the ground and burst into flames.

Where was that?

He raised his hand and pointed next to her. There, she saw, a younger version of Zaryb and a younger version of her father. He held blood red chains in his hands. He walked up to Zaryb and grabbed his wrist.

"Brother, please no!" 

He put the cuffs on him. She followed the cuffs to see that they lead to Wolfox!

"Brother…"

Her eyes opened.

"Are we anywhere near there?"

"Not yet."

Seriously, what is going on?

"Tell him about the dream and challenge him about it's meaning!"

No. Best not. Last time I did that he just shut me out. I can't see it being any different this time.

It seemed like two hours when they slipped out of the hay.

"Is this Roqaur?"

"No."

"Then where are we?"

"Arowrose. We'll be walking from now on."

"Where are we going?"

"Roqaur. That is where he'll be."

The Reunion

They both walked and walked on and on. She looked at all the trees that were ahead. They were tall and their leaves were all dark green and their heads were all full. This caused a dark shadow on the ground below. Yet it seemed like all the trees were competing for the light of the sun. However none of them could get the light that they wanted.

They walked in the forest and she could smell the greenery. She could hear the chirping of birds, yet it was quiet and isolated. It gave her a strange feeling. The strange bird called again and again, yet she could not help but relate to that bird calling out even though none were listening. Maybe she was like that bird, calling out alone in the dark forest. Probably calling out to a mother yet unable to fly off.

She continued to walk on. She found herself looking down at her hands. She remembered all the pain that she caused Zaryb. It came back to her in full force as she almost was reliving what she did. She still felt the shock of what she did, if she had to be honest with herself, she wanted to take her mind off that and remind herself what she was before all of this. To return to a life that was simple and innocent.

Then her eyes looked on. She felt the fear of herself continue to rise again. She looked at Zaryb, remembering how much pain he was in. All the pain that Grasharlo put him through. All the pain that she put him through.

"Master Zaryb…"

That was when she spotted three people walking towards them in the distance. One had emerald hair and amber eyes, dressed in a flamboyant and colourful pirate outfit with a black spider broach. The other two looked almost identical if they were not opposite genders nor one was shorter than the other. As they walked on, she noticed who they were, pale, very pale. Even for natives of this part of the world. She wondered if there was something wrong with them if they were that pale. After all, they all looked ill. Yet as they walked closer, she noticed that they had a strange look on their faces. Almost like they had lost a great battle.

Suddenly she saw that one was Chashathrophogh and then she spotted the look in his eyes. It was deathly angry. Yet she could tell that he wanted to take that anger out on something and anything would do. Suddenly she became aware that she was a child born out of wedlock, his usual prey, so she would be the first and closest target for his rage. Suddenly she became afraid for her life. So she started to walk behind Zaryb with her head bowed and she puked her hair in front of her face.

Then they met.

"Chash'?"

"Zarry?"

The girl behind him scoffed.

"Hold on, he can call you Chash'?"

"Please be quiet!"

"Is he your friend?" Asked the one with emerald hair.

"Yes. Now be quiet."

Hold on they're - they're friends? What- what is going on? Why aren't we trying to take them down?

Zaryb looked at the other two.

"Who are they?"

"The girl's my niece. She's like me. Her name's Drew, although the name she goes by is Bash. And the pervert is Cerpheres."

"And you?" Asked Cerpheres as he looked at him up and down.

"Zaryb." He said sharply.

Strena frowned.

"Urm…Master Zaryb?"

She spotted that Chashathrophogh looked at her with anger in his eyes. Suddenly she felt more afraid for her life than she had ever felt.

"Zaryb Zuvé Lok, who is this?" He asked an a stern voice.

I'm going to die. That's it, I'm dead!

She then noticed that Zaryb was looking away in shame. Which confused her.

"Is this Arielsa Zuvé?"

Now he's going to die!

She looked at him and shook. Her heart raced faster than she thought it was possible.

"Wait…Zaryb…as in Zaryb Zuvé?" Cerpheres purred like a cat.

She felt a ripple run throughout her body.

"'Zuvé'? Master Zaryb, what is going on?"

She felt her mind race as it put all the pieces that she had refused to in their place. Even though she did not want to admit it, she knew that this was what her dreams had been telling her the whole time. She knew that she looked like him, just with black hair and not white, and her father at the same time. Yet she did not want to accept it, she refused to.

Cerpheres widened his eyes.

"Well that is interesting." He purred, licking his lips.

She suddenly felt like a rabbit in front of a large hungry fox.

"And so adorable!" He whined.

This made her feel uncomfortable.

"Cerpheres!" Snapped Chashathrophogh.

"What?" He purred as he shrugged.

"I said be quiet."

Her body jumped before she could stop herself as Chashathrophogh walked towards them.

"Tell me, was it you that killed them or Wolfox?"

Strena frowned and looked at Zaryb as he said nothing but looked away in shame. Then Chashathrophogh reached then and yanked his collar and pulled him in close.

"I asked you a question! Now answer me Zarry! Was it you or Wolfox that killed the Zuvé Emperor?"

He looked down and Chashathrophogh punched him in the face. He hit a tree and fell. That was when she saw the cruel smile on his lips return.

"Well, he started to, in fact he wanted to make it as clean and as possible! But I had to take over, I just could not resist! Especially carnage of that scale." He declared with a drunken smile on his lips. 

Then his eyes rested up on Cerpheres and he extended his hand to him. 

"I'm pretty certain that my dear Prince Captain can understand and relate!" He purred.

Cerpheres chuckled.

"Indeed, I can."

Chashathrophogh then kicked him in the stomach.

"I don't want to hear it from you Wolfox, I want to hear it from Zaryb!"

What? What is he talking about? Why is he calling him-

"Come on, can't you figure it out?"

Then his face changed again and the shame reappeared.

"Fine. I did just plan on killing my brother. I just wanted to make him taste the pain I had been through. He told me that I would always be protected by him and yet he was my greatest tormentor. He even put Wolfox in me. He built an empire of blood and got my own father to banish me for what he put in me."

"That's not true! That can't be true!" Cried Strena holding tightly onto her belief that her father was a good and caring man.

Yet her mind went back to her mother and how sometimes she would look at her father with a troubled look but this would always melt away as soon as he kissed her. He would always cup her cheeks in his hand. But were there not times when she would look very guarded and pause before she smiled? Yet there was no cruelty in his eyes when he looked at her. No, all she would see was love. Her father loved her mother and that she knew.

"Be quiet girl!"

She looked down her heart in her ears.

"No. I did stab him but it was Wolfox that delivered the fatal blow. In fact it was overkill compared to what I had in mind! He even killed his wife! He was about to kill his child! It took all that I had to stop him. Although I guess I expected that which was why I stole these just in case what I did would not work!"

The tears flowed from his eyes. He was shaking too. All of this forced her to realise that he was telling him the truth. She remembered how he pulled her in to hug her. She remembered how tightly it was. Then her eyes dropped to the cuffs. Realising that they were not put on her to imprison her but to protect her from none other than Wolfox, the king of all demons!

"And you've been raising your niece ever since?"

He nodded.

"I see that she's a fully fledged assassin!" Cerpheres commented looking at her in a way that made her feel even more uncomfortable.

"Yes, I became one when I was seven!"

Chashathrophogh looked at him alarmed.

"And?" He purred with a grin.

That was when the cruel face appeared, no Wolfox's face appeared.

"She became a bounty hunter before that at the age of six, no doubt! And only recently she became a Dark Lady!"

"Oh? And who was her teacher?"

"Grasharlo, sir. Although it wasn't his fault. She did weird things to me to make him give me over to her!"

Chashathrophogh's eyes widened.

"Alright, we're heading back. I want to know what's going on. Cerpheres!"

"Yeees?" He purred as his eyes looked at Strena excitedly.

"Make sure that he doesn't escape. I don't want him running away like he did last time!"

His eyes dropped to the cuffs.

"Don't worry. I won't!" He sang as he licked his lips.

Chashathrophogh looked at him sternly in the eyes. Cerpheres shrugged and smiled at him, giving him a daring look. He rolled his eyes as they walked back from where they came from.

Arrival At Roqaur

They walked through the forest. She looked at Bash. She noticed that she must have been fifteen to sixteen. She saw her harsh look yet she also remembered dreaming about her and even Chashathrophogh. She noticed that there was kindness in her eyes yet, she was surprised to see that Chashathrophogh also had kindness in them. She wondered if that kindness was always there or was this kindness a recent development.

"Urm.." She was about to say, yet she realised that she did not know what to say. "I saw you in a dream once."

She raised her eyebrow. She looked at her in concern.

"Really? I did too." She said as she looked on with a puzzled look.

"Do you know why?"

"Destiny, I guess."

"Soo! The girl is supposed to have a destiny? That's something that I would very much like to know!"

"Wolfox!"

He shrugged.

"Alright! You can talk to your friend. Although -"

His face dropped.

"Sorry."

"You need to keep control of him."

"I can't but I can direct him."

"I know. But you need to at least try."

"Sooo! Arielsa was it?"

"She goes by the name Strena."

"Which is the name that you forced me to go by."

"Why?"

"I prefer not to say."

"Then you better."

He looked aside.

"Zarry!"

"I'll tell you tomorrow!" He moaned.

That was when Cerpheres walked up to him and draped his arm around his shoulder. He leaned in very close to him.

"Oh? And why tomorrow?"

He went to take a step away from him but Cerpheres took a step closer to him. He drew him in closer and leaned closely on him. He looked down at him with a mischievous look in his eyes.

"You're not planning on escaping in the night, are you?"

"No." He said with a high pitched voice and a curled lip 

He chuckled.

"Shame. I would've liked that!" He sang as he kissed him on the cheek.

At this he punched him. He smirked and licked his bottom lip. Suddenly he looked drunk.

"Oh! That was a good punch!"

He looked at him with a pale face and in his eyes.

"What? Did you actually like that?"

He looked at him like he was a cute animal.

"Maybe!"

"Chash', keep him away from me!"

"Only if you don't run away like last time. After all, I do want answers and you will give them to me. Even if I have to put chains on you!"

"Oooh you're scary!"

Then Cerpheres looked at Strena.

"By the way-"

"No."

"But I didn't say anything!"

"Don't want to talk to you."

"But I want to ask you one thing."

She looked up at his false sad look. Then she sighed.

"What?"

"Can you punch me?"

I'm not in the mood for this.

She rolled her eyes, as she knew that there was no avoiding it and wanting to get this outrage, fear and anger out of her system she punched him in the right cheek. She punched him as hard as she could with all her will. He then was dragged back slightly.

"That was a good punch! You know you're much stronger than an average girl your age!"

"Well, Master Zaryb has trained me like mad since I was five!"

"Oh? Well I can tell-"

Then his eyes dropped to the swords on her hips.

"Are they Orion and Director?" He exclaimed, his eyes teeming with excitement almost like a teenage girl looking at a very expensive piece of jewelery.

"Yes, and yes I can weld them both!"

He looked at her impressed.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Really, really?"

"Really, really!"

He licked his lips.

"Then I should expect great things from you!" He sang as he walked on.

They soon left the forest behind.

"Tell me, the king here-"

"Is dead."

"Right."

"Then back to the inn?"

"Yes."

"Are we going to another Bounty Hunter Tavern?"

"No. Chash' is a Quester, not a bounty hunter so he won't be able to go into one of those."

"What's a Quester?"

"Someone who goes on quests, finding hidden treasures and artefacts." Bash explained.

She nodded as her eyes widened.

"Master Zaryb. Can I be one of those?"

"Sure, but Chashathrophogh will have to be your master in that regard."

"Really?"

"Do what you-"

"Hay, I thought of a good idea." Cerpheres sang.

"Just make sure that it's appropriate!" Chashathrophogh and Bash said at the same time, taking a glance at Strena.

Zaryb and Strena frowned as he looked at them.

"Weell, I like the idea of being a Quester and Miss Strena wants to be one too, so why don't we all become Questers?"

"Good idea Mr Cerpheres."

He smiled slightly goofy.

"Seee, the girl agrees."

"Well the girl doesn't know you." 

Then he let out a sigh.

"Fine! And we may find something that will help you."

Zaryb huffed.

"Why do you think that I became one in the first place?"

"So you wanted to help your friend? That's nice!"

"Don't make this weird!"

"Too late!"

"Why don't you just give up on me?"

"Because you do not give up on friends!" He shouted as they reached an inn.

He looked back at Strena, then his cruel face appeared.

"Tell me, your niece is a bastard, isn't she?" He purred with a high pitched voice.

"Yes."

"Why is she still alive?"

"Because Gajellidor Darcrogh put a curse upon us and we have been chasing him down to get the box that the curse is tied to in order to break it!"

He nodded.

"Now, I would like to talk with Zarry."

He smiled and shrugged.

"Sorry."

"Doesn't matter. Tell me do you want the girl to be signed in as-"

"Strena."

He nodded 

"Now, Arielsa, you're going to be signed in with Bash. Zarry, you will be lodging with me and Cerpheres." 

"Fine! But if he does anything-"

"Then don't try to run away."

"Fine."

"Ohhh! You're no fun!"

Once they were all signed in, Bash  took Strena by the hand.

"Come on!"

She nodded as they walked to the room.

The Truth

"I wanted to groom you to kill me." Zaryb said at the breakfast table. "I wanted you to become a bounty hunter so that you would be good at fighting. No, I wanted you to be that best at fighting at that age. I wanted you to get used to fighting people who were bigger and stronger than you. Which was why I trained you day in and day out. To a point where you were stronger than any girl your age. No, I wanted you to become as strong as a man.

"Then I wanted you to get used to killing. No, I needed you to get used to killing. So I put the Artemis necklace on you, as it can only be used on someone that had made their vows to Strena, the goddess not you. Then I made you become an assassin. That way you would not think twice about killing me. In fact I could tell, by the look in your eye, once you were ready to do it, you would be happy that you did.

"Then I needed you to become a slayer, so that you would get used to fighting monsters. So that when Wolfox took over then you would have been ready to fight him. As you would have the ability to defeat him. With plenty of experience to be able to match his inhuman speed and handle his strength.

"Yet throughout it all, I must admit that you developed faster than I thought. So I thought that you would be able to kill me sooner rather than later. In fact I thought that it would only be ten years at maximum. One year at minimum."

He then gulped down his beer.

"And why did you want me to go by the name Strena Az and not my real name and went out of your way to make sure that none knew it?"

"I did not want you to be truly bound to any god or goddess. So once you did kill me, you would be able to do whatever you wanted. Even go back home."

"'Even go back home.'" She repeated in her head.

Her eyes watered at the thought of that. She missed the sand, the bright hot sun, the tall pyramids that stood like mountains. She missed hearing her native tongue and the skin of the natives. She missed the walls of her palace and the domed roofs and the flat roofs where she saw the clothes hanging on lines like decorations. Everything! She wanted more than anything else to return there. After all, she was sick and tired of the cold and the rain. She was getting tired of seeing these pale faces, making her wonder what was wrong with these people.

"I'd like that."

"Well I think that is probably where we will be heading next." Chashathrophogh sighed as he took a sip of his wine.

She frowned.

"Why?"

"That's where Gajellidor Darcrogh is heading."

Then Cerpheres looked at Strena.

"By the way, did you kill Grasharlo?"

"Yes."

He smiled.

"Did she make you drink her blood?"

"Yes."

He let out a sigh.

"Is that a problem?"

He shrugged.

"Nah! It's nothing! Just wanted to know!" He sang. 

"Oh "

"Are you alright kid?" Bash asked.

She shook her head.

"I just need time." She said, closing her eyes. "Tell me about him."

"Who?"

"My daddy."

"Why?"

She looked at him directly in his eyes with a determined look in her eyes. Her look seemed like someone who was a leader, or had the potential to be one. It was almost like she was an adult rather than a child. He was suddenly reminded of the way that Nazor would look at his subordinates who he wanted information from and he was not interested in any lies.

"Because I want to know who my daddy was. And don't lie!"

He looked away and let out a sigh.

"The first memory I had of him was of him painting blood on my hands. It belonged to a boy that he used to get bullied by. In fact he used to kill any bully or child that used to challenge him in combat. He seemed to enjoy it. As I developed I used to see him torture the pets on the household. He also abused all those that were under him. He would always drag me along with him and treat me like another pet rather than a brother. He would poison my food and when I told my parents, they seemed to enjoy it and encouraged me to kill him or let me be killed by him! When we duled, if you could call it that, he would always hurt me more and more and worse every time. Yet he would never kill me. He would take me along as a slave when he would conquer lands that he would add to his empire.

"Then when I was no older than fourteen he put the demon king Wolfox in me. Saying that he wanted a weapon. So that moment on I became the host of my brother's weapon. It would always kill me inside every time blood poured on my hands!"

Zaryb looked at his hands as he shook, there was real terror in his eyes.

"Then I begged my brother to make it stop but he never did. Then when I could take it no longer I tried to end it only for Wolfox to stop me. Then my brother told my parents that Wolfox was in me, they banished me."

Strena remembered her father's last words. She reached out as tears flowed from her eyes. She took her hand in his.

"I'm sorry…Uncle."