I was riding beside Jordan and hex. Drag lead with the two other soldiers behind us holding the royal banner. Hex was whispering something dirty in Jordan's ear. I could tell because Jordan's face was red and i saw the Hex hands were around her waist. She never held me like that.
"I have to ask why Jordan? I'm hotter" i pointed out. Jordan was thankful to get Hex out of her ear so she didn't really care for the insult. Hex turned to me "You threatened my sex life, i'm definitely not going to have a sex life with you" she stated. That was... valid. "Hmm, is she even into women? She tends to glare at everyone equally?" i said and Hex laughed. "You can't feel the sexual tension here?" she said pointing at Jordan then at herself. "Because i feel it" she said and this caused me to laugh. To think there was sexual tension between them? That was funny. I was pretty sure Jordan just wanted her breathing room back.
"You're delusional" i stated. "Thank you!" Jordan finally spoke. "Am not" hex argued making me laugh again. "When i get in her bed, you'll see" Hex said pointing at me. "Oh will i?" i asked but then i remembered something. Jordan had the wrong... equipment for bed.... Oh shit i have to protect her! What if Hex laughs at Jordan? I was not letting this happen.
"You know what,i don't think you want in her pants" i started getting Hex's interest. "Why's that?" she asked. "Because if you do, i'll kill you" i said coldly getting Hex to stare at me a bit confused. "What?" she asked like she misheard me. "You touch her, you die" i said just as coldly getting hex to raise her hands. "Fine she's all yours, didn't mean to get between you two" She said in her defense. "Wait what?" Jordan now was paying attention to our conversation. She was so used to tuning us out but i guess she heard her name enough times. "That's not what i meant, i'm not into Lady man hands over there" i said in a bit of disgust.
I mean don't get me wrong Jordan was pretty. She was also brave and a bit foolhearted but i respected her. But the fact she had that thing between her legs got be a little... uninterested?
"Then why in oblivion are you threatening me?" she asked. I rubbed my temple now growing very annoyed at this conversation. "For reasons alright, she's like my second sister, it's complicated" i said. "Wait, you have a sister?" hex asked completely ignoring the other half. "I will put Henry in my mouth if you don't shut up" i growled. "You know i'm actually interested in seeing that" Hex said with a smile. "Enough!" Jordan intervened again. "Both of you" She commanded and we both fell silent.
For a short while at least. "You know i'll be gentle" Hex whispered over to me. I glared at her "I'll skin you if you touch her" i growled back. She then proceeded to grope at Jordan's armor. "What are you doing?" Jordan asked as innocently as ever. "I will hurt you" i hissed at her. Jordan glanced back at me. She said nothing though but wondered what we were even talking about. "I'll be good to her, don't have to worry about any of that" Hex defended her case. "Why are you so interested in my sex life fang?" Jordan suddenly asked taking us both by surprise. "Wait are you actually considering laying with her?" i asked and laughed. Jordan's face went red again realizing what she had just said. "That's not what i meant, why are you interested in who i sleep with?" she asked trying to defend herself for asking.
"I actually have grown quite fond of you believe it or not, just don't want to see you hurt" i admitted. Hex awed as Jordan was taking a bit surprised. "Hu, well... thanks?" she said unsure what to say. I hummed "Don't mention it, it would be bad for my bloodthirsty reputation" i said.i was about to add something but i saw Drag's horse stop and he rose his hand signaling for us to stop.
I pulled my horse to a stop, so did Jordan. We waited, i watched as Drag brought his horse to a trot and then i saw the peasant running towards him. "They have my wife" i could hear his scream from here. "Please you have to help me!" he begged but i knew this was a lie. A set up. Drag gestured for us to come and we moved our horses over there.
"He's lying" i said as we got in ear shot. "How do you know?" Jordan questioned immediately. "I'm a witch, i can tell" i said and that seemed good enough proof for Drag. he kicked the ragged peasant and dismounted. He pulled his sword out putting it under the peasants chin as he looked up. "I swear sir, i'm not lying" he said but lied again in the process. He looked at me a bit confused at what to do.
"He was going to lead us to his gang's hideout. As much as i'd love to just move on with our trip, we need every man that can hold a sword" i admitted out loud. Jordan looked over at me a bit surprised. "A bandit? You want to recruit bandits now?" Jordan asked astounded. I nodded "i can... persuade them to join" i told her. Jordan scoffed "We are not recruiting bandits" she stated and i sighed. "Fine, but they do have valuables that we will need" i said. Jordan glared at me "Now you suggest we take already stolen goods?" she asked.
"Jordan we have nothing, this is an opportunity. Ebony be damned, if we even gave the supplies back to the the port then they would owe us. We need every advantage we can get!" i hissed at her. If she didn't take this opportunity it would surely be down hill.
Jordan studied the bandit at the end of Drag's sword. "Your friends will receive pardons if they enlist in the Empire's army. All goods you stole will be returned" she ordered him. He scuffed."What makes you think the six of you can take all of us?" he asked. It was then i became aware of all the heavy breathing surrounding us. Hidden in the underbrush.
"Ambush!" i shouted drawing my sword. All around us men came out from the underbrush and swarmed us. The two guards at our rear were taken off their horses and throats were stabbed. I managed to fend off the two that ran over to do the same to me on my left. I swung my sword making them jump back and stay at bay. Drag wasted no time and already killed the one at his feet. He came over to us still on his horse swinging his sword keeping the attackers away.Our horses made a triangle as we were surrounded on all sides. Hex jumped down defending me and Jordan's flank. No one dared to come within our swords range or Hex's daggers.
"If you surrender now, that offer is still on the table" i shouted at the brigands. Most were wearing rags with furs. Most didn't even have shoes, yet all had cheap iron weapons. One of the men laughed at my offer. "You're surrounded, lay down your weapons!" one shouted. My eyes locked with the man. I knew i would regret this but right now the odds were not in our favor.
I stared into the mans blue eyes. I focused my magic to reach for him. Then i twisted my magical grip turning him to stone in seconds. He didn't even have time to yelp. "Now, unless the rest of you want to be stuck like your friend lay down your weapons!" i shouted with as much authority as i could.
They glanced at each other looking at there stone leader. They whispered among themselves and i caught my own name a few times. Then there weapons dropped. "Now don't think about running either, you can not outrun magic" i warned even though i was truly in no place to turn another man to stone.
"Now i say once again" i stated looking at each of them, then continued. "Join the army or be hanged by the law men at port Testum" i said. They looked at each other again weighing their options. One of the men stepped forward closer to me. "You'll have to kill me before i give my life trying to fight the rampids!" he sneered at me. Typical men. "That can be arranged" i threatened. I felt Jordan's hand on my shoulder. "Give us your loot, then we will let you be" Jordan said.
I was taken by surprise that we were actually letting them go. But i wasn't in place to argue. And i trusted Jordan enough to make that decision. One by one they came forward throwing gold and silver trinkets before Jordan's horse. They had given all their valuables and then disappeared off into the underbrush. Drag got off his horse grabbing the loot. I glanced back looking at the two dead soldiers behind us. Poor lads. Never had a chance.
"Do we bury them?" i asked the question out loud. "We don't have time" Jordan said. Drag straightened up like he was about to say something, but then he turned heel walking back to his horse. Saying nothing. And here Jordan was making the tough decisions when just minutes ago she doubted even letting us steal from bandits. I put my hand on her shoulder nodding to her. I knew this took a piece of her soul. To make these decisions. I once had to make them. I was glad leadership was not put on me once again. I just wanted to live in peace. The sooner we got all this done the sooner i would be closer to my dream.
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Port Testume's giant stone walls stood about three stories high. Impressive work of architecture. One of the reasons i had actually avoided sieging the city. It would take too long and my mother wanted a quick victory over the empire. Take the capital and do whatever i had to do to get there. Well i tried and look where that got me.
"Smells of fish" Jordan said un intelligently. I rolled my eyes. "Oh you know, it's just a city built on the edge of the sea... gods forbid they actually fish" i said and hex chuckled at my sarcastic response.
"I thought the god of the sea did kill most who tried to fish" Jordan mumbled and i groaned. "I was raised in the north, with no culture, and still i know that the goddess of the sea doesn't kill fishermen" i said.
"Actually you're both wrong" I hardly noticed Drag's horse pulled to a stop in front of us. "It was only in the war between Rose and Valgana that Storm intervened. She sank all ships to the bottom of the sea in protest of them shedding blood in the ocean. So she drowned them" He said giving us a history lesson.
"When was this?" i asked. I never heared of direct godly intervention. It was such a rarity these days. It's almost as if they... i don't know... aren't real... "Hundred years ago... that why they call this channel between Kerulin and Velgana, Storm's Rage" He said and i pulled my horse up beside his. "How ironic. The god of the sea 'Storm' has anger issues" i said as i looked out at the sea. "I hear she kills those who talk shit about her" Hex whispered to me as Jordan's horse pulled up on the other side. "If that were true half the whores i know would be dead" i said smirking. Hex laughed and Jordan glared at me. "You go to religious themed brothels?" Jordan asked.
I sighed heavily. "I never said i 'went' to them. I said i knew whore's that played with the name of gods before" i said rubbing my temple . the more i tried to explain myself the more interested i got. "You avoid the question" Jordan pointed out getting me to huff and lock my eyes with her.
I was about to answer when i saw the giant wood reinforced gates open. It was quiet the view. Hearing it swing open into the bustling city. "Seems were expected" i mumbled.