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Mercenaries: Chapter 2

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Chapter 2: "Off to Pravensburg"

"This is delicious!" Nora exclaimed with her mouth full of cooked chicken meat. "I would have never thought that such little birds could taste so good!"

She and Luke sat in a small wooden restaurant beside a popular trade route about 2 days journey from Wood Town. It was situated in a large plain. The restaurant was what many travelers would call a "Grub Stop." These restaurants were typically located beside popular travel routes and near farms and wells. Some even had a small lodging area where weary travels could rest in the comfort of a bed. The one they were in was small, only being one floor tall and having a few tables with a small kitchen in the back. There was only one other group in the restaurant which were three pitiful looking farmers.

Nora was in her human form, of course, and she ate her first meal of chicken meat with great joy. Luke sat in front of her, satisfied with his meal of eggs and toast with a cup of tea. He was relieved to see that the size of Nora's stomach depended on what form she took. It would have been a nightmare trying to find enough meat to feed a Naga. 

"Well, when you're a 20 foot long snake, I can imagine that a chicken wouldn't provide enough food for you," Luke noted.  

"You know, that's exactly what I thought when I first saw them back at Wood Town," she replied as she bit into a chicken leg. "There were goat and chicken farms back around Wood Town, and I just figured that the chickens would be a waste of time because of how small they were. Not to mention the feathers." She was soon done with her meal and let out a loud belch. Since she was a Naga in disguise, it made sense that she was not accustomed to human dining etiquette.

Luke watched her, and despite her deception and hostility back at Wood Town, he couldn't help but admit that he was still attracted to her. At least, her human appearance was attractive. Her personality? Well, he will need to see if he could stand it. 

"Ugh! Luke, I'm insulted," Nora suddenly spoke while feigning to be emotionally hurt.

"What?"

"I have a wonderful personality, thank you very much."

Luke widened his eyes as he said, "How did you-"

"If I focus hard enough, I can hear someone's thoughts," Nora boasted. "That's how I was able to be one step ahead of you back at the cave."

"And all Nagas have this ability?" Luke asked as he crossed his arms.

"I don't know. Probably."

Luke was silent for a moment before saying, "Well, stay out of my head."

"Its hard when you keep thinking about how beautiful I am," she chuckled. 

"Don't flatter yourself."

"I won't have to. Your brain does that for me."

Luke looked at her with a frown, and she had an amused smile on her face. The same amused smile she had when he met her for the first time in the tavern at Wood Town.

"How did you end up around Wood Town, anyway?" Luke asked, hoping to change the topic.

"My memory is a bit fuzzy," Nora replied as she rubbed her head. "But, I was really young, just about as big as you." Luke looked at her with a puzzled expression for a moment before realizing that she meant she was his size in her Naga form. Indeed, she must had been young if she was his height when she is now 20 feet long. "There were these wagons that were stopped in the desert. I think I was in a desert. There was a lot of sand. Anyway, one of the wagons had these weird animals in it. I was hungry so I climbed into it and ate them."

"And no one noticed you eating their animals?" Luke asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I remember some humans screaming about something. I don't think I remember what they were saying because I was too busy helping myself," she shrugged with a guilty smile. "They were just so good, but I never saw anymore of those things after that night. They were pink, and they had swirly tails, and they made these funny oinking sounds."

"Pigs."

"What?"

"The things you ate were pigs."

"Huh. Well, I fell asleep in the wagon; and by the time I woke up I was in a box. At least, I think it was a box. It was really dark."

"The wagoners caught you?"

"Yeah, but I got away after I was stuck in that thing for awhile. I don't remember how long I was in that box, but it must've been a long time if they had to feed me during the trip.

"What did they feed you?"

"Mice."

"And, how did you get away?"

"I don't know if their final destination was Wood Town, or if they just got careless around me, but one of them opened the box a little. I think he was just trying to see what I looked like, but I jumped at him and bit his face. Before he and his friends could grab me, I slithered away into the fores; and I've survived ever since."

Luke was silent for a moment, absorbing all of the information he had been given, before asking, "How did you get the dress?"

"The what?"

"The dress you're wearing. How'd you get it?" Luke asked as he pointed at Nora's dress. He was afraid that her answer was going to be that she ate someone for it.

"Oh, well, when I figured out how to change into my human form, I knew I needed something to wear so that no one would look at me funny when I walked into town."

"I'm surprised that you didn't try.".

"I was actually going to, but I noticed that no one else was walking around naked. So, I stole this dress from a farmer's wife while she hung it out to dry."

"You've come a long way."

"And I'm sure you have too. I look forward to hearing the stories you have."

"I'm not good with telling stories."

"I'll be the judge of that. But, anyway, what's on the agenda for today, captain?" she asked with a little salute. He found it ironic that she was referring to him as captain. After all, she was a Naga, and she was physically superior to him. It's hard to boss someone around who is stronger than you, but then again, he should probably be grateful for this twist of fate. How many mercenary captains could boast they had a Naga under their command? Still, it raised the question of what Nora was seeking by joining him. If she only sought adventure, she could have traveled the world on her own. Perhaps she is more clueless about the world outside the forests around Wood Town than he originally thought.

"Any more stops?" she asked.

"Not until we reach Pravensburg," Luke sighed. 

"I've heard of that place before from the traders that passed by Wood Town."

"It's one of the largest cities in the New Empire, and it's the home of the Grimm Bank."

"Now, that's something I've never heard of."

"It's really just a large bank that loans out and saves money. My savings are in there collecting interest. If I'm going to start my own band of mercenaries, I'm going to need more money than what I have on me."

"Which is how much?"

"None."

"Oh."

"Yeah, we just ate our last meal for this trip." 

"Well, I could just eat you if I get hungry." Luke frowned at her. "It was a joke!" she laughed.

"I'm still not convinced that you didn't eat George."

"How many times do I have to explain? George ran away. He ran out of the cave, and I never saw him again." She grinned. "What? Having trouble accepting that your best buddy ditched you?"

"He wasn't my buddy. And, if you're telling the truth, he had probably assumed that I had been killed."

"Sure, whatever you say, captain."

"Well, I say we start getting a move on," Luke said as he stood up.

"Sounds good. I actually can't wait to get of here. I'm dying to get out of this form," she said as she too stood up with a stretch. 

They both walked out of the restaurant and stood beside the dirt road. They looked to their right to find a stopped wagon a dozen yards away from them. It was obvious that it was a trader's wagon as it looked like it was carrying several crates of goods. Beside the wagon was a bald, stout man with a long black chin beard talking to two other men who appeared to be guards armed with spears. Nora and Luke only glanced at the wagon before silently beginning their trek to Pravensburg, which would cause them to walk beside the wagon. Nora followed Luke from a few feet away as he knew the route better than she did. 

As they passed by the wagon, they could not help but overhear the trader's yelling at his guards.

"What do you mean they just took off?!" the trader barked. 

"They ran away," one of the guards answered.

"Obviously! But, why?!"

"They talked about how much they hated you yelling at them," the other guard explained. "Then, they ran off."

"I paid them to guard my wagon!"

"I don't think they really cared."

"Obviously!" the trader roared. "Well, that's just great! I'm short 3 guards, and I'm on a tight schedule to reach Pravensburg! And, I seriously doubt that you two idiots could protect my wagon from a chipmunk let alone bandits!"

"I think this is the kind of thing the fellas were complaining about," the first guard muttered to his comrade. The second guard nodded in agreement.

"Shut up!"

The trader continued on rambling, letting loose a few vulgar words, while Luke and Nora stared at him from across the dirt road. They glanced at each other before Luke approached the fuming trader. 

"Excuse me, sir," Luke spoke.

"What do you want?!" the trader barked, a visible vein on his forehead. 

"I couldn't help but overhear that you're in need of protection. It just so happens that me and my associate here are mercenaries," Luke explained as he pointed back at Nora. "If you're willing to pay us 7 tamars, provide food, and allow us to ride with you to Pravensburg, we'll protect you."

The trader's temper appeared to have cooled as he looked over Luke before glancing at Nora. 

"I'll give you 3 tamars," the trader countered. 

"Five tamars," Luke countered as well.

"Four tamars. You look like a mercenary, but your friend there looks like a dirt poor beggar," the trader said as he pointed to Nora. 

Nora frowned as she approached him before saying, "Well, actually, I'm a-"

"She's a helper," Luke cut her off. "Fine. We have a deal, mister...?"

"Paku," the trader answered as he stroked his beard. "And these idiots behind me are Shen and Koy." The two guards waved hello. "We leave in 10 minutes."

Luke shook Paku's hand to confirm the contract. He barely let go of Paku's hand when Nora pulled him to the side by his arm. 

"What was that?" Nora whispered with a frown. 

"What was what?"

"Wouldn't he be willing to pay us more if he knew I was a Naga?"

"Yes, but he would also be more willing to run away terrified out of his mind. I never heard of your kind until I met you, and I'm willing to bet they don't know about your kind either."

Nora sighed before grumbling, "Why did he think I was a beggar?"

"Your dress isn't exactly the prettiest," Luke chuckled. Nora looked over her simple brown dress which had several tears and patches. 

"Is it that bad?"

"When we get to Pravensburg, you'll see some real dresses," Luke said as he walked away from her towards the wagon. Nora watched him walk away before looking back at her dress.

"Stupid humans and their sense of fashion," she muttered.

****

It was evening as the wagon filled with goods traveled down the dirt road. The group had left the plains and had entered a dense woodlands. The road followed a slow ascent and descent as it went over several hills. The night was warm, it being summer, and a crescent moon shined brightly in the starry sky. This nightly display, however, was not even close to what Luke had seen in his village. During the summer months, he could see hundreds of stars strewn about the sky; and he had fond memories of lying on the soft plain grass and staring upwards into the heavens. He missed his village, even after being gone for years. The feeling of homesickness had steadily dissipated as time went on, but it never truly vanished. Perhaps it would stay with him until the time of his death.

Luke was lying against a few wooden crates besides Nora who was sitting upright. Paku, along with Shen and Koy, rode up front. The two horses trotted forwards on the dirt road with the sound of the wind rustling the tree's leaves and the occasional chirping cricket.

He looked at Nora who seemed to be uncomfortable. 

"The boxes aren't the comfiest thing around," Luke spoke to her. "But, you'd probably be more comfortable if you rested against them."

"We're going to have to stop soon," Nora replied, ignoring Luke's advice.

"What for?"

"I...I need to change back," she answered.

"Why?"

"It's like being trapped in a little box when I'm like this," Nora groaned as she pointed to her human self.

"Is it really that bad?"

"Luke, how big am I right now?" she asked, annoyed.

"Uh, I don't know. You're a little shorter than me."

"And how big am I when I'm a Naga?"

"Oh."

"Yes, I am that uncomfortable. I don't see why we couldn't just travel to Pravensburg on our own."

"First, we could use the money he's paying us. Second, it'd take a lot longer if we were moving on foot."

"I guess," Nora muttered. "But, I do need to change back soon. Just so I can stretch," she said as she rubbed her arms.

"Let me talk to Paku. We should be stopping for the night soon anyway."

Luke moved up to the front of the wagon where Paku rode.

"Paku," Luke spoke to him. "When will we be stopping?"

"Stopping?" Paku asked, as if the question was completely absurd. "I got to be at Pravensburg by tomorrow morning. We aren't stopping."

Luke glanced back at Nora before returning his focus on Paku. "You can't drive a wagon all night. You'll fall asleep at the reigns."

"That's why I take shifts with Shen and Koy."

Luke looked to find Shen asleep and Koy staring absent-minded at the passing trees. Before Luke could respond, Nora marched her way to the front of wagon and spoke to Paku with frustration evident in her voice.

"We have to stop," she said.

"Tell you're wife to go take a nap in the back," Paku spoke to Luke, ignoring Nora's statement.

"She's not my wife!" Luke exclaimed defensively.

"Whatever."

"We have to stop," Nora said once more, this time grabbing Paku by the shoulder. It was obvious that he was caught off guard by her grip. Still, he persisted in his case. 

"If you have to go to sleep, then sleep in the back! I'm not stopping, and that's final!" Paku growled.

"I have to...relieve myself."

Paku's attitude instantly changed as he let out a sigh. "Whoa!" he yelled as he reigned in his horses, bringing them to a halt. 

"Wha? What's going on?" Shen muttered as he woke up from his slumber. 

"You have 5 minutes, miss," Paku growled, obviously annoyed by his forced stop. 

"Ten minutes," Nora countered as she jumped off of the wagon. 

"I'm not bargaining with you, lass!" Paku snapped. "You've got 5 minutes!"

Nora looked back at him as it was evident she was trying to suppress her anger. Luke jumped off of the wagon and landed beside her with a thud. He grabbed her shoulder.

"We have 5 minutes," Luke said to her. She looked at him with a scowl before walking off into the forest. He sighed before following her. 

"Mercenaries," Paku scoffed. "Yeah right!"

Nora marched through the woods fuming with Luke following her from a few feet away. She grumbled as she walked, and Luke was silent. He knew Nora was close to losing her temper. If she had done so, who knows what would have happened? Eventually, Nora and Luke reached a small clearing within the dense woodlands, far enough from the wagon to offer some privacy. 

"Who does he think he is?!" Nora barked. 

"Nora, calm down."

"I should have ripped his little head off!"

"Nora, we need this money; and we need his wagon."

"Then why not just take it?!"

"We're mercenaries, not thieves." Nora paced in a circle, grumbling and muttering all sorts of insults and complaints. "We only have so much time, Nora. You should change."

"And, I'm going to take as much time as I bloody wish!"

"Nora, if we take too long, he might just ditch us here." Suddenly, Luke perked his head up as he grabbed the hilt of his sheathed sword. Nora noticed this and looked at him curiously.

"What's wrong?"

"We're not alone out here," Luke whispered. 

Suddenly, a bulky man with a fur cap and dressed in black charged out of a nearby bush with his ax raised high. Luke unsheathed his sword and stopped the man's ax in mid-swing. His sword hit the bandit's ax's rod below the ax's blade, cutting into the wooden rod slightly. 

"Give us your money," the bandit growled. "And we just might make your death quick." 

Luke's response was a kick to the man's gut which caused him to stumble back with an audible "oof." Nora heard rustling from a nearby bush and looked at it just in time to see another bandit, this one armed with a dagger, charging at her. She clenched her fists, ready to transform into her Naga self. However, Luke pushed her out of the way and swung his sword at the bandit. The bandit stopped just out of Luke's sword's reach and took a few steps back. 

"I had him!" Nora barked as she lied on the grass from Luke's push. 

"Nora, hold on," Luke growled as he charged at the bandit with the dagger. The bandit failed to avoid Luke's sword, and his chest was slashed by it. Blood splattered onto the green grass as the bandit stumbled to the ground, clutching his chest. The bandit with the ax charged at Luke once more, and Luke swung his sword at him as well. His sword hit the bandit's ax's wooden rod again, this time cutting through it. The ax's blade fell to the ground with a thud as the now defenseless bandit looked at his broken weapon in shock. Luke delivered the death blow by thrusting his sword into the bandit's chest. 

With the attacker's defeated, Luke relaxed his stance, but he was still breathing hard from the recent surge of adrenaline. 

"Well, looks like all that traveling with George really did help you," Nora chuckled as she stood up. 

"There has to be more," Luke said. "No two bandits would attack a guarded wagon."

"And what does that mean?"

"It means that these men's friends are probably robbing Paku right now. They might kill him."

"Oh, that would be a real shame," Nora said, dripping with sarcasm. Luke frowned at her. "Alright, alright, let's go save him. At least I can get out of this form."

"You're staying here," Luke said as he walked back towards the dirt road. 

"What?" Nora asked, surprised. "Why?"

Luke stopped himself from answering her question. He knew what the answer was. She was a woman. Human or not human, killing and fighting should be left for the men to do. A woman should not have to deal with these bloody affairs. Nora widened her eyes as if she had been insulted. 

"It's because I'm a woman?!" she barked. 

"I told you to stay out of my head!" Luke barked back. 

"Luke, I don't how you humans treat your females; but I'm not human. We're mercenaries! Isn't fighting in the dob description?!"

"I can handle this one by myself," Luke muttered before running into the forest, back towards the wagon. He quickly vanished in the dense forest.

She stared at where he had vanished, appearing as if she were trying to understand a maniac's reasoning. She then chuckled. 

"Sorry, captain, but I'm going to have to disobey your orders," she muttered before walking in the same direction that Luke went. 

Further into the woods, Luke slowed his running to a stealthy creep as he got closer to the road. He hid behind a tree with his sword drawn and saw Paku, Shen, and Koy surrounded by 7 armed bandits. 

"Wool?!" the leader of the bandit party spat. He had a gruff voice, and he was taller than his fellow comrades, standing a little over 6 feet. "You're supposed to be trading silk!"

"I only have wool," Paku replied, obviously afraid. One of the other bandits, a skinnier fellow, took out a scroll from his bag and read it. 

"Oh, sir," the skinny bandit said to the leader. "The silk shipment should be coming tomorrow, not today."

"What?!" the leader roared. "We've been waiting here for hours just to rob the wrong shipment?!"

"Seems like it."

"Then we'll just have to get rid of them," the leader growled as he pointed at Paku and his disarmed guards. "I want the short, fat one for myself. I need to blow off some steam."

At this, Luke charged out from behind the tree with his sword ready to strike. The bandit closest to him, one armed with a butcher's knife and had his back to Luke, yelped in surprise as Luke brought his sword down onto where his shoulder met his neck. The bandit fell to the ground, screaming and thrashing in pain as blood poured onto the dirt. The remaining 6 bandits looked at Luke with blood thirsty expressions.

"Mercenary!" the leader spat. "Kill him!"

The leader and two other bandits stood guard by Paku, Shen, and Koy; while the other three bandits charged at Luke. Luke deflected an attack from a bandit's spiked club, pushing his attacker back. He was forced to step backward as the other two swung their weapons at him, which were both falchions (slashing swords). Luke deflected one strike, a metal clang ringing through the forest, before kicking the bandit in the gut. The third bandit swung his falchion and succeeded in cutting Luke's arm. Luke growled in pain as blood flowed down his arm from the cut. 

"How's it going?"

Luke glanced backwards where the voice came from to find Nora, with that same amused smile, leaning against a tree with crossed arms.

"Nora?!" Luke barked as he blocked another strike from a bandit. "What are you doing here?!"

"Oh, don't worry. I'm just a woman watching from the sidelines," she replied with a grin. 

Luke saw an opening and slashed one of the bandit's gut, and the dying bandit fell to the ground as he clutched his bleeding stomach. Unfortunately, Luke failed to dodge a swing from a bandit's spiked club which hit him directly in the chest. His leather vest prevented the club's nails from piercing his skin, but the blow was still strong enough to knock him to the ground, gasping for air. Before he could recover, the bandit stepped on his right wrist, preventing Luke from raising his sword. 

"Seize the lass too!" the bandit leader laughed. The bandit who had hit Luke with his spiked club kicked Luke's sword away and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt before pulling him up. The bandit wrapped one arm around Luke's neck. The bandit was a strong man, and Luke struggled to breath. Another bandit grabbed Nora by the arm, and she offered no resistance as she was pulled to where Paku, Shen, and Koy were held captive. 

"I'm guessing you killed the two men I sent after you," the leader growled at Luke. Luke did not respond and simply looked at him with an angry frown as the other bandit kept his arm wrapped around his neck. 

"What do we do with her?" the bandit who had his grip on Nora's arm asked. The leader smiled, revealing a few missing teeth, as he approached her. 

"We can keep her around. Have some fun with her later," the leader chuckled as he gently rubbed her face with the back of his hand. Nora simply looked at him, with a smirk, before grabbing her dress. The bandit near her jolted, thinking that she was going to pull out a weapon; but instead, she undressed herself. The bandits all stared at her naked body, wide eyed. Luke groaned in annoyance that Nora had broken the one rule he had given her when they first met. 

"Wouldn't want to get blood all over my only dress, now would I?" Nora chuckled as she tossed the dress to the side. 

The bandit leader looked at her, confused, as he asked, "What?"

"Can I change now?" she asked Luke, with a grin, already knowing the answer. 

Luke struggled to escape his captor's grip before finally muttering, "Fine."

There was a bright flash, and the bandit leader found himself staring at the body of a large snake. The bandit who had grabbed Nora yelped as he jumped back. The remaining 5 bandits looked at Nora's Naga form in complete terror. The 20 foot long Naga looked down at them for a moment, before opening her mouth and showing her razor sharp fangs with a menacing hiss. The leader let out a blood curdling scream as Nora sunk her fangs into his shoulder. She then threw him from her mouth where he was sent flying into a nearby tree, an audible crack echoing through the forest. 
With the bandit leader dead, she grabbed the bandit nearest to her (the one who had grabbed her). Her claw was wrapped around his head, and everyone could hear his muffled screams before he was smashed head first into the ground, ceasing his screaming permanently.   

While Luke's captor was stunned in shock, Luke flung his leg back and successfully managed to kick him in the groin. The bandit instinctively released his grip on Luke's neck and grabbed his injured privates. Luke then delivered a right cross to the bandit's chin which caused spit to fly from his mouth. The bandit stumbled to the ground unconscious.  

"What is that?!" one of the surviving bandits screamed.

"Run! Run!" another bandit yelled. Indeed, the surviving bandits ran into forest, never to be seen again.

Silence seized the forest once more, the exception being the neighing of the scared wagon horses.

"Happy now?" Luke asked Nora as he retrieved his sword from the dirt.

"Very," Nora replied as she stretched her arms. "Bleh, that robber tasted awful," Nora said, referring to the bandit leader who had fallen victim to her fangs.

Then, both he and she looked at Paku, Shen, and Koy. All of them were staring at Nora, trembling in fear. Nora and Luke glanced at each other before she formed a sinister smile on her face.  

"Nora," Luke growled.

She lunged at Paku and wrapped her snake-like lower body tightly around him at an alarmingly fast speed. Paku was only able to let out a yelp before she tightened her coils around him, completely restricting his movement. Nora brought her face close to his. Luke quickly approached them with his sword in his hands. It appeared as if Nora was ready to eat Paku, and Luke was ready to stop her if necessary. However, she only let out an amused chuckle.  

"Do you still think we're not worth 7 tamars?" Nora asked, flicking her reptilian forked tongue at him. 

"No! Of course not!" Paku yelped. "Seven tamars it is!"

Luke breathed a sigh of relief. Nora looked back at him with a smile across her face, and Luke couldn't help but form a small smile of his own.

****

It was the next morning, and the wagon had proceeded onto the dirt road without any further incidents. The birds chirped their songs, and there were a few scattered grey clouds in the blue sky. It might rain later. 

"So, you're a Naga?" Koy asked as he rubbed his head.

"For the last time, yes," Nora asked, annoyed. She was in her human form and wearing her ragged brown dress. She was riding in the back of the wagon with Shen and Koy who had been bombarding her with questions, some of which had been repeated several times.

"But, you can turn into a human?" Shen asked as well.

"Yes," Nora replied, not the first time she had answered this question.

Luke looked back at Nora, Shen, and Koy from the front of the wagon before looking at Paku who sat beside him with the horses' reigns in his hands. Luke had a white bandage wrapped around his left arm to allow the cutting wound he suffered from one of the bandits last night to heal.  

"We should be at Pravensburg soon," Paku said without looking at Luke. Paku had been quiet since Nora and Luke saved him from the bandits. No doubt he was still shaken from the ordeal.

Luke looked at him for a moment before looking onward down the dirt road. "I know you're scared of her," Luke said.

"Terrified," Paku corrected him.

"But, without her, you would be dead."

Paku was quiet for a moment before saying, "I guess so."

Luke could see grey smoke coming over the trees in the distance. They were close to Pravensburg.

Eventually, they exited the dense woodlands, and the blue sky could no longer be seen because of the smoke of Pravensburg's industry. They came to a halt at a checkpoint in front of the massive stone walls of the city. Luke looked back at Nora to find her staring dumbly at the feat of human engineering before her. Her face was enough to make Luke chuckle.

"This is nothing like Wood Town," Luke told her. She nodded in agreement. The banner of the New Empire hung from above the city iron gates. It was simple, a yellow lion's head with a black background. And yet, the symbol commanded respect from wherever it was hung.

"What's your business?" a New Empire guard asked Paku as they halted at the checkpoint. These soldiers were nothing like the militia in Wood Town. They were dressed from head to toe in shining, steel armor. The only skin that could be seen was from the thin visor on the soldier's face mask which allowed him to see. The New Empire's symbol was on his chest plate, and he held a sharp spear in his hand. He also had a sword sheathed by his side. The checkpoint had a dozen soldiers standing guard like this one. Their job was to keep the peace and stop any unruly characters from entering the city.

"I'm Paku, a trader. We're carrying wool for the Brogam Brother's textile industry," Paku explained as he handed the guard a document. The guard looked at the piece of paper before looking at everyone else in Paku's wagon.

"It says you would be accompanied by 5 guards," the soldier said. "I only count three." Nora looked at the guard with an frustrated frown.

"There's four. The woman's a mercenary. The fifth one quit the journey early on."

The soldier looked at Nora, obviously taking note of her inhuman characteristics such as her white hair and crimson eyes.

"She looks like a beggar."

Nora opened her mouth to protest when Paku spoke before she could. "She is a mercenary," he insisted.

The soldier glanced at him before saying, "Well, you have a strange taste in mercenaries. Alright, move slowly to the gate," the soldier said as he waved his hand to another soldier who held a horn. Apparently, Nora's eyes and hair were not enough to arouse the soldiers' suspicions, and why should it? They've probably seen stranger.

The soldier blasted the horn which was then followed by the creaking of the heavy iron gates. The wagon proceeded slowly to the entrance. Luke looked up to find musket marksmen looking down at them with suspicious expressions. Muskets were becoming more and more popular among the ranged units of the New Empire. Bows and arrows were still used by the guards of the smaller towns in the New Empire, but a city as rich as Pravensburg could afford them. Muskets were expensive to produce, took a long time to reload, and they had limited accuracy. Despite that, soldiers loved the weapons for their stopping power. Not to mention that the weapon's range was impressive. 

The wagon came to a quick stop just after it passed the gate, and Paku quickly gave Luke the 7 tamars he promised.

"We should part ways," Paku said without looking at Luke.

"Pleasure doing business with you," Luke said as he hopped off of the wagon. Nora followed after him.

Luke and Nora watched as Paku's wagon proceeded down the bustling cobblestone street, not knowing if they would see him or Shen and Koy again.

 

 
With his first recruitment, Luke sets out with Nora to the Grimm Bank located at Pravensburg. However, they encounter some difficulty in getting there. 

Chapter 3: colaphan.deviantart.com/art/Me…
© 2015 - 2024 colaphan
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juju712's avatar
I hope to see Luke breaking the news to Georges, at least of his quitting. Seeing the combination of Georges' arrogance and his coward fleeing would have been a plus, him screaming at the mayor and/or the ones mocking him for not being like the rumor that he would get his revenge even if it was the last hing he did would have been a plus, and Luke telling the mayor he took care of the treat and had to be paid a good bonus too.
Since she spend so much time in the inn, I thought Nora would know how to act around human to not be noticed.
I expected Luke to be more flustered than that when Nora read about his attraction for her. I guess it is just for physical proximity.
If Nora stayed in Wood Town that long, I guess the mayor's reward was there for a while, and I am quite surprised she never got caught or even befriend anyone. And how did she learn to speak? And how did she pay for the drinks at the inn before? I also thought she had more experience at fighting than just that, any trained warrior would be better than her, but she still choose a rookie as her boss.
I knew Luke didn't like Georges, but after two years of adventures together and Georges being the one who took him from his boring life, I thought he would be more fond of him, or to feel at least a slight connection to him.
I didn't think Luke's view on female would have this kind f consequences, it's a wonder he accepted Nora's offer. But I don't think it will be that much of a bother.
Good action scene, we see a bit more of both's skills and it good to see they are not overpowered (mostly Nora. I am almost surprised Nora is not venomous.) And my previous argument still stand, she won the first time because stupidity+trap+knew perfectly the place  and now because surprise+they were not very experienced or courageous people. In brief, by luck and because it was the good adversaries for her.
Musket, okay, but an industrial town!? That's the first time I read a story with a setting at this time, it's a big risk you took here.

Overall, a very good part, I want to read more.