Chapter Nine Roqaur Lock

 Taken By The King

After a week they finally arrived at the doc, three days of which were spent on finally leaving Deathby Sea. This to all on board's relief. They all shared the treasure with the residents of Jones Lock leaving them alone as they all left the ship well off. So they knew that would be alright. None of them had any motive to follow them or find out what will happen to them. Yet they all knew that they would most likely travel throughout the world. Yet because they did not want to follow them they would never know what happened to them.

They packed their treasure and Bash looked back along with the Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres. They all reached out their hands and set the ship alight. Then they left the ship with the flames spreading. The ship may have been beautiful and useful, but it was nothing but death. 

Even though Bash and Chashathrophogh had fun, it was time to leave the ship and the memories behind. They both could sense that Cerpheres had the same sentiment as he looked at the ship with a content smile on his face. Probably, having a moment to remember all that he had been through as part of Captain Gerald's crew.

Yet they did not want to focus on that. No. It was time to get back on track. The strange dream holliday of piracy was over. It was a good and fun break but now was the time to return to waking up and back to reality. It was time to return to getting to that friend that Chashathrophogh was worried about and finding the dark lord that had put that spell upon them. Then force them to break the spell or give the location of the box with their blood in and clear Chashathrophogh's name. Then they could part, Chashathrophogh would go his own way and she would return to her bounty hunts.

"You going to miss it?" Asked Cerpheres like a concerned parent.

Chashathrophogh narrowed his eyes as he looked at the flames consuming the ship.

"No. I can't say that I will."

Bash cocked her eyebrow as the ship started to sink. As they walked down and arrived at the bottom and stepped on the front of the doc they took a moment of silence. Watching the flames claim more and more of the ship. They rose and continued to expand. The ship became filled with more and more of the flames. The fire became larger and larger. Then the flames become taller and taller. They devoured the masts and the sails. Soon they were looking at an inferno on the ocean. The flames were put out the moment that they met the water as the ship sank turning to ash.

Once the last flame fell beneath the waves they turned around.

"Tell me, do you regret killing Gurter?" Cerpheres asked.

His eyes tensed.

"I don't quite know. I do feel slightly sad but not overly so. I guess I pity her, she loved a man that was not nor ever would be interested in her. In fact I found her rather annoying."

"And has there been anyone you loved?" Cerpheres asked with mischief in his eyes.

His eyes tensed.

"Nooo!" He sighed. "Not in that way. I guess that I never had the time to focus upon that!"

Cerpheres placed an arm around Bash.

"What about you Drew?"

Bash rolled her eyes, shrugging him off.

"Bash! And no. Mother did try to marry me off twice and both times I ran away."

He let out a chuckle.

"Was that when you ran into little old me?" He sang.

She rolled her eyes

"No. We were caught by Captain Herlock."

"Oh? Why didn't you just say 'yes'? You could have led me on!" He sang, putting an arm around her. "And maybe you could have learnt something that would impress your dear uncle?"

I highly doubt that.

"Yes, well that 'dear uncle' is about to reconsider killing you if you don't back off!" Chashathrophogh warned, putting an arm on his shoulder and pulling him back.

He looked up at him almost daringly. He licked his lips slowly, with a flirtatious look in his devious eye.

"Maybe you should!" He purred, straightening up.

He then hooked the other arm around him.

"But how will you find my dear old dad? Also you know how useful I am! After all, what if you were in a situation where you needed a power spike? But what if little old me was not around to give it to you because you were foolish enough to kill me?" He purred, yet it was as if he wanted to add something but decided against it.

Chashathrophogh curled his lip and shrugged him off. Cerpheres smiled to himself almost as if he was laughing at a private joke. Yet he let go and stepped back.

They then started to walk to land when they were greeted by a group of guards.

"Oooh! Looks like you were expected!"

"Shut up Cerpheres!"

"Make me!"

He let out a huff. Cerpheres put on a false sad look on his face.

"What? No come back?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you would like that!"

"Urm…I don't know what's going on here." Said one of the guards. "But, please, relax, we're not here to kill you."

"What? Then what are you here for?"

"Do you really think we are stupid enough to try to kill the Bastard Killer? Or try to take on Bounty Hunter Bash The Touchable? No, we're here to take you to the king. His royal majesty had requested an audience with Bash."

"Yes. After all, if you don't kill us by the Demon Realm he sure will!"

"Alright. It's it a job?"

"Yes."

"Then take us. Although if you try anything they would not hesitate to stop you!" Bash warned.

This caused Cerpheres to lick his lips. The others looked at him and cringed in disgust. This caused them to quickly lead them to the castle.

The King's Mission

The king turned around to face them. He had harsh deep blue eyes with long black curly shoulder length hair. His skin was reddened with over exposure to the sun and salty air. He had a long and well cut and groomed beard with twin plats going at each end of his moustache.

"You are here. Good. Please, sit." He spoke in a North East continent accent.

They did and noticed that he wore a black leather shirt that was covered with chainmail. He had a well built frame and had his muscles on display.

"What is this all about?" Chashathrophogh asked.

"Eat. I will tell you."

They looked at the food suspiciously.

"Thank you!" Cerpheres purred as he started to dig in.

They waited for a moment until he smiled as he ate.

"You need not worry. Not poisoned."

They then dug in, all kept their manners even though Bash and Chashathrophogh ate lightly.

"I am King Vlacula, of Trilaccia, yet I find myself here. Father married me off at a young age. An evil magic user by the name of Dark Master Lord Gajellidor Darcrogh. Though there was not an ancestor that was a ruler here, I have a claim, by marriage. Yet I still struggle."

"Trying to fit in, I know. Although, I just have to admit, I didn't expect a Trilaccia to ask for help." Bash commented, keeping him talking.

"Not for the lack of trying to defeat this foe. Yet he has magic far beyond anything that I had ever encountered in my mother home kingdom of Trilaccia and I do not have magic. So regardless of what I do he always wins. In that last one I barely made it out alive! I do not know why he is trying to kill me but he is. So that is why I'm hiring you Bounty Hunter Bash. You may be a girl but your reputation states that you have the ability to get those that seem to be untouchable. I will pay you handsomely if you take care of him."

"Well, if you're hiring her to take down my father, she's going to need help. After all, you said it yourself, this one's very powerful."

His eyes widened.

"He is your father?"

He chuckled as he gestured for him to lower his knife.

"Yes. However you needn't worry. We're not that close. In fact I actually hate him. He put a spell on me so I can't kill any family members, you see. Yet this doesn't mean that I can't help. In fact, on the contrary I can be very useful. That is why I'm only allowed to travel with these beauties!"

"So, is that the man who cursed us?"

"Yes, which means that you can be free at the end of all of this. Then comes the interesting part." He said licking his lips.

Both rolled their eyes until they retested what he had just said. Suddenly shock ran throughout them like a lightning bolt. They looked at each other, slightly unsure they knew what would happen after that.

"You're right."

"Well, we accept."

Cerpheres's Blood

"So, what is your plan my dear niece?" Chashathrophogh asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"So! You do have a sense of humour!"

"Want to die?"

He chuckled and looked at him, challengingly.

"I'd like to see you try!"

"Tell me, do you think that you can do yourself a favour and contribute by helping us find this Dark Master Lord? He is your father after all." Sang Chashathrophogh, stroking the hilt of his blade.

He looked down at it and licked his lips. He looked daringly at him. His face became slightly red. His smile became aggressive. He bit the bottom lip.

"Oh alright! Let's do this."

Chashathrophogh looked at Bash for a moment. He looked down. His lip curled as his eyes rolled. He let out a sigh.

"Do you think that we can use his blood to locate his father?"

They both looked at her shocked. Yet Cerpheres's eyes lit up as he clicked his fingers.

"Oh yeah! There's a potion I made a long time ago. See there was a great warlord that I wanted to watch. See he was a battlefield genius! In fact there were times when I would see him take down armies of over one thousand men. In fact some who could swear he had berserker blood in him. But when I took him down…it-it was…glorious!'

"What does this have to do with finding your father?"

He pointed at him.

"Well he was very difficult to find. See when he would turn up at a fight, he would fight and immediately walk away without a chance of finding him. In fact, for the life of me I could not find him or predict where he would be next."

"Could you get to the point?"

He opened his mouth.

"No. Just tell me what we need to do."

"But I was getting to the good part!"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Still no."

"Pretty please with biscuits and berries on top?"

"No!"

He dropped the corners of his mouth. He winced his eyes in a mock sad-begging look. He let out a slight moan like he was talking to a child. His lip curled.

"Fine! Continue!"

"Great!"

"Strena, send it to the Demon Realm."

"Well, I tried many things to find him. I tried the traditional way such as trafficking him but I found out he quickly covered up his tracks. Yet I tried to go to seers but they were all frauds so I killed them. Then I could put that he had been known to rape several women one of which have both to a son. So I then went to find him and used just a shot of his blood to make a potion and I drank it. The moment I did, I knew exactly where he was all the time. So I was able to find him. I travelled with him for years until I had to kill him."

Chashathrophogh groaned.

"Couldn't you have said that and not the other stuff?"

"What? I like to tell a story."

"What do we do?"

"Well, we need honey, a freshly plucked red rose and a black tulip and finally red wine."

"Alright! Time to go!"

They soon walked to the food shop. They walked in and bought honey and red. They soon walked to the royal gardens and picked a red rose and black tulip. Cerpheres bought a black pot and put a fire underneath it. He then poured all the wine into it. He picked the petals of the rose. He then dropped the stem and crushed it under his foot. Then he noticed that it was boiling and put it in. He then took out a spoon and scraped all the honey into the potion and stirred. He then put the petals of the tulip into the potion and then broke apart the stem again and again and dropped them in. He then stirred again and again. 

He then pulled out a small star and cut his finger and pressed it against the shot glass. He then pulled the other side of the wound. Once it was filled he put his finger in his mouth. Then he poured the blood into the potion. He then stirred the potion and kept at it until it started frothing. He then took it off and then willed it to become cold. Almost like it was freshly pulled out of a cold room. 

He pulled out the goblets. He gave them all an even amount of the liquid. He gave one to them each.

"Here's to good times!"

They backed the goblets and drank. The taste was like a mix between red wine and rosé wine, just slightly sweeter. This caused them both to want to drink slowly. Taking in all of the taste, making the taste last as long as they could. When they were finished they savoured the after taste.

Then they all had a flash of a man, the one that cursed them, walking in the upper streets of Roqaur…

Encounter

They ran. They weaved in and out of the streets and allies like a pendulum. They jumped upon the trees as the streets became too crowded. They jumped from tree to tree until they came to the forest. There they continued jumping from tree to tree. Getting further and further though the first as fast as they could go. They knew that they had to get a move on. They had to go faster and faster. Once they jumped back onto the ground they knew that they had to run at their maximum speed, not sleeping or stopping for a second. They dared not stop once they left the forest and nor did they stop when they ran into the lower part of town. They were able to endure the speed for a long time as they made their way to the middle part of town. 

They were soon able to make it halfway past the mix point when their lungs started to hurt and cry out for more and more air. Yet regardless of how much they breathed in it was not enough to satisfy them. Yet soon they felt that legs start to ache and soon even they started to cry out for a break as they pushed themselves on. They could not give into their cries.

They saw a carriage of chickens in front of them. They jumped and used their magic to propel themselves over it. They soon landed on the other end. They looked up and came to the conclusion that they would make far more progress if they ran along the rooftops. So they quickly spotted a group of barrels and ran up to and jumped on them. They jumped off them and soon pulled themselves up and climbed upon the roof. They ran and ran and jumped off rooftop after rooftop. Getting further and further on.

They soon passed the middle town and streets of the kingdom. Then, seeing that Gajellidor was still walking and that they were near, they jumped down and landed upon the cobbles. 

It was only now that they let themselves a breather. There, they walked and drank a couple of gulps of water as they regained their energy. They soon saw him. The two could feel their hearts in their ears. They felt anger rise within them as they followed him. They had to steady their rage at him as they continued. They had to fight the urge to charge up to him and try to kill him. Even Cerpheres had to.

Bash drew her bow.

"I will draw his attention. You two come in from behind."

They nodded as they ran away from her.

Then Bash drew her arrow and pulled back and fired. He turned around and caught the arrow. He looked up mockingly. He then smirked as he set it on fire and fired it back to her. It was so fast that she only just managed to dodge out of the way. She ran on and then fired arrow after arrow after arrow. He caught every single one of them. He set them on fire as he died them back to her. He walked closer and closer to her, completely calm.

She then ran to him, firing more and more. He caught more and more of them and fired them back at her as he came closer and closer. She had to zigzag as she fired one after the other and he caught one after the other. Then fired it back at her on fire. Yet she ran on and on and they soon met. She went to fire the arrow at point blank range. 

Then he raised his hands and she flew back, almost as if there was a hand punching her in the chest. She hit the ground hard. Then she flipped up and ran back to him. She felt the punch and hit the ground again. She got back up and ran back to him only to hit the ground harder. She ran back and she soon hit some grass. She grabbed a handful of soil. She ran back to him and as he made her fly break, she threw into his eyes. He turned away for a moment and she landed.

This gave Chashathrophogh the opening that he needed and the several of his daggers at him. Done hit his arm. He let out a grunt as he looked down and saw them. They all were ripped out of him. He had a moment to look up when he saw a blast of fire rush to him. He outstretched his hands and the fire parted. Then a first broke through the flames and he was hit in the face.

He flew back only to find himself in a lock. He looked back to see Cerpheres. He smirked, licking his lips.

"Hello father!"

Gajellidor too, smirked.

"Hello my most troublesome-" 

Then Chashathrophogh punched him in the stomach again and again. He then punched him in the face again and again, not giving him time to breathe. He kicked him update and not him in between the legs even though he was aiming for the guts. He then went to kick him again in the stomach and this time it landed.

Then went to punch him again, but then Gajellidor thrust his knee up and he was hit between the legs. This caused him to stop. He then hit him in the stomach with the other foot. He clicked his feet out and then thrust them back and dug them into his shins. This caused Cerpheres to let go as he rolled down. He then pushed the heels of his feet and thrust him back. He hit the ground with a thud. He then spun around and punched him in the nose.

"Looks like you have been such a bad boy. I might have to discipline you for that!" He sang.

He then thrust his hand to his throat. He picked him off and threw him at Chashathrophogh as he had just got up. 

Bash then fired an arrow at him again and again. He then did the same as he did earlier. Yet as she fired arrow after arrow at him, and he set them on fire and threw them at her she came closer and closer until they may again. Just as he raised his hand and she summoned a fireball right into his stomach. This made him fly back.

He chuckled as she climbed to his feet.

"Good! You know a little magic." He climbed to his feet. "But you will see that you have a lot to learn!"

Then the ground shook and then Bash was hit by a rock. She fell and she got up and was hit by another rock. She tried to get up but was hit by another rock. She tried to do it again but was hit by another in the stomach. Then she felt a hand on her throat and it pulled her up. Soon she was on her feet yet she rose higher and higher. She was soon hanging in the air. She dropped her bow and gripped his wrist. She pulled and pulled, trying to pull him off her. Yet his grip was far too strong. So she started to kick and kick then he caught her ankle. This left an opening to the side so she thrust her foot right into his face and she dropped. 

Yet she was still helpless as she coughed. He throat his foot into her hip. He then pulled her by her hair and slammed it into the cobbles and all went black.

Then Chashathrophogh ran to him alongside Cerpheres. He then just reached him and he grabbed them both by their throats and yanked them in. Thru lost their balance as he thrust them both into the ground. Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres both pulled out a dagger and thrust it into his side. They then thrust their hands into his abdomen and pushed out a ball of fire. One was normal, the other was pink.

"Seriously? Pink fire?"

Cerpheres smirked.

"What can I say? I sure do like style! Hey, you should pick it up!"

"By the Demon Realm, no! Too girly for starters!"

He chuckled as they were suddenly hit by green fire. They soon landed on the ground again. They felt a fist in their throat. Then they coughed and all went black…

Mission Failure

The moment that Bash woke up, she found that she was lying on her stomach and the next thing that she noticed that she could not move. She tried but she could not move a muscle. She tried and tried but regardless of what she did, she could not move a muscle! She could not move her head. Only her eyes and eyelids.

She could feel a hand on her back, stroking it gently. Almost like a parent, comforting a child. But this was different. There was nothing comforting about this. No, it felt almost like a cat stroking its prey before it was about to kill it. 

"So! You were the first to wake! How unfortunate." A voice came from behind.

Her eyes moved back as far as it could to see Gajellidor behind her, stroking her back. He then leaned in so close that she could feel his warm breath on her ear. She, momentarily, closed her eyes in dread. Yet upon realising that she could do nothing nor should she shy away from it, she opened them again. She looked back at him, directly in his eyes, trying not to show just how scared she was.

"How unfortunate." He whispered as she pushed her over. "Now, as you can see, you can no longer move. It is a potion of my own making. It paralyses its victim but it intensifies the nerves. So that-"

He took out a thin pin.

"-even a small cut-"

He skimmed her cheek and suddenly flared up. It felt more like a deep knash than a shallow cut! She just could not believe the pain.

"-will feel like a deep cut off a knife. I am willing to wajore you are wondering why I did ask this? See, originally, I wanted you and your dear uncle to just kill each other. But no, that did not work?" He said as he struck the other cheek.

Now pain flared up.

"Upon seeing you two coming together and aid and comfort one another instead, I know that I had to take a different approach to killing the two of you." He explained as he drove the needle into her shoulder.

She felt more pain engulf her. It was almost the worst pain she had ever felt to a point that she could barely register his words. It felt more like there was a stake in her shoulder tattoo than a needle. She wanted to cry out in pain but her voice box had been silenced. This made her feel more frustrated.

"So I decided myself among your mother's knights, dawning the name Sir Follied and let me tell you pretending to be that dullard was extremely frustrating. Yet I was able to get in and then dawned the form of your dear uncle and killing your father and little brother was worth it, as I knew that it would lead to your own mother to kill you. Would have been so satisfying." He said, as he started stroking her neck before he gripped it and started to squeeze.

"Yet what do I find?" He shouted pulling her up and bashing the back of her head against the ground. Then pain flared up to the point that her mind could only focus upon the pain and nothing else.

Help! Someone, please, help!

"You two had escaped!" He shouted, slapping her again and again.

He pulled her up and her head rolled limp.

"So what fortune granted me that once I set off  to kill this land's King the two of you would show your ugly faces!"

He dropped her. Then he looked down at her and frowned. He then caressed the back of her head before pulling her up and looked at her in the eyes.

"No…sorry, you are not ugly. My mistake." He said combing her hair off her face.

He smiled as his eyes widened.

"You know, you're actually quite beautiful! I guess that when you're of age your beauty would be quite enviable!"

She could feel her heart beating in her ears.

No, no, no! Stop it, get away from me! Hey away from me right now!

"Maybe when you're of age I would very much like to pluck it." He whispered in her ear.

He then looked to Chashathrophogh and chuckled.

"Ohh! I can see your uncle is now awake. I guess I should pay him a visit too. You know he is a handsome one, looks very much like me, you do too…I can see why some people like and obsess over him. Maybe I might make him spend a night with some of them, maybe many of them!"

Range flared up within her like a volcano. Her eyes darted to him, wishing that they could kill him. He chuckled at this as he licked his lips and took out a knife.

"I know you were listening, so I don't have to repeat myself." He said as he flicked the knife across his arm.

He squared on him.

"You know, I have been trying to kill you for longer. After all, who do you think told your parents what your curse was and I may have hinted that killing you would be best for them, their family and the kingdom."

He then slit across the arm again. Pain shot throughout it. It was one of the worst pains that he had experienced. Yet he knew that the worst was just too come. Then he felt him slit his cheek.

"No. This is not satisfying." He said as he put the knife away.

He then punched him again and again and again. He punched and his fists became bloody and he continued to punch. It was not until he heard a crack did he stop. He then placed a hand on his neck.

"Still alive?" He sang as he slipped his palm over his throat and started to squeeze.

"I'll soon put an end to that." He said as he continued to squeeze.

Chashathrophogh could feel his head start to pound and his windpipe struggled to bring air into his body. He drove all his will to him and tried to force him off his body. Yet he only forced his hand open and forced it back. He looked at his hand, smiling with surprise.

"Good, good boy!" He exclaimed.

He then let out a sigh.

"But even you have a lot to learn!"

He placed a hand on his head. Soon his head exploded with pain, almost like his head was on fire with over one thousand pounds and needles are buried deep in every part of his head. Sinking, painfully into every corner of his brain. This blinded him, making incapable of focusing on anything but the pain that caused his eyes to leak with tears and saliva trickled down the corners of his month. He couldn't not think, he could not even move. He felt his frustration at his helplessness build. His vision blurred.

Soon smoke rose from his body as nausea overcame him. He suddenly could not breathe.

Meanwhile Bash looked at this. And this told her that she could still use her magic. She drove all her will, desperately to get him off her uncle. He then flew off! As he looked around he frowned. He looked back down at Chashathrophogh who was as pale as a thin cloud, yet he was still alive. His eyes were shut closed and, by his breathing, it was all to clear he was out cold. His eyes then slid to Bash, who was glaring at him with a murderous glare.

He chuckled as he walked up to her. He crouched and slapped her. She looked back at him, still glaring at him with that murderous glare. He slapped her again. She kept the look on her face. He slapped her again. He had not stopped the look of her face. He slapped her again and again and again. Blood fell from the corner of her mouth. Still she continued to look at him with that look of defiance.

He rolled his eyes.

"You really must love your uncle, don't you?"

He then placed a hand on her head. She too felt the pain and she too found it difficult to think. She too was blinded by the pain that was surging throughout her body. She was soon out like a candle flame.

Then he looked back at Cerpheres.

"Now. Time to deal with you, my most troublesome son." He said as he walked up to him.

He reached out and was about to do to him as he did with the other two. He pulled away.

"Don't kill them." Cerpheres moaned.

He chuckled.

"And why not?"

"Because they're mine! I want them to reach their full greatness and then I will close the book on them. After all, I do have to ask, are you not at least a bit curious about what they will become?"

He turned break as the clock chimed. He narrowed his eyes as he let out a sigh. He looked at the clock in the far distance and then turned back.

"Don't make me regret this." He said before he left.

✴️

It was not until the sun had come down when they woke.

"About time you got up you sleeping beauties!"

"Where-"

"Oh him? He's gone."

"Uncle Chashathrophogh, is he-"

Cerpheres chuckled.

"He will be!"

They then heard the sound of bells. Bash's eyes widened.

"The King!"

They pulled at each other. They all got to their feet and ran to the castle only to have to push through a crowd. They then looked on as the corpse of King Vlacula was being carried out of the castle.

"Are you Bash?"

"No. That's the girl."

The guard looked down at her. He then gave her a scroll and a bag.

"His Majesty's will and the reason Dark Master Lord Gajellidor wanted him dead."

She nodded.

"I'm sorry you failed but he wanted to pay you nevertheless."

She nodded.

"Alright. Time to go."

The Fateful Reunion

They looked up at the purple night sky. The white, blue and red stars were out with the three full moons shining bright. It was too late to catch up after Gajellidor, even more late to continue walking. They were tied and needed a place to kick their wounds. So they all booked themselves into a local inn. They paid for their bedrooms and food. All ordered red wine.

Once they sat they looked at the table.

"It's alright you two. At least you're not dead!" Cerpheres pointed out when their glasses arrived.

"You have a point there!" Chashathrophogh could only whisper as he picked up his goblet.

"How about a toast?" 

"What to?"

"Living another day!"

Chashathrophogh whisper-laughed as he nodded.

"Here's to living another day." They chanted, tapping their goblets together.

"Will we be going after him?"

"Once we have fully healed and have gotten stronger, yes. Yet we should not do so right now. After all, there is a friend of mine that I would like to meet up with. The sooner the better as I have a few questions for him." 

Cerpheres smiled.

"Oh? You have friends do you? That's nice. In what way do you want to ask him?" He asked excitedly.

He let out a sigh as he rubbed his neck with squinted eyes.

"It will not be permanent. You two should be completely healed up in time."

"And what about you?" Bash asked.

He let out a chuckle.

"He knew that approach wouldn't work on me. So you needn't worry. I will admit I do heal faster than most people."

"And is that why your finger is already healed?" Whispered Chashathrophogh rubbing his throat. "What it hurts! Ah!"

"Here are your meals." Said the waitress.

Chashathrophogh nodded in gratitude. They soon dug in but Chashathrophogh found it hard to swallow the food.

Hope this doesn't take too long to heal. Wish I had looked into healing magic.

Cerpheres looked at him smiling.

"I could heal that for you!" He purred using his emerald-eyed voice.

"No!" He rasped leading him to having a coughing fit. This made his throat hurt more.

He gave him a smile like a concerned mother. He then curled his finger and tucked it under his chin. He gently lifted it and placed two fingers on his Adam's apple. The swelling and bruising started to go down and the pain faded.

"There? You owe me now!" He sang jokingly.

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't!"

"Ooh yes you do!"

"Oh no I do not!"

Bash let out a laugh to a point that she had to cover her mouth. Chashathrophogh rolled his eyes and let out a groan.

"What is it girl?"

"You're like a pantomime!" She laughed.

They both looked back at each other. Upon realising that she was right, they too smiled and started to chuckle. Then they laughed. Then, once they had calmed down they looked down at their food.

"Ahh! It's good to laugh!" Cerpheres purred.

"I hear you there. Can't remember the last time I laughed like that!"

"When you were killing someone maybe?"

Chashathrophogh raised his eyebrow.

"You're getting too familiar with me, girl!"

"Yikes! Better watch myself!"

"Better do!"

She felt a dad smile spread across her lips as she ate.

"What is it?"

"I don't think that I'll ever see my mother again." She admitted.

"No!" Chashathrophogh agreed.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"Is that good?"

"I guess. We never truly saw eye to eye. I think it's because I'm too much like him and my father, see?"

"It seemed-"

"Chash' no."

"It's Chashathrophogh to you!"

"'Uncle Chashathrophogh'." She corrected, slightly annoyed."Also, I keep telling you, it's far too long."

"You sound like Zarry."

"'Zarry'?"

"Is he your friend?"

"Yes."

"What's he like?"

"Troubled."

They continued eating and we're soon walking to their beds.

Bash crashed and soon she was seeing herself walking in a wood. She met up with a girl younger than her. She looked as if she was from the Desert or Sand Planes. She had an F scar under her cheek. The mark of an assassin. She had mismatched eyes. She had long black hair.

"Help her."

"How?"

"Be a mother or older sister to her."

"But I'm not a mother and I never was a sister to my baby brother."

"She is lonely and she needs the love of a parent or sister."

Her eyes opened to see Cerpheres placing a hand on her head. She wacked his hand off her.

"What are you doing?"

"Healing you!"

"What?"

"You owe me one too!"

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"Not walking into that one!"

"Yes you will!"

"No I won't!"

"Yes you will!"

"No! I will not!"

"You just did!"

"Oh."

He chuckled as he climbed to the window.

"Take care and have sweet dreams!" He sang, slipping out.

She then went back to sleep. She then was dreaming of Cerpheres. She was taller in the dream. He whispered something in her ear. She turned and walked away. She soon woke up.

What was that all about?

Who knows.

She got up and found that she was well rested and all her wounds were all healed. In fact she had never felt so refreshed and good in all her life! She felt better once she had cleaned herself. Yet she could not help but be reminded of Gurter and her time with her. It was the first time she ever felt like a girl and she spoke like a girl and even found a girly side too.

She suddenly realised that she would never see that side of her ever again. Yet she was able to put that liquid in her hair and use it to clean her body. She then dried herself and then put on her leather trousers and hunters shirt. 

She put away her things and met Chashathrophogh and Cerpheres. He too was fully healed. They ate their breakfast and went on their way. They walked up the town. Bash bought some small supplies as her eyes slid over to the horses.

"Bash?"

"Yeah."

"Thinking about getting them?"

"No, best not."

They then took a break at lunch and ate some vegetables and ham with bread. Then they walked on and passed the last building and soon left it behind. They soon entered the Forest Of Roqaur. Then Chashathrophogh looked up as he stopped. They looked at him and his face became pale. She looked to see where he was looking.

In front of them was a trap man that looked like he was from the Desert or Sand Planes. He looked very much like the girl that she dreamed of. He had snow white hair that was like messy cotton in many different layers. One of his eyes was purple, the other was brown. Under one of them was an F. He wore a long coral red throw coat and brown trousers and had a few weapons sitting on his hips.

He looked at Chashathrophogh like he was looking at a ghost. He blinked.

"Chash'?"

"Zarry?"

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

"Please. Be quiet."

"Is this your friend?"

"Yes. Now be quiet."

"Who are they?"

"The girl's my niece. She's like me. Her name's Drew even though she prefers to go by the name Bash. And the pervert's Cerpheres."

"And you?" 

"Zaryb."

"Urm…Master Zaryb?" A young girl's voice came.

Then a girl appeared behind him. She looked twelve to thirteen. She looked just like Zaryb yet her mismatched eyes were brown and burgundy. Underneath the right eye was an F. Her hair was long and black. She has two swords on her hip along with a bag on her back.

Chashathrophogh looked at her with anger in his eyes.

"Zaryb Zuvélok, who is this?" He asked with a stern voice.

He looked away with shame.

"It's she Arielsa Zuvé?"

She looked at him with shock and with horror in her eyes. Almost like she was afraid. She then looked back at Zaryb.

That was when Cerpheres looked at him with wide eyes.

"Wait…Zaryb…" He purred. "As in Zaryb Zuvé?"

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

Cerpheres widened his eyes.

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

"Cerpheres!" Snapped Chashathrophogh.

He shrugged.

"What?"

"I said, be quiet!"

He walked towards him.

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

Zaryb looked aside, saying nothing.