The nightly festival was a lively and fun time. Sun was setting beautifully and there was an air of relief and joy that the people of Vorstock had not felt in a while. What was left of the tower of Solomon was set ablaze with help from Keely and the hanging bodies were given proper burials. The dead highwaymen and bandits under Herod were also given proper burials. Herod was made the new mayor of Vorstock and quickly made his men the police force officially in order to not have them arrested for when the capital authorities arrived.

  Herod spent some time by his son’s and his wife’s graves whilst drinking from a flask before he was to enjoy the festival. He gently placed the necklace down on his wife’s gravestone and proceeded to cry silently to himself. He said to himself, “The Cursed Devils… Sir Desmond Rollo… I have never been so grateful to someone as I am to you and your squad… Thank you… Rest easy my love. Rest easy my son… I’ll come see you when it’s my turn.”

  Ator got his armor washed by the old barmaid as he was relaxing in a hot tub in the back courtyard praying to the gods for helping rid this town from the evils of the world. Two prostitutes from the local brothel were leaving the hot tub in a disappointed huff because Ator politely turned them down. Nikolai was on his third attempt of showering intensely claiming to still smell the stench from Ator’s “special” hug. Keely was drinking with Audra and Skivvy sat the bar where the majority of the people were drinking and dancing as the musicians played. Harry and Ron were trying to persuade Skivvy to buy them a pint of ale and Skivvy constantly turned them down. Audra and Keely, on the other hand, snuck shots of whiskey to the two boys who proceeded to throw up the shots after downing them. Kale was dancing happily with Zylia amongst the crowd feeling lively and entranced by her. Zylia was just happy the town was liberated and that she could celebrate with him.

  Aurora was taking her time to meditate and to reflect upon what had transpired. This was her ritual after every violent engagement. She sat in lotus position with her hair down and only wearing her underwear. A few feet from her at the desk was Desmond, who was fresh from the shower shirtless and slicking back his damp hair from his eyes. He was finishing notes to Nikolai’s report of the squad’s prior actions. He also finished a quick sketch of the town form the hotel window overlooking the square in his personal journal. It was filled only with sketches of the squad and the many stops they made.

  Desmond leaned back as he slicked his damp hair back and turned to Aurora who was in deep concentration. He wanted to ask her something, but stopped himself. He decided to admire and enjoy her natural beauty and serene, Zen-like calmness. She finished her meditation and sat back on her elbows taking in deep breaths.

  She smiled blowing a bit of her hair from her face, “What is it?”

  “Enjoying the view.”

  “Perv!”

  “You’re the one in your underwear not hiding anything from me so who’s the real perv?”

  “Fuck off,” Aurora joked tilting her head back as she looked at the ceiling. “Want to head downstairs and drink with the squad? Probably on the house after what we all did.”

  “In a bit… Need to dry off first,” Desmond said standing up and looking at Light Wielder placed on his bed in its sheath. On the opposite twin bed was Aurora’s stuff.

  He sighed and asked, “Do you think we’ll encounter a lot on this journey?”

  “Who’s to say? Let’s just hope the orc contingent is slow.”

  “Hmm… I have doubts.”

  “About the mission or the Dark One or everything?”

  “Everything.”

  “Desmond… We’ll be there to back you up no matter what. I’ll always have your back. Okay,” she said with conviction as she sat up. “We won’t let you down. I promise. You know why? Because I believe in you and because I… I…”

  “Same here,” Desmond said warmly in response.

  Aurora blushed and grinned biting her lip for a moment. He went put on his sleeveless tunic, wool trousers, and leather, officer jacket. He sat on the bed and twiddled his thumbs in a circular motion. Aurora was getting up slowly as she cracked her back and rolled her wrists on the ground as loud pops were heard. She stood up majestically as she flung her hair back. Desmond looked at her concerned, but behind a thin veil of happiness. She sighed and sat next to Desmond. She held his left hand.

  He said softly, “I have fears, you know?”

  “Like what?”

  “Sigh… Fear of dying, fear of failing this fucking mission, and so forth, right?”

  “Where’re you heading at?”

  “I fear letting this squad down and… Letting you down.”

  “You won’t. Dez… Sweety.”

  “No… Not like that.”

  “Like what then?”

  “Like… Not in death type let down… More of a… Let you down because of what could happen mission-wise with me at the helm… This burden I have is gnawing at me like termites to my skull every night. I just… I don’t know… Being the officer in charge is… Yeah,” sighed Desmond as he looked at his right hand and Light Wielder glowed blue.

  Desmond said softly, “I keep reliving the battles over and over and I keep finding myself staring into a dark void where some person shining blue stands there as if they’re waiting for me… I am the ‘hero’ this kingdom wants. The prince was the true hero. I’m just the quick replacement. I still wonder why I was ‘chosen’ with this sword and why my hand glows? Everyone looks at me and thinks, ‘Well he’s a hero, you know?’ I’m nothing more than a decent warrior who was lucky. I don’t know what it means to be a real hero.”

  “Desmond… Desmond.”

  “I just fear that… If I wasn’t responsible for myself and others. If I were to be selfish and crude. Would I have become like Solomon was? To abuse the power of Light Wielder to my command or to harm others for my own selfish gain? Like what if? What if I were to be a failure like that? I just – just… I’m struggling, okay? I don’t want to burden you with this, but I don’t know who else to say it to? I guess I just need to vent… I’m sorry.”

  “Dear,” Aurora sighed as she wrapped herself around him and began to straddle him. She lifted his chin to look into his teary eyes. “You’re a man who always does what’s right despite your doubts and fears. Everyone looks up to you now and it’s a burden of responsibility. The people see you as an example of good in these dark times. You are kind, wonderful, and empathetic. That should be enough for people to praise you… Every officer or hero feels this way… I do too.”

  “Really good at hiding it.”

  “Thanks, but I would feel same if I was to be burden with this as well, but here I sit and I with thee to stop this wretched evil in this lands… Questioning oneself because of duty and responsibility is not weakness. It’s what every leader feels. I feel it every day and I know you do as well… For tonight though, empty your mind for a few hours and just be here with me and the squad. Nothing else. I believe in you and your abilities. We all do.”

  Aurora kissed him for a long time and she stood up. She walked over to the bathroom and said in a joking manner, “Also, you take long showers and I’m still sweaty so you need another one, love.”

  “I guess I’m joining?”

  “Only if you can catch me before I close the door!”

  At the bar, Audra was leaning on a mostly sober Skivvy as he was just happy that the town was liberated and no one in the squad got hurt. He was also happy because Audra was leaning on him and his skin turned a shade of pink for a moment as he smiled down at Audra. A lot of the townsfolk came to gracious thank them and offer them food and drinks. Skivvy had to politely turn down the free ale because he was getting a little nauseous from it. Keely and Audra gladly accepted the drinks instead.

  Keely downed her fifth pint and exclaimed, “Bloody fawk mate! Can’t believe we did it! You know?”

  “Yeah we did,” Audra slurred out sipping her fourth martini. “Holy shit we did.”

  “Like, WOO! I did not expect the explosives to pack that much of a punch, but goddamn it was beautiful! Absolutely brilliant it was!”

  “Also, you managed to not kill any innocent bystanders this time.”

  “It was only in training one time, girl! Plus it was a wooden cutout of a man. It was going to catch fire no matter what. But thank you!”

  “Where’s Ator and Nikolai,” Audra asked curiously.

  Skivvy chimed in, “Big ox wanted to pray and sit in the hot tub and two of the local women from the brothel wanted to join him. He turned them down of course. Little Nicky is still trying to get the stench off him. I think he might be on shower number five? Ironic they’re in the same room.”

  “Poor bugger,” Keely slurred out as she spun around looking at Kale and Zylia.

  Skivvy looked over and sighed annoyingly because he was sharing the room with Kale and now he had to wait until they finished before he could sleep.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Audra tapped his shoulder and whispered, “You can hang with us tonight if those two lovebirds are too loud?”

  Skivvy smiled and tapped Audra’s arm in response feeling thankful for the offer. He also was arguing with himself to kiss her cheek, but he stopped himself from doing so. Keely looked over for a second and was amazed Skivvy didn’t kiss her right then. Audra sighed and happily leaned more into Skivvy’s shoulder. Keely looked at Skivvy with suggestively bouncy eyebrows. Skivvy mouthed to her, “Stop that!”

  Keely paused for a moment noticing how close both Kale and Zylia were to each other and the twinkle in Kale’s eye was different than all the other times he was supposedly “in love.” She thought back on when they were initially kicked out of their parent’s mansion after being expelled from boarding school. Keely was crying in an oak tree just outside of town with Kale sitting one tree branch below.

  Kale lifted a handkerchief to Keely and said, “We don’t need that bastard father any way. Good riddance!”

  “But why does he have to hate us so much? We show him nothing but love and he…”

  “And he treats us like dirt because we’re not ‘pure’ in his eyes. He also blames us for mother’s passing. Why have us anyway with our mom when you don’t want us then?”

  “I want to go back home!”

  “Kee… KEE!”

  “…”

  “Come here,” Kale said climbing up softening his tone. “What is it?”

  “Promise me… Promise me that you won’t let anyone or anything separate us okay?”

  “I promise,” Kale said hugging her. “I promise.”

  “I mean it… I don’t want any more family to leave. I don’t want to be alone.”

  Keely was brought back to the dance floor looking at Kale and Zylia. She feared that Kale would move on from her and focus all his attention on Zylia instead of the squad, the mission, or her. However, Keely wished that this feeling would disappear. She also knew deep down it probably would not be the case.

  Audra tapped her on the shoulder and said, “They do look cute.”

  “I guess… He’ll drop her in week.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Skivvy said as Kale and Zylia slowly walked off to the far wall as Zylia pinned Kale to the wall making out with him as he lifted her legs off the ground. Zylia stopped to look at Kale and Kale stopped to look back at her. Kale wanted this moment to last and so did Zylia. Audra and Skivvy smirked.

  Keely remained stunned and hurt. She thought to herself, “Don’t leave… And don’t break her heart.”

  Ator sauntered in with Nikolai onto the dance floor making their way towards the bar. Audra and Skivvy took a whiff of the air. Audra noted, “Ator, you smell surprisingly nice. Like ginseng and rose petals… Nice!”

  Ator gave a bow with a smirk.

  Audra continued, “And Nikolai… You smell like stale deodorant and chalk for some reason.”

  “The smell wouldn’t leave! I had to scrape chunks out.”

  “Too much info,” Audra said whilst making a gagging motion.

  Ator promptly smacked the back of Nikolai nearly toppling him to the ground. Ator quickly grabbed Nikolai and sat him on the barstool with multiple apologies. Ator sat next to Keely who was still transfixed with a sad intensity on Kale and Zylia. Ator waved his hand at her and nudged her a few times.

  Keely snapped out of her focus and responded, “Right… Good to see you. You smell nice.”

  “Thanks.”

  “How long of a prayer this time?”

  “A quick two hours. Also prayed for those who died and those I killed. Need a drink.”

  “We all do,” Keely said spinning back towards the bar counter as she hid herself into her pint and two shots of brandy.

  Ator noticed her withdrawn self, but said nothing. He gave her very gentle side hug. Keely gently patted his large forearm in response with a half-smile. Ator blushed and instantly said a prayer of self-control to himself. Overall, he was happy that Keely was his friend. Though the feeling of when to express his heart to her was still a faraway endeavor for him.

  Nikolai was handed two pints and a bowl of lamb stew. The old barmaid thought he was a starving kid despite seeing him in his armor from earlier. Nikolai was grateful regardless and happily drank and ate. Audra was twirling her hair and swinging her legs from the barstool enjoying the party. Skivvy was more reserved, but was nonetheless enjoying himself as well.

  Audra asked Skivvy, “You think we did a good job overall?”

  “Yes… Why you ask?”

  “I feel the weight of pain and misery lifted off from this town, but I also feel the sadness from some of the people here who just finished burying those we just died or those we couldn’t save… I feel that we and the empire should’ve known about this stuff out here in the North. Like, how many other towns or areas are affected like this?”

  “Audra… We helped liberate this town. I think that’s all that matters in the end. If there happens to be other towns like Vorstock before. Then we will liberate the land from corruption and evil. One thing at a time no matter the significance.”

  “But how much evil will we face once we reach the frozen mountains and the Tree of Life? I feel as if we will encounter a lot of things soon.”

  “Who knows,” Skivvy said nonchalantly as he finished his pint. “Who really knows? I’m just glad everyone in the squad is fine overall… Remind me to grab Kale before we leave tomorrow morning.”

  Audra gave him a side hug followed by her scruffily messing with his mohawk. He enjoyed it.

  Kale and Zylia ran upstairs out of the bar area just as Desmond and Aurora were entering. Aurora looked back at the two young lovers running by and whispered to Desmond, “Kids. Rather cute.”

  “Remind me to grab him tomorrow morning before we leave,” said Desmond chuckling.

  Herod motioned to the two of them to his table next to the large window. He was sitting with Simon as one of his archers walked away from the table. Herod was eating a bowl of peanuts and Simon was finishing an old fashioned.

  Herod exclaimed over the music, “Come! You two, sit!” He sighed as he spat out a peanut shell. “Haven’t seen this town so happy before, eh?”

  “We did our part is all sir,” Desmond said. “If wasn’t for your men and knowledge of the land, then we wouldn’t have usurped Solomon.”

  “Bah! You guys are the real heroes. I’m just the new warden of the town until the other empire forces come to make things official again,” Herod said proudly. He leaned forward and asked, “I know you’re special forces. May I ask… Were y’all here to clean up the north or do something else?”

  Desmond and Aurora were silent for a moment. Aurora calmly explained, “Something else, sir. We need to move on after tonight.”

  “Top order from the king himself?”

  “…”

  “No worries, sweets. I know when things are classified mission-wise or not. Fifteen years as a captain of the 101st archer regiment before I settled down here. I know you won’t tell me the whole piece, but you can beguile an old vet for a bit?”

  “Well,” Aurora said looking to Desmond for help.

  Desmond shrugged no knowing how to explain the mission.

  Aurora rolled her eyes and replied, “All we can say is that we are headed to the Tree of Life. Once there we move further north.”

  “Ah,” Herod said leaning back as his face hardened a bit. He began to scratch his chin contemplatively.

  Simon looked over at Desmond and asked, “Why that far north? Unless you are…”

  “You are headed to face something very evil and powerful and need help from a warlock,” Herod interjected. “No army force or special forces unit ever heads that far north or to the Tree of Life unless there is something of great importance, outside of a few forts and the Amer Fort pass… I know because a previous special forces group passed by here without entering the town. I can only assume that they failed and you have been sent to pick up where they left off, correct? Also, everyone here knows of the warlock who lives in that tree. His species has a city in it.”

  “Yes sir,” Desmond said quietly amazed at Herod’s deduction. Aurora was amazed as well and Simon’s bushy eyebrows popped up a minute late once he finally put two and two together.

  Herod took a sip of ale and leaned towards Aurora, “I may be an over-seasoned vet who is still in charge of a now disbanded group of criminals who ended up being the new police of a town, but even I can still figure things out here and there. Now, I must ask in all seriousness… You are a very, very beautiful elf maiden despite being half-elf… Why choose this army life? You seem as if you cut from a different cloth from most in service regardless of kingdom or race.”

  “I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and not be couped up in a mansion behind stone walls forever.”

  “Don’t we all, sweets,” Herod said winking. He stood up and said, “I must retire for the night. Keep my men in line so-to-speak. Sir Rollo… It’s been a pleasure working with you and your squad. Tell goggles that his plan was well designed. He would be a good strategist once he becomes and officer. I hope your journey goes well… Oh and I’ll give you two powerful horses in replacement of the oxen pulling your wagon. You need speed to make it there. Trust me.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Desmond said lifting his mug to Herod.

  Herod smiled in return and walked out smoking a pipe he pulled from his jacket. The two prostitutes from the hot tub immediately flanked both his sides as he happily wrapped his arms around them.

  Simon replied, “That’s the most I ever seen him smile and be happy. Thank you for everything!”

  Desmond and Aurora were grateful for Simon’s hospitality and the random civilians and highwaymen coming by to thank them and give them drinks.

  Kale was on top of Zylia as they were intertwined with each other on the bed. Kale was finished and rested next to her still kissing her and laughing every now and then with joy. Zylia rested her hand on his face as he gently raked his fingers through her blue hair.

  Kale gleefully said to her, “You really are beautiful and amazing.”

  “Thanks! So are you.”

  “You okay,” Kale asked noticing a tear coming down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb.

  She replied, “I haven’t had this… This for a long time… I never thought this town would be saved.”

  “Well, we’re here and it’s saved. Something else?”

  “You’re going to move on and possibly never come back.”

  “I’ll come back.”

  “Don’t give me false hope. I’ve seen a lot of people rise up before and fail. Don’t be like them.”

  “I’m not them. I’m here. I’m right here.”

  “Kale… I don’t want to lose anymore loved ones. All I have left is Simon as my guardian. I’ve lost enough and been let enough. Please don’t say that.”

  “But I mean it… Zylia… You’re adopted?”

  “Parents left me on his doorstep. Never met them nor do I want to.”

  “I understand,” Kale sighed remembering his father. “Were you ever, gods this is intrusive of me… Whatever, treated differently because you are a half-elf?”

  “Yes,” she said sadly.

  Kale kissed her forehead and whispered, “I’ll come back one way or another. I’ve been treated differently because of my being half-bred, you know? But I don’t let the comments or looks or thoughts define me. I’m better than that.”

  “You are selfish,” Zylia jokingly said sitting on top of him.

  Kale pulled her down to his chest and kissed her in response. They both laughed and continued the night of passion.