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| Chapter Three: The Black Furies | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Just outside of the abandoned forgotten fort - the Setite assassin stood between the two ladies that were glaring at him and the girl he swore to protect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - are a long way from home," one of the two warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I did not come here for conflict," he reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Says the tainted one wielding weapons," the other added. Calloway looked over his shoulder at the girl and slowly put the knives away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He stinks - the Wyrm is thick with this one," the other added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have come seeking Gailwind," he stated. The two blinked as they studied him closely from where they stood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He seeks to speak with the Children of Gaia? Interesting," one began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I wonder how it is that one of his breed - knows of the wise one," the other added - a low growl resonating from the back of her throat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was asked to escort this child to him. I intend to do so," he replied - showing no fear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh so? What if - we - didn't want to let a beast like you stink up our forest? Would you go through us?" she mocked. Calloway's hand clenched into a fist. He took a deep breath and resisted the urge to attack the woman that was clearly baiting him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would - prefer - to find another way. I know - that - your people - knows what it is - to prepare for war - to fight for a greater cause," he began. One of the women spat to the side in disgust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What would a leech know of a greater cause? All your kind know is death - a death that is corrupt to the core by the Wyrm," one hissed. Calloway sighed as he slowly walked over and stood before the two ladies - again showing no fear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know - what your kind is capable of doing. I know - that your kind - and mine - have been at odds - for as long as our races existed. I know - that their has been no fiercer hunter of my kind - than yours. So - ask yourself a question - would I be here - before you now - alone - were there not some greater cause?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are of the snake clan. The one clan that bares the stench of the Wyrm. A great cause to you - could be a great - curse for us," one began. She looked over at her sister and saw her staring at the child. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She is the one," she whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The time has come - where does the time go?" the other added as she smiled at Calloway. "You wish the girl to see Gailwind the wise? In the - spirit - of tolerance - I will be merciful. Leave the girl and go. We will take her to he whom you seek," she offered seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calloway looked over his shoulder at the girl and then at the women that were threatening him - in no uncertain terms. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was told - that I was to bring her there - that I was to protect her. I don't know you. All I know of you - is your hatred for my kind. Were I to leave - what reassurance would I have that - you would not slay her - or some other dark task?" he replied. They scowled at him and looked as though they were ready to pounce. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One of your - mongrel lineage - would have the unmitigated gall - to question our intentions? Being under the watchful eye of one of your breed is like entrusting the health of a lamb to the wolf," she mused. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Interesting choice of words," he replied coolly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He isn't worth it," her sister muttered as she squatted down and smiled at the child. "Hey honey? How are you doing? If you want us to take you to Gailwind - we will. You don't have to be afraid of him," she offered with a friendly smile. The girl looked at her and then over at Calloway | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was told he would keep me safe," the girl replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We could keep you safe - especially where the two of you are travelling to," the other woman added - not taking her eyes off Calloway. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think I should," the girl replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You have nothing to fear from us," the other woman reassured - extending her hand out to the girl. "Come on - it will be fun," she added with a wink. Calloway looked over his shoulder at the child and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think - we have heard enough," he answered. Instantly the two ladies glared at him. Calloway reached his hand over. The girl smiled as she walked over and held onto his hand. "I think - she made her choice," he added calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are making - a very dire mistake," one warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have made many in my day," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think you will be able to survive here snake man? This isn't the desert. This isn't the city. This is our domain. We protect it from foul defilers that would seek to taint it - and some of us - are quite - good - at it," the other warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know that this is not friendly domain. I knew that from the moment I set foot here. But - as I know that this is - such dangerous terrain - know that I would not abandon my charge so long as I am able to stand," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bold words," one began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You may live to regret them," the other continued. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then again - maybe not," the other concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We will be passing - will you stop us?" he asked seriously. The two ladies glared at him and then looked down at the girl holding his hand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hmm - I love it when they have a little backbone in them - makes breaking them so much more enjoyable. Go leech. But know that - there is no where in this forest that you can hide from us. We will be watching you," she began as she looked at the girl. "Both of you," she concluded. Calloway nodded as he and the girl slowly walked around the two ladies. One was getting ready to follow - but was being held back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - not yet. Let her see - what he is really about. He is out of his element - he will crack - they all do," the other reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||