The somber group arrives back at the camp. Of the group, only No. 13 and Avidia has blood on them. The long dried blood now a crusty mess and caused their clothes to uncomfortably stick to their skin. Given the nature of fighting with bladed weapons and flesh, the mess could not be avoided. No. 13 knows this will be the reality of his situation whenever flesh is added to the equation. And, it is not just the blood, but the smell that is also off-putting. The smell of decay even now, is slightly evident to his enhance sense of smell. As much as it is a gift, having enhanced senses sometimes can be a curse. He just wishes there are better ways in this world of killing. Thinking of Julia''s use of a bow, he almost wants to switch to it but shakes his head. He will learn it since it will provide him range, but that is not his style.
Rachel guided her friends away, possibly to seek a bath and new clothes. Carole also needs to have Lucretia or Lucia look after her feet. The march with those crappy moccasins did a number on her feet but the heels would have been a lot worse. They also appear to need to take a rest. The little chatter that did go on mention how they could barely sleep and the noises in the night made them paranoid. Under those conditions, any type of sleep wouldn''t prove to be as restful. To be honest, he is also a bit relieved to be rid of their company. He cares little for their attitude but what makes him on guard is the lack of trust. Even he would grow tired if he had to remain at full alert, waiting for one of them to do something foolish.
Since Avidia and No. 13 had the same thought in mind, they both walked towards the river. The swift moving water and the rocky outcrop made bathing somewhat of a hazard, especially for the small children in the group. The river is wide, not as grand like the Mississippi in the US, but it streches for a decent 30 meters and the water it provides is safe enough to drink, though they do boil the water still. Stripping naked, neither seeming to care much for nudity, they both entered and servants brought them new clothes and a bar of soap to wash with. Avidia even washed his back and he returned the favor, seeing there is nothing wrong with wanting to help the other. After the quick bath, they dry themselves off and put on their new clothes.
Avidia beckons No. 13 to follow her. With a why not feeling, he discovers her leading him to her tent. She pulls out some supplies and starts to clean her things. No. 13 watches, this type of skill was never something he really needed to learn. Following her lead, he pulls out the sword that was given to him and follows along, emulating her actions. She stops often, correcting his technique and guiding him on the correct pressure to use to clean and hone the blade. He oddly feels a sense of connection to her, and not one induced through mental manipulation or by drugs, but a natural one formed by perhaps fighting together or simply, because of her quiet and efficient nature. He doesn''t question it and lets it be without trying to poke and prod at it. What he wants to know is, what the silverish blue orbs are. All he can guess, they are quite valuable since they are hard to obtain. There are so many questions and he doesn''t know how to form any of it with his limited knowledge of her language.
After they are done, Avidia begins to take down her tent and No. 13 lends a hand. Glancing around, he notices that the rest of the caravan is readying to move, the last night''s battle probably delayed their moving time. He doubts that his retreival of Rachel''s friends had any delays, since when they return, the people were still burying the dead and giving them a proper burial. When Avidia was done loading her things on her horse, she waves him goodbye and rides on ahead. He sighs, he never had gotten an answer yet and he didn''t know how to ask. No. 13 heads back to his own carriage that Augusto is allowing them to use. When he was there, he spots Julia, Chase, and another man. The stranger, is apparently the one that will be driving the horses. As it turns out, none of them have a clue. He walks up to the pair and asks them. "Where is Rachel and her friends?"
Chase looks over and then answers. "She is with them, in a wagon though, since there are no more carriages to spare. The wagon is carrying supplies and they had to make do."
Julia scoffs, her look annoyed. "They should be grateful that they had even gotten that much. The injured guards still have to sleep on the ground. Bunch of spoiled brats."
Chase returns. "Well, they were taken to an alien world. all of them had successful parents so they always had a comfortable living. Give them time and have some patience."
"Time? Julia shakes her head. "I understand where they are coming from, but to complain! I don''t mind them moping around as long as they keep their own feelings on how things are not fair to themselves. They are using Augusto''s supplies and they see him as a barbarian. This is not the 23rd century Earth any longer. The rules have change and I don''t want them dragging us down with them. What if Augusto abandons us out here, in the middle of nowhere with no food and supplies, what do we do then?!"
No. 13 sees Chase hesitate. He guesses there is really nothing he can retort with . From the gist of things he has gathered. It seems Rachel''s friends made a ruckus and it may partially implicate the entire group through mere association. No. 13 wouldn''t blame the man if four strangers, whom he offered food and shelter, still looks down upon him. Rachel has some issues with the people herself but she keeps quiet. He notices her uncomfort at the status of the servants and how they are legally owned people. But, this is a different period in human society and there are still slaves in the modern world though their circumstances are just a bit better. If he were Augusto, would he blame the man if he left them. Given the limited supplies and the limited number of guards, that means he would have to stretch his men out further in order to provide adequate protection for his group. If Rachel''s friends are useless in a dangerous situation, the burden will be bore by his own people.
Julia breaks the awkward silence and to Chase''s relief, changes the subject. "So, is there anything going on between you and Avidia? You two seem to hit things off pretty well."
No. 13 just raises an eyebrow and remains silent.
"Come on, she doesn''t mind you at all and she pretty much avoided the others in the group. She may be a bit older than yourself, but her temperament matches you well. Oh, she is a beauty and I still notice your glances at our lady curves."
No. 13 shakes his head. "I respect her and find her attractive. It doesn''t matter. She is capable, great with a blade, and the most important thing, she does not give me a headache. Would I have sex with her if the offer was given, yes. A relationship, no."
"Damn!" Chase exclaims. "I think he went a round about way of calling us annoying."
Julia grins. "He is just annoyed that we make his life a bit more interesting. Annoying is caring."
Chase adds in. "I annoy others because it tests if they truly care about me. Since you have hired me boss, I know you care. I want you to know, since you have pass the test known as Chase Edwards, you are now allowed to join the people I consider friends. That respectable list includes, Rachel and Julia! Now, you are the third, congrats!"
Julia looks at Chase. "I''m not sure I should feel sorry for you or those on your list. For 8 years I have known you. I will admit, it has been a struggle and shows how much perseverance and grace I truly possess. I often questioned my sanity and I''m amazed that I stuck around that long."
No. 13 ignores their banter. The caravan has already moved so his gaze stares into a vibrant colorful world, but one that seems to have lost some of its appeal. Maybe it is the endless ocean of the same silverish blue grass or the mountains that seem so near but he knows is still quite distant, looks the same today as it did yesterday. Everything just seems so still, like a painting that you could appreciate once in a while but the more you look, the more monotonous it seems. A super soldier, on a day like today, with nothing muchhh to do, would engage in sex to break the bordom. He thought about Avidia, now that Julia placed that thought into his head but shakes it out of his mind. He doesn''t know her well and she may be only quiet because of the lack of familiarity or the language barrier. Anyways, he doesn''t want to complicate anything by asking and for someone like Rachel, he is unsure how she will react. Those female super soldiers sure did make sex not so complicated. Maybe he should wait until he can find a brothel since he has reservations about having sex with a servant girl. Are they even allowed to say no. He doesn''t want to find out that answer.
During the midday, the food that was offered was the same food from this morning. The caravan took an hour break by his estimate. It was long enough for people to eat and relieve themselves before the caravan continues on. Rachel joined back up with them during this time, her friends still resting and she claimed she needed a change of senary. Lucretia also joined them, her father sent her to help No. 13 and his group. When the caravan started to move again, it was Lucretia and Rachel that did most of the talking during the afternoon until evening. While Rachel did most of the learning, she would in turn teach them. A slate with a chalk was needed to write, draw pictures, so the lessons could be instilled in their memories. Near the end of lessons, the group was practicing simple conversations between one another.
Before the caravan stopped for the evening, hunters and gatherers were sent on ahead with guards to search for sources of food. Since the caravan travels along the river, it is not difficult to find the way back. Also, more than 50 riders on horses appeared from the horizon''s edge. This is the advance party sent to scout for danger and bring back any information worth noting. Unlike most of the guards, these men had better armor, all wearing chainmail and each possesses a longer spear. Over all, they seem to be the better of the normal guards. No. 13 suspects that only the twenty personal guards of Augusto is better skilled than these riders. Even so, it does not mean that nothing can slip pass their net, evident by the monster raid. There is simply too much ground to cover, even on horseback.
Nearing the evening and after their lessons, No. 13 couldn''t hide his curiosity so he pulled out the orbs and showed them to Lucretia. It took a lot of talking, hand gestures and drawings, No. 13 was finally given an idea of what these orbs are. They are pretty much magic batteries. For people capable of manipulating these forces, they can draw upon these orbs to grant them more power to use. Unlike magical potions, the orbs has less of a drawback in comparison. Potions are slower to help the caster recover, they cause nausea and someone can only drink about one or two a week before they feel the ill effects. These orbs, while they cannot be used endlessly, have much less of a side effect and its usage is instantaneous. The down side is, after its usage, the caster will be mentally and physically tired and will need a quick sleep to recover.
The orbs can be rated from low to high. There are five tiers of orbs: Low, mid-low, mid, mid-high, and high. The higher the grade, the more the orbs will cost. It even allows a lower tier caster, someone with very little magic storage, to access a storage more than they can handle physically. In times of war, these orbs prices can skyrocket. However, just because a lower tier caster possesses the orb wouldn''t mean they are as powerful as a higher tier caster. The person wielding the orb can only push and manipulate the energy their own physical body can handle. Lucretia is a mid-tier caster. If she had a high tier orb, it would only mean she can use the same amount of magical energy as someone in the high tier range. Once the orb and her own magic is drain, the more exhausted her body will be because she is tapping into and pushing power that her physical body cannot handle normally. The higher she uses above her level, the more rest she will need when she is done. Once tapped, the caster will need to use the power or it will slowly drain. Noone quite understands the mecanism behind it.
As for prices, Lucretia says each orb is a mid-tier one. Normally, a low tier orb goes for about 10 gold coins. For the highest tier orbs, they are worth around 200 gold coins, maybe more, since they are harder to obtain. For the mid tier orbs, they go around for 40 to 50 some odd gold coins. During times of war, casters may even pay up to twice or triple the amount for what they are normally worth. For casters, these orbs is a matter of life and death. Once the energy is gone, a caster is useless and very vulnerable. Magic could also slowly be restored by the sun, but it is a long process to recover, especially for casters with higher capacity. If Lucretia were to drain her magic, she will at least need 16 to 20 hours of direct sunlight to recharge her magical powers. For a high tier caster, it could take around 70 to 80 hours. Everyone regains magical energy at the same rate, with only slight fluctuation between each individual.
Once that discussion was done, Lucretia was so excited to find out how the group obtained the orbs. Her family would love to purchase them since they sell and hunt for these things often. Though they wouldn''t buy them at market prices, they would definitely pay more for them than from others that sold it through them. Lucretia''s family would normally buy these orbs around 25 to 30 gold coins to make it worth their effort. With the three in No. 13''s group, she is sure her father would give them 100 gold coins even. No. 13 knows why, and that is to form a stronger bond with No. 13 and Julia, whom possesses tremendous force for just two people. In turn, his group would get the connection and more resources that they need. In the end, they decided to sell these orbs after it was discovered to noone''s suprise, none of them possesses an ability to store magical energy. No. 13 believes that it would take time for humans to adapt and draw upon these forces.
Beleiving this, it makes him question how time flows on this world in comparison to Earth once again.
Overall, magic is quite more limited than he has read in many of his fantasy novels. Noone is strong enough to blow up a mountain. Just destroying a portcullis made of thick slabs of stone and steel for a high tier mage can be draining. Even though limited as it is, it still has many uses like mending flesh, freezing food, creating a magical armor while giving the wielder great mobility, and so much more. Magic cannot turn someone into a frog or make things appear out of thin air, even teleportation is an impossibility. While somewhat disappointing, there is a bit of a relief, since he rather not go against even a high tier mage of this world. Already, even with all of his strength and speed, a high tier mage might be too much for him to overcome.
With the arrival of the evening, the caravan once again goes into a chaotic order. Tents were set, fires were started, and food was prepared. No. 13, Julia, Chase, and Rachel were once again invited to eat with the Andares family. Servants notified Rachel that her friends'' food would be served to them later. It took a lot of pressure off her shoulders and she was able to relax. For the Andares family, Lucia appears much better and No. 13 believes after healing a lot of guardsmen, she needed the rest. Given Lucretia''s magical absorption rate, No. 13 doubts she had enough time to fully recover but she did recover enough to remove a couple of years off of her face.
Again, large platters of food was carried and laid before them. It seems the hunters were successful and fresh meat was served tonight. there was large roast, with the meat cooked to a nice medium and served with a gravy and plenty of wild vegetables. Large ribs fills another platter and this was braised in some wine and flavored with herbs and spices. Biscuits and butter was the rest of the food served. Tonight, the only drink served was watered wine and ale. Not caring in the slightest, No. 13 is glad he gets to eat better than most. Super soldiers do enjoy their food. It was one of the pleasures in life they get to enjoy without it being controlled too much.
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While eating, his mind strayed to Avidia and wonder what she ate. It also makes him curious about her ties to the Andares family but he has a suspicion that it doesn''t run deep at all. It only makes him more curious about the enigmmatic woman. Seeing her powers, he doubts she is as powerful as Lucia, her energy seems more limited, but he could be wrong. Given the fact that out of the entire caravan, which actually numbers around 250 people now, only three of them can use magic. The Andares family from his guess, has some means and they sound like a powerful force in their own right. He made this guess from what little he understood of her family''s wealth and prestige. Is Avidia someone the family simply hired or is there some sort of bond. He wanted to ask, but he didn''t want to get involved in other people''s business.
When the meal was done, the talks for the orbs began. No. 13 just sat back and let Rachel do the talking. It took only a short amount of time, Lucretia had already given the information to her parents and a deal was struck at 100 gold coins for the three mid tier orbs. The offer also included some help to settle her friends and give them a safe place to live. Augusto promised to do his best to find them jobs and a way of living where they can live comfortably. The offer made Rachel happy and No. 13 cares more for the connection gained than saving on potentially 20 to 50 gold coins.
After the gold coins were given and No. 13 handed over the orbs, Rachel says. "The Andares family wants to offer you a job. The contract is for two years and the pay is 5 gold coins a month with them fronting an additional 20 gold coins for you to find some adequate gear. But, there is more, if you take this other deal, it could potentially net you a magical sword!"
No. 13 was suprised when he heard the words ''magical sword''. Interested, he asks. "What are the details?"
Rachel looks a bit nervous, her eyes shifting about and reluctantly says. "You will have to marry Lucretia and help produce several heirs."
"Wait, what?!" Chase jumps in, he was even more surprised than No. 13, whom is the one being offered a wife and a magic sword.
"I think I understand why." Julia announces. Everyone turns to her, the Andares family glances over but returns to their own council. Before anyone could ask her, she explains it. "Power! These people might not know what a super soldier is or how genetics work, but imagine a child borned from a super soldier and someone with the potential for magical talents. Though the child may not be as strong as our friend here, the child has or children has the potential to be stronger than both potentially. After witnessing the boost Avidia was given, it is not too far fetch to say that someone without magic like Devin here, would be a force to be reckoned with. This might also grant the Andares family more power in the future once the children of such a union could be wed. I am talking about the long game that could probably have a throne involved or something like a duke."
Rachel looks a bit upset. "What about love and what if she is not interested!"
Chase tries to soothe her and then tells her once he had a moment to think over Julia''s words. "Rachel, think about the period of societal development that we are in. This is a marriage that can potentially benefit both sides. I am not saying it is right but this is the reality of the world we now live in. "
Julia shakes her head. "Even then, if I were still on Earth, there was a high possibility that my own spouse would have been chosen for me and I wouldn''t have a choise in the matter."
Chase looks shocked and asks. "What?"
Julia gives Chase a gentle sad smile. "Chase, down deep inside, you know I love you right? I know you love me and you have been my best friend since we were 12. We did everything together, learned to hunt, shoot, fight, went on our first practice date and prom. As much as you may annoy me from time-to-time, I wouldn''t want anyone else to accompany me in life. Saying that, the organization I served, nearly controlled every aspect of my life. I would have done what they asked because they can control me like they control Devin, though not to the same extent, I do have a brother and mother to worry about."
Chase sighs, and it takes a minute for him to say something. "I loved you ever since you became my best friend. As much as it would hurt to see you with anyone else, I would have lived with it. I couldn''t do anything but, even if I couldn''t be with you in that case, I would still wish you happiness, even if I couldn''t be at your side any longer. I love you that much you know. Eventually I would move on but you would be the love of my life, I really do believe that. All I ever wanted was your happiness, even if that meant I was not part of that picture."
Julia''s eyes sparkles and No. 13 didn''t know that she was capable of that. He wonders if he is. Could he love someone that deeply?
Chase rubs his blonde hair and then goes on to say. "You know what, I am glad we are here now. As much as I might miss some friends and family, maybe not the family as much since Rachel is one of the few I care about, it would hurt me much more to not have you than it is to live without you."
Julia sheds a tear. "I feel the same way. In a sense, I think that is why I am not so distraught as I should be. I have you, mother still has Julio, so we can be together finally. I have been holding back because if I admitted it out loud, I think we would be more hurt when the time comes for them to send me away."
The two move closer together and No. 13 and Rachel was left looking at one another, their feelings of awkwardness evident on both of their faces. No. 13 broke the silence and asks Rachel. "Can you see what Lucretia''s feelings are on the subject. I understand this society enough, but I am not sure I can do it if it means taking away her freedom?"
Before Rachel could ask, Julia turns to No. 13, her face serious. "You know Devin, even if she does not end up with you, it does not mean she will end up with someone better. She is still a slave to this society."
"I know that, but there is a difference being the one that does it compared to not being complicit in her unhappiness. I don''t want more guilt added to my conscious, what little of it I still possess."
Julia nods her head in understanding. Rachel sighs and notices she seems so awkward about asking this, but she forges on ahead. Lucretia blushes, looks at No. 13 and then speaks to Rachel. No. 13 is suprise that Augussto isn''t saying anything, since it is him that is likely in favor of this union.
It lasted about 10 minutes and rachel turns to No. 13. Still embarrassed, she goes on. "Well, she is really attracted to you and wouldn''t mind you for a husband. But, she would like it if you courted her and she wants to spend more time getting to know you once the language barrier is solved."
No. 13 blinks, his mind a bit confused. "She is interested in me? When did that happen?"
Rachel lets out a breath and tells him. "She saw you that night. Coming in like a storm, so powerful and she felt attracted since then. She also thinks you''re handsome."
Chase cuts in. "She is not the only one!"
Julia elbows Chase and Rachel blushes hard and looks away and says with a bit of venom. "Fuck you Chase."
Not wanting to delve into more complicated matters, especially when it comes to love and attraction, No. 13 states. "Okay. Only on one condition though."
Rachel turns back, blinking in surprise before saying. "What?"
No. 13 gathers his thoughts. "What she is describing is puppy love. I want to propose that for two years, we will try this courting thing out, spending tiem together. I will accept the initial contract, and then we can see how things turns out in two years. But first, I want the details of this magical sword. If it is acceptable, then we go with the courting plan first, if not, then we stick to the first plan of this only being a business partnership. Oh, I want the details on what my job will entail."
Looking a bit disappointed, Rachel simply agrees and then turns to start the talks once again. This time, it lasted for more than half an hour. No. 13 believes the matter is really complicated and it will be hard for Rachel to convey this message and vice versa.
Rachel looks at No. 13, some mental exhaustion showing on her face but she begins to speak, wanting to probably get this over with.
"I know you are interested in the sword first, so I will start with that. The sword is a mid-high tier weapon. It is capable of unleashing gusts of wind like a tornado or hurricane, but on a much smaller scale. It doesn''t require any use of magic to control such weapons. Like casters, once the magic is used up, the sword will need time to recharge. No orbs can recharge it and if you use up all of its energy, it can take a few days before the sword is ready to use again. The sword itself is much stronger than steel. I am talking about maybe even more than ten times stronger if I have gotten that correctly. The sword is about as long as the one you have right now and the grip is for one and a half hands. The sword, the price is worth over 10,000 gold coins. The Andares family only has several magical weapons of this caliber, and it took a couple of generations to own such weapons. Something of this quality is owned by a duke or marquis, perhaps a second or third prince."
Hearing this so far, his heart beat quickens but he controls it with some mental exercise. With something like this, he wouldn''t fear casters as much and his combat capability will definitely rise. Even if he knows the sword won''t technically leave the Andares family, it is something that he could use personally. From the sound of it, magic weapons may be hard to make and there are not many out there.
Rachel moves on, telling him about the details of the job. "For the work you will be doing, it will mostly consist of some bodyguard work, you and Julia training the men, hunting down some creatures for their orb in which you will recieve 50% of the profit, and showing up at events as Lucretia''s escort or Luminea''s."
No. 13 thinks, trying to see if there is anything hidden or any secret agendas in the works. Once he couldn''t think of much right now, given his limited understanding of all the forces at play, he could only reluctantly agree. He knows he is gambling, but there is a thrill to the unknown, something the inhibitors probably blocked him from seeking. Besides, if things go south, he can take Julia, Chase, and Rachel away. It is harder to track down a small group of people than it is to find a large group.
These two years will hopefully be stable for No. 13 to build up his own specialized force. He plans on being careful of who he invites, and putting them through a vigorous screening process. After being a slave, he wants to control his own fate and be a player, not a pawn. His own organization will deal in intelligence, covert work, bodyguard, and other shadowy types of work. His first goal is to have some connections and the next, is to create an inner circle that he screens personally. The organization will never grow beyond 200 to 300 people. In order for it to work, the less, the better to the extent where he needs it to function. The larger the organization, the more vulnerable it can become. Threats would appear and factions would form, maybe to even beyond the point to where it can function. There will be external threats, but internal ones will make the former an easier possibility.
"Is that all?" No. 13 asks.
Rachel smiles a bit. "You need a name. He would prefer you choose one in his native language."
"Wait, how does he know I don''t have a name." No. 13 asks Rachel.
"Okay, please forgive me but I mentioned it to Lucretia. I didn''t think it was a big deal at the time, I am so sorry."
No. 13 sighs, he might be a bit angry at her but more towards himself. "Okay, don''t let it happen again.
Rachel lets out a deep breath and then smiles a bit. "Thanks Devin. But, why don''t you stick with Devin?"
No. 13 looks deep into her green eyes. "The name was given to me by those that fucked with my mind, I don''t want the name they assign me. I know a name should not matter much, but, if I at least get a chance to approve of the name, I would be okay with it because, in the end, it is my choice, something I have control over."
"I see, I didn''t know that it meant that much to you." Rachel says hesitantly.
No.13 says. Don''t feel guilty, there is nothing to feel guilty over. We simply experienced life differently from one another, our values will differ."
"Okay." Rachel agrees, but there is a bit of a sadness on her expression and No. 13 doesn''t know how to accept the fact that someone else can feel sad for him. Luckily, Rachel continues to say something else so they don''t have to acknowledge the fact of how he was raised. "The reason why he prefers you to have a name of this nation, is because once you sign the marriage contract, there will be less suspicion about your origins. Others will be less wary of you and it would make his introduction of you a bit easier for him. It is just for convenience really."
"Picking a name from here is not a bad idea. I think a foreign name will raise some suspicion and prejudice. Well, those are the terms for now. Nothing is fully definite but we should discuss a bit more once we reach his home. This is just a preliminary deal so far."
"Okay, I will tell them that." Rachel says. She goes back to the talks and it lasted for about another half an hour. It all ended on some vague promises of deliberation. Lucretia, blushing at first seem to simply accept the talks and sat there, some composure returning to her. Luminea glances at No. 13 a bit, inspecting him but he cannot tell anything from her expression, her face remained neutral. Chase and Julia talked to one another and stayed out of this whole situation after they declared their feelings for one another. No. 13 and his group left, promising to join them for dinner. For the next six days, the group spent time with the Andares family. Lucretia would join them after the midday meal and lessons would continue. Rachel spent the mornings with her friends, trying to acclimate them to their new situation. No. 13 is not sure progress is made, they remain aloof and distant, with Owen becoming more belligerent. Rachel informed the group that Britany would be staying with them because he is snapping at her all the time and she needs space away from him. It was awkward at first, the group didn''t know how to interact with the girl. Julia and Chase are happy, even when stuck on a backwards world, and that bothered Brittany. No. 13 was No. 13, and Rachel had anchors in Chase, Julia, and now Lucretia. Julia even spoke about the possible resentment from Brittany. Sometimes, adversity brings out the worse in people. Julia also began hunting with the hunters. She discovered some Earth-like mammals, like buffalos, wild chickens, and then some weird ones, with six legs and a long tail with the ability to inject venom. The thing was a cross between a mammal and a reptile. The hunters also brought back that creature. Rachel, for a while didn''t try the meat but Chase eventually coaxed her into trying it and the meat was sort of like chicken except with marbling, making the meat more tender when braised. Chase continued his training and No. 13 is not sure where he will fit in the grand scheme of things. Chase is training in more in upfront military combat and he didn''t plan on his organization fighting on any sort of battlefield.
The peaceful days couldn''t last. On the seventh day, danger awaits the caravan.
A large group of riders came thundering in across the grasslands. The closer they get, the easier it is to make out the colors and insignia of house Anderes, a hawk grasping a magical orb over a sky blue background. The riders'' silverish chainmail sparkles like they were studded with diamonds, and it gave off such a majestic sight. As they draw closer, all is not well. Arrows and streaks of blood covers several men and some horses lack riders. The caravan came to full alert, the guards tightening and enclosing the perimeter. Servants and some of the other lower family members held bows in hand, ready to rain down a deadly storm.
No. 13 saw the lead rider say something though he couldn''t make it out. The guards moved aside and one ran towards the carriage of the Andares family. A minute later, Lucia came out, a bag of supplies over her shoulder and four of the personal Andares guards around her, made her way to the riders, likely to treat the injured men.
Julia walks up to No. 13. "There are forty-four riders, six are missing, eight injured."
No. 13 nods his head, showing he had gotten the message. "Trouble approaches, I wonder what role we will play."
15 minutes later, Augusto called for a meeting. Rachel had to appear since No. 13 and Julia''s vocabulary is that of a 4 or 5 years-old child here. Rachel is roughly around a 10 years-old level, but she had time to learn Latin. Rachel expects that in two years, the group should be fluent as the majority of the educated adults in the noble and merchant classes. Just several days ago, Rachel asked No. 13 for a job, which surprised him and she told him that she will study all the languages and cultures she possibly can, if he hires her. Julia agreed with this so No.13 agreed, but he was still feeling reserved about hiring her. He is not sure she fully understands what type of organization he is developing and placed this concern for a future time.
By the Andares carriage, several tables were combined to create a long table with enough space to fit eight people around it. Since the caravan had to stop, the midday meal was just served about an hour earlier than normal. Luminea sat to Augusto''s right. She was like a valkyrie, regal and full of prestige. Donned in silver chainmail with an ornate front plate to provide extra protection, and a well crafted helm with a face plate pushed up to allow her beautiful face to show, she was like those maidens of legened. Her look is austere, like a finely crafted statue made from the finest marble, though the lack of facial expression can be a bit discerning.
Augusto is also donned in armor, his tall and muscled frame making him appear more like a warlord than a finely cultured merchant lord that he is. Lucia and Lucretia are not here, and No. 13 assumes that they are mending the wounds and treating other problems. Besides those two at the table, another man is the captain of all of Augusto''s current forces, his lieutenant, and sitting there quietly, is the silent Avidia. She is garbed in her usual camouflage gear, and when he notices her, their eyes meet, sending eachother a silent greeting.
When everyone sat down, Augusto started the meeting with the words ''Bandits.''