Chapter 9: The Mercenaries
1305 Words
The High Priestess had done something to the ring. It didn’t just hold Naila back anymore. It was . . . different.
Walking through the quiet village streets, I first noticed the change. My senses—heightened, sharp, alive—felt like mine, not hers. I could hear the faint crunch of a man’s boots on gravel from miles away. Smell the soap of a woman bathing behind a closed door. The hairs on my neck stood on edge, not from fear, but from awareness.
Naila stirred faintly in the back of my mind. She wasn’t fighting to escape. She was . . . watching.
:~*~:
At dawn, the village gate came into view, bustling with life. Merchants loaded carts with sacks of grain and barrels of ale. Farmers herded reluctant goats and clucking chickens, their children trailing behind. The guards stood tall at their posts, inspecting incoming travelers more thoroughly than those leaving.
Wooden beams stretched high above the gate, weathered but sturdy. Small carvings of protective runes adorned the arch, a feeble attempt to ward off monsters from the wilds beyond.
I’d passed this way on errands countless times, but right now it felt different. Felt good.
The scent of livestock and morning dew mingled in the cool air, and I lingered for a moment, taking it all in.
Freedom.
The guards were familiar faces. They were the only ones who didn’t shy away from my seemingly terrifying eyes.
“Is that you, Jade?” one of them called out, his tone warm.
“Toik,” I replied, recognizing his voice instantly. He was young and always seemed too cheerful for his station.
“I’d know that frame and bowed head anywhere,” he teased, his broad smile on display as I approached.
I allowed myself a small smile. “How are you, Toik?”
“Gallant as always,” he said, puffing his chest like a proud rooster. “You heading out on another of Celene’s errands?”
“You know how it is,” I lied, keeping my tone light, my fingers tightening around my bag.
Toik’s gaze lingered for a moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “How about—”
“I’ve got to go!” I cut him off, darting past him. “Catch up later!”
I waved quickly at the other guards I recognized, their kind nods the last familiar gesture before I stepped into the unknown.
:~*~:
Beyond the gate, a ragged group of mercenaries lounged in the grass beside the road.
“If you’re heading to Kreel, we’ll take you there!” a lanky man called out, his voice carrying easily over the murmurs of gossiping villagers. “Small fee! You don’t know what monsters are out there!”
His companions were scattered about, their makeshift camp alive with activity. A huge man sat on a stump, polishing a pair of massive axes that glinted in the sun. A woman with thick glasses perched on her nose leaned against a tree, nose buried in a book.
Nearby, two women whispered, their voices loud enough to overhear.
“Those mercenaries aren’t right in the head,” one said, shaking her head.
“Humans and beasts working together? It’s unnatural,” the other replied, grimacing.
The lanky man, unbothered by the whispers, turned back to his group. “Why do we even do this? No one sane goes to Kreel unless they’ve been banished.”
“You know why,” the woman with glasses said without looking up.
“Yeah, yeah,” the man muttered. “The boss lost his kid to the monsters and swore revenge. Now we’re stuck ferrying fools to Kreel because he’s still looking for the one that killed his son.”
“It’s not just revenge,” the woman replied, her voice calm. “He does it so no one else has to suffer what he did.”
“Yeah, right,” the man scoffed.
As their argument continued, Naila’s voice slithered into my thoughts. ‘Go to them. They’re perfect.’
I hesitated, my hand brushing against the ring.
‘Trust me,’ she added, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Taking a deep breath, I approached the group.
The lanky man noticed me first, his sharp gaze narrowing. “Well, look at this,” he said, bending to peer under my hood. “Another outcast, huh? Hey, Butcher! You owe me three friz coins!”
The huge man grunted, tossing the coins his way. “Regret making that bet.”
“Regret being a man of honor?” the lanky man teased, flipping the coins in his hand. “Why do you keep paying me then?”
“Because a man without his word is no man at all,” Butcher replied gruffly.
“But a monster you are, with a size like yours,” the lanky man shot back, grinning.
“I’m not an outcast!” I snapped, pulling my hood back. “I’ve lived in Nivel my whole life!”
The huge man roared with laughter, snatching the coins back. “Now you owe me three friz coins, Gidon!”
“Are you mad, girl?” Gidon asked, his grin faltering. “What business do you have in Kreel if you’re not banished or an outcast?”
“I want to become a Watcher,” I said firmly.
His laughter returned, louder this time. “A Watcher? This fragile girl wants to become a bloody mole-beast!”
“A mole-beast?” I thought, confused. ‘Is that what they call Watchers?’
“Yes,” I said, forcing confidence into my voice. “A Watcher saved my life.”
Before Gidon could reply, a small man appeared, his presence quiet but commanding.
“Leave her be,” he said. His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp and piercing.
“You’ll take me?” I asked, hope swelling in my chest.
“We will,” he replied.
“But I have no coins,” I admitted.
“I never asked for your coins.”
Gidon sighed dramatically. “The boss has spoken!” He shouted with exaggerated enthusiasm, his voice ringing across the square. The sudden shift in tone caught me off guard. “Let’s leave this dump already.” His nose wrinkled in distaste as he gestured toward the villagers. “Something about these people—they’re just so bitter.” His expression twisted as though the mere thought of them left a bad taste in his mouth.
I found myself smiling faintly at his words. 'He isn’t all that bad,' I thought, and to my surprise, I felt a quiet agreement from Naila.
'But it takes bad to recognize bad, Jade,' Naila said smoothly. But her voice—it wasn’t the angry growl or sarcastic hiss I had grown used to. It was calm, almost conversational.
A wave of confusion passed through me. It wasn't just now. Her tone had been different ever since receiving the High Priestess’s ring—controlled.
She didn’t say it outright, but I could feel her silently telling me, ‘This has always been my voice.’
Then I stiffened, realization dawning on me. 'Is there maybe a human side to her too?'
For some reason, the thought made me happy.
'Do I miss the old Naila?' I wondered, surprised by the strange comfort her presence now brought me as compared to before. 'And just how powerful is this new ring for it to change even Naila?'
The thought filled me with both relief and curiosity.
'I could get used to this,' I admitted inwardly, running my thumb over the cool silver band.
‘You should,’ Naila replied, her voice a low hum of approval, a warmth that felt almost encouraging.
The High Priestess’s ring . . . I loved it!
- Writer
