The Land Below our Feet COMPLETE

PHENJAL

-Wake up! – Ussi´s voice commanded as he poked her leg with his foot- I told you not to stay up so late last night. We need to get going!

Souna rolled on her back groggily, yawning and stretching her arms. She sat to find Axe standing a short distance away tugging at Kohu´s whiskers, as the beast rested calmly on its belly and endured the child's harassing patiently.

-What are you doing? – The girl asked when she noticed the warrior extracting a single firearm from the crate before shutting it closed and carrying it back to the entrance of the hidden chamber.

-We are putting these back down there. We cannot take them all with us now, they are just too heavy... There are four more crates where this one came from- Ussiariah explained, opening the hatchway door - So, for now I am taking only the one I need to convince Hethan. Then we will pick them all up on our way back to Lowland.

He took the ammunition down along with the powder barrels and when he was done, he covered the entrance again with some pieces of debris, hiding it and making sure it looked innocuous enough to untrained eyes.

-Let's go – He said, picking the child up and placing him inside the improvised carrier, tying it against his back – If we hurry, we will reach Phenjal by sunset, and we'll have a last proper rest before we start heading to the Sand Valley.

Just as the Yahurian had predicted, the sun was going down when they emerged from the trees and spotted the small village encased among the mountainous landscape.

They got off the black feline's back and Ussi took the child off his shoulders, then placed him into Souna´s arms. Reaching into his belongings and retrieving an oversize woolen cap, covering Axe's very noticeable hair with it.

-Kohu! – He called out to his jaguar, freeing him from his saddle as the animal looked expectantly at him – Hunt, eat, rest... And be back by sunrise.

The wild cat let out a low growl before vaulting back into the forest while the warrior unstrapped the firearm he had been carrying on his shoulder and hid it behind a large bush along with Kohu´s saddle.

All eyes had landed curiously on them when they entered the crowded building. The Yahurian walked to the large man that manned the cozy lodge and placed a bag of salt in front of him.

-Bed and meal - He ordered, his voice echoing loudly behind his mask.

-Is there a war coming, Yahun? Shall we be worried about you being here? -The man asked, eyeing him mistrustfully and taking the bag.

-War is always coming - The Yahurian replied- But tonight I am just passing through. I have been commissioned with the safe carriage of these two commoners, that is all.

-Good to know – The innkeeper nodded satisfied- I will now prepare your chambers. Meanwhile, you may go to the baths and clean up if you wish. They are not far from here, then you can eat.

It was late, and the place was empty. Souna had been soaking naked in the thermal waters of the spacious stone bath for a short while, when the silence of the deserted space was disrupted by the heavy footsteps of the warrior entering the humid room.

Blushing, she tried to hide her body under the bubbling water as the Yahurian paced towards the edge of the pond, placing Axe on the floor, and rapidly starting to undress himself. Her eyes widening when he removed his armor and she caught sight of his sculpted, lean anatomy in all its splendor. His shredded figure illuminated by the dim torches casting shadows all over him and accentuating his pronounced muscles.

He lingered before her, calmly disrobing the child too as she fought to keep herself from staring at his massive manhood dangling among his light-colored pubes. After an intoxicating and flustering moment, he finally finished getting the kid ready, and he picked him up. Both getting inside the huge bathtub, and allowing her to exhale the breath that had caught in her throat.

She focused on the task of scrubbing herself with herbal salts, then washing her hair with essential oils as the warrior held the toddler silently with one arm and carefully poured warm water over his head using a ceramic bowl.

Once the three of them were clean enough, they had exited the public baths and started walking back to the pension. But not before Souna finally gathered the strength to get over her self-consciousness. Timidly turning her naked back towards them as she hurriedly slipped her clothes on, feeling the warrior's sharp sight piercing through her.

They had just gotten out and paced in silence for a brief time, walking down the quiet roads, when Ussi stopped and perked his head up. His hand reaching for his spear and readying himself. Souna´s nerves tensing at his action and reaching for her own dagger. Not a moment had passed when four huntsmen appeared from each shadowy corner, waving their knives at them.

-Hand the child over, Yahun!- One of them said, nodding at the bulge hanging from the Yahurian´s back.

-You want him? Come and get him – Ussiariah smirked, turning around slowly and waving his hand defiantly at them.

The four men sprang at once, rushing for them with their weapons up front and trying to get to the warrior's valuable cargo as he dodged them easily, driving his spear through one of them and tossing his body over another, weighing him down. He immediately dropped over the fallen man's helpless body and started punching his face mercilessly, his fists rapidly descending on him.

Souna had just managed to jump over one of them and disarm him, slitting his throat with her dagger and feeling shocked at the amount of blood spilling out of him. Before she could process it any further, she noticed the remaining assailant, quietly approaching the Yahurian´s crouched back, his hands extended at the bundle attached to his shoulders from where the tiny head of the toddler peeked.

Without giving him time to take another step, Souna charged at the man and tackled him down, her legs encircling his neck and pressing down with all her might. The assailant's face turning impossibly red and his eyes popping out of their sockets as he fought to free himself from her tight choke-hold.

When Ussiariah rose from the gory result of his doing to find her lying on the ground with the lifeless head of their last attacker crushed down between her thick thighs. He'd lifted a brow in appreciation and silently offered her his hand.

Souna took it and stood up with difficulty, panting and fighting to get some air inside her lungs. Her heart beating uncontrollably in her exhilarated state.

-Oh, Yahun! You're back! Room is ready and food awaits you - The host greeted them with a fake smile as the Yahurian rushed a hyperventilating Souna through the entrance and stomped his feet before him with a menacing look.

-Send the food in and leave us be. If anyone dares to disturb our rest tonight, I will have your head by daylight. Is that clear?

He did not wait for an answer before nodding to the anxious child that stood expectantly, waiting to show them the way, and following him.

The Yahurian shoved the huffing girl inside and pushed her down the bed. Pacing around the chamber and scanning every inch of it before sighing and unlatching the kid from his back.

A timid knock on the door made his head snap towards it a moment later, opening it with annoyance and finding the shaking boy holding a tray.

-Your food… Sir - He announced with a trembling voice, standing there uncomfortably, until the warrior took it from his hands and he vanished out of there.

Ussi placed the tray down on a modest bench and picked Axe up, taking a small piece of meat and handing it to him before sitting tiredly down and adjusting the child on his lap.

-Breathe- He calmly advised, watching the toddler munch on his food as Souna panicked on the bed, her harsh gasps resonating all around the room.

-I can't- She muttered hoarsely, clawing at her throat with desperation.

-If you can talk, then you can breathe - The warrior explained, rolling his eyes at her - Was that your first blood?

-Yes- Souna choked, a few tears rolling down her cheeks – My husband trained me, but I had never fought before.

-He taught you well - The Yahurian nodded with approval - You did good today. Now come, you need to eat.