章 10: Chapter 10 The Witch

Hi there guys, I hope yall had a great day for you've been awaiting a new chapter, so, here it is.

Please leave a comment for I like hearing what yall readers have to say about the story.

ENJOY.....

Amidst the night a hooded being beared in a dark black leather cloak trekked through the muddy ground, the woman cursed at herself when she stumped her right foot against something rock solid, as that happened she bent down to pick off the extra twig that stucked to her boots.

As glanced down to check on herself for any Mudd she saw that there wasn't much of a problem I mean all she had on was a black long-sleeve tunic shirt, while on the bottom she wore black leather pants made out of some of Vahrian's creatures hides. Heck, some of them had skins that were so strongly dense that they could withhold a couple of arrows.

As she looked forth, she saw a bunch of people leaving and entering a very big tavern. So without even giving it a second thought, she continued on her way, as she neared the front entrance, the woman waited for someone to get past after they had to show their namikrons.

A namikron was another term for those of age old enough to enter a tavern or in other words a bar, no kids of underage were allowed to enter, and if they tried using some sort of magic to turn themselves into adults as to try and fool the guards they would've already been dotted caught by a runeric rock, with this kind of rune it could detect any of those who have magic within them.

"Halt lady, show me your namikron," a guard said, stopping her.

Even if she could use her magic on them, the woman knew that it would start nothing but trouble, but lucky for the guards and people of this town, she wasn't looking for any.

"Of course, just give me a moment," the woman said, responding to him.

Reaching for her leather brown bag, the woman took some time to search for her namikron till eventually, she found it and pulled it out for the two guards to see.

"OK, you are good to go. Enjoy your night, Ms. Morgan,"

The now dark figure of the woman smiled as she put her namikron back in her bag and zipped it closed. She then bowed her head at the two guards in response while passing by them. "Thank you, gentlemen, here. Why don't you two have some water? It'll help freshen you two up,"

"Thank you ma'am, we will gladly accept your offer," said the other guard as he took the mug of water that the woman had somehow conjured out of nowhere with her magic.

"Alright then, you two take care," says Morgana as she pulls the fence gate inward.

Once passing through the entryway Morgana came to a halt, she took a look everywhere all the while setting herself up for this place or more specifically the tavern had changed a lot ever since she had been here the last time.

Continuing forth, she saw a multitude of people having fun with one another. Some of them, though, were drinking as they were comparing their weapons against one another. She remembered back then that this building used to be small, but she guessed that being gone for a few years she figured that the place would change over time, and from the looks of it she could see that an old friend of hers had decided to put a few changes in the tavern's building.

From outside before she had even reached thirty blocks near the pub, Morgana had checked out the building. It was a hundred sixteen feet wide square foot, and the height of it was about nearly twenty-six feet. The last visit to this old place was when she had met an old friend of hers, which of course was the only time they'd seen each other before departing to their destination.

On the inside the tavern had a story room, the bottom was where the common customers such as soldiers hunters townsfolks, and visitors would remain, on the top second floor was where those who wished to eat and drink in peace would linger to their own consensus of leisure and quiet, it was also used mostly by those who wished to discuss things in private.

Morgana trekked forward, and about a moment later, she cursed mentally for she had forgotten how loud the first room could be. Far from where she stood in the center of the place was where a group of musicians could be seen playing their instrument. People were singing along with the bard dancing on a table.

Morgana sometimes thought of how the bard and the three people were still able to move and jump on the four-legged table without busting the poor thing before the owner had to come and berate them for their insolence

From the corner of her eyes, she saw the bartender serving drinks to those of his customers. Hurrying on toward the counter, she pulled a stool from one of the nearby tables and took it for herself.

"Hello there, Jami," said Morgana, announcing herself.

The tall kid who was only about six feet with short brown hair, he had on a server's attire of a long-sleeved brown tunic and dark brown pants.

Jami as it is heard his name and turned to see a woman who gave him a greeting smile. She wore an all-black outfit except for a fish hook bone necklace that hung around her neck.

"I'm sorry, but may I know how you knew of my name?" Asked jami.

"It is quite a long story, you were only a baby when your mother and I ventured here in arenian for a place where she could live, surprisingly, a kind man took both her and you in, and can you guess who that is, Jami," Morgana said with a genuine smile of reassurance.

"My father! Wait, you'll have to forgive me, I didn't know you were the woman who helped my mother and me out... Is there anything I can do to help you, I got wine and green ale, made by one of the best beer makers in the neighboring kingdoms," said Jami.

"As much as I would want to, im afraid I have to say no, I'll take water with a sliced lemon and ice please," Morgana said.

From her side, she could already feel someone heading her way, it was obvious that he intended to hit on her but Morgana wasn't in the mood for it, heck she was done being letting people fool her nor was she in open to settling with someone.

"Hello there beautiful, wha-

Putting her hands up quickly, she managed to halt him from speaking by cutting him off. "Not interested,"

Scoffing to himself, the man just set his mug on the counter and took a seat next to Morgana. "Yet here you are all alone. If you aren't interested, then why even come here to the tavern to drink, missy,"

"By the light, your breath stinks! Are all of you Balian men's mouths stanched with rotten mold," said Morgana as she held her nose.

"Listen here, little lady, where im from women like you learned to respect those who fight to protect them, so why don't you do yourself a favor! And show us men some respect," Uttered the man loudly to which he got almost everyone's attention.

"Hey sir, I think the lady said to leave her alone," Jami spoke, seeing that the man was starting to put off a lot of gloomy manners.

"Shut it, kid! im talking here, not you," Countered the Balian man.

"I guess the rumors about you Balian man are true, you act like some sort of authoritative person, going wherever and demanding those like the commoners and nobles alike to do as you asked," Morgana said with distaste in her voice.

She heard of the balian kingdom's method of treating the common folks wherever they went, people feared them for the fact that the Balian Kingdom was one of those who condoned slavery and took with them people with special abilities by force if need be. Yet the good thing about the others was that the balians and their king could only do what they wished within their region and not outside.

"If only our regions were spread out for as long as it can go, a woman like you would've been speaking with a tone like that, you lamian hag," The balian man said with a sour look on his face as he then took a step closer to Morgana.

Morgana's hand started glowing purple and was about to send this man through the door but thanks to a familiar friend of hers she had come and saved the balian man from having to wake up the next day with a huge headache.

"I think that's as far as you can go, balian man, you've looked like you had enough drinks already," a woman said, walking through the back door.

The man was about to retort back to the woman in an unappealing way till he noticed two people pushing through the entrance.

Morgana tilted her head up and saw from the reflection on a silver plate of two individuals outfitted in ranger attire. Just from the sound of their boots, they caught the attention of nearly everyone.

One of which was a man with a brown loose top knot hair. He had on a vesture of an outfit bearing the colors and image of the kingdom he and his comrade serve. On the inside, he and his partner both wore green long-sleeve fabric shirts that reached an end in their arm wrist. Their primary pants were a darker shade of green while on the outside the armor that the two rangers had was fitted with black steel covering mostly their front and back, for them to be able to move readily without many problems the rangers had to make sure to function well in a time of battle to where their joint would get clung out of nowhere.

Their weapons were mainly fitted of two swords one shield, although they may have a choosing for long ranges as well, for the lead man he had a bow strap to his back, and his partner on the other hand has a crossbow, though this particular crossbow came with an additional of ten extra roles of arrows all sticked and ready in the speed-loader just like that of a revolver.

"Hi there Ms, what's your special meal for the day?" Asked the old man.

Jami was going to speak, but his mother excused for the moment and came to the man's aid. "Just a famous ole steak with a side of spice sauce, don't ask what it is, or you can have a meal just like that of everyone else in this tavern,"

The man and his partner both pulled out their coins and set them on the counter. "We'll have them,"

"Thank you, gentleman, I'll be right back with your dinner!"

Not caring for who they were at the moment the balian man went back to talking to morgana while berating her with ridicule words of insults, but the man didn't see that Morgana was thus close to just deciding rather she should use her hands grab his shirt and headbutt him, but before she could she chose not to and unbleached her fist when one of the newcomers was walking her way.

Just from the looks on the woman across from them, the two rangers could already tell that she wasn't comfortable with being bothered by the man, especially when he was speaking in an ill-drunken manner.

One of them, a man with long hair, stepped further and stood between Morgana and the drunken loud soldier. The balian man tried to step around the newcomer and walk over to morgana, but the ranger took a step backward, stopping the drunkard.

"Forgive me, sir. I didn't mean to get in the way," the man spoke as all he could see was a slight glint from the rangers eyes.

*Tsssk*

"Whatever, just watch where you're going, Harland bastard!" Responded the balian soldier.

Attempting to make another go for Morgana, the balian soldier was then halted once again by the ranger. Ticked off by this the balian turned to face the ranger who now facing the counter where he then wasn't paying attention to him, he then went to shove the ranger but was surprised by the quickness of the man when he simply moved out of the way and let him come face to face with the hardened wooden edged of the counter.

Morgana, who saw this, just chuckles, not even caring when the balian soldier gave her an infuriated look across his face.

"Careful there, young man, you seem to have drank too much, probably should've laid off the drink," said Morgana as she took a sip of her water.

Before the balian soldier could react to morgana in respite, he wasn't aware of a woman who came behind him with a frying pan in her hand. Raising it up just merely away from his head, she then brought it back down on him as the last thing he saw was the smiling face of Morgana before the sound of metal meeting his head resounded throughout the tavern as the ranger and his comrades along with everyone else around the tavern's room who saw this crinch while some just let out an ooh sound expressing their discomfort.

Jami, who just returned with the tray of food that the ranger accepted as he just sets it on the counter and ran back to get the other one that the man had asked him of while he waited.

"There! that should do it... I've had enough trouble with drunkards these days,"

"Thank you for the save, madam," the ranger spoke, earning a well modestly reply from the woman.

"Oh, why thank you. Is there anything I can get for you, sir?" Baylar told him.

"No worries, I've had the boy of yours get me some, he's quite the rusher, you've sure raised him well," Replied the man as he thanked jami after he had received his mug of ale.

"No problem, I did my best, although his father taught the most on how to be a better person, well, better then most of them," Baylar said as she stepped aside from the knocked out man.

As he was about to take a bite of his food, the ranger heard the sound of footsteps and turned around to see his comrades who were strolling towards them.

"Welp, looks like you are about to get your hands full, madam," the ranger said to her as he slid aside to let his friends get up closer to the counter.

"Well, since there's a few more of you who've come here, im going to have to up the kitchen crew a bit... Son, go and tell the cooks that we'll be needing more foods, oh, and also have them speed it up!" Baylar said to her son.

Jami, who just gotten done serving a customer, saluted her and rushed to do what was told of him.

"Hello, baylar," Morgana said, announcing herself to her old friend.

As the woman turns around, the expression on her face turns into that of a merry one at the sight of the black dressed Morgana who gave her a nod of greeting.

"Morgana! it's good to see you, old friend!" Baylar said as she walked over to the woman and gave her a hug.

Patting her in the back while in the hug, morgana just laughed as she and her continued until they departed from one another.

"Hey, hey, there's no need for you to start crying," Morgana said as she had her hand on Baylar's shoulder in comfort.

Wiping the small tears from her face, baylar chuckled to herself as she tugged a napkin in her shirt pocket. "Oh no, there's no need for you to soothe me... What made you decide to visit the arenian?"

"Oh, just to visit an old friend," Morgana said, half lying to herself.

"Ehemm," Baylar said, shooting Morgana a dubious look.

"What! I'm telling the truth... Ok, maybe a little bit of it," Morgana said banteringly.

"Yeah, yeah. Like you are being sincere... Would ya like something to eat... I just had a stranger drop off a dead basilisk not long ago. You know how flavorsome those serpents are when cooked," Baylar said as she set her frying pan on the counter.

Wondering who this stranger was that baylar mentioned morgana was a bit curios, so she spoke out of interest due to the apealing mood her friend seems to be in . "And you wouldn't mind telling me who this stranger might be?"

The rangers who were sitting beside morgana were eating their foods overheard the two women and couldn't help but listen in on them without the intention of speaking to disrupt them.

Baylar, who was occupied in attending to the need of some of the customers and that of the other rangers, went back to speaking with her old friend. "Oh, him, well, he is kind of an uncommon fellow,"

"How uncommon would you say?" Morgana said with her right brow raised in wonder on what she meant.

Baylar exhales deeply, thinking to herself on how best to describe the person as she thought of him. "Well, it's kind of hard to explain it... But! What I can say is that he is a one-of-a-kind person and a very unique man at that. He's tall, and I mean taller than most men I've seen. His voice, when spoken after I asked him a few questions, was strenuous, yet it was filled with amiable emptiness as if it was devoid of anything cheerful. I also could say I thought he sounded like a woman at one point,"

Author note: im referring to Deha for five forgotten to turn off the outer speaker in his helmet.

"Though, the muskets of guns he carries is very eerie if I say so. I'm mean, I myself was taught by my late husband about guns of his, I've even know of many of them, but the ones this stranger carries on him would surely make any man or dwarves want to know how it was crafted in such fine work... But the one thing that bothers me was that of his name," says baylar as she refilled morgana's mug of water and the rangers.

Now that after having heard most of what she would've needed to morgana, I was beginning to get even more interested in who this stranger was. Perhaps he was the one that the people of this city seemed to be speaking about wherever she had gone.

This time, it wasn't Morgana who spoke when the ranger next to her did so. "And what would his ser name be? If you wouldn't mind me asking madam,"

Wiping a drop of small spilled water off from the counter, baylar just swings, hangs the towal over her shoulder, and rests her hands on her waist as she responds in a pleasant way "He calls himself five... I don't know why someone would be called after a number. I'm sure you guys would've agreed with me, but not every time you would go around the lands and meet someone who is named after a number. But hey, who am I to judge? At least his name isn't bizarre as that of other people in vahrian,"

One of the nearby customers who happens to be sitting aside from one of the rangers spoke when he heard of the spartan's ser name. "Ser five! I could've sworn I heard of that name somewhere... Ahh! That's it, I did,"

Those of the rangers and morgana alongside baylar who heard the person speak all turned their heads to the direction the man was sitting in.

The ranger, who was the clear leader of his group, spoke to the scrubby bearded man. "Oh, have you?"

The man with his mug held it out for one of the servers who came over and filled it with ale. He took a gulp of his drink and lightly set it on the counter. "Why yes, I could tell you, but it'll cost ya,"

Familiar with the mirthful way some people are the ranger reached inside his bag and pulled out five bronze coins. "Five bronze, this are worth one silver coin,"

"Please tell me, how is it you could've heard of this five-person?" Morgana said, asking him.

Grabbing the coin from his palm, the man gladly thanked the ranger as he prepared to tell talk until he stopped and asked them one more question. "Would y'all like the full story or the short one?"

"The full story," Baylar said, leaning into the counter with one arm.

"Well, since y'all seem eager to know him, I'll gladly tell... You see, I was a merchant man, always doing what I love, to travel and see the world. Well, that is until I happen, take a rest in one of the villages, and during the night, raiders attacked. I did the best I could to help save as many lives I could, some may call it a foolish choice but I did it anyway, that is until I was injured when battling one of the fiends," The man said by showing a cut on his right forearm as he rolls down his sleeves.

"That's must've hurt," commented baylar.

"It sure did. But aside from that I still fought, but soon me and one of the village guards were eventually overwhelmed and shortly after that I thought of what punishment the raiders would've bestowed upon us all, so their leader ordered us to yield and hand over whatever currency we have, which of course we did. After everything we did, the man had killed one of the guards, and from there on out, I knew that I and every other guard were to be killed after the first guard was slain... At the time, I was in acceptance of the fate we were in. But no, the light has answered our plea for mercy, and so she sent forth her response. Do mind, this wasn't the kind of response I expected. As I and the others were about to be killed off, one of the raiders' heads was taken clean off,"

"That's gotta hurt," said one of the customers who appeared to have been interested during the story the man was telling, which began to draw in more attention.

The merchant smiled as he took one sip of his drink. "Not to the raiders, for soon afterward each and every one of the raiders were bewildered of what had transpired back then. I and everyone else was confused as to what had happened when the raider was killed, we thought some wizard or mage who was hiding among us had conjure up some sort of spell but no, it was not. For what came next were the sounds of one of the raider's bones breaking, we all turned to see what could've caused such agony to come from a man... But when we laid our eyes upon the most strangest being we've ever seen, we were all perplexed of what he was. I thought he was a golem, and a weird one at that, that is until he began killing the raiders and made sure to slaughter every one of them, the leader,, on the other hand had it the worst, the poor man made the worst mistake of his life and bargain the stranger in a fist fight, and the stranger did the opposite, for im sure he wasn't in the mood to make a deal and just outright sticked a spear right through the bastard throat,"

"Ouch! How would one person have taken on that much number of foes?" One of the customers said.

"It's impossible for one being to take the fight against that many of a number... Unless he's an apostle," voiced a woman.

"Well, for as powerful the apostles are, they can still be killed, and I would say the same for this stranger, not matter how strong he is," another added.

"Yes, that is quite true, ladies, but you've not seen what this stranger can do. He has the speed gifted to him by the light herself, and the strength that far exceeds any mere man's own, I I once saw as how he lifted one raider by the throat and threw him across the field, do mind, I saw him used his other companions as a meat-shield while his own friends pierced him with arrows, spears and swords. After that, he pulled out one of his muskets of a gun, and boy might I tell you all. That musket was so powerful that it took off half of one of the raider's heads cleaned off from his very body, and it was very, very bloody... And as the carnage continues, I and the guards watched on as the stranger finished off all of the raiders, of course, most of them witnessing their comrades get slain that easy chose the better option and fled the village out of fear," the merchantman sounded off as he took a drank of his ale.

"Impressive, it sounded like to me that this ser five is of an apostle himself, but I doubt that, for as long as I lived, apostles aren't the only consequential beings birthed by vahrian itself," one of the rangers said.

"You make the apostles sound like they are some mighty beings of unquestionable power... Rather they are strong or not, the one thing I favor from them is their long life expectancy, to be able to live for years," A man who was standing behind the merchant spoke as thanked jami for his service.

Approving on some of the things that the merchant and that of the people have said morgana nodded preference to it as she peered to the merchant to continue speaking. "As you were saying,"

"Right! Where was i... Ah, I got it. After we'd made sure there weren't any raiders amongst the village, the villagers were still quite weary of our savior, so I and the chieftain made the decision to introduce ourselves to the stranger. He didn't seem eager to speak at the moment, seeing as how he was about to disappear into the woods. So the chieftain wanted to know the name of the stranger, and so did I. But the stranger wouldn't respond at the time, yet, eventually, he did, he would call himself five, which is very clear that most of you already know. And after the occurrence that had happened on the village, I continued on my journey for days, that is until I've encountered a men, this one though also happens to be one of the survivor who ser five had saved from the raiders. And when I saw him amongst the Queen herself, I wanted to see him, but of course, that wouldn't happen, for there was quite a number of guards with her. And so here I am, drinking till the day is over, and then I'll be gone after the festival arena," declared the merchant.

"Well, now that you said that, I've heard several rumors that those who were saved by this stranger are here in arenian city, while some went to join other villages and city in hopes to be accepted in," Baylar said.

"There are other survivors here," said one of the rangers as she looked at the woman.

"Why yes, is something wrong?" Baylar replied in wonder why the female ranger spoke out in slight hearable then her companions.

"Forgive my companion's wistful way. She's had family who's been missing from her home village," the lead ranger said.

"I see, I understand that you must've lost family, but I want you to know that you are always welcome here," Baylar said as she slid a bowl of stew towards the ranger.

Baylar felt sympathy for the woman, after all, she's had lost friends and family in her birth home when one of the empires attempted to steal enormous amount of land from the very land her homes happens to be in. And when on the verge of fleeing, morgana who was in hiding at the time saved her and her unborn son and led her to arenian city.

"So that's who was responsible for the rescue of Prince pasco," Uttered morgana, earning some few glances from those near her.

"Prince pasco. Has something happened to the boy?" Baylar said, asking her.

"Yes, apparently there was a group of worgens that tried to steal one of the empress's grandchildren. Ser five, along with Madam doranda and her partner ser ondar, manage to stop them from leaving with the boy," morgana said, answering her friend.

"I thought worgens couldn't turn into their werewolf form without the moon?" The other customers said.

The lead ranger who heard that answered for he had experience in dealing with them before. "Worgen's can still transform into their full werewolf forms in day time, the full moon only heightens their strength and speed,"

"What's the difference between them transforming during the day and night time?" A customer said inquisitiveness.

Sighing to himself, the man sets his mug down on the counter and gives the person his full attention. "The difference is that in daytime, the worgens can at least control themselves willingly, but in the night time, when they give themselves up to their rage, they will no longer be able to maintain their sanity, but the rage and the hunger will take over their very being,"

After the lead ranger finished speaking his colleague, a woman standing behind him spoke up. "And that is why it is better to handle them together if you so foolishly go after them alone during the night, I pray that you are lucky enough to kill them,"

"So how is the boy? I hope those creatures hadn't left a bite on him, Lord knows how they spread their curse," Baylar said.

She couldn't fathom the grief that the boy's parents would go through in having a son that would forever bear the eternal curse of being a werewolf just like how those in vahrian had faced.

"On that I do not know, all that I know is that the guards who escorted the boy to a healer said that he wasn't hurt... I even tried to offer my aid, but the Queen lager's personal guards wouldn't let me near him," answered morgana.

"Oh, that's good to hear,"

After a couple of long minutes had passed by some of the people who were in the tavern had left the bar while some who stayed a bit longer and new who entered ordered their food and ales of drinks. The rangers who were there also departed as well while having to thank the lady baylar for her service all the while paying her coins from each and every one of them.

Morgana, on one part, was just helping clean the counter.

Baylar, who was next to the witch, spoke to her old friend in quieter enough where only the two of them could hear. "So, I have to ask you something, morgana, what's it you are really here for, girl?"

Choosing to just outright tell her friend the reason why the woman decided that it wouldn't be much of a problem. "I'm here for personal business with the leader of the city,"

"Lord lester, why? I may not be of a higher ranking noble or lord, but whenever someone of high status visits this city, it would either be about something severely private or during an event like the festival," Baylar said in a query way as she set the last flower pot on her counter.

"On that, I can not tell you old friend, I do not wish to tell you anymore for there are people coming after me, and i do not wish to put your life in any danger... You must understand my reasons, " Morgana told said to her, sounding at least a little bit in earnest.

Setting her hand on Morgana's right shoulder in comfort, baylar gave her a look of acceptance as she smiled at her. "It is alright, old friend, I understand your concern for my safety, not do you need to tell me anymore thing regarding your visit here. It's just good to hear your voice after all these years,"

Morgana couldn't help but wrap her arms around baylar as she put her head on the woman's shoulder as the tension within her eased. "Thank you, I couldn't say any better, but for what you've said to me, it helps a lot,"

"Can I join in on the hug as well!" Jami said.

Baylar, who heard her son, laughed along with her friend as she then responded. "No... You can go back to serving. After that, you'll be done for the day,"

"Okay," Jami said with a fraud gloom of a boy.

"So, you about ready to head off?" Baylar said, asking morgana.

"Yes, I need to speak to lester, in all seriousness, I could've done already, but since you lived here, I thought why not visit you first," Morgana said, answering her.

"Oh, how sweet of you, I call bull****... However, I thank you for stopping by, may you and Lord lester meeting be promising," Baylar said as she and jami waved goodbye to morgana.

Until Next Time Readers.....