10

I refrained from smirking at that comment. Their group wouldn't have been a problem for me either. If I caught them by surprise I might win without getting wounded, but the group was clearly smaller then it had been when they set out.

"If all else fails then I'm certain we can run," Sekka continued.

Giving them something of an explanation for why he was so confident. If only they knew how lethal I was capable of being when I wanted to be. I shrugged off my urge to smirk. If I smirked now the mercenaries were likely to take offense.

"That slave of yours doesn't appear to be in good shape," He gestured toward Balock.

"That's none of your business," Sekka smirked acting just like the spoiled brat he was pretending to be.

"One half dead slave, and one armed slave," the mercenary chuckled, "What could they possibly do?"

Sekka's cocky attitude faltered a bit. Replaced with irritation. Probably the same irritation he thought I'd be feeling. I didn't care. These stupid elves were nothing more then cannon fodder for me.

Especially with how wounded they were at the moment. I snorted with a bit of irritation. My irritation was with Sekka, and not the mercenaries, but Sekka seemed to assume that I was irritated with the mercenaries. The mercenaries didn't miss my attitude either. They took offense.

One of the ones in good shape approached me quickly. He drew his blade with the intent to punish the attitude. Sekka looked at me with concern. As soon as his blade parted from his sheath his arm parted from his shoulder. I inhaled slowly.

Sheathing my sword an instant later. The quick motion was enough to throw the blood off the blade. I looked at the mercenary with a bit of disdain. The other mercenaries looked at me with hatred. I slapped the next attack to the side.

Seeing a human slap a magical attack to the side with ease was not something the average elf was used to handling. I guess cutting his arm off was a bit much. I crossed my arms, and looked at them with thinly veiled disdain. The mercenaries seemed to fully intend on killing me. An angry snarl spread across my face.

My hands went down to my blades. The first mercenary who attacked me looked at me with anger, and fear. My complete lack of hesitation when it came to attacking the elves was disturbing. The fact that my collar didn't react screamed that I'd been given permission to act this way.

"I wouldn't recommend attacking me," I gripped my blades tightly, "I have permission to kill if it means protecting my masters investment."

I'd cut off one of their arms without hesitation. I was willing to do a lot more then cut off their arms, and that was exactly what I'd just told them.

"You should seek out that healer of your group while that arm of yours can still be reattached," I drew both my blades as they continued to approach me, "He won't have enough mana to heal all of you, but with how tough you are the loss of a limb or two won't kill you."

The matter of fact way I said it disturbed them, and slowed their steps. The one that had already lost an arm actually stepped back. My bloodlust, and murderous intent were unleashed full force. Many of them paled when they realized the danger I presented. I was fully prepared to do as much damage as needed to make them back off.

If I killed a few that would give me a nice XP boost.

"Don't attack him," One of the ones at the back shouted, "He was powerful enough to fight Malor to a draw. He reattached his own severed arm, and kept using it afterward."

It seems that fighting the leader of the mercenary guild to a draw was enough to give me a fearsome reputation. A small smirk spread across my face. I remembered that fight well. I wished I could do it again. The mercenaries finally fully realized the danger I represented.

"Malor doesn't want us fighting this slave," He continued, "He doesn't want any of his people dying from a battle they couldn't possibly win."

They started sheathing their blades one by one. The one that had lost his arm picked it up, and headed back into the cart. Moving on without telling us anymore about the bandits that attacked them. I kind of figured they wouldn't give us anymore information after I cut one of their arms off. It wasn't shocking or surprising in any way.

Sekka spurred his bird forward again. Ignoring the caravan as they headed toward the town we just came from. There were probably many dangerous roads on this road, and we weren't likely to encounter more then one or two of them with the time we had left on this planet. Part of me wanted to delay our trip to the capitol. Something about heading toward the capitol was bugging me.

I debated on looking into the future to find out what it was that was bothering me, but then I remembered what it felt like to glimpse the future last time. The images were largely unreliable. Sure they gave me an idea of what was coming, but not what order they would come in or how long I would have to wait before they came to pass. Knowledge of the future could guarantee that that particular future would come as well. Maybe that was how she predicted the future so accurately.

She didn't predict it. She made sure what she saw would come to pass. Even if she didn't know that was what she was doing that ended up becoming the result. As tempting as it was to look into the future so I could find out what would come to pass, that didn't help the former dragon queen. I raised my eyes skyward as I walked. I couldn't shake the feeling that the capitol would be a problem in the near future.