Chapter 37: Call me King.

My legs gave up on me. And I sank down to my knees on the wet grass in front of the ruined stable.

I held on to the girls firmly, unable and unwilling to let go of them.

The rain was cold and soothing on my bruised body. Steam came from my skin. I opened my mouth to wash the soot from my burning throat.

Sandy made some noise and appeared to be slightly awake for the moment.

''Hey Heiro..''

I looked at my feline friend and did my best to look her in the eyes.

I could barely manage that though, my right eye was swollen to the size of a pomegranate and twice as red. I laughed at Sandy and thanked her for saving me.

She grinned at me and whispered:

''I like sand, white sand with cheese.''

It appeared that she was her usual self. And she passed out.

Asachico, however, was another story. She was not moving, although she was still breathing. It was hard for me to breathe through my nose as it appeared to be busted.

I sighed, hoping that Dya would still think I am handsome when I get back.

If we got back.

My ears stopped ringing as loudly as they did before, and ringing made way for heavy footsteps. Someone, or something, was approaching. And it's footsteps were steady.

Out of the woods came an enormous form. It was over 2 meters tall and it looked like a giant, broad chested man. He was even larger than Camouflage.

It was a Carapace, a big crab-like one at that.

He walked over to me and looked me in my still visible eye. It was clearly male, and his eyes were a glowing Turquoise.

I dislike the colour Turquoise almost as much as I hate the colour Pink. And the giant humanoid crab reminded me of Dender.

If I survive, Dender is going to get it for sending even more of his cronies after me. Luckily he was far away, and my primary concern is protecting the girls.

Help was coming, although I had no idea how long it would take. My primary goal was to stall for time.

The big crab introduced himself with a lot of formality:

''My name is Geor Kinkler, but you may call me King, and I am here for you, Heiro. ''

I groaned, knowing full well that my bounty would only be awarded when I was dead.

I told him to do his worst. And that the only one I would ever call King was the man who sat on the Dolovian Throne;

Dya's father.

Kinkler laughed out loud with a resonant voice. He complimented me for my perseverance. And told me that his nephew Geor Dender had changed his mind about having me murdered.

He needed me alive for some reason, and I had no idea why. Nothing that would be in my personal interest, that's for sure.

I told Kinkler to go drown in a pot of boiling oil.

The crabman was getting angry now. And told me that he was truly considering slaying me on the spot, if I kept taunting him.

I spat out a fat load of black mucus at his feet and showed him my teeth in defiance.

Now beyond the point of no return, the piece of crab raised his clawlike arm. He was intending to fell me in one blow.

I shut my eye, hoping that he would spare the girls. Instead of erasing me from existence, he relented for some reason.

The Carapace asked me why I kept fighting him, even though I had no chance of winning.

I responded by saying the following and stood up as well as I could. If I would die, I would die on my feet!

''You Carapaces cannot understand that.

You have no free will, you have no concept of faith in others.

You underestimate the power of Humanity.

And I will defy you and your kind as long as I need too!

I am a Hero, damn you!

And I will send you into the depths were you came from!''

With all the power I still had I stomped my feet and the ground started to rumble.

It was clear as day that it did not came from me though. I heard the thundering of hooves, louder and louder.

Kinkler looked at the direction of where the sound came from and tilted his head.

In the distance was a Black horse approaching with the speed of a tornado;

It was Ox Head and he was ridden by Camouflage and someone else who was hidden behind his huge frame.

The horse smashed into Kinkler, trampling him underfoot. He fell into the muddy soil and groaned loudly.

Camouflage dismounted from Ox Head and stood between me and the Giant Carapace. I felt really small in the presence of these two titans and l looked at Ox Head.

The other rider was wearing a black cloak with a hood and and it was visibly a female. She jumped from the horse with grace and she ran over to me and the girls.

With a wide motion, she threw the cloak over the three of us. And to my surprise the hooded figure had long, red hair and purple eyes.

The cloak stayed suspended in the air, blocking out the rain and the sound from the outside.

''Valaea? Is that you?''

The redhaired woman smiled at me, and thanked me for the compliment.

I looked more closely and saw that it was Val!

She was indeed a redhead like her sister. I had not seen her hair under her garments in the castle.

This revelation was not bringing me much joy. Because the worried look on her face was much more imposing.

She sat down beside me and started to inspect my wounds. Tears were welling up in her eyes and she was desolated with grief.

''Oh, no, no, no.. My poor, poor boy..

What have they done to you?

Your eye, your nose. Heiro.. I have to do something about that. And I will be blunt with you;

it will hurt, a lot.''

I clenched my teeth and told her that I was barely able to feel anything anymore at this point.

She grimaced slightly and took hold of my nose. I took a deep breath and looked her into her big purple eyes.

''Before I do this, I have to tell you you look very distinguished.''

I grinned at her and told her that Dya prefers me to be handsome.

Val stroked my cheek and told me that I always am handsome. I closed my eye and she did what she had to do. I heard a loud snap and I keeled over from the pain.

Val leant over to me, holding me close and whispered to me.

''Don't move, I am going to help Camouflage. He needs me too. I will be back, I promise.''

Val left the safety of the cloak and she joined Camouflage in the battle.

The last thing I heard before fading away was Val's loud ululation, the crash of thunder and then nothing.