3 bar menu

Chapter 2. Royal wedding. Part 1.

– Now, let us register you as my party members, – said Lilith, once they exited the shop. Cian’s face showed surprise, but like Kragor, he obediently followed his mistress.

As they made their way towards the Mercenary guild, Cian couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with trepidation. He had heard tales of this place – where mercenaries from all corners gathered to trade information and seek out lucrative contracts.

The building itself was imposing, constructed from stone blocks. A large wooden sign hung above ornate double doors, depicting crossed swords and shield emblazoned with guild’s crest.

Lilith pushed open one of the half doors, then stepped inside, followed closely by Kragor and Cian, who kept vigilant watch for any signs of danger and threat. The interior was dimly lit – flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows across rough-hewn walls.

A burly man behind counter greeted them gruffly as they approached.

– Welcome mercenaries, – he said, nodding respectfully towards trio before continuing: – What brings you here today?

Lilith stepped up to the counter, her voice steady and authoritative as she addressed the burly man behind it.

– I’m here on behalf of my mercenary band, Donnar. We’re looking to officially register two new members – Kragor the minotaur and Cian.

Donnar nodded, reaching for a quill and parchment.

– Very well. I’ll need their names, and a brief description of their skills and experience.

Lilith gestured towards her companions, who stood silently behind her.

– Kragor is skilled warrior. As this is Cian. His expertise lies primarily with the sword.

The burly man scribbled down notes as Lilith spoke, occasionally glancing up at Kragor and Cian appraisingly. Once finished writing, he held out the parchment for inspection.

– Sign here, – he instructed gruffly, pointing towards bottom page where blank space awaited signatories’ names and seal approval: – This official document will grant you all status of members of same mercenary band – entitled full benefits, rights and protections offered by guild.

Lilith took quill then carefully inscribed her name upon parchment followed closely by Kragor and Cian, who did likewise. – Wait here. I’ll bring their tags.Clerk soon brought two copper tags and ordered Kragor and Cian to use their blood, to personalize them. Once blood drops touched the metal, it slightly glowed and Donnar nodded.

– It’s done. Now they are official mercenaries, – Donnar glanced at their slave collars, but did not commented: – Anything else?

– Can we use practice field? – asked Lilith.

– Feel free. It is empty now, – shrugged Donnar.

Lilith led Kragor and Cian out the back door of the mercenary guild, stepping into a spacious practice field surrounded by a two-meter-tall wooden fence. The ground was barren, covered in soft sand, interspersed with small pebbles that crunched underfoot.

The air hummed with anticipation as the trio entered this makeshift arena designed for honing combat skills and testing one’s mettle against worthy opponents. Sunlight streamed down from above illuminating scene vividly, while simultaneously casting long shadows across expanse sand, which seemed to stretch endlessly before them.

Lilith paused for a moment to take inventory of surroundings carefully – her keen senses attuned to any potential threats and dangers that might lurk in hidden corners. But all appeared safe, peaceful enough for present company at least.

She turned her face towards companions then and gestured towards center of practice field, where patch of ground had been flattened and smoothed out specifically for  purpose of swordplay and sparring.

– Let us see what you are made of, – Lilith challenged softly, voice carrying a faint echo throughout enclosed space: – Show me your skills. First you, – she turned towards minotaur: – Put down your axe. Let’s see how good you are with your fists.

Kragor nodded and carefully placed his axe near the wall. He went to the centre of the field and turned towards Lilith. She faced him unarmed and flexed her shoulders.

– Feel free to attack any way you want.

Minotaur roared and tried to hit her with his giant fist. Lilith captured his arm and squeezed it. Kragor’s eyes widened when he felt her strength. She could break his arm, but instead she pulled him towards her and hit his stomach. Air escaped minotaur’s mouth, when her fist went deep inside his abdominal muscles. Then Lilith grabbed his body. Comparatively small female lifted heavy giant and threw him against the ground.

Cian thought that he felt the ground shake, when Kraigor’s body slammed into it. Lilith placed her foot on his neck and Kragor grabbed her leg trying to take it off. But even while using all his strength, he could not do it. He started choking, but Lilith showed no mercy.

– Do you give up? – she asked when his eyes bulged and he started to lose consciousness. Minotaur nodded and Lilith took off her leg. Kragor got on his knees, holding his neck and coughing.

– Who is your master?

– You are, – nodded the minotaur and lowered his head before Lilith: – I swear to serve you.

– Good, – she nodded and turned towards Cian: – Now you. Use your sword.

Cian entered the field and unsheathed his sword, while Kragor left towards the side of the field. Cian examined Lilith. She overwhelmed giant beast with strength alone, but in sword play, strength was not everything. Trained from birth, Cian believed in his skills. He remembered that slave collar can be removed if his owner dies. He was ordered not to kill her, but accidents in sparring happen. He squeezed his sword hilt. He had his mission, and even if he needs to kill Lilith…

Lilith took out her blade. It was hand and a half sword, double edged, and its blade had dark gleam.

At first, their blades clashed together in a flurry of sparks and steel ringing out across barren sand surrounding them. The young warrior held his own against her skilled strikes – parrying, blocking each thrust, which could cut thrown his flesh effortlessly.

But then something changed – a flicker of hesitation crossed Cian’s face as realization dawned upon him slowly like sun rising over horizon. Lilith intended to kill him. There was no hesitation in her moves. Every strike deadly, aiming for his heart, neck and vital organs. This sudden awareness threw him off balance enough for her advantage to take hold, swiftly overwhelming his defenses without mercy.

Cian stumbled back several steps, desperately trying to regain footing both physically mentally, as panic began set in, but then he remembered sword lessons imparted upon him by wise master long ago, during training days past: “Focus on breath. Let mind go empty, channel all energy into blade itself.” With those words echoing through head like mantra, Cian centered himself once more, taking deep calming inhale and exhale before launching back with full force, determined to prove worthy ally and partner of this merciless warrior woman, who stood before him.

Cian’s renewed focus and determination were immediately apparent as he launched into a flurry of strikes, his blade blurring through the air with deadly precision. But Lilith stayed calm. She slowly started to take charge of their duel. Cian expected that she will use her strength, but instead she pushed him back using her sword skill and speed. She was fast. Faster than any ordinary human.

Cian’s determination and skill were impressive, but Lilith’s bloodlust only grew with each passing moment. She moved like a predator stalking its prey, her sword striking out with lightning-fast precision.

The tuatha boy fought valiantly, his blade dancing through the air in an attempt to deflect or parry her relentless attacks. But it was clear that he was no match for Lilith’s ferocity and experience on the battlefield.

She pushed him back step by step across the sand until finally Cian stumbled over a small pebble, landing hard on his rear end. In one fluid motion, Lilith pounced upon him, straddling his waist with her legs while simultaneously pressing sharp edge of her blade against exposed throat.

Her eyes were cold and for a moment Cian thought that she will not stop, but Lilith stepped back and sheathed her sword.

– Not bad, – she nodded. Cian got up and ashamed followed her.

After the intense sparring session with Cian, Lilith led them to a tavern. She nodded to a waitress and went to a second floor. She opened one of the doors and went inside. There were two creatures inside.

The first to greet them was a snakeman, his serpentine features reminded Cian a snakes which he despised. Snakeman nodded respectfully towards each newcomer in turn, as Lilith introduced him by name.

– Sharr is our resident expert on languages and arcane knowledge, – said Lilith, gesturing towards snakeman.

Next up was another creature, whom Cian never met, just heard about. It was a fallen angel. He was sitting near table, black wings behind his back, reminding Cian about crows.

– And this is Azael, – Lilith continued: – He may look like much, but still learns how to fight.

The pair regarded new additions to their little found family warily. The fallen angel barely acknowledged their presence, as they entered, his gaze distant and unfocused. Cian noticed that they as well had slave collars on their necks.

– This is Kragor and Cian. They will be your allies from now on. Behave yourself. From this day on you will work as a team. Try to get to know each other.

Cian could imagine a grin on her face, when Lilith exited the room and closed door behind her.

As Lilith left the room, a tense silence descended upon the four remaining creatures. Kragor and Cian exchanged uncertain glances before turning their attention to Azael, who sat rigidly in his seat.

– Well, – Kragor rumbled after a moment, breaking the awkward stillness: – We might as well introduce ourselves properly.

Cian nodded agreeably, then stepped forward, hand extended towards fallen angel tentatively.

– I’m Cian – nice to meet you, – he said softly with genuine smile playing on his lips, despite obvious apprehension radiating from opposite end of a table.

Azael glanced up at them both warily for a long moment before finally nodding once curtly, then turning his gaze back downwards, stare fixated on empty space between hands, clasped tightly in lap.

Kragor shrugged then plopped himself into nearby chair, with casual ease – clearly comfortable enough to make himself right home midst uncomfortable tension filling air around all three figures gathered here today.

– And I’m Kragor, – he announced gruffly, gesturing vaguely towards snakeman huddled in corner behind them.

– So you are Sharr. Never seen anyone like you.

At mention of his name, serpentine figure finally stirred from reverie of whatever arcane texts had occupied his attention previously. He slithered forward to take place alongside other two warriors, now occupying rest of available chairs and table between them.

– Greetings, – Sharr hissed softly: – I look forward working together all of us, towards goals shared and future, which awaits beyond these walls.

The four companions regarded each other warily for long moment more…unsure quite where to take conversation from here.

But slowly, tentatively at first – they began exchange stories, experiences that brought them together under banner of Lilith’s merciless leadership.