Banished Pt. 04

This feeling... it was bloodlust.

Pure, and unbridled.

Raul! I thought, as I conjured up an image of his body, and pictured paralyzing him, but to my surprise, there seemed to be something... a feeling of resistance, to my command.

I grabbed up my satchel and knife-belt, then leapt out of the pool and took off at a sprint in the direction indicated by my connection to him; and as I got there, I spotted him, standing in the middle of a group of scared looking Kobalt, and with... someone, in his grasp.

His hands were around her throat, and as she thrashed and fought, I realized that he was choking her with abandon.

I dashed towards him, and using my elbow, I drove into his arm from above, breaking his hold on her.

He glared at me, but as his gaze flicked towards the floor, I followed it, and found a knife lying there.

Wait...

Is that one of ours?

Fuck! I thought.

He dove for the weapon, and as I summoned up an image of him in my mind, and flooded it with pain, he winced, but moved nonetheless.

The pain, however, slowed him, allowing me to easily get to the knife before he did, and as he crawled, I stepped on his hand, trapping him in place as I leaned down and retrieved the weapon.

"Do you really want me to fucking end you that badly?" I asked, as I turned his head to look up at me, while waving the knife near his face.

Fear flashed in his eyes, and his resistance quickly came to an end.

I turned to the girl he was choking; it was the other girl who had remained loyal to Vanessa, and she was panting, struggling for breath.

Her neck was badly bruised, and even as she tried to breath, she struggled, seeming quite distressed, and her face was a dark, almost purple hue.

"Francesca!" I called, unsure of where she was, but she quickly came bursting toward me.

"I'm here."

"Where are the supplies?" I asked, and she pointed as Gunter and another Kobalt runner came hurrying behind her, the supply cart in tow.

"There's a sack; inside, there's a small vial filled with a glowing green liquid."

Francesca rummaged through the supplies, then found the sack and fished one of the vials out.

"Nate! You're not seriously wasting that on her," Casey called, as she finally caught up with us.

I didn't even bother to answer, as I accepted the vial from Francesca, and tilted the girl's head to the side, pouring the liquid down her crushed throat.

Tears filled her eyes, and she clenched her teeth as she stifled a scream, and I held her as the concoction took effect.

Eventually, she went still in my arms, and I breathed a sigh of relief as her breathing seemed to normalize.

"Take her somewhere to rest," I called, and as Gisela quickly gave an order, two Kobalt girls stepped forward and helped her away to the grove tree. "Let a guard keep watch on her, though," I said, and Gisela nodded.

As I turned to Raul, however, a commotion caught my attention, and I turned just as a spear landed, quite dangerously, to my left, and as I turned in the direction of the attack, I caught sight of Eradne, who appeared to be dragging Candace along, and she threw the girl at my feet.

"Is this sapling yours?" she asked.

I sighed.

"Where did she get the spear?" I asked, looking at the girl, and Francesca quickly rummaged through the supply cart.

"It's ours," she confirmed, but as she studied the knife in my hand, she frowned. "That one is new, though."

"How did she get this?" I asked, picking up the spear.

"I uh, had to use the bathroom just now... maybe then?"

Francesca's eyes quickly darted down, to my lower body, and I quickly remembered that I had leapt out of the bath in my birthday suit.

She turned to the hunters, and as Gunter quickly spoke, I turned to Gisela.

"They let her acquire it, as she was a goddess," she explained, and I sighed.

"Tie her up," I ordered, and Gisela relayed the command.

I suddenly heard Eradne's voice, speaking harshly, and I glanced over to spot her struggling with two Kobalt men, who appeared to be attempting to restrain her.

"Hey, let go of her," I called, and whether they understood me or not, they obeyed as I approached on them.

"She must be punished for handling the goddess," one of the men explained.

"This one is no goddess," I replied.

As the man studied me, I turned to everyone.

"Let these two be known as opponents of the Gods, and of the princess," I called, indicating to Raul and Candace.

I took a look around, as Gisela relayed my declaration to the group, to a series of murmurs.

"Restrain them, and make sure they are watched," I said.

"What are you going to do with her?" Jeannie asked, but as I turned in her direction, her face quickly reddened, as she tried to avert her gaze from my still dangling part.

"Sorry. Can someone get me something to wear?" I called, and to my relief, a plain piece of cloth was quickly passed to me, and as I wrapped it around my waist, I quickly realized that more than a few gazes were directed towards me, quite interestedly.

As I glanced through the canopy above us, I noted that the sunlight appeared to be reddening, meaning it was nearing sundown.

"For now, everyone can finish their baths. We'll probably be served dinner in a bit; so afterwards, we'll gather everyone together to decide what to do with her," I explained, and Jeannie quickly nodded, as everyone began to disperse.

"Eradne, was it? I am in your debt," I said, as I approached the woman, and she nodded, warily, before leaving.

"I'm so sorry," Francesca began, and I shook my head.

"Don't be. You're not a robot. We should have had the runners keeping a better eye on things to begin with," I replied, turning to Gisela. "Gisela; can you assign a small group to watch over the supplies? Let them make sure it's never unattended?" I asked, and she nodded.

I also asked her to instruct the guards that only Cameron, Casey, Francesca or myself, could be permitted to fetch weapons from the cache.

"It is done," she answered, before hurrying off, probably to attend to the princess.

"Francesca. You should probably go take a bath with the rest of the girls," I said.

"Are you sure?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Yeah. We're fine here. Casey, you can help her with her armor, right?"

Casey nodded, and I eyed her robe, which was drenched and clung to her skin.

"Actually, you should probably join her too," I said.

"Are you sure?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Yeah. We can talk when you're done," I answered.

As the two girls wandered off, I headed for the changing area to retrieve my clothes, before heading off to find Gisela.

She was with the princess, who appeared to still be enjoying her bath.

My sweet. There was trouble. It pleases me to see you unharmed.

I nodded, relaying my appreciation for her concern through Gisela.

Your actions have brought many gazes to you, the princess noted, and as she glanced back, towards where the girls were enjoying their bath, I noted that several amongst them were stealing glances in our direction.

Soon, they will visit you with desires, she continued, and I bit my lip, nervously.

"Uh, Gisela," I began, "where was the girl taken. The injured one?" I asked, and she quickly stood up, and looked to the princess.

The princess waved a hand to dismiss her, and she bowed, before leading me back to the grove tree.

There, she took me to a room, and I was pleased to find that a Kobalt runner had been stationed, with one of those bone tipped wooden spears, at the door.

"Am I required?" Gisela asked, and as I shook my head, she bowed, then hurried away.

"Hey," I began, as I poked my head inside the room.

The girl was lying on a bed, near the far wall, her back towards me, and as I stepped into the room, I quickly realized she was sobbing.

I pulled the door shut, then slowly, crept to her side.

She looked over her shoulder as I approached, then wiped away the tears, as she sat up.

Her eyes quickly glanced over my body, as she studied me, frowning.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, and she swallowed, seemingly with difficulty, before speaking.

"It stings," she said, gingerly running her fingers along the bruises around her neck.

She studied me carefully, before speaking again.

"You saved me... didn't you? That thing you gave me?" she asked, and I shrugged.

"I'm not sure if you were dying, but I figured it would at least repair any major damage that might have been done," I explained.

"What's going to happen to me?" she asked, and I sighed.

"That's up to you. What were you doing?" I asked, and she frowned.

"Candace said he would help us..." she began, but her voice broke as she began to sob, and she brought her knees up to her face, and hugged herself, as she tried to calm down.

"Help you to do... what? Escape?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Vanessa said we needed to come back with at least two weapons, and him. Or else we might as well be dead."

"So, the tree marking. That was to find your way back to Vanessa?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Candace marked the trees, then gave me the weapon to keep in case anyone got suspicious and searched her," she explained. "I just... I didn't know he would do that, just to get it... I didn't know..."

She cried again, and as I rested a hand on hers, she looked into my eyes.

"That was stupid. Why didn't you just stick with us?" I asked, and she shrugged.

"You don't need me. You don't need half of us. Candace says you're going to use us. To feed us to monsters when you're attacked, while the rest of you escape."

I sighed.

"We can deal with monsters pretty easily with our armor and weapons," I said.

"Then why didn't you leave us some?" she asked, and I frowned.

"Honestly, because I didn't want to come back to find that Vanessa had exterminated an entire people who had no way to defend against our weaponry," I admitted, and her mouth opened in surprise.

"You really think she would do that?"

"She didn't hesitate to sell you all to Caleb's group, did she?"

The girl frowned, hugging herself tight.

"She said that if we didn't choose who to give ourselves to, then the choice would be made for us, and someone else would just take us like that anyway. At least we could control who it was..." she reasoned, and I studied her.

"And you believed that?" I asked.

"I'm a useless person. I've always been... it doesn't matter what I believe."

Her black hair fell cutely across her face, but as I got a proper look at her, I could see just how beautiful she really was.

As I thought about her mindset, about herself, and the world, I quickly realized that controlling her would be quite easy... and could prove to be beneficial as well.

"I never got your name," I said.

"Bianca."

"I'm-"

"Nathan," she said, and I nodded, studying her.

"Do you want to be useful, Bianca?" I asked, and she quickly nodded.

"You can keep me safe, right?" she asked.

"What? That's not what I mean-"

"No- please, listen. If you protect me, you can use me. I'm really good at sex stuff. I can be way better than whoever you're using right now! I'll do it together with them, even... just protect me; and don't let them hurt me or send me away!"

She moved towards me, and I backed away, keeping just out of reach.

"You're more than just some holes to fuck. Christ, what is wrong with you girls?" I muttered, exasperatedly, and she studied me carefully.

"But... you asked me if I wanted to be..." her words trailed off, as she teared up again. "That's all I can offer, you know? I barely finished school. I married an older man the day I turned eighteen, and he just fucked me whenever he needed me... we never talked, he never even let me go anywhere."

"Wait, you were married?" I asked, and she nodded. "Children?"

She shook her head.

"I don't think I can," she said, and I bit my lip as I processed the revelation.

From the look of her age, I would never have guessed that she was married, but if what Casey said was true, then... was her husband the one who sold her to the company? And was it because she couldn't have children?

"I want you to be useful to me, but not by offering me sex," I clarified, and she frowned.

"Seducing other people? Or spying? I'm not exactly good at those things... I mean, this is where it got me," she said, indicating to her bruised neck.

"None of those things. I mean I might ask you to keep an eye on something from time to time, but no spying. And no sex. With anyone," I clarified.

"Then what? There's only so much I'm capable of," she replied.

"Then we'll make you more capable," I countered, and she studied me.

"You want to teach me? What?"

"I have nothing specific in mind... but isn't anything better than what you're doing right now?" I asked, and she frowned.

"How do I know can I trust you?"

I shrugged.

"You probably have no choice. I can't really tell the group no if they decide they want you gone."

"But you'll stop them... if I say yes?" she asked, and I frowned.

"I can't promise you anything, but I'll try to vouch for you if I think you won't be a threat to everyone."

I placed a hand on her cheek, and then let it trail down to the beginning of the wicked bruise on her neck, and she studied me, as I traced the spot, gently, with my fingertips.

"I don't want to see this happen to anyone... not again," I said.

She rested her hand against mine, and studied me.

"Alright... I'll try," she said, and I nodded.

"Stay here, and I'll have someone send up some food... the group is going to meet to deliberate soon, so I'll come back when it's done. Is that alright?" I asked, and she nodded.

Was that enough to win her over? I wondered, as I gave her a little pat on the shoulder before heading out of the room.

"Hey," Casey said, as she ran into me quite suddenly. "Is that girl in there?"

I nodded.

"Just spoke to her. What's up?"

"What did you get out of her?" she asked, and I frowned.

"They were trying to steal some weapons, free Raul, then head back to Palancar to meet up with Vanessa," I explained.

"Fuck. And why did you waste a heal on that fucking idiot? She got what she deserved," Casey said.

"Some might have said the same for this," I answered, nodding toward her hand, and she scowled.

"Not the same thing," she said, and I shook my head.

"I don't think it is, but sometimes people deserve a second chance," I countered. "Is everyone gathering?"

"Yeah. They set up a dining area in the main entry hall," she said, and I nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way.

The food provided for us was the same kind of dried fruits we'd eaten before; but I did note that the roasted meats that had been prepared for Cameron and me back in Palancar didn't seem to make any more appearances.

I caught sight of Cameron, who seemed to be eating, though in a much more reserved manner, while Nolan watched over her carefully, and I suppressed a sigh at the sight.

Jordan, however, I noted, was now visibly annoyed, and I wondered if maybe I could use that eventually to my advantage.

I grabbed some food, then gestured to Casey.

"Where's Candace?"

"Tied up, just outside the cluster. Are you bringing her here?"

"Yeah," I said, and she nodded.

"Get Francesca while you're at it," she said.

I headed out of the grove, but as I did, I spotted Eradne in the distance, so I decided to head towards her.

"Guten Tag," I said, as I approached, and she raised an eyebrow.

"You speak the old tongue?" she asked, and I shrugged.

"Where I come from, we call it German," I said, and she studied me.

"Are you trying to win favor?" she asked, and I frowned.

"Actually, I wanted to ask about Candace. The, uh misbehaving sapling," I explained, and she sighed.

As she turned away from me, I stole a quick glance at her figure.

Her body was lithe and slender, like the princess', but she stood at least a full head taller than her sister did, and while her frame was narrow, her hips were quite shapely, and her breasts, much more mature, and fuller.

If the princess would mature into anything that resembled that, I would be in for quite the treat.

"Well? Ask what you desire," she said, impatiently.

"The runners let her through without question. How did you know to stop her?" I asked, and she scoffed.

"Thieving god; thieving Kobalt sapling. Two things are one, to any sight not blinded by stupidity," she declared, as she advanced on me, "or do you place one thief above the other."

I shook my head.

"Then you will punish her? As you would a thieving 'goblin'?"

I pondered the suggestion, as it never really occurred to me that the Kobalt would dare to steal a god-weapon... although, it was much less effective in their hands than it would be in the hands of an otherworlder.

"She will be punished. I'm actually not sure what we would do to a Kobalt who did the same."

"Oh, but I know what you would do... I have seen what the wrath of the Gods looks like," she said, and I frowned.

"We aren't all alike," I said, and she studied me.

"It is to be seen," she said. "Servus, Auslander."

I bowed as she headed away.

As I headed for the smaller cluster of trees, I spotted Francesca, wearing her full armor, and watching over Candace and Raul quite intently, albeit from a distance.

"At ease, soldier," I said, and she giggled as she spotted me.

"Trying to make amends for my slip-up," she admitted, and I sighed.

"It really wasn't your fault," I said, and as she shot me a pouty look, I took a quick look around, then grabbed her by the edge of her breastplate, and pulled her close.

She stared into my eyes, her breath caught in her throat, and I rested a hand against her cheek, before leaning in to kiss her lightly.

"See? I don't like you any less either," I said, and she smiled, blushing a little. "We're gonna decide Candace's fate; let's grab her."

"Aye, aye, Cap'n," she replied.

"Well about time. Let's get this over with," Candace said, as we pulled her up, and undid the ties that bound her to the nearby tree.

I undid the binds on her feet as well, and we half-led half-dragged her to the entry hall.

Everyone went silent as we entered.

"Well then, let's get started," I declared. "In case anyone doesn't know; our new comrades, Candace and Bianca, were caught trying to steal one of our weapons, with the intention of freeing Raul, and fleeing back to Vanessa."

"Don't be idiots, girls. Ask yourselves why he won't give any weapons to you," Candace started, and I noted a few heads tilted at the statement.

"They can ask me that themselves; everything is open to discussion. Which is why we're all here right now; to discuss your fate."

"Kill the bitch," Jeannie began, but I raised a hand to silence the group, as a few murmurs of agreement sounded.

"My intention in gathering everyone isn't to carry out mob justice. Anyone who wishes to ask Candace anything, may do so, and after answering our questions, she will be allowed to speak," I explained.

I turned to the group, waiting to see what, if anything, they had to ask, and after a bit of silence, I shrugged, then turned to Candace.

"Well, anything to say?" I asked.

"Where's Bianca?"

"Resting," I answered.

"Oh? And am I facing judgement alone or...? You know she was complicit, right?" she explained, and I shrugged.

"She's also repentant," I countered, and she smirked.

"You found 'use' for her, is what you mean. Watch well, ladies. This is where you'll all end up."