Chapter 7


    The sun was cresting over the tops of the trees, bathing the sea of green in its warm light. Giving his gear one last check, he stepped into the words. Keeping his map minimized in the upper right corner of his vision, Xane made his way along the game trails, pausing briefly to collect the occasional herb, or empty a trap he had set days before. Soon enough he had left his normal hunting area behind, setting foot on the trail that led him to Persephone.


    Xane knew he was in the right area without having to check his map, thanks to the stench of corpses already starting to decay. Passing a pair berry bushes, brought him into the clearing filled with the dead. Many of the bodies showed signs of scavengers had already found the place. Some of the dead were missing portions of their faces from where the smaller animals chewed through them to get to their yellowish eyes. Others had their stomach torn open and their organs feasted on. Some showed signs of something large had come along and taken a limb or two.


    Tying a spare cloth over his face to dampen the horrendous smell, Xane set about his grim task of looting the dead. He started with the closest body, first patting it down and finding a small pouch he tossed to the side. Not finding anything else of note, he drew his skinning knife and removed the goblin’s ear. This process repeated itself for the next few hours and creating small piles of dead next to piles of pouches and other items.


    When finished, Xane had collected eighteen ears from the twenty-six bodies. The remaining ears either too damaged or missing because of scavengers. The piles of pouches netted him thirty copper coins, six silver, and a single gold. On the goblin shaman, he had found a single gold ring. The staff it carried was in the end just a stick with bones hanging from it and completely worthless. Xane chose to keep it as a trophy of his first proper battle. Dropping the staff and ring into his inventory, he turned to the patch of muddy ground that marked the goblin lord’s grave.


    Casting soften earth on the patch of ground followed by a casting of raise earth, brought the corpse up to the surface. The sight of the mangle corpse was the final straw, and Xane ended up doubled over to puke up the food he had eaten earlier. Once he finished retching, Xane rinsed his mouth with water from one of his waterskins before turning back to what remained of the goblin leader. Aside from the large ear that held a bone piercing. He found two blood covered pouches, one filled with glowing purple stones, while the other held a handful of silver coins.


    After doing his best to clean the dried blood off his hands and arms using two additional waterskins. When he was ready to go when a ruckus at the far end of the clearing drew his attention. A trio of large ravens were attacking a fourth anytime it got near any of the piles of dead goblins. The fourth raven thought larger, wasn’t able to fend off its three smaller kin. It took Xane a minute to realize what was going on. The larger raven’s feathers were a mix of white splotches against the dark black of the rest of its body. Remembering a bit of research he did as Alex years ago. Ravens would gang up on and ostracize any of their kind that exhibited different pigments in their feathers.


    Seeing the trio''s attacks had started to draw blood from the larger bird. Anger welled up in Xane as he was reminded of his past life and his disdain for bullies. Before he realized what he was doing, he had pulled a single silver coin and launched it at the trio. The bird the coin hit let out a loud gronk at being struck.


    “Go on and get out of here!” Xane shouted at the birds. The one he struck picked up the coin and flew off with its fellows following a moment later. The bullied raven looked pitiful, with seeping wounds and missing feathers. Looking at him fearfully, the bird tried to hop away but fell over as it tried to escape. Xane squatted down on his heels and fished a piece of smoked meat, dropping it in front of the bird. Looking between the meat and him, the bird righted itself and gave a feeble hop to snatch up the food.


    Xane kept tossing the wounded bird pieces of food, shorting the distance with each one. Soon enough, the raven was within touching distance as it took another piece of meat as Xane used his free hand to channel healing energy into the animal. The bird startled momentarily but settled down an instant later as it continued to eat. As the last wound closed, a notification popped into view.


    Congratulations, you have tamed


    Dusk Raven


    Would you like to bind this pet to you?


    Yes/No


    Selecting yes with a thought, closing that screen and bringing up a second asking for a name. A small smile crossed his lips as he entered his choice. Closing out that screen brought up a third. Reading over the contents caused his smile to brighten.


    Congratulations, you have bond


    Wraith, the Dusk Raven.


    Level 7 pet


    You have been granted the following:


    Night sight


    For sixty feet, you can see as if in daylight while in low light conditions.


    For sixty feet, you can see as if in low light while in darkness.


    Skill will not work against magical darkness.


    After closing out that screen, Xane was about to stand when the mark on his chest pulsed. Wraith let out a gronk as glowing mark appeared on his feathered breast. When the marks finished glowing, Xane mind was assaulted by a wave of emotions and images. Fear, loneliness, anger and indignation were some emotions that came from the bird. The last was directed at Xane for having its glorious plumage marred in such a manner.


    “Hey, don’t blame me. I’m just as new to this as you are.” Xane said to the bird.


    Gronk!


    “You could show a little gratitude for helping, you know?” Xane retorted, getting another loud gronk from the raven. Rolling his eyes, Xane motioned for Wraith to join him as he started walking to the tree line. Checking his map and marking his next destination, he stepped into the woods.


    It only took him forty-five minutes to reach the small pond he had used before. Today, the normally cool water felt warm against his skin. Letting out a sigh when he pulled the last of his soap from his inventory. All he had left of the small block he had bought from the grandmotherly shopkeeper was nothing more than a finger wide sliver. After his body was free of the blood and grime of looting the goblins, Xane exited the pond and put on his pair of underclothes. Pulling out a stiff brush, Xane set about his next task of scrubbing his armor.


    Finishing an hour later, he was about to head back to his cave when he noticed the condition of his boots. He didn’t need to check his inventory to know he was out of salt, as he had used the last of it only days before.


    “Come on Wraith, let’s head to town.” He called out to the raven. Wraith clicked his beak twice before taking off from the branch that was his perch.


    Xane was almost twenty minutes away from the forest’s southern edge when he got a flash of an image from Wraith, who flew overhead. Knowing he had time for the detour, Xane turned to the west as he moved towards what Wraith had shown him. Feeling he was close to what Wraith had showed to him, Xane had dropped into stealth.


    It took another five minutes for Xane to find what he was looking for. Just a hundred feet away, standing amongst the thick trunks, was a massive elk. The animal weighed at least eight-hundred pounds with a rack of antlers just as impressive as its size. Summoning his bow as he drew an arrow. Xane activated precise shot and waited for the circle to become a red dot as he lined up his shot. Loosing the arrow, the elk let out the briefest cry of pain as the point punched past its ribs and pieced its heart.


    Xane came to a stop twenty feet away from the town''s gate with two guards he didn’t recognize staring at him curiously. Xane couldn’t blame the men for their strange glances. Behind him, Wraith stood atop the dead elk Xane was dragging on a travois of thick limbs. Reaching into his cloak, Xane pulled the engraved iron rod he had gotten from the quartermaster before and held it up for the two men to see.


    “Say Mel, is that the little waif that the sergeant and been fussing about?” the shorter guard asked. As the other held out his hand.


    “Damned if I know, Gibson. Let me check his pass.” The taller one replied as he caught the rod. Xane had to stifle a chuckle at hearing their names. “Oi, Gibson, what did the sergeant say his name was again?”


    “Zo… Za … Zein… I think?” The one called Gibson said as he scratched the side of his head.


    “You sure it wasn’t Xane?” Mel asked, looking at his partner like he was an idiot.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    “Xane? Yeah, that’s what she called him. So, is it him or not?” Gibson said, oblivious to the look his partner was giving him. Mel turned back to Xane as he placed the rod on his belt.


    “The Sergeant wants a word with you.” He said, then patted the rod he tucked in his belt. “You’ll get this back when she’s done with you.” He said, stepping forward and placing a hand on Xane’s shoulder. “Gibson, I’m taking him inside. You can bring his kill.”


    “What?” Gibson said as he started to protest.


    “Just drag it to the gatehouse. How hard could it be? If this one can do it, why not you?” Mel retorted as he led Xane inside.


    Xane sat on a stool in silence as Marcus sat behind his desk, refusing to take his eyes off of him. The quarter master hardly said a word when Mel brought him in and then left to retrieve the Sergeant. Xane was about to say something when Marcus''s blank expression turned to a glare. Letting out a sigh, all he could do was sit in silence as his legs swung back and forth in the air.


    Suddenly the door burst open as the sergeant looked around the room briefly before her eyes locked on him.


    “You!” She said angrily, marching over to where Xane sat perched on the stool in the corner.


    #


    Delores was sitting in the tavern trying to enjoy her day off and was failing to do so. Ever since that day, she would often think of her little brother, Mikal, who had died from the fever years ago. She had thought she was over her grief, but then two months ago, he showed up. A little boy with the same sandy blonde hair and bright green eyes. He looked just like Mikal, and like Mikal, he was gone.


    She still remembered when the boy walked up to the gate and pulled out a stringer filled with gob ears. Fucking gob ears. A boy that young should have been playing in the fields or helping his parents around the house. From what Marcus had said, the kid called himself Xane, but he looked so much like her little brother.


    Xane hadn’t even been in town for an hour before he became the target of the mayor’s little shit. Strange thing was Xane nearly killed Billy with a single punch. From what the healer had said, if he had taken the blow to his chest instead his gut, he would have died.


    Remembering how he looked when she walked up, twisted her guts with grief. The look in Xane’s eyes as she shouted to break up the already ended fight. He had a look of pure fear in his little green eyes. He wasn’t afraid of the trouble he may have been in. No, the fear he showed was because of her. And then… he was gone. She looked away for one second, and he was moving faster than any child that age had a right to.


    After sending a few men to go search for him, she went around the town to find his family. Only… no one, not a single person she talked to, recognized the boy. She even spent the next three days combing the woods for any sign of him, only to find… nothing. It was as if he was a ghost, or just didn’t exist in the first place.


    Delores let out a heavy sigh as she brought her mug to her lips. The watered down ale had just washed over her tongue when Gaurdsman Mell burst through the door.


    “Sergeant, that boy you were looking for just walked up to the gate.” He said as soon as he laid eyes on her. Delores choked and sputtered as the mug hit the table. Dropping a few coins on the table, she shot from her chair and out the door. It only took her a few minutes to reach the gatehouse. Bursting through the door, her eyes swept the room, landing on the boy perched atop a stool.


    “You!” she nearly shouted as she moved to stand in front of him. Before she knew it, she already had the boy wrapped in her arms. “Thank the stars you’re safe. I was so worried about you.” She found herself saying as tears started pooling in the corner of her eyes. Pushing him back to arm’s length, Delores wiped her eyes and asked. “Where did you run off to?”


    “Home.” He said.


    “Home?”


    “Home.” He replied as he points towards the forest.


    “Home is in the forest?” she asked him, clearly confused. To which he nodded.


    “But it’s dangerous out there.” She said, looking towards the quartermaster for help.


    “It’s like she says, kid. It’s dangerous past the wall. Especially with the gobs in the forest.”


    “Gobs?” Xane asked while scrunching up his eyebrows. Next, they rose up with realization. Reaching into the bag he had slung over his shoulder, and pulled out a stinger of ears. One of which Delores knew didn’t belong to any average goblin. “I have ears.” He said proudly, wearing a child’s smile.


    “Where did you get those?” Delores asked in a horrified shriek.


    “From goblins,” Xane said with giving her a look that said “Duh”


    “Did you find them?” she asked, calming down.


    “Found them, killed them, got ears.” He replied, tilting his head and gave her a look.


    Delores pressed the fingertips of both hands against her temples and started massaging them as she took in a deep breath. “Where are the goblins now?” she asked, now calm.


    Xane looked around the small office, his eyes landing on the map. After a moment, he nodded to himself and hopped off the stool. Then drug it over to the oversized map and clamber on top of it. Raising his small hand, he placed a finger on a spot in the eastern forest.


    “Here.” He said, turning back and giving her a small smile.


    “Are you certain that’s where you saw them, boy?” Marcus asked, looking between him and the map.


    “Xane.” He said, while scowling the man.


    “Huh?” Marcus asked.


    “Xane, not boy!” Xane replied angrily while attempting to bore holes into the man. Marcus’ face went red with anger and he moved to back hand the boy.


    Delores could only look on, stunned at the scene. Xane had braced himself with one hand against the wall and caught Marcus’ with the other. She could have sworn she heard the creaking of bones threatening to snap as the quarter master fell to his knees in pain as Xane released his hand.


    Xane’s eyes moved from Marcus to her as he tapped the map. “Goblins here, dead.” Next he fished out the stringer of ears throwing to the floor. “Here ears. Don’t believe. Check yourself.” He said before hopping down and walking to the door. If she didn’t know better, Delores would have sworn his eyes were glowing. Shaking her head and putting it off as a trick of the light, she went after him.


    Coming to a stop just outside the door, her eyes nearly bulged as what she was seeing. Gibson was laying in the middle of the road, clearly exhausted. Behind him on a sling of tree limbs was the body of a massive elk with a discolored raven perched atop it. Xane walked right up to the man and asked him something, with Gibson weakly pointing down the road in reply. Next, the boy hefted the end of the sling on his shoulders and started pulling the animals down the road.


    “That boy ain’t right.” Marcus said as he came up next to her, clutching his hand.


    “Xane.” Delores found herself saying giving the man a scowl.


    “Whatever he calls himself. He ain’t right. That kid damn near broke my hand. Look at it Delores, you can already see it''s starting to bruise. Then there’s that.” He said, pointing to the stringer of ears. “There’s over twenty ears, and all right ones at that.” He said as he walked back to snatch them up with his good hand. “You see this one. That’s from a lord. Not a goblin, but a damned goblin lord. You ever seen one?” He asked, not waiting for an answer. “Cause I have. Seen one rip a man’s arm clean off and eat it while the poor bastard screamed. It took eight of us to take it down. And here comes this kid…” Marcus paused when Delores glared at him again. “Xane, here comes Xane claiming to… claims to have killed it.” He said, falling into his chair and slouching for a moment, looking defeated. “What do we do?” he asked, looking to her as if she had all the answers.


    “You, Marcus.” Delores said, pausing briefly. “Will first dispatch a team to verify if what Xane says is true, then you get his reward ready for when he comes to collect it.”


    “What about you? What are you going to do?” he asked her.


    “I… am going to go follow him and see if I can get some answers.” She said before leaving him to his tasks. Hurrying down the street, she managed to catch up to Xane as he stopped in front of the butcher shop. Before she could get to him, he had dropped the sling and went inside. Passing the dead elk, she paused to look at the bird. The raven was rather large for its species, with odd whitish gray streaks marring its black plumage. Instead of picking at the dead beast, the bird seemed to be guarding it.


    Before she could contemplate it further, the door opened, with Xane stepping out, followed by the butcher. The man’s eyes went wide, taking in the massive beast, then narrowed with greed. Thomas obviously didn’t notice her as his eyes moved between Xane and his prize. As he opened his mouth to speak, she interrupted him with a light cough.


    “Hmm. Oh, Sergeant Delores, what brings you to my humble shop today.” He asked.


    “Thomas.” She said nodding to the man. “I’m escorting our visitor Xane here, around town, and making sure he doesn’t run into trouble again. Now, I do hope you will be giving Xane here a good price for his kill. Won’t you?” She asked with an aggressive smirk.


    “Of course. I would never do such a thing a cheat a child out of their hard earned coin.” The butcher said as his face first paled then reddened in a manner that was almost comical. Before he cleared his throat and turned back to Xane.


    “You said you wanted to sell this elk?” Thomas asked


    “Yes. Want hide, one haunch. Sell rest.” Xane replied. As Delores listened, she found his manner of speaking was very odd. It almost sounded like he had forgotten how to speak or was speaking a new language and struggling.


    “I can give you… five silver coins.” Thomas said evasively.


    “boots two silver, you cheat,” Xane replied accusingly with his fists on his hips and the hood up on his cloak. Delores could only smile, seeing how cute he was, even if he was trying to be angry. He looked just like her little brother when he felt he was being swindled.


    “Fifteen silver then.” Thomas said, Xane just glared at the man.


    “twenty silvers, final offer.” Thomas said. Xane instead of looking defeated, threw up his hands then moved to his sling. Picking it up, he started to drag the beast away when Thomas broke. “Fine, fine, two gold and not a copper more.”


    Xane stopped dragging the animal and looked up at Thomas with a smile and a nod.


    “I’ll give you a gold now and a gold when you come to get the hide.” Xane scowled up at the butcher.


    “No. Gold now, hide and haunch later.” He said sternly.


    “Fine gold now and the rest later, but it will take me a few hours to skin and butcher it.” Thomas replied, defeated by a child. Xane nodded and held out his hand, in which the butcher placed two gold coins.


    “Wraith, let’s go.” He said. The raven let out a loud gronk before hopping over to the boy’s shoulder. After that, Xane started waking away.


    “Hey, wait up.” Delores called out as she moved to follow. Xane stopped to look over his shoulder at them as he waited. Catching up to him in only a few steps, Delores found she had to walk rather quickly to keep with him.


    “Xane did you really kill a goblin lord?” she asked him in a low voice, though it was difficult due to their heights. Xane just nodded and continued walking.


    “Where are you going?” she asked. In response, he suddenly came to a stop. Lifting up a foot, he pointed to it.


    “Boots” He said as he pointed to the ruined sole and heel.


    “You want to buy new boots?” She asked. To which he nodded.


    “Did you buy those at the general store?” Xane just looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.


    “Was it the one with the old woman?” she asked, and Xane nodded in response.


    “Helen. Her goods are good, but her shoes are shite.” Delores said, to which Xane gave her a smirk along with a nod of agreement. “Come on, I’ll show you where to get a pair that won''t fall apart on you.” She said, reaching down and taking his hand.


    “Hey, let go. I can walk fine by myself.” Xane said as he started to struggle then stopped clamping his freehand over his mouth. His raven taking to the air and letting gronking loudly, upset at being knocked off his perch.


    Delores just stared at him for a moment before blinking. “Xane, how old are you?”


    “six” he replied, trying to look innocent.


    Delores fixed him with a narrow-eyed glare. “Xane, what’s your level?” She asked