by Billy Wong
They headed for Bergin, a small mining town among the hills. Meg and Patrick brought their full arsenal of weapons and Christopher his fine longsword handed down through his family, while the others carried standard issue swords and shields from the fort. Six veterans followed some yards behind, Baxter among them. She wondered if there was any particular reason that would require the presence of the lieutenant himself. "I've never been in a real fight before," Art, a freckled boy with a short chin, murmured on the way. "I don't know if I can handle it."
"You've been training for it though," Patrick said. "If you don't try, how will you ever know whether you can? Besides, we don't know for sure you'll have to fight yet—and even if you do, you'll have us by your side."
Robbie, tall and strapping with a sculpted upper body, scoffed. "What can you do anyway? You and your girlfriend are just tiny slips. Even if you might have some so-called 'skill,' skill by itself isn't all that in a real fight. I doubt you'd be able to stand up to adults. I could probably even hang better with my size."
Skill wasn't all that in a fight? He must not have known anybody real skilled. Meg weighed whether she should say what came to mind, and decided to go ahead with it. "I might doubt it too, except I killed seven adults shortly before joining you. Besides, I'm technically an adult myself." Just small.
His eyes widened. "Killed? W-well, it must've been by surprise or something. And I don't believe you!"
Thin and stringy-haired with a dark complexion, Joshua didn't talk much. It was hard for Meg to tell whether she should think he would be calmer under duress than his outwardly nervous peers, or might be even less reliable. "Taryn wouldn't have given us this assignment if she thought it would be extremely dangerous," she said, looking at Joshua in hopes it would prompt him to speak. Nothing. "As long as we follow our training and don't hesitate to ask for help if needed, we should be okay."
"It's odd we're being saddled with such... unimpressive partners for the first test of our class' progress," Christopher said quietly to her while the others weren't paying attention.
"I figure me, Patrick and you are meant to do the heavy lifting while the others tag along and gain experience. Or, considering you don't have much real experience, maybe I should include you in the latter group." He spat, rather rudely of a person who boasted of a vague "pedigree," and she added, "How refined of you to take a jest so well."
They arrived after two days at smoky-smelling Bergin, where the sound of hammers at work rang nonstop while grimy folks gazed at them with what she suspected to be doubt due to their youth. The townspeople looked rough enough that she questioned if they couldn't deal with whatever problem they faced themselves, but then a rugged appearance didn't make up for lack of training. They went to the village chief's house, a wood shack with a forward-sloping roof slightly larger than its neighbors. A potbellied man with a double chin, but muscular arms opened the door.
"You must be the soldiers in training who are to help us," he said after they entered, the older soldiers waiting outside. "Not the most imposing lot, are you?"
Meg straightened up further, puffing her chest out to look bigger. "Perhaps, but some of us have seen our share of battle."
"Ah, I can see your scars. I suppose you must not all be complete neophytes."
She cringed a bit at the increased scrutiny she felt from her companions' gazes. "So what's the issue?"
"There is a monster living in the hills west of here, a cyclops to be precise."
"Wait, a cyclops?" Art asked, turning pale. "But those things are huge, getting near twenty feet tall! There's no way we'd be prepared to take on one of them!"
The chief cleared his throat. "Ahem, I had not finished yet. We don't need for you to face the cyclops. It's turned out to be a peaceful sort from what we've seen, not having shown any sign it means us harm."
"Then what's the problem?"
"A couple days ago, a band of warriors arrived proclaiming they would slay the cyclops. As we do not wish for it to be killed but also didn't want to risk offending them, we sent for help."
Meg exchanged looks with Patrick. "Monster hunters?"
"Maybe, but it doesn't sound like the locals hired them. They could be doing it for some other reason, though."
"But if they were here a couple days ago," she asked, "might we not be too late? The cyclops could've been killed already."
The chief replied, "I misled the strangers, giving them directions as wrong as I thought could be believed. That should buy at least some time, though you might want to hurry if you intend to catch them. I will tell you the correct directions to the cyclops' home, and you can meet them there."
"How many are they, and how heavily armed?"
"Four, and about as armed as you and the short boy I reckon."
"Four hunters..." Patrick said. "We won't be outnumbered, but they must be fairly confident in themselves to go after a cyclops with just four."
Meg nodded. "Still, we have Baxter and the vets for backup, and we'll try to talk them down first. If that doesn't work, then we might have to cross blades with them."
Christopher asked, "Wait, if we go to the monster's lair to intercept them, how will we let it know we aren't there to hurt it? It could attack us, mistaking us for hostiles." Art hugged himself with clenched teeth, clearly terrified at the prospect, and Robbie's clasped hands didn't look the most steady either.
"I believe I know how we can deal with that. So chief, how do we get there?"
He gave them directions, then they left the house. Meg looked towards Baxter who stood discreetly off to the side and walked over to him. "We're to defend a friendly cyclops from some would-be monster slayers, as I suspect you might've already known, and are worried it might take us for enemies instead. Will you use your monster-speaking skills to prevent that misunderstanding?"
Baxter didn't answer right away. "Since we were told only to step in if you couldn't handle your assignment, technically I don't think I'm supposed to. But it does seem a bit much to expect beginners to make peace with it without having the ability to communicate in addition to the other things on your plate, so I'll help you out."
"Thanks. This way we can avoid some of our softer members shitting themselves, hopefully."
She rejoined her fellow youths. "We needn't worry about the cyclops. The lieutenant will ensure it understands we're there to help."
"Then let our blades feast on the blood of the hunters," Joshua said under his breath, low enough so probably only she heard.
Meg recoiled, both at him talking for once and his actual words. "Whoa, I think we should try to settle things peacefully before resorting to bloodshed?"
"Yes, but if that does not work out, we will finally get to test our skills in mortal combat." He licked his lips.
"Uh..." Meg tiptoed away to Patrick's side. "I'd suggest we both keep an eye on Joshua. He seems potentially the murder-happy sort."
"Like you?"
"Hey now, you know I don't enjoy killing people. I'm just efficient at it when I have to."
He sobered. "By the sound of it, yeah, we should watch him carefully. Better give Christopher a heads up too."
She told Christopher of the way Joshua had acted, and he replied, "So one of our team members might not just be dead weight, but an actual detriment? I'll remember to be cautious of him." They set out towards the cyclops' cave, hoping things wouldn't escalate too badly.
Chapter 4
Following the village chief's instructions, they made their way to a hill at the foot of which they found a wide opening. Its top seemed low for a creature thrice the height of a man, but perhaps deceptively so as the ground sloped downward towards it. Baxter took the lead, the younger soldiers following behind. A coppery smell of blood reached their noses as they neared the cave. "D-do you think they already came here?" Art asked. "Maybe the cyclops is dead, or it killed them and they're dead."
"It could just be an animal it's eating," Patrick replied. They heard a loud groan from ahea
d. "That's probably it." Heavy footsteps boomed closer. Something like a brawny one-eyed man almost twenty feet tall emerged into the light, ducking slightly to get through the entrance. From one sinewy hand dangled the upper half of a deer, and blood and gore stained its face around the mouth. Its other hand held a crude axe, the head a sharp slab of stone tied to a tree limb.
"That is disgusting," Robbie said.
Meg shrugged. "It's just eating like we do. It'd be more disturbing if that was a human." She had to admit the deer's glazed eyes were a bit unsettling, though. An image of her and Patrick taking down the giant flashed through her mind, as they had slain their share of similar beings with Gavin before. The world sure had changed, for them to be protecting it now.
Baxter stepped forward, speaking unrecognizable words to the cyclops which stared warily at them. It issued similar noises in response, and they went back and forth. Baxter began to look flustered, and Meg noticed him repeating what sounded like the same thing multiple times. It seemed maybe he didn't know enough of the monstrous language to communicate all that well, and the cyclops too waved its arms around faster as if getting agitated. She moved her hand closer to her hilt. They might have to fight after all, if it grew violent...
The cyclops turned and ambled back into the cave. "What happened?" Christopher asked. "Did you come to an understanding with it?"
Baxter exhaled with apparent relief. "Yes. It was touch and go there, but it seems not so suspicious of us as to insist on fighting."
"But I gather it isn't too convinced we're here to help?" Meg concluded.
"No. As long as it doesn't attack us it's fine. Although I suppose we won't be rewarded with its gratitude."
They camped out there in front of the cavern, waiting for those who sought its life. The veterans took their leave, saying they would be hiding nearby in case their aid was needed. Night fell without anybody arriving, so they unfolded their bedrolls and slept until sunrise. Early the next morning, they saw a quartet of armed people approach over a nearby rise—three men and a woman, all dirty with war paint over grim countenances. The woman and two of the men were lean and hard, though one of those men stood much taller than the other; the last man hulking with a massive chest. Each wore patchwork armor of leather and metal pieces and carried cruel looking weapons, decorated with extra spikes and barbs. Art and Robbie already looked on the verge of panic, and even Christopher's taut face showed visible fright. Joshua watched them with eerie calmness, which caused her greater concern.
"They make more convincing monster hunters than us," Patrick said.
"They look more convincing," Meg corrected. "It's yet to be seen if they are."
Spotting them, the wild-haired woman pointed her spear with a ring of spikes behind the head their way. "Who the hell are you kids? Don't tell me you were sent by the government to stop us."
"If you guessed that much, you probably know why too. What reason do you have to kill the cyclops? Is somebody paying you to?"
The shorter of the lean men, whose thick sword sported saw-like teeth on the back edge, shook his head. "That would hardly be strong enough motivation for us to defy Aerilea's law. Monsters wiped out our clan, so now we go around slaying any we find in return."
"And you think that's the way?" Patrick asked. "Wait—where are you from, since most people in Plasbias don't use the term clan?"
"We are from Severil, which I trust you understand the implications of." A kingdom where every man served in the military and many women did too, Severil was known for raising the fiercest warriors on the continent. "Step aside, if you know what's good for you."
Meg stood her ground with the others, and the hunters stopped a few strides in front of them. The largest of the men with a giant spiked hammer sneered. "Are you children serious? We'd cut you down like dogs."
"Do we look like we're joking? Just because Severil is known for strong warriors, doesn't mean there are none from anywhere else who can stand up to them. But we don't want to fight you. I and Patrick"—she indicated him beside her—"were monster hunters too, though we didn't do it for revenge. Now that the five nations are trying to make peace with the monsters however, why would you want to obstruct that? It's not like every monster you kill was involved in the massacre of your clan, I'd think. Don't you realize if the effort towards peace isn't successful, more innocent people will probably suffer as you did?"
"What reason is there to trust these monsters? If they are intelligent enough to broker a truce, why would they not be intelligent enough to fake that truce until we let our guards down?"
"Erm, well..."
Christopher chimed in. "Even if you suspect them of hiding their true motives, how does mere suspicion warrant killing one of them that is currently behaving peacefully? That doesn't sound like justice to me."
"Enough chatter!" the woman spat. "We are hardly obliged to listen to you kids. This is your last warning, get out of the way or you may not walk away with your lives."
"What's the plan?" Christopher asked.
This wasn't good. Patrick was the only one here she trusted to fight somewhat on par with her. While Christopher had good training, it likely wouldn't close the gap against those with much more experience and savvy that came with it, and the others' competence was even more questionable. While they had the numbers advantage, she feared it wouldn't count for much, and calling for the veterans' help would likely get their mission deemed a failure. Then she got an idea.
"You may be vengeance seekers," she said, "but I assume you're still proud warriors too. I don't want unnecessary bloodshed, which will happen on both sides if we all fight it out. How about this? Each group picks one representative to settle this. If your champion wins, we'll step aside and you can take the cyclops' head. But if ours does, you agree to leave it be."
"Are we really going to let them kill it if we lose?" Christopher whispered. She didn't answer, but figured they might call for their backup in that case. Let's see how things went first, though.
The warrior with the saw-toothed sword smiled at her. "That is quite the bold proposal from a bunch of toddlers. We accept! Stefan, would you like to do the honors?"
The tall man stepped forth. The poleaxe he held looked quite similar to Patrick's, only much larger and with an extra blade attached to the butt. "So which of these trembling lads will you choose to break against me?"
Meg walked to meet him in the space between their parties, making him do a double take. "Do I look like a trembling lad?"
He snickered. "Not that I mean any offense to actually credible lady warriors, like my cousin Beryl here, but you are tiny! Send someone else, how am I to take you seriously when I could just step on you?"
"If you were a real warrior, you would know there's more to combat than appearances. You face Diamond Fang Meg, slayer of scores of monsters." She feared Patrick would point out her real nickname and undermine her, but to his credit he didn't.
"Diamond Fang? A lofty moniker indeed! Let us see if you live up to it." He came forward swinging his poleaxe. She dodged and slashed at his middle. He jumped back sucking in his stomach, retaliated with a downward chop she sidestepped. She tried to dart in, but he backpedaled jabbing with his weapon to keep her back. His range promised to give her some trouble, but she wouldn't be deterred. She'd beaten plenty of things bigger than herself after all. They traded many blows, her usually more aggressive as she tried to limit the distance between them, him more defensive in attempting to use his reach advantage. After an exchange where she got in close and managed to cut his arm before he knocked her back with a punch, he said, "You really are good. Still, if you're the one who stepped up, does that mean you're the only one among your friends who's any good?"
Shit. Patrick was good too, but... "I hope you're not thinking of backing out of our deal," she snarled, wiping blood from her nose and blinking as though more hurt than she was.
"Of course not. It won't matter anyway, when you lose." He went at her hard, trying to tak
e advantage of her apparent grogginess. She gasped while his blade grazed her shoulder and reeled away. He chased after her, poleaxe sweeping around towards her neck. Meg ducked under and shot in, driving into his legs. Her momentum lifted him off the ground and carried him a couple steps forward before she dropped him hard. His back came down on a lumpy rock and he cried out, arching his spine with features contorted in agony.
"Wow, she slammed him!" Robbie said, voice awed in contrast to his earlier skepticism towards her.
Patrick's response made her cringe inwardly. "Mouse does have a nasty power double." He just couldn't resist, could he...
"Her nickname is actually Mouse?" Christopher asked. "That's hilarious when she always tries to act so big, much more fitting than that Diamond Fang nonsense she made up."
She bared her teeth. "It's Diamond Fang now." She heard the scrape of blades being drawn, glanced back to see Joshua run forward with twin knives in hand. She hadn't even known he favored such weapons... he lunged, plunging them down at the defenseless Stefan.
Meg caught him by one of the forearms and jerked him back. "What on earth are you doing?"
"They are criminals who we cannot allow to go free! We should make sure this one is down for good, then imprison the rest."
He had a point in that the hunters would likely just seek targets elsewhere if not taken in, but trying to capture them would be risky and in any case went beyond their assigned task. His eagerness to kill her already defeated foe also put a bad taste in her mouth. Still holding onto his arm, she squeezed tightly and said in a low voice, "Stand down. If our superiors feel it necessary to deal with them further, I'm sure they'll handle it." She released him and Joshua reluctantly sheathed his knives.
Putting the tip of her sword to Stefan's throat, she looked to his allies who stared in disbelief. "As for you, I am the victor. Will you honor our agreement, or do I have to defeat a couple more of you?"