10 Lion's Curse

"So what now?"

"They're going to kill me if they found out I killed two of my team, I have to go somewhere far where the trolls can't find me," the man answered, he was holding a bow with his empty quiver roped in his left shoulder.

"What?"

"Nothing," Hanzo was taking a glance at the man, the man was removing released bolts from the ground, he was holding ten arrows on his right hand while his left hand plucked the arrows.

The man stared at a body lying on the ground, a bolt struck on the head's left cheek, he approached the corpse, plucked the arrow but instead of placing it on right hand he snapped it in two parts and threw it to the woods, he then closed the corpse's eyes with his left hand tenderly.

"A waste of an arrow.", Hanzo stared at the direction where the man threw one, shouted in anger.

"I can't blame you for Horys' death.", the man spoke with sincerity; he has already stood up and put the salvaged arrows on his quiver.

"Who is it then is it Peterys? Or that swordsman?", Hanzo asked, staring at the man's eyes.

"Peterys was just dog while the dead leader I shot was just doing what bandit do, I blame no one apparently but fate."

"At least we don't have to kill each other after you finish with what you're doing.", Hanzo commented on seeing the man smile after he answered his question.

"You're not a merchant, are you? or merchants this day were already trained for these unexpected situations", the man asked.

"If today's merchants were that prepared then being a bandit is not a favourite occupation to prefer.", Hanzo indirectly answered.

"I knew it the first time when someone came here talking about Abgner getting run over. Most merchants already knew we have a lair here, so they tend to avoid, somehow few were unlucky".

"So that fat man's Abgner.", Hanzo sneered.

"Aren't you going? Some trolls are supposed to be here in less than an hour.", the man asked it was about ten minutes when he shot Peterys with his dagger

"Expected that I'll get caught or get killed, can't blame them," Hanzo said while he faced the road he just passed.

"You're crazy," the man saw that Hanzo was standing with a cheery face even thou he just reminded him of the incoming danger.

"I'm Hanzo by the way, it seems like you're free, you want to escape, but I doubt you have money with you right now, I have extra," Hanzo took a glance at the man's shocked face.

"Ford Scheim, I know what are you trying to do but my childhood friend just died, it doesn't mean I wanted to join him that early," the man introduced.

"I did not say you have to shot in the open, how many anyway?"

"I heard five no more no less, they're supposed to be part of the best men of the Troll Leader, I doubt we're going to be lucky with just the two of us," Ford reminded.

"How do ten golden lions sound like," Hanzo looked at Ford with tempting eyes also raising his eyebrows in the process.

Ford paused for a few moments," I don't trust you, but your confidence and your skills are on the pretty same level."

Hanzo just sighed for a second after Ford accepted the offer and then reached into his left pocket," Here, you'll work better knowing you already get the pay", Ford caught the things Hanzo threw, there were golden lion coins just like Hanzo promised, he looked at Hanzo with amazement while Hanzo just answered," It's nothing much".

Few hundred meters on the north-west of the stone bridge.

"I'm sure the merchant's already lying on the ground dead when we reached there."

"I love when they cry for mercy, not for us to release them but for quick going."

"I agree although it's unfortunate that few are passing these times."

"Those faggots already knew the time that we do thirty of them."

Five men were walking through the woods; they're only visible in the dark because of the lamp on of them brought, two men in the back were the archers, one has a spear, another one has a broadsword. The most prominent man of them all has a giant hatchet; he was holding it with his two hands while he walks causing small tremors.

The giant man did not say anything while the others chat endlessly, the only hearable sounds coming from him were the small earthquake he causes, the dancing of his bronze armours and his breathing.

The others were also wearing the same set of armour; there are minor differences like the archers in the back had much tighter ones, the unique was the giant's cause their armours look like toys if compared.

"Is it weird if I say I hope that Iryn had the same fate with that fat guy?", the Spearman asked.

"Getting ran over won't kill that man, I hope the merchant got dagger he can stab him with," the swordsman commented.

"I'm baffled why you hate Iryn so much, he seems he's just doing his part," one of the archers commented.

"You're an ignorant Den, you're one of the trolls Iryn successfully tricked, he's licking the boss' ass to reach higher than he can, the boss probably realized that already, so just shut the fuck up Den if you don't know what you are talking about", the swordsman spoke back.

The archer just sighed in response,"I wager one golden lion that they killed the merchant."

"You're cheap; I bet five that they already tied up the queer, waiting for us.", the swordsman responded to the spearman's challenge.

"Alright then, it's too late to take that back," the five of them finally got out the forest, lead by the giant man in the most front, they shook their armours as dry leaves fall from where they stood.

The other four were still cleaning their wear when they noticed that they were separated by at least ten meters from the giant man, approached the man after being done as if they were afraid that he would leave them.

"They failed?", the men noticed two bodies lying just outside the building right of the bridge.

The giant made a gesture then walked towards the closest body, the rest followed.

One of the corpses had a wound on its back; it's noticeable because of the red stain on the body's leather vest.

"What the heck happened in here…", the spearman silently asked himself.

All of them noticed the strange position of the body; it looks like he was running away from the building then someone stabbed him with a dagger before dying.

"No they did not fail, look," Den pointed with his right index finger towards the building," I think that's the merchant wagon mentioned."

"Let's check it then," the swordsman said.

All of them were about five meters away from the building.

The five men carefully approached the wagon beside the two-story building, one of the archers looked from left to right like a hunter finding a prey, the giant man just faced the cart with non-blinking eyes while the spearman can't help giving an excited face, what's inside the carriage, he wondered.

Seconds pass by unnoticed, of course, the giant man was the first to jump in the wagon. The horse snorted noticing the sudden increase of wagon's weight.

"Humu", the giant can't help making a sound noticing a giant wooden chest just behind the driver's seat.

The giant man let the swordsman, and the spearman got in first before approaching the chest.

The chest made a sound, opened by the giant; the swordsman attempted helping but was too late since the others did it with no effort.

"We're rich", the severe expression of the giant suddenly change after looking at the contents of the chest, his mouth almost reached both of his ears.

The others can't help to give the same expression, even though it was at night, the golden coins give glows to their eyes.

Seconds has passed since someone has talked, they were sweating on excitement what to do with the vast amount of treasure they have found.

"How much do you think is there?" the swordsman can't help asking.

"Three Hundred, I hope it's four, I'll never be luckier in the future", the spearman can't help answering with positivity.

"I'll take twenty ", the giant man suddenly stood up straight and spoke with a hoarse voice.

"Then Ten for each of us then ", the swordsman commented with no intention of disagreement.

The archers on the back of the wagon stopped scouting their surroundings after hearing the fortune they will be able to get, ten percents of hundred golden lions are considered a gift from Gods, they listened to an estimation of three hundred even four, now that's what they call heaven.

" Now we just have to ride this wagon to the base and then drink till morning with ladies on our laps", the swordsman can't help grasping with both of his hands the golden coins, it makes such melody when golden coins that are ungraspable fall, clashing with other coins inside the chest.

"Idiot, we still need to find Iryn's body and the other guy…The merchants' too", the Spearman said.

It looked like the giant agreed as the stern expression returned on his face.

The three of them were about to jump from the wagon when a sound heard.

"Shit!", one of the archers can't help exclaiming seeing the shaking body of the other archer as it falls, an arrow struck on the back of its head.

After noticing his comrade fall dead, he ran away from the wagon and went inside the building, hiding beside the stone wall making sure all parts of his body was not out in the open.

The spearman was about to follow the archer, but he stopped attempting to get out the carrier when another arrow was let free hitting the wagon.

"We're trapped in here", it was evident that the one who shot was just behind the wagon, probably hiding on the bushes of the forest.

Even with one of their comrade getting killed and possibly following the man the giant still can't help smirking, "He took advantage of one men's greatest sin, my sin resulted on one of our departed ways too early".

"Doesn't make him right to do so thou", the giant bravely get out the wagon landing just beside the new corpse which resulted in his alive comrade's shock.

"Be careful Goreth", the spearman can't help warning the giant.

The giant named "Goreth" did not reply with words, but the sound of his smirk resounded, holding his giant axe with both hands, approaching the source of the arrows.

Swoosh!

Another arrow shot, but Goreth effortlessly blocked it with his axe, not with luck but pure skills.

Goreth continued his pace while the three others just looked at Goreth with admiration.

"Too bad for that merchant, he was smart, but he did not expect a monster such as Goreth to arrive", the swordsman smiled with confidence.

"If I were him I'd just run away leaving his merchant's fortune to us", the spearman also commented.

The sudden tension felt by the others suddenly wear out knowing that the merchant has screwed, the guy we'll probably run away knowing he can't kill Goreth with his bow, good luck fighting the giant on melee.

But something unexpected happens, a figure got out from the bushes, from the direction where arrows were let out.

"You look familiar", Goreth was surprised, he expected the cowardly retreat from the wise merchant, but he was starting to be unsure if this guy was the merchant.

"I'm honoured that Goreth 'Troll Giant' is somehow familiar with my face", the guy spoke with a sarcastic tone.

The archer inside the building was about to get out the building knowing that the attacker is in the open there's no need to hide, he failed to notice approaching figure coming from inside the building.

"Humppph!!"

The archer we're not able to make a loud enough sound for even his two nearby comrades inside the wagon since his throat were sliced open with cold metal.

"I know that face, bastard! That guy is under Iryn's", the swordsman can't help to be in a fury after identifying the attacker.

"And I thought I was greedy, let's help Goreth, can't feeling stabbing the traitor on my own", the spearman had the same emotion.

"Hey, Yore! Get out now, don't you want to revenge your friend", the swordsman approached the building since he did not receive any response from the archer he was about a meter from the opened doorway when he saw the dead body of the archer, laying on the ground with blood coming from its throat.

He can't help backing out one step from the shock; he was still staring at Yore's corpse, with his dead eyes that are almost staring at him with horror. He was not able to notice the approaching force coming from above.

The spearman was just about two meters behind the swordsman, he was also curious on Yore's lack of activity, so he followed the Swordsman but then the talkative swordsman suddenly made an unusual sudden movement after a brief moment, the Spearman vision was only red.

Blood was flowing out of the Swordsman's head; no the head was already gone, he was not able to notice the sudden falling off the head because of surprise. Fortunately, he was able to parry the incoming attack based on instinct alone. He then backs out for at least two meters away from the danger that came out from nowhere, but then he made his conclusion; the enemy came from the second floor using Yore's body as a surprise factor, it was just luck that the spearman was alive till now.

The enemy probably jumped slashing from upper left to lower right then rolled towards the spearman with pierce attack; he then noticed the enemy stood straight, flicking his slashing sword on his right hand, cleaning the sword from blood.

The spearman did not hesitate to attack the man, he made a piercing attack, but the man dodged it barely, the spearman made a pulling action attempting on another try, but the enemy was able to grasp the wooden stick part of the spear and pull it himself. The spearman was able to escape the slash attack of the enemy by letting go of the spear; he did not expect the enemy to have fast reflects accompanied of greater pulling force.

The spearman remove his sword from his sheath since his spear was stolen, he noticed the enemy still holding his spear. Instead, the man returned his sword from his sheath as if he wants to kill the spearman with his weapon.

Goreth was able to grasp the situation, "Is the merchant not alone from the start or…"

"Yes that's the merchant", Ford answered gladly without letting Goreth finish.

"You two against me, you have great faith in the merchant, how about this let's make this 20 to 50", Goreth spoke.

"Your other guy still alive, killing him off is disrespectful", Ford replied," Well, he's going to die anyway".

"So 20 to 50?" Goreth continued his proposal.

"Sorry Giant, he offered me a better offer, ten lions", Ford declined with respect.

"How is that better?" Goreth laughed mockingly.

"At least I can keep my life", Ford did not mind the mock and just smiled.

The spearman kneeled down involuntarily; wounds can be seen on both of his shoulder and from his right leg.

" My spear needs practice", the enemy spoke for the first time, the last thing the spearman before he died, was a black-haired young man smiling at him with a small stain of blood on his face, horrifying sight of his murderer.

Hanzo looked at Ford who is somehow unscathed from the Giant's giant axe as if the man was waiting for Hanzo to finish his comrades.

"Ford, do you speak with a spear?" Hanzo asked while walking towards the twos' spot.

"Few words, I rather use my bow", Ford answered.

Goreth was not bit annoyed by the casual conversation between the black haired youth and the Troll traitor.

"So how do I call this unusual merchant?", Goreth looked at the approaching man.

"Call me Hanzo", Hanzo made a gesture to Ford.

Ford sighed," He's not a merchant he was just trying to pass here and accidentally ran over Abgner".

"Then the wealth-"

"Let's just say I'm a special traveller", Hanzo intersected.

" Seems like I don't need to Introduce myself, both of you know I won't let any of you two run without me trying to stop you", Goreth spoke his intention with intent of sharing the amount of loyalty he has for the Troll Bandits.

"Somehow I figured that out", Hanzo's sword was released from his red scabbard.

Ford took few steps backwards away from Goreth who was grasping his two-handed axe.

The heavy breathing of Goreth heard; he was preparing to give his all on this life-death battle.

Hanzo took the initiative to attack first, performing a downward, left slashing attack, even with Goreth large stature, he was still able to dodge Hanzo attack then the man makes a downward slash with his axe that's when Ford released an arrow on Goreth's back.

Goreth was not able to dodge, but it seems he doesn't need to, the arrow just bounced from Goreth's armour.

Hanzo attempted a sharp attack on Goreth's right armpit, one of his armour's weakness. Goreth was able to block the attack and tried on a push kick but Hanzo just sideward and then descended and successfully performed a low roundhouse kick staggering Goreth on the process.

Goreth took a step back, facing Hanzo's horizontal slash, he successfully parries the attack even thou the enemy took advantage of his unbalance posture but then he noticed the growing pain coming from his left leg.

He looked below and noticed the arrow that went through from the back of his leg.

Hanzo did not bother asking Goreth if he still wanted to fight when he saw the man clipped the arrow in front and back but even left the parts that went through his leg to slow down the blood flow. Goreth just took a glance at Ford, realising he needs to be more careful, but he knows it will be harder to do because of the enemy in front of him.

"Arghhh!", Goreth made a vertical slash using his full force, Hanzo had no choice to take a step back since blocking the axe is not an option after that Goreth followed it with a rightward slash and as expected Hanzo just dodged it.

Heavy panting heard, Goreth seems tired both physically and mentally. He has no time to rest another arrow shot from his back, luckily for him his body armour was strong enough to defend against few arrows. Goreth angrily stared at Ford who was in the processing of reloading.

The Giant then run towards the archer on full speed, with his surprise Ford's face did not show fear and just took three steps backwards and started preparing his next shot. Goreth did not stop but tightly grasp his axe while running for the incoming arrow. The arrow was released, and it nearly hit Goreth's face about few centimetres.

"You're dead!"

By the look on Goreth's confident face he was expecting that the archer in front of him to stare with horror but the man just looked at him with a mocking smile.

Hanzo was able to react in an instant, the Giant was fast but not faster than Hanzo, Hanzo successfully cut Goreth's right leg, the giant landed with a bang, blood spurted just below his right knee, his face was facing the ground, but still the scream of agony again echoed through the night.

Hanzo noticed that Ford was staring at him after strapping his bow." Disappointing fight but too bad I'm in a hurry here".

Goreth lifted his body and rotated by 90 degrees, "Kill me already…", the voice was barely hearable, but there was no intention of hate and self-pity was carried over.

---

"So you're going alone, on this night?", Hanzo noticed Ford walking towards the stone bridge.

"That was the deal remember?", Ford faced back and gestured with his hands.

"I have an offer", Hanzo smiled.

"No, I respectfully decline, I have enough battle for tonight, I hate being called a traitor by some thieves and murderers", Ford chuckled.

"Well, Good luck walking through the night".

"We'll probably meet on the road; you don't mind a single passenger right?", Ford removed a torch from the wall of the building, carrying a wrapped cloth inside was hard bread he got inside the building with his left hand while waving his right hand.

Hanzo did not wait till Ford to pass the bridge and rode his wagon, "Let's finish this".