Chapter 7: Five Souls

"I have accepted your payment", Lorthic said, he stepped forward until he stood before the cage, gripping the bamboo bars that were held tight with rope, his hand tightened crushing the bamboo and with a tug, he tore open the front part of the cage.

Annabell stared at Lorthic as he held out his hand towards her, she reached out and took his hand, 'So warm', she thought feeling the warmth coming from Lorthics hand as he pulled her out of the cage.

"Now you have my services at your disposal, I hope when I have returned you safely to your home I will get the rest of my payment", Lorthic said making it clear that what she gave him was just an advanced payment.

"Oi, Lorthic, what about us", Nevarre asked, "If you are willing to help us, we will give you anything you want"

Lorthic thought for a while, he didn't need anything that the tribe could offer him, the mana stone that Annabel gave him was too little as well, but he made it clear that it was just an advanced payment and she would still have to give him more. This little tribe on the other hand they had nothing that he could use even if he tried coming up with excuses.

Lorthic thought for a moment still he came up with an adequate price, and it was something the tribe could give him if they wanted to. Holding out his hand he showed all five fingers, "Five souls, at the very least they must be of the Warrior Rank"

"But I have no way to procure complete souls, at most I can extract soul shards from dead beings but..." Braska was in a thought spot, getting five Warrior Rank souls would lead to him having to kill at least fifty Warrior Rank individuals.

"As long as you offer five Warrior Ranked creatures to me it would be fine, I shall extract their souls myself the only problem is that you have to offer them while they're alive."

Braska breathed out in relief, he could procure five Warrior Ranked individuals, it would just take some time. "Give me a week and you will have your souls", he said then started getting to work, discussing their hunts with Nevarre and the rest of the tribe, there were only two weeks left before they had to give a sacrifice, sacrificing five creatures to stop the creature was much better than having to give one human every month for the rest of there existence.

While the tribe wasn't bothered with the payment having to be souls, as their shaman too was someone that dabbled with souls as well, this was not the case with the caravan prisoners and Annabel, her face turned white when she heard him ask for souls of five Warrior Ranked creatures.

'What have I done', She was now regretting exposing herself to this monster, but it was too late now. 'He wouldn't hurt me, right? I mean I did give him that mana stone and he asked for more once he returns me home.', she thought nervously as she glanced at Lorthic every now and then.

"Something on your mind?", Lorthic suddenly asked Annabel, startling her. He was looking at her, his face expressionless and his eyes send chills down her spine. Lorthic saw her shivering under his gaze. A sigh escaped his lips as he stared up towards the sky, the sun was showing its last ray's over to horizon so he could already see the stars sparkling in the sky. "Do not be afraid of me."

Annabel, hearing his words looked towards him only to find Lorthic has already walked away. Hesitating she stood still for a second before following him with determination.

Lorthic went to Braska, who was busy planning the upcoming hunts they would be doing, "If I remember correctly the closes Warrior Rank creature would be that spider to the south, it became Warrior Rank about two months ago and thus created it's own territory."

"What about the Goblin Chief?", Nevarre asked since the goblin tribes were obviously closer, but Braska shook his head, "We and the goblins have had a strange sort of truce for a long time, we do not infringe on each others territory because we are guarding each other's flanks. The goblin Chief knows this that is why he had never sent any goblins this way. He might not be an ally but let's not make unnecessary enemies."

"Where will I be sleeping?", Lorthic asked when he arrived next to Braska. The shaman was surprised for a moment before thinking, "I have more than enough room in my house, I will have some of the women make you a suitable bed, as for the noble girl...", Braska thought for a moment but Lorthic shook his head, "No need, she will be sleeping with me".

Annabel who just arrived froze in her tracks when she heard him talk. 'I will be sharing a bed with him', she shivered. "I-I...." she couldn't even talk, as the situation happened too quickly for her to react.

"As for the rest of the prisoners, I don't believe there is any reason to keep them locked up anymore since you won't be needing them", Lorthic said.

Braska made a troubled face, "This..."

Is there a problem", Lorthic asked.

"It isn't a problem, just that they might reveal our tribe's location if they reach a city"

"I see, no need to worry, I will wipe their memories, they won't even be able to remember where they were ambushed", Lorthic said without a care.

Braska was surprised, "You can actually do that?"

"Why not, it's a trivial matter. I could even make them remember an entirely different thing in there lives such as me taking on the role as there grandfather or father in there memories, or I could turn them into my most faithful servants just with a bit an of tampering if I wanted, what's so difficult about changing some small memories.",

"Right....", Braska said as he shivered a bit at the prospect while reminding himself again, 'Never get on this guy's bad side'.

But he wasn't the one who was hit the heardest, Annabel was once again regretting exposing herself. Just thinking not only will they be sharing a bed, but he could also make her do whatever he wanted any time he wanted. She felt entirely hopeless, she had no control over her future and could only hope Lorthic wouldn't hurt her.

"For now we will keep them in the cages, once the creature is dealt with they will be released.", Braska said after a bit of contemplating.

"Suit yourself, my only job is to take care of this little missy her", Lorthic said while nudging his head in Annabel's direction.

Braska nodded then continued, planning on hunting the five Warrior Rank creatures with the rest of his tribe's hunters.

Lorthic went to sit on a log next to the fire and Annabel joined him. They sat there in silence for a good long time, Annabel fidgeted uncomfortably as she sat next to Lorthic.

Lorthic sighed after a long time, "Would you calm down, I'm not going to hurt you. Understand?"

Annabel nodded, but it didn't change the awkward atmosphere between them.

Not long after a woman came to Lorthics side, saying that the bed has been prepared, Lorthic followed the woman with the stiff Annabel following closely behind. They were lead into a room with a single large bed made of leaves, tanned wool hides and other materials. Lorthic thanked the woman, she smiled at him and left afterwards.

Lorthic and Annabel were alone in the room, Lorthic took off his robe and threw it into the corner leaving him only in a pair of shorts, exposing his well defined upper body. Giving a stretch he climbed onto the bed and lied down on his back using his hands as a pillow. "Ahh, much more comfortable than the cave floor", he said.

Looking to his left, Annabel was still standing there, completely frozen in place, "Well come on now, you can't keep standing there.", Annabel nodded stiffly as she slowly got on the bed and lied down while keeping a considerable distance from Lorthic and turning her back to him.

'Sigh, this is going to be a long night', Lorthic thought as he looked towards Annabel who was shivering like as scared chick.