Tale of the Outcast Warrior: Morning After, Gearing up...and Lily.

DAYS UNTIL WAVE: 59.

Tyler opened his eyes to see the roof of his room. He looked beside him, and saw Kaori had his hand in hers as she slept on her stomach. By the gods, I HAD Kaori! Oh my gods, I had sex with Kaori! He leaned in and kissed the sleeping girl, so full of joy, pride, and just pure bliss that he was he could not help himself. She smiled.

"Good morning, my lover."

His heart just stopped for a moment.

"Good morning, my lover."

She pushed herself up and sat beside him. A happy smile on her face.

"We did it. We really did it."

He hugged her to his scarred chest.

"I have wanted you for so long."

She smiled as she hugged him back.

"As have I."

He lifted her face up to kiss her, and she sighed with happiness.

"How do you feel?"

She chuckled.

"A little achy in the grove, but good. I can still ride and fight."

HE stroked her long blonde hair as they felt each other's body heat. Then she sighed.

"Okay. WE need a bath."

"And food."

The lovers dressed in their gear before leaving the room to find a bath house or what the elven equivalent was. They found the inn keep behind his counter as the two lovers walked into the dining hall. Tyler asking the question as Kaori looked over her shoulder nervously.

"We need a bath."

The older man smiled widely, happy for the young Warriors.

"Aye, lad. Through that door is the bathhouse"

He slid the man a silver.

"I'd appreciate it if another lady could help her with her hair."

The man just felt pride at this lad.

"Me wife will be proud to Lord."

Tyler smiled and gave the bathhouse location to Kaori. Then they went in together. Tyler sighed with satisfaction as he climbed into the rock pool that was magically heated. As per his way, he sat with his back to the wall dividing the two sections. The hot water feeling great and refreshing on his scarred body.

"Oh, of course you're here already."

Tyler looked over to see Wulf entering the water.

"Hey, Wulf, how was the rest of the party?"

The elven ranger snorted.

"It was fun. Gotta say, that was a very impressive disappearance you pulled. The partiers all wanted another speech, a solid hour after you sat down, and that was when we noticed you and Kaori had simply vanished. We all guessed right away what that meant."

"Sorry, Wulf. Not a word will pass my lips."

The older elf smiled knowingly.

"Never the first. A man's way."

"Ahh, but the second? THAT'S a different beast altogether!"

The two men threw their heads back laughing, as was the way of fighting men.

Kaori sighed happily as the water cleaned her body, and soothed her ache. Her long blonde hair fanning out behind her like a train of gold as the lavender scented water soaked her war weary body.

"Well. Looks like you had fun last night."

She looked to see Malico come to sit across from the soaking blonde. The sexy catgirl's tail was flicking back and forth with curiosity.

"Come on girl, spill! What was he like?"

Kaori smiled widely.

"Kind and gentle. I loved it."

Malico was filled with such joy for the two lovers, and rushed to hug Kaori tightly as the two girls celebrated their love. Then the wife came in with shampoo, a comb, and a stool.

"Yer boy asked me to aid with that golden crown of yours."

Kaori smiled as she took her seat on the stool. The older lady was chuckling as she ran the comb through Kaori's tresses.

"Now you my girl, have found yourself a good lad in that man. I suppose he IS a man now."

Kaori and Malico giggled.

"he is indeed, miss. I wonder how the next time will be?"

Tyler was sitting at the table looking at the map, planning the next leg of their journey with Wulf right beside him.

"I really wanna get going again."

Wulf smiled as he could see the longing for the road in the man's eyes.

"My sister has a request."

"She wants us to take Lily?"

HE sighed.

"I told her it's not a good idea, but you know what she said?"

"I didn't raise no Coward! Or, I didn't raise no helpless damsel in distress!"

Wulf laughed.

"She said BOTH, in the same breath."

"Well. Alright then. We'll ask Lily herself if she wants to come, and get her to agree to my rules. Just for the sake of fairness."

"We'll train her ourselves, right?"

"Kinda scared to, but yes we will."

The men both laughed, as they both loved the ferocious little elf girl. Kaori and Malico came out next, Kaori in her riding leathers with her golden hair in its usual ponytail to join the men.

"How it looking commander?"

Tyler smiled as she sat beside him.

"I'd like to leave by noon. We'll look around a bit, I'd like to grab a refill on arrows, some burn spells, maybe a few new brown healing spells, and a Remedy, and Holy Relief for all."

Wulf thought for a moment.

"We have smiths here that can make 10 full quivers of arrows from a shield sized lisk scale in two hours."

"Dwarves maybe the best all-round smiths out there, but NOTHING tops the elves when it comes to arrows. Okay, we'll wait for the rest of the party, I'll drop off a scale, visit the magic shops, and get Lily a hidden chainmail vest."

Kaori and Malico looked at each other.

"Wow. I have a serious competitor now."

"we'll sleep easier now!"

Tyler smiled as he looked through the leftover scales from the Lisk.

"Okay, we still have several hundred scales of the kind I gave Tolic. Good. Coin, well, we're set for life."

Wulf snorted.

"We have enough for SEVERAL lifetimes."

"Overprepared."

That made them all chuckle as Lillia, Sera and Lily came down to join the table. Lily marched straight for kaori and climbed up to look the now nervous girl in her eyes.

"You better teach him well. If he sucks at it by the time I get him, I'll blame YOU!"

Sera was getting a hug off Tyler as kaori gulped.

"I'll teach him well, Lily, never you worry."

"Okay. Good. You may keep him."

"Great. And I was just missing my feeling like a dog."

Lily just plopped herself beside him, and looked at the map.

"So. I'm going with you."

"Kinda figured. You know the rules."

"And agree. So, what's next?"

Tyler patted the small girl's head.

"Next, is after our party is fed and briefed, we'll take you to get properly outfitted for the road. A hidden vest, bow, arrows, a sword and extra daggers."

She nodded.

"A short sword will be perfect for me."

"And we'll all teach you like Sera and Lillia."

"Well DUH! I'm great, but still green."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me. What's your path, Lily?"

"Red."

"Explains the fire. Kaori's a red as well."

"I would expect nothing less from my rival."

Lucy and Thistle appeared next.

"Morning ladies. Get fed."

The blood elf and the Barbarian took seats as Tyler looked at them.

"Thistle, what path are you?"

She smiled, showing off her pointed teeth.

"Red/steel."

Tyler tilted his head.

"What's steel's thing?"

"It revolves around heavy offensive magics. Like weapon enhancements."

"Wow, combine that with your natural ferocity, suddenly the blood dancer makes a lot of sense."

That got a smile.

"Okay, only one not accounted for is Vixen."

"Right here."

The robed black mage sat down. Now that the party was accounted for, Tyler laid out the day's plan.

"Okay. Lily's joined our crew. So, I'll be taking her to get outfitted by a smith. While's she's getting kitted out, I want you all to scour the shops for useful skills and spells. Of note are remedy, Holy relief, and burn spells, along with antidotes. I want to be back on the road by noon, or just after by the latest."

Thistle was looking at the map.

"We'll need a set of detection skills as well. That's Wraith bear country."

"Agreed, but as I'm in the lead, if they are ahead of us, I'll see them. Check out these numbers."

He showed her Perception, willpower, and Mental fortitude, and she sighed.

"Been centuries since I've seen numbers of that caliber. It explains how you rallied the others so easily and can manipulate a demon."

Tyler smiled.

"We all started somewhere. Now, we also bait bandit attacks on the road. Rules for that is a single survivor for interrogation."

Thistle and Lucy smiled.

"Aye, lad. I can do that."

"I love fighting bandits. Easy blood and better target practice."

Tyler rolled the map up.

"Alright. We have our plan. Break!"

The Outcasts went to their tasks with eager efficiency. Tyler brought Lily to go see a smith. The fierce girl leading him along through the town line.

"Hail! Outcast!"

"Hail!"

Tyler smiled as he looked to Lily.

"feels nice, getting hailed on the street. Still feels weird though."

The small girl laughed.

"You'll get used to it. Though tis a strange thing to get hailed by those you've never met before."

"Indeed tis. But a good strange."

They walked along the road to a large red bricked shop with a chimney belching out smoke from it's mouth. The front was an open air market with various racks of weapons and armor neatly displayed upon them. Tyler sighted a jade green bow, and tilted his head.

"Is that a green path bow, Lily?"

She looked and smiled.

"Indeed it is. Made of the scales of a green drakolisk and infused with Magicite."

"Nice. Malico gets an upgrade."

Tyler lifted the weapon and brought to the counter as a tall, burly elven lady appeared in the window.

"Welcome to Willow's smithy, lad. I sincerely hope you can pay, and not here for charity."

Tyler snorted.

"Charity? That's too expensive."

That got a laugh as he clasped hands with the smith mountain elf.

"I see you're as fiery as Lily says."

"I DO breathe fire."

The mother to Lily smiled fondly as Lily walked in to hug her.

"I'm going with em Momma."

willow lifted the girl up and sat her on the counter.

"So. You here to outfit me girl?"

"Yup. We'd like to be out that gate by noon, or early evening the latest."

She snorted.

"Aye lad. Anything special?"

"A mail vest to be hidden under her clothes, a bow, a short sword, and arrows. Red drakolisk scales are the base material."

She lifted a brow.

"I'm afraid I don't have the scales you seek."

"It's okay. I do."

He reached into a pouch and placed four more scales on the counter. Willow and Lily looked at each other shocked.

"No WONDER that demon was so easy for him!"

"See, momma? I TOLD you he was strong!"

Willow hugged her fierce girl. Then she looked at the scales.

"I see quality matters."

"We're putting our lives in this gear. Yeah, kinda is."

"An Arrows with the leftovers."

"Indeed. Oh, and I'll be taking this bow as well."

HE laid the green bow on the counter. Willow narrowed her eyes.

"All told. 450 gold, 55 silver, 32 copper."

Tyler reached into a pouch, without hesitating, and placed 451 gold on the counter.

"I hate math."

Willow and Lily looked at each other again. Then Willow smiled.

"I see you found it's trove."

"Like I told Tolic. Dragonkin and shiny stuff go hand in hand. Yer an idiot if you fergit THAT basic tenet of adventuring."

Willow smiled as she placed the money in a pouch.

"Well said, and well earned. Okay, I'll keep Lily here to aid the forge."

"She smiths?"

Lily smiled proudly.

"I'm okay. Still learning."

"Can you do field Smithing?"

She looked at him.

"Yeah, I can. Why?"

"Sweet. We got ourselves a camp smith. We need arrow heads or other simple gear, Lily, if we provide the metal, think you can handle it?"

Willow was smiling with pride as a the town Hero looked to her daughter's own impressive skills for aiding his party.

"I should. Depends on a lot though."

"We'll need to see in the moment?"

"Exactly. Too many factors to plan for: fire temp, location, metals available, tools to work with. You get the picture."

"Far as tools are concerned, we got a decent tool pouch, so, after this, we'll go load up on what you'd need."

"I see that mantra of overprepared is more way of life. I got my own set of tools here."

"Well, always figured you'd use me as a pack mule."

"And part time horse."

"Wow, Lily, nice to see YOUR intentions."

That got a snort from Willow as Lily just smirked at him.

"Like I keep saying. You WILL be mine when the time comes."

Tyler looked to Willow.

"She's a fierce little wildcat and no mistake."

"I didn't raise no spineless coward."

"Damn right ya didn't. Okay, Lily, where's your tools?"

They left Willow to her work as the pair went to Lily's own small assortment of tools and equipment. Willow was smiling as she saw Lily place her chosen things in a sack and make Tyler carry it.

"Me girl, you found yourself a great one. This land is going to tremble in fear when THAT party rides out."

Tyler carried the small girl's tool sack to where Kaori was looking around an open-air goods store.

"Hey, Kaori. Lily here's a field smith. I got her tools here."

The blonde smiled widely as she added the sack to her pouch.

"We even have a smith now."

HE smiled as he saw her looking at some seasonings.

"See anything we can use?"

"Salt, thyme, and some others for the meat."

"Get what you think we'd use or like."

"On it."

Lily had been left with Willow, so Tyler did the rounds. He next found Lucy the blonde barbarian looking at two handed Certificates.

"Anything useful?"

Lucy was looking at two.

"Aye, this be Rock Smash. Doubles the strength on a two handed swing with half the effort. The other is Scythe. Adds a bit of air to the edge of a two-handed weapon for extra cutting power."

"I'll grab a rock smash as well, since Gleipnir's a bastard sword, both one hand and two hand skills work on it."

Lucy looked at him.

"Do we have the coin for such a purchase?"

He gestured to his ear, and when she leaned in.

"We have over 6000 gold, Lucy. NOT including the mass of gems we're sitting on as well."

Lucy was shocked.

"where'd you come by such a thing?"

"See, the thing about Drakolisks? They like shiny stuff. We found its trove."

She understood then.

"I see. So THAT'S why you carry the coin pouch."

"Yup. Anything else you saw?"

She looked to a pouch on the wall.

"That's a spear pouch for throwin. Holds a hundred hafts."

"Nifty."

Tyler took the thing down and added a set of the two hand skills to the pile. Total? 2 gold. Now that Lucy was set, the next one he found was Malico in a magic shop looking at a green spell book.

"Hiya kittycat. Got a present for ya."

She looked up as he pulled the green bow off his back. She smiled and hugged him.

"Awww thank you!"

She held the thing, and it shimmered with the green of a deep pond. Tyler also handed her the book.

"Anything useful in there?"

Malico shouldered her new bow.

"Most actually. Only one that's not is an a duplicate of a green poison I have."

"We'll give to another of our crew then."

She hugged him, and he could feel her large breasts pressing into his chest.

"So you know, I'll be having a chat with Kaori later."

"Now I'm both scared and curious."

She let him go as he spotted a book of white on the shelf. He took it down, and started flipping through.

"Okay, another Holy relief, Remedy, nifty. Okay, Esunge? Heals Curse, Poison, paralysis, burns, and treats illness. Nice. Holy Smite. Effective anti-undead spell similar in nature to a fireball. Power depends on caster's magic and Path power. Kills lesser undead outright. Okay, needed badly. This woulda made that greater Lich so much easier. Last is Divine retribution? Okay, costs 150 mana, creates a barrier 150 meters in diameter, and blocks hostile magic until is fully charged, once charge is complete, all the hostile magics are launched outward in a white blast augmented by the caster's magic and path power. Useful for last stands and clearing out masses of undead in a hurry. Yeah. That's a doozy."

He closed the book, the spotted a brown as well. HE smiled as he thought of Juniper and lifted it down.

"Okay. Nature's protection. A barrier that repels hostile animals. Neat. Natural restoration, heals an animal's wound and infections up to near death. Shares a path with White. Cool. Nullify. Okay, renders hostile magic within a woodland useless within a set area while also preserving the caster's own. Useful. Okay this too."

Malico tilted her head curiously.

"I don't think any of us are brown path though."

"Lucy's a dual pather with brown."

"Oh, right. I forgot."

Tyler smiled as he laid their books on the counter, and handed 5 gold for the books. He went to leave when he spotted a black book on a high shelf.

"Hey, Malico. Got a black book."

The cat lifted it down, as Tyler poked it, only to get a mild burn.

"Okay, these are all really nasty offensive spells, most deal with either painful deaths or hard acids."

"Any bans?"

She flipped.

"Hmmm, no. Just some really mean spells."

"Vixen can use it then."

an extra two gold later, Tyler had the book wrapped in a cloth to prevent burns. He found the black mage looking at a set of potions in a shop.

"Hey, Goth. Got something you might like."

The pale skinned beauty looked as he passed the clothed book.

"I see these burned you."

"No banned spells, just really mean ones."

The mage flipped through, and her smile grew wide as she saw the spells.

"A very good find. Some of these are very rare indeed."

He hugged her.

"Can't let the only non-evil black mage get left behind."

she smiled as she placed it under her robes.

"I found a potion pouch."

"How many it hold?"

"150 potions."

"Nice to see my fox is on it."

She smiled as she got the pouch and a set of antidotes. The next one he found was Thistle looking over her own axe. The thing was a beautiful weapon with grooves cut into the four foot head. The blades were shaped in a most curious heart shape, yet Tyler knew to get hit with that thing was a death sentence. He smiled as he greeted the blood elf.

"Hiya Thistle. How it swinging?"

She snorted as she hefted her weapon.

"Just fine. I found a new set of Certificates, Wulf has them on the pile to be paid for."

"Nice. I added Rock Smash to my arsenal."

She laughed.

"With YOUR strength, that's a scary thought."

"Way to make a damned point."

"Aye, it is at that."

She pulled a stone and ran it along her blades, making it sing with the rasp of steel.

"You have a horse?"

The blood elf smiled.

"I do. She arrived this morning."

"Well, alright."

Tyler left the elf to her work as he next found Sera and Lillia looking over bow Skills.

"Hiya Ladies. Anything useful?"

Sera had a Certificate.

"This could be useful."

"Piercing Blast? Okay, uses strength and arrow material to pierce enemy armor. Most effective on scaled foes. Good find. Always a good idea to have armor piercing skills."

Lillia passed him a enhancement spell.

"Okay, red. Coats an arrowhead in a flame that detonates on impact. Force of the blast is dictated by bow strength, path power, Magic and strength. Okay, we're loading our reds up with this one. Good find Lilia."

She smiled happily.

"Glad I found something."

He then found Wulf with a small pile of supplies at a stall.

"How's it looking?"

The elven ranger crossed his arms.

"We got new seasonings, a new patching kit for rips in clothing, I found a better fletching kit than the one you had, new bait for the rod, an extra rod and line, more line and hooks, some reusable matches, a new wood axe as the one we had was chipping pretty badly, and a pickaxe for that Mine skill you have."

Tyler whistled.

"Nice. Honestly? I didn't really consider just how I was gonna get the stone out."

Wulf laughed.

"Knowing you? You'd use your bare hands to mine rock."

"Sadly, you're not wrong. Lily's with Willow getting kitted out. Girl's a field smith, so we got that."

Wulf smiled proudly.

"Willow's a fierce one, ain't she?"

"Indeed she is. Curious how Tatiana got made queen."

Wulf chuckled.

"Willow and I wanted no part of the crown. I was already a ranger, and Willow loves the sound of metal under a hammer."

"Wildbow though? Seriously?"

Wulf cracked up laughing at that.

"My sister lacks imagination."

"Clearly."

Tyler paid for the supplies and loaded the gear on the horses. As he did, a runner came over.

"Outcast!"

Tyler looked to the boy.

"Aye, lad."

The boy smiled as he relayed his message.

"The smith Willow has completed your order sir!"

Tyler gave him ten silver.

"Good lad!"

The boy got a pat before he ran off to his next task. The Outcast went to Willow's smithy, and found Lily in her deer skin gown and rabbit leg warmers with her new short sword, bow, and daggers belted on her frame. Her sword hilt over her right shoulder like his was. Willow smiled as he patted the girl affectionately.

"Me girl looks like a proper adventurer now."

Tyler smiled as he placed an extra 50 gold on the counter.

"Nice to see good smiths are more in number then I first feared."

Willow just smiled at the shrewd gesture. She then lifted up 4 full quivers of 50 shafts of lisk scale shafts into view.

"Your arrows as well."

Tyler slung them over his back as Lily was looking at a dagger on her belt.

"Well, Lily, we're heading out soon."

She walked over and hugged her mother.

"I love you, Momma."

"I love you to, Lily. Now you go make those poor bastards cry!"

The mother and daughter parted before Tyler took lily's hand in his and they left the smithy. Willow smiling widely as a single tear fell at her daughter's departure.

"Aye me girl. You finally get your own adventure. You go give that blonde beauty a run fer her boy!"

Lily had a sad look of her face as they returned to the readying to depart group.

"You okay?"

Lily smiled as she hugged him.

"Yeah. Just a little sad to leave home."

Tyler smiled as he lifted her up and set her on Wulf's horse.

"At least we got Wulf. Not sure why, but we got him."

Lily giggled.

"I was wondering the same thing!"

Wulf just sighed.

"Great, I get to be bullied by both my niece AND him."

Tyler patted the girl's leg as he saw Thistle's horse was nearly as blood red as she was.

"A blood mare. Nice."

The blood dancing smirked as he passed her.

"And she be a fierce one at that!"

Lucy was on a massive beast that even made Thunder look small. The brown horse had white featherings on his hooves, and a long swishing tail.

"You get your book?"

The Barbarian smiled.

"Indeed lad. A wise call."

Tyler swung up onto Thunder with Kaori on his right and Malico on his left. Once settled, he smiled.

"Outcasts! Move out!"

The morning air was then filled with the thunder of hooves as the party tore out the town gate. As they exited the gate, a mass of blaring trumpets were heard.

"HAIL THE OUTCASTS!"

"HAIL!"

The entire city had turned out atop the walls to see their saviors ride out to their next destination, Cragspire. The Capital of the elven kingdom. Tyler was smiling as he spotted a familiar three foot tall squirrel with the small girl both waving in farewell as he passed. He smiled in farewell as he tossed an extra walnut to the Guide. Kaori seeing the pair as well, and feeling the joy in her heart for the girl's spirit. The party left a dust cloud behind as the city of TopLeaf waved farewell to the ones that had rode into town with word of an army, and the smashed that army without losing a man, And the pile of bodies still blazing merrily as the corpses burned, And a three foot tall squirrel watched them leave with a small girl beside it, gnawing on the walnut the Outcast had tossed it.

The party had a flat road ahead, and so rode at an easy gallop, as Sera and Lillia had gotten comfortable in riding at speed. It was a two day trip to the capital, so they were eager to get as far as they could. Tyler in the lead as always with his extreme perception clearing the trail ahead, with Kaori to his right, Malico his left, Sera and Lillia behind them, Vixen on the side, Lucy the other, Thistle behind the princesses, and Wulf and Lily trailing. They made great progress, and by the time they made their first stop for both lunch and give the horses a breather, they'd gone a solid quarter of the way. They chose a small semi-circle of rocks four feet tall, with the horses concealed by a taller wall to the right. Sera and Lily sat with their backs against the rock wall as a precaution against anything. Tyler could see the road from his spot as they partook of apples and sandwiches. The leader of the party opened the map again and looked it over again as they rested. Lucy and Thistle looked at each other before looking to kaori.

"We've only been riding a few hours. Why's he looking it over like he's planning a fresh trip?"

Kaori smiled.

"He'll look it over every time we stop, make camp or if he feels like it. He's rerunning through everything a hundred times. He'll keep at it until we're well an passed the place we're headed."

Thistle was impressed.

"Wow. Lad thinks ahead."

Lucy smiled as she remembered something.

"Lass, you said there were thinks we needed to be brought up to speed on."

Kaori nodded.

"Tyler, if you'd do it."

Tyler looked around to double check no one was around, before looking to his party.

"Okay. Myself, Kaori and Malico found Vernillionia's body. We have his crown, ring, and last will. Gleipnir was his sword, Fenrir."

Lily, Lillia, Sera, Lucy, and Thistle all jumped hard at the news. Then Lillia nodded.

"A VERY well kept secret backup plan in the event of a royal decree."

Tyler smiled.

"If push comes to shove, we overthrow the kingdom, and set up Kazuma as high king with these."

Lucy and Thistle were impressed.

"To think a lad of fifteen years can think out a strategy for such a find like that, and NOT get consumed by it."

"Indeed. I'll admit it that if it had been me that had found the king's resting place, I'd would be very hard-pressed to not lose myself in it."

Sera tilted her head.

"So, you could become a king at will? And you're giving it to Kazuma? I thought you hated puppets?"

Tyler smiled at the thoughtful girl.

"I do, Sera. Kazuma's no puppet. Nor an idiot. If we play this card on him, he'll see it as a last resort and nothing more. Dude's Kaori's brother and a friend of mine. Long as she's safe and happy, he's happy."

Lily shrugged.

"there goes my fantasy of being a queen."

That got a laugh. Then Tyler crossed his arms.

"The only other thing, is something even MORE precious, and DOES NOT get spoken of outside our group. Understood?"

They all nodded. Then he smiled.

"I have a special ability. Called Demon's Wrath. Can be used once a day for 14 minutes now. When active, ALL my stats get boosted by a hundred, spells cost nothing, and do not require a chant. Once it runs out, I'm exhausted for a period of 5 minutes. Oh, and cast spells are twice as powerful. So there's that."

Lucy, Sera, Lillia, Lily and Thistle all looked at him.

"How'd you get such a power?"

Tyler sighed and lifted his shirt and mail to show his scars.

"In my world, my mind spilt between me, and another personality. It was called The Monster. A personality of pure hate, pain, and rage. It was created to help me cope with the pain I lived with on a daily basis. When I came here, the thing was slowly killing me due to the sheer mental strain it took to keep it restrained. Well, I don't need something of that evil to protect myself anymore. What I needed now was a shield to protect the ones I love. So, me and IT merged into what you see before you. Demon's Wrath was the skill I gained upon doing so."

The girls all sighed.

"A very well hidden ace up the sleeve."

"Indeed. He's scary enough WITHOUT it."

"It explains a lot though."

"He's just awesome."

"And MINE."

The group chuckled as Lily restaked her claim. Tyler was sharpening a dagger when the sound of horse hooves were heard approaching their spot. The party tensed as Tyler poked his head to look. A horse drawn cart driven by a man and women were approaching from further up the road. Tyler smiled.

"Looks like a couple headed to town. I'll get their attention."

Tyler stood up, and walked into view by the road.

"Hail!"

The man was another mountain elf in a farmer's overalls with a dress-clad wife in bonnet. At Tyler's appearance from behind the rock, the man pulled a dagger as he slowed.

"Be ye friend or foe?"

"Friend as long as ye be friend."

The man sheathed his blade.

"I be friend to those that be me friend."

Tyler chuckled.

"I be Tyler the Outcast. Me party's over there."

The man's eyes went wide as he saw the gathered fighters behind the rock.

"By the gods. The Outcast himself. An honor to meet ya great one."

"Call me Tyler. How's the road look ahead?"

The man sighed.

"A group of bandits are scoping out the road. Had the give the black guards ten silver to get passed!"

Tyler flipped him a gold.

"Thanks. We'll go have some fun then."

The man's eyes lit up at the sight of the gold.

"Thankee kindly lad. I see the stories about your generosity is not mere tales."

"Take care. You too, miss."

The elf wife tipped her bonnet as they rode off. Tyler looked to his party.

"Let's go make a mess."

They all mounted up, and Tyler explained his method.

"we ignore our surroundings. That way, they cannot resist the chance. Lily, get on Sera's horse. It'll look like we got children as well."

Thistle smiled darkly.

"A most simple yet effective method. Was it yers?"

"Kaori's actually."

The blonde smiled sweetly.

"Leave to the lady to find a simpler solution to a problem."

That got a laugh from the ladies of the party. The group rode at a leisurely walk, as they chatted and bantered. Tyler was even flipping through a rather thick ring of Licenses, just to add that extra bit of allure. They passed through an area of rather tight woodlands, and Tyler noted the tell-tale shadows. He pulled a blue path dagger and was sharpening it, and started a jovial whistle which the party picked up on. Tyler smiled as a thick chain with razor sharp spikes was raised between two large rocks to the knees of Thunder.

"That's a decent trick."

Wulf was heard chuckling.

"A common tactic here."

Tyler waited patiently as thirty men appeared in front, with another twenty behind. Then a dwarf called out.

"Aight, this be a toll road. Fer you, 10 gold."

Tyler just smiled as he flipped his dagger into the dwarf's throat. Then he and his party went to it.

"Lily, this is ours."

The elf girl huffed, but put up her bow.

"Greedy. They're all so greedy."

Tyler had Thistle beside him as he swung Gleipnir and the blood elf wielding her axe, which she named Bloodsplitter. Tyler's sword was carving the fifteen to his left as he was back to back with the blood dancer.

"Too easy!"

Thistle was smiling as she slammed her axe into a pair of elves with shields.

"But fun!"

Wulf had Lucy and kaori helping him deal with the twenty behind them. Lucy roaring with every swing.

"Anahit!"

Kaori was making the air rain blood with her katana Dawn, as her sheer speed allowed her ten hits in the span it took the enemy to get 4. As Wulf merely swung his long sword he'd gotten from the Lich cave. Vixen was also active as well, as she used her acidic spells to kill the two enemy mages. Malico was shooting arrows from her new bow at would-be snipers in trees, as Sera fired into the opposite side of the road, as Lillia aided Malico. Lily was extremely miffed she didn't get to do anything except watch. She was watching the Warriors mop up, when a man grabbed her.

"Gotcha!"

He'd used a sneak skill to get past the Warriors, and was now trying to grab Lily. Only thing was.

"Momma didn't raise no Damsel!"

Lily pulled her own dagger and stabbed the man in the eye, before pulling her bow and shooting him in the heart as he had stepped back screaming in pain. The arrows impacted, and he dropped, with Lily nodding with satisfaction.

"See?"

She nocked another arrow, and noticed the road was quiet. She looked up to see the battle had been won, and they were all staring at her. She tilted her small head.

"What? Was he the designated survivor?"

Tyler and Thistle looked at each other as they kicked the man they'd spared.

"Well done Lily, I guess that's your spot now. Horse archer. Nice."

He and the rest of the party clapped in admiration for the ferocious girl and her kill. Then Tyler looked to Sera and Lillia.

"How'd you two do?"

Sera smiled.

"I got five!"

"Nice shootin. Lillia?"

She smiled as well.

"I got five as well."

Tyler noted something in her eyes.

"You okay?"

The princess smiled again, a little sadly.

"Just need to process I'm a killer now. Goblins and orcs are one thing. Men another entirely."

"We understand. You need a hug, give a holler."

"Will do."

Tyler nodded.

"Okay. You know the drill ladies."

he and Thistle looked to the cowering man as Tyler drew his Sgian Dao. Thistle looked at him.

"You mean to torture him?"

"We gotta find his camp, don't we?"

She understood what he'd meant by 'dark work'.

"We do indeed."

Tyler was smiling as he crouched to look the man in the eye.

"Where's your camp?"

He spit at him.

"Well. A fighter."

Tyler stabbed him in the knee, and the man groaned a little, but made no other sound. He was still glaring at him defiantly.

"I'll gladly take anything you can do to me, as that way I'll die a loyal man!"

"Hey, Lucy! Mind tossing me one o you spears?"

Lucy's throwing spears were shorter, and slightly thicker as her fist was also larger. She tossed him the weapon curiously.

"Pray tell, how will you make this one talk?"

"I'll shove the blunt end up his ass."

Kaori burst out laughing, like snorting, hard, as the entire party just looked at him in both shock and horror. The man included.

"What the hells be wrong with you boy?"

Tyler just smiled.

"Breaking a man's spirit is a world-wide sport in my world. We had any glass, I'd craft a tube of this thickness."

He picked a pebble three millimeters across, and showed it to the man.

"Once happy with it, I'd insert into the hole of your penis, and have Malico jump. You do the math."

He did, and shuddered, as did everyone except kaori. The blonde smiled darkly.

"Torture in our world is a sexual pastime as well. As in, people use torture as a sexual experience."

Tyler looked at the now trembling man.

"Back during my more…..evil run. I freely admit I dabbled."

"By dabbled, he means he studied torture methods for a period of two weeks. That man has all of our worlds most diabolical methods to hurt another in that head. Most of them DON'T kill the target, but they do scream a lot."

Tyler was leaning on the spear.

"Only question I have, is what to do to you?"

He smiled as he looked at the man, running all the possible options through his mind. The man gulped.

"Hey, we got any string?"

"We do. What' ya got in mind?"

"Well, see these rocks? Tie em to a length of string, then force the lot up his ass and RIP it out."

Another party wide shudder with the exception of kaori. She smiled.

"A classic for a reason."

"Hey, I wonder. Next time we're in town, Kaori, look for a cheeses grater. If I use my own field Smithing, I can make small tubes that feel like sandpaper."

"And up the pee hole they go on the end of strings."

"Could also make some good old fashioned salt water to throw on cuts."

"If we find lemons."

"Both. Okay, we're wasting daylight."

Tyler was whistling as he kicked the crippled man onto his stomach. He screamed as Tyler tore open his trousers and placed the blunt end of the spear haft on his cheek.

"Okay! I'll talk! Just get that thing from me rear!"

Tyler chuckled darkly.

"See? Once I get a hold of them, they talk. Always."

Tyler then looked the man in the eye.

"Where's your camp?"

The broken man pulled a map out.

"No chant."

"How many men?"

"Another fifty."

"Mages?"

"six. A black, a red, a green, and three yellow."

"Leader?"

"Molck."

"He have a bounty?"

"Probably. We don't really know much about him."

"Main features?"

"Wields a pike."

"Captives?"

"None."

Tyler smiled as he knocked him out and threw him aside. He then looked to his crew.

"Issues and complaints?"

Lucy sighed.

"Just promise to never turn that knife to us."

"I promise. You want this back?"

She held out her hand and replaced the spear in her pouch. Then Tyler opened the map, as Wulf and Thistle came to look at it. Both elves smiling as they saw it.

"You know that spot?"

"It's similar in nature to the hollow we stayed at with the cave. Only bigger."

"Indeed. The cave is also a decent source of red steel."

"Red steel?"

The blood elf smiled.

"Steel that boosts red pather power when forged into weapons and armour."

"Nice. We'll see if we can't get some. It's not too far. Okay, camp killers are, Vixen, Wulf, Kaori, Annnd, let's see."

He looked at his party,

"Sera."

The princess jumped, and so did the others. Kaori looked at him.

"You think she's ready for this?"

Tyler patted the girl's head.

"I do. She's proven herself to me three times now. The giant, screwed or not, she was ready to take that shot, the battle, she was eager and brave. Now the bandit raid. She's got five to her name, and I can see in her eyes she's fine. Plus She's got me right beside her."

Lillia hugged her sister.

"Make Mother proud."

Sera was smiling widely at having the Warrior's faith. Then they rode to a point near the camp. There they hitched as the raiders headed off. Lillia watching her younger sister keeping pace with the more experienced Warriors, Ranger, and black mage. Malico patted her back.

"She's got Tyler and Kaori the watch over her. Plus he believes in her."