The Town Of Tenby's Mark

The view of Tenby's Mark was cracked open like an egg in front of them. 

It was a narrow path that led to the entrance, and their way was covered with tall and bright trees; both sides of the path had sloppy and steep edges that led down to a massive ravine. The rabbits roamed outside the entrance, and the pigs roamed inside. Surprisingly, no birds were to be heard or seen, and for the Southerners, it was considered a bad omen. The rusted and crooked entrance gate was totally demolished, leaving it unmanned. Here and there were smoke and fire, signifying the sign of defeat. Tenby's Mark was never known to have had great warriors or soldiers to protect them, but many claimed to have sighted witches aimlessly roaming in the forest that was situated behind the town by a small lake. 

The south was probably the most peaceful side of the whole Realm. 

"Goodness." They all exhaled at the sight. 

Though they were a few meters away, they were all able to clearly see the iron mines that were dug inside the town. Many young men were in chains and covered in mud and blood. Women were being touched and whipped as they roamed naked, and the kids sat in corners with their eyes shut, crying out loud.

"It's the work of that creature." Erik was certain with his words; his fists were clenched, and his eyes flared in rage.

The nine of them looked at the atrocious state of the town and swallowed their saliva in absolute disgust.

"This is bad. Really bad." Yin spoke into the cool air. 

…

It has been years since Tara returned to Tenby's Mark, her hometown. All of a sudden, her entire body palpitated in a mix of emotions between fear and nervousness. She gave a glance to both her hands, and they were slightly shaking. She then placed her right hand on her chest and felt her heart racing against her will. Her eyes blurred.

"Are you okay?"

It was Colt's voice.

And her eyesight was back to normal.

Her hands stopped shaking.

"Um… Yeah. All good." She responded with a timid and soft tone.

"You don't seem like it." Colt fought against her assurance.

"You're sweatin' like a pig." He added. 

"Not really." 

She was. If anything, she was worried about her odor slipping into everyone's nostrils, so she smacked the leashes of her horse and trotted in front of everyone.

And they all followed her.

...

The nine of them tied their horses outside before entering.

As they got closer to the rusted and crooked gate, they could see hundreds of dead bodies piled on top of each other. The severed limbs of humans were tossed here and there like waste and throwaways. Men, women, little kids, and even animals. The remaining were chained and tied together on a long wooden pole. 

The ones who were dead looked hauntingly alive, and the ones who breathed wished they didn't. 

There was dread in their eyes. 

It was real horror.

A bloodshed. 

"Please do not hurt us!" A lady from the roped crowd pleaded.

It showed that they were in a state of despair. 

"Please! Don't hurt us!" They all begged together. 

"Where ya'll cocksuckers from?" 

A knight heard the plea and intervened in their contact.

"We come from East to meet your leader." Yin informed firmly.

"Hold on! Isn't that Lars? The bastard who ran away with the ring... Woah, woah, woah... Hold on! You must be them fuckers! The God-boy! The white-haired bitch! We received the news from one of our riders yesterday! You're them fuckers who killed Lord Jaquer three days ago! You all are dead meat!" The knight ended his furious speech with a threat.

"We have not come here to fight. If anything, we're outnumbered." Yin tried to calm the situation. 

"Nah! My knights! Gather around me and get ready to feast on these fuckers!" The knight commanded.

As he said so, around twenty knights gathered around him and prepared their stances for combat. 

"Wait! Isn't that Tara?" The lady from the crowd announced loudly. 

"Indeed, the lost girl!" 

"Where have you been all these years?"

"She was alive all along." 

The crowd murmured.

"Shut ya filthy asses up! Or we'll dice you all like your fellow townsmen." The knight threatened as he pointed his sword at the pile of dead corpses.

…

"Stop!" 

Yin and the others searched for the voice, looking in front of them, but it came from their side.

It was Erik River.

He had been hiding behind Yin's body.

"We are here to see that cunt, Arega! Erik spoke fearlessly; his stance was firm, his body was straight, and his fists were clenched. 

"O my! Today's going to be Lord Arega's most special day!" The knights burst out laughing, destroying their lungs at Erik's bravery. 

Erik pressed his teeth in anger.

"Ah, he is going to love me for informing him about you!" The knight said,.

"Take us to him. We're here to talk." Yin ordered.

The knights turned around and led the way. 

The crowd stared at the nine of them as they walked by.

"Where is he?" Yin asked.

"Lord Arega picked a sizzling and fine young girl. He's with her in that hut." The knight pointed at a decent-sized hut that was only a few steps away. 

"Her father tried to stop him. Hahaha! Poor bastard shoulda known that no one stops Lord Arega. No one can. He lost one of his fuckin' eyes for it! Hahaha! Shoulda just handed him his daughter when he asked for it! Hahaha! Arega turned the man's face into summin' funnier!" The knight laughed about it as if it were the funniest joke he had ever heard.

"The old man..." Yin and the others immediately reminded themselves.

The veins in Vegas's hand popped out visibly as she gripped Juno.

"I really don't blame her father for this! A feast like her should be hidden safely elsewhere! Unlucky bastard! Hahaha! I hope Lord Arega lets me mount her after he's done." The knight casually blurted his filthy intentions into the air. 

As they neared the hut, they were all able to hear a loud, pain-filled moan from inside the hut.

"Ah! What a hot cry!" The knight giggled.

They were finally standing outside the hut.

It didn't take long enough for the nine of them to realize that the whole wooden hut was shaking and that their vicinity was filled with the cries of the girl who was being tortured inside the hut. 

"Lemme go in and call upon Lord Arega." 

The nine of them waited outside. The other knights guarded, and the mouthy knight barged inside with an evil grin that drooled in excitement. 

The hut immediately stopped shaking.

And there was silence.

Yin looked back at his friends, confused and eager.

Erik swallowed his last bit of saliva, rendering his tongue dry.

Vegas and Tara scanned around the places while they stood.

Lars and the swordsmen waited with raging fumes in their eyes.

…

"AHHHHHHH!" It was the scream of the girl from inside the hut.

As soon as the girl's scream stopped.

A lifeless body was flung out from the inside, breaking through the door.

It was the mouthy knight's body.

…

They all looked down.

The body had no head.

Before they could comprehend.

His ripped-out head was also flung out the door.

He then threw the girl outside. 

She was completely naked but alive.

With deep red bruises all over her fair skin. Her face was smudged with dried tears and blood. She was all sweaty and dirty, and her blond hair looked like it was greased.

…

"How bloody dare you barge into the room! And ask me for my whore on top of that!" 

An intense, baritone voice was heard from the broken front door, slowly fading in.

A really tall shadow appeared.

Really tall.

Taller than Yin.

"Yin. That's him. The monster." Erik notified as he fought back tears.

Arega emerged from the darkness and stepped out into the sunlight.