15. A New Home (Conclusion)

Novum ran around the house far enough to be out of sight of the archer and stopped. He had his shield ready and waited hoping that the man would follow him all the way around. A few seconds later the man came around the corner at a dead run and barely managed to stop before he ran into Novum who was waiting. The man realized what he had done and thought about running far enough away that he had support but he knew that he would not make it that far.

The man gripped his sword with both hands and got ready for a fight. He had only seen a small part of Novum's movements and he thought the could beat him with speed so he quickly moved in and attacked as hard as he could. The problem that he ran into was that with the heavy armor that Novum wore he still had just enough mobility to make sure that he always hit him in an armored spot that did not do any damage. After just two exchanges he already knew that without the archer's help he would be done for.

Novum let his body react on instinct and block and shift the blows enough that they did not do any damage while he waited for an opening. Then he saw an opening in the style and an easy counter. He just had to make the man attack him like that again. Novum used the same pattern as last time and the man reacted just the same. The opening was still there so he took it. It was not a move aimed to kill but one designed to slow his opponent. That was when he saw the tip of his opponents sword coming in at a way that told him he had been set up. The opening was fake.

The mercenary knew that this man would not hesitate to take an opening at a leg or foot or anything for that matter. He was willing to wound you until he could kill you. He would not wait for that killing opportunity, he would create it. He did not want to do it since it would hurt but he created an opening in his defense for Novum to take care of. It would be to his leg but he had a couple of potions as well as enough money for a good healer. When Novum did not take it the first time he was worried but then he saw his fighting pattern and knew that he had seen it to late last time and would attack this time. He tried not to grin as the opening was there and his opponent took the bait. The tip of his sword was going straight for the neck when suddenly the pain in his leg exploded and all he could see was white as his body locked up from the pain.

Novum knew that the sword coming for his neck would be fatal and that he could not do anything with his sword or his shield but that did not mean that he couldn't do anything. Instead of pulling the sword out to try and block his opponent's sword Novum pushed forward and pushed his sword deeper. And then he used all of the strength that he could find and twisted the sword and tore it out of the man's leg sideways. Right before the sword hit the man's entire body locked up from the pain and it appeared that even his mind shut down. The blood squirting out of the man's leg only pumped a few times and then it started just seeping out.

Novum had wanted to ask the man a few questions but it was to late for that. Now it was decision time, did he go back the way he came hoping that the pervert went the other way to surround him or did he continue his run hoping that he followed along to keep a fighter between them. He was about to continue his run thinking the coward would want someone between them when he heard Fang start growling. Without even looking back Novum ran back that way that he came.

Once he was around the house he paused and crept up to the corner and peeked around quickly. He saw the pervert was looking at the stable with his crossbow loaded. He was looking for the pup since it had given him away. Novum saw the moment that he saw the pup because the crossbow came up. Without even thinking about it Novum sprinted around the corner of the house and started yelling before Jim could shoot Fang.

***************************

Jim saw the two men run around the corner of the house and cursed himself for using such dumb mercenaries. Of course they were the only ones that he could convince to work on commission. He thought quickly about his options and his opponent. If he followed his own man he would not have a clear shot but he would also have a body in between him and Novum and this seemed like a good idea. But if he went the other way he would have a clear shot at the man's back while he was distracted. This seemed like an even better option. This might also help him trick Novum who figured him for a weak coward who would hide behind his fighter he would be less likely to think he was here which would add to the surprise.

Jim debated for less that ten seconds and then ran the opposite way of the other two. He wanted the sneak shot at Novum's back. He got into position where he could see but did not have a clear shot and watched as the last mercenary died. He only needed a few more steps and then it would be over. He could see Novum looking around trying to figure out which way to go when suddenly he heard something growling from the direction of the stable. He looked that way for an instant but his target sprinted away at the sound.

Jim's blood was boiling and he was looking for what had warned Novum, he wanted it dead. He was scanning the area over and over again trying to find something. Then he saw a movement and recognized it as a wolf pup. The bastard said he killed them all. He pulled his crossbow to his shoulder and took aim at the pup. Before he could pull the trigger he heard a bellow and turned to see Novum running at him. He jerked the crossbow towards him and pulled the release. The bolt flew straight at the man who moved his shield up to block it. But the man moved his shield to fast and the bolt passed behind it and slammed into the man's upper arm. He smiled for an instant and then realized that the bolt was not going to stop the man or the sword headed straight for his neck.

**********************************************************

Novum saw the man hit the release and knew the rough area where the bolt was headed and moved to get his shield between him and the danger. He was not sure if he misjudged its speed or location but he moved his shield to far and the bolt hit him in the upper arm. His shield arm went limp but he did not slow down or lower his sword. The bolt did not hit anything vital so there was no reason to stop and treat the wound. He simply wanted this man dead.

Novum saw the smirk on the man's face as he shot him and then he saw as it was replaced by pure terror as he realized that one bolt was not going to stop him or his sword. With all of his momentum added to his strength and a very sharp sword the man's head came off with no effort at all. The lack of resistance almost made Novum stumble forward. He started to look around when he heard two pings and knew that all of the enemies were gone.

<Home Defense Quest complete - +2 to all combat related rolls while on property that you own.>

<You have reached level five.>

'Thank you system. System can you check my local knowledge skill and figure out the legal aspect of what just happened.'

<Leave bodies as the are. Retrieve city guard to witness the area and what happened. You keep anything that is on your property and can petition the mayor for further compensation.>

'Thank you system.' Novum pulled the bolt out of his arm and headed over to his bag and pulled out one of the potions that god picked out for him during creation. It was clearly labeled so he chugged a healing one down and was surprised when he could still feel a little blood seeping down his arm. He went ahead and drank a second one and was all better. He pulled out a piece of jerky and walked over to the stable. Fang was sitting in the door with his tail wagging. He handed Fang the jerky and he let him scratch him in the top of his head. "Thanks little friend I appreciate that."

Novum pulled out his saddle and Noctis came straight to him. He was happy as all get out right now from the room and fresh grass but he also knew that it was time to work. He held perfectly still and seemed almost happy to have some work to do. Novum opened the gate but did not even bother with the lead, once the saddle was on Noctis would not leave his side unless he tied him up.

Novum grabbed Fang's blanket and put it in the house and Fang followed along behind his blanket. When Novum dropped some meat he did not seem to concerned but he started whining as soon as the door was closed. He did not know how long it was going to be before his caretaker came back. He howled for a few and then thought about it and decided on a nap since the owner came back last time after he had a nap.

Novum rode up to the gate and the guard saw blood on his armor. "Are you okay citizen?"

"I had a potion so I am okay. I had five men attack my new home and I need a guard there as a witness. At least I think I am remembering that right."

"Five men and you are the one that came back." He pointed to one of the men. "You go and get a few horses. I will ride out with two of you and we will bring the bodies back for processing. By the order of the Duke anything and everything that they had on your property to include their animals is now your property. You can petition the mayor for anything else that you want when he returns. The church elder might have some questions for you under a truth candle to make it official but I figure he will wait until the mayor comes back to do that to save on candles."

"That is fine. Do you want to keep their possessions until the mayor gets back and that way there are no questions?"

"Honestly that is not a bad idea. But our stable does not have much room. Did they have horses?"

"Yes but those can stay at my place until a conclusion is reached. The first thing I repaired was the stable. Shit I slept there last night." The old guard laughed and Novum got a ping. He assumed that his reputation just changed but he did not want to focus on it right now. The young guards showed back up with the horses. The old guard seemed to be experienced and asked Novum, "is your property coined?"

"Yes sir it is."

"Then please let me know when we hit the edge." They took off towards his property and as requested Novum told him when they hit the line. They found the horses shortly there after and he took a through inventory of everything on the horses and even what was in the saddle bags. They rode the rest of the way to the house and stopped by the two bodies and the guard made a list for each man by name since he knew them and had the young guards wrap them in sheets so that they could not be seen. They continued to the house and did the other three bodies.

"Sir, thank you for alerting us to the situation and for holding the horses for us until we figure this out. Can't believe we have had six bodies in two days."

"Six bodies?" Novum tried to act surprised and his bluff roll must have been good since the man did not react.

"Another local was out here close and fell off his horse. Something must have startled it. Stomped on him and crushed his chest. Not a pretty sight. But that has nothing to do with what is going on here. We will send a runner out here once the mayor is back."

"Thank you gentleman have a nice evening." Novum watched them leave and then put all of the horses in the stable. Noctis immediately started paying attention to one of the mares. It appears she was in season and he was all for it. Novum just left them be. He was starving since he missed his lunch so after he let the pup out he cooked something a little heavier. It had been an interesting few days.

When they were gone he pulled up his character sheet and leveled up. Everything but the skill points were automatic and again he concentrated on his crafts and he made sure that his handle animal was maxed out, that would help with both Noctis and Fang. He was about to save the skills when he thought about the last few days. The system would reward him with free skill points for actions if he did them well. He shifted the points around a little and focused on things that would be harder to train.