Arad fell to the ground, gasping for air. He has gone over his stamina limits, and the assassin still escaped.
“Hoi! Are you okay?” The slave brought a jug of water and helped Arad sit, “Here, drink some water.”
Arad looked at the water. He wasn’t thirsty or hungry. He had already eaten from his stomach. ^I should drink, shouldn’t I?^ 𝒃𝙚𝙤𝙫𝒆𝒍．𝙘𝒐𝙢
Arad took the jug and gulped it down.
“Are you okay?” The slaver asked.
Arad looked at him. “I’m fine, don’t mind me.” He stood and looked at the sky, “The bastard ran away.”
The slaver smiled, “It doesn’t matter. You saved me and them.” He pointed at his slaves in the back.
Arad stood and cracked his neck. ^I healed my throat, but it still feels weird. I need to get back and ask Ginger about it.^
[If the assassin’s weapons were poisoned. Then the woman in the back won’t last long as well.]
Arad looked at the slaves in the back. They were helping the mother bandage her shoulder.
The slaver stood and looked at Arad. “I will get you a reward. Is there anything you can ask for?”
Arad glared at the slaver, “The assassin’s weapons might have been poisoned. Make sure she survives.” He looked back at the mother.
The slaver smiled, “I see. I will make sure you find her healthy.” The slaver rubbed his hands together with a giggle.
“She better be.” Arad walked away into the distance, and the slave rushed toward his slaves.
“Hey, you! Carry her to the nearest healer and then take her to eat.” He shouted and then rushed toward the carriage. “Karon! Oi, Karon!” He yelled, and a thin man jumped out.
“You lazy ass! You remained hiding inside the carriage?” He glared at him. “Slave number 37, go to the market and get her some new clothes. We’re dressing her up. Slave number 37.5 as well.”
“Heh? Why?” He gasped.
“You idiot didn’t see it. You were hiding like a damned rat!” CRACK! He hit the man with his cane. “That man who fought the assassin, I saw him with my own eyes!” He pointed toward the destroyed bridge and the broken wall.
“He’s young but strong!” The slaver looked at the sky, smiling. “My senses are tingling, that’s a young master, and one day he will be a force to reckon with!”
“Don’t tell me you intend to give her to him?” The man gasped.
“You only know how to hide like a rate and gasp like a little girl. Fucking bastard, hurry! And make sure the other slaves get enough food and clean clothes.” The slaver smiled, looking at the carriage.
“An unripe golden apple. Of course, I’m going to water it.” He smiled, jumping into his seat with excited steps.
****
Alcott walked out of the temple with Ginger. “You head back to the inn. I will go check with some other people.” He said with a smile.
Ginger smiled, “I see, so you don’t mind me biting.”
Alcott nodded with a firm face, “Only do what you need to do.” He patted her shoulder and walked downstairs.
After a few minutes of walking, he could feel a shadow chasing him. ^I was right. Connor’s men are on our asses.^
Alcott walked in the busy street, slowly reaching toward his sword as he slowed his breaths. He could hear them. The steps of someone chasing after him and stopping when he stops. Fifty meters in the back.
^They aren’t heavy. From the body shape, I would say a woman. And she’s carrying several metal weapons, two short swords, and five daggers. All poisoned.^ He started focusing on his ears and nose
Alcott was about to use echolocation like bats, and his nose was as sharp as dogs if not more.
^The faint smell of blood, it’s her. She had her period yesterday. Good! That means she can be irritated easily.^ Alcott smiled, taking a deep breath.
Thud! With a single twist of his ankle, his body jumped sideways and slid between the houses.
Soon after he hid there, a tiefling woman rushed in after him gasping for air. “Where did he go?” She looked around, “I’m sure I kept my presence hidden.”
“Looking for me?” Alcott said with a smile from the darkness.
“Did you see a kid with horns like me? I seem to have lost him.” The woman said with a scared face and tears in her eyes.
“A kid?” Alcott scratched his head with his left hand. While his right rested on his sword handle. “You whore been riding Connor for a while and had a kid? Shit, you don’t even know how to clean your stench.”
The tiefling woman blinked, “You…” CLING! Arad appeared behind her with his sword drawn.
“Fatal necklace. It won’t save you from me.” Alcott said, blood dripping from his sword.
“Heh!” The woman gasped. The necklace on her neck shattered and fell to the ground. The world around her spun rapidly, and she could see her headless body for a second before everything went black.
Alcott looked at the corpse, “I really can smell Connor on you, so I say you two were together last night. Truly disgusting, that feral dog.” He took all of her weapons and pouch and left.
Alcott could sense more than just presence or magic. He could hear and smell people around him, notice patterns in the sounds, and recognize smells to detect weakness.
He needed to enrage the assassin woman so she won’t activate her magical items. And he needed less than the blink of an eye to dispatch her once she lost her cool.
After that, Arad returned to the inn. He found Arad sitting with Ginger in the room, and she had the corpses of three men. And one alive and tied down.
“What?” Alcott gasped, “That bastard Connor! He sent four men after you and only a woman after me?”
“I only got one man after me,” Arad replied.
Ginger smiled, “Well, they fear the vampire lord Scarlett more than you.” she waved her hand with a smug face.
Ginger sighed, “That’s what I would love to say. But he probably wanted to capture me alive and use me as a hostage.”