"You? This pretty thing is actually a kidnapper?" Captain Benjamin laughed heartily. "Should I lock you up and wait for trial, according to the law?"

  "I said it's my child," Caroline Tobias replied icily. The infant was unbearably loud, tiny hands grasping frantically at her clothing. With reluctant resignation, Caroline pulled open her garment, exposing her breast. The baby latched onto the swollen brown nipple and quieted immediately, suckling with rhythmic contentment.

  The knight on the left ran his tongue across his lips. "That one's impossible to resist," the captain murmured to Orcss.

  "Esteemed knights, you've now confirmed our identities and intentions," Walin Barklo Vaslov said, perspiration beading across his forehead. "Might we be permitted to continue our journey? We have considerable distance yet to travel and, as you can see, even this infant grows restless." His smile remained fixed and artificial.

  "Alright... you can pass." Walin felt instant relief wash over him, turning to exhale deeply. "However... there is one condition." He realized his respite had been premature. "What's the condition?!" he asked, quickly putting on his professional smile.

  "The girl stays behind."

  "Pardon me," Jim Harad said, scratching his ear dubiously, "did I hear that correctly?"

  "Your hearing is impeccable, Mr. Harad," Captain Benjamin drawled, stretching each syllable deliberately. "The girl stays behind."

  "I'm afraid that's impossible," Walin Barklo Vaslov declared, his smile vanishing. "She survived the harrowing dangers of Crivi alongside us. We pledged to remain together—at least until we reach Duviliel. We have no need for noble knights such as yourselves to... attend to her needs."

  "Trust me, dwarf," the captain said dismissively, "you'll never cross the Kulen Mountain with this woman in tow. She will only impede your progress, especially with an infant to care for." He cast an appraising glance at Caroline. "She's just a refugee, not your family. Leave her with us; it's better for you."

  "Your concern is unnecessary, Captain," Fendi Firshield interjected opportunely. "We've encountered numerous perils on our journey thus far and prevailed. She is—an intelligent and nimble young woman," he glanced at her uneasily, "and has never burdened us during dangerous situations..."

  "Enough, dwarf," Benjamin raised his palm authoritatively. "I want her answer." Fixing his intimidating gaze on Caroline Tobias, his voice became commanding. "Choose, miss."

  Caroline Tobias met his stare unflinchingly. The atmosphere grew taut with tension. The girl released an almost imperceptible sigh before turning first to look at Fendi Firshield.

  "Miss..." His face betrayed profound anxiety and concern.

  Next, her eyes connected with Walin Barklo Vaslov's. "Refuse. You must refuse," he mouthed silently, a droplet of sweat trembling on the tip of his nose.

  Then to Jim Harad, who offered nothing but a subtle shake of his head.

  Finally, she regarded Holar Peter Wilton. Though they exchanged no words, her gaze lingered longest on him.

  At last, her decision crystallized. "Very well. I'll accompany you."

  Walin and Fendi erupted simultaneously. "Caroline! Are you crazy?!" Walin fumed with indignation while Fendi pleaded desperately, "Don't speak such nonsense, miss!"

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  "Excellent, excellent," the captain exclaimed triumphantly, his gauntleted hands producing sharp metallic clinks as he clapped. "Come along then, miss. I'll escort you to our camp and ensure you're well cared for." He barely suppressed a predatory grin. "Leave the horses for them. I wouldn't want these short-legged creatures struggling up the Kulen Mountain."

  "As you command, my lord." Caroline offered a submissive smile, carefully dismounting with the nursing infant cradled in her arms. Fendi extended his hand, but she pointedly ignored it.

  Captain Benjamin also dismounted. "Let me help you up, pretty lady," he said as Caroline approached. "Very well," she replied, standing before him and gazing upward. "But first, permit me to remove my hair ribbon."

  "Hair ribbon?"

  "Yes, precisely," she confirmed. With the infant secured in her left arm, she reached behind her head with her right hand. "Hair ribbon."

  Benjamin Livingston narrowed his eyes, noticing something peculiarly reflective about the ribbon.

  The next instant, his eyes widened in horrified realization. Caroline Tobias swung her arm with ferocious strength, slashing a nearly two-inch crimson gash across his exposed throat. Blood erupted outward in a violent spray, saturating her vision with red. The girl protected the infant with her left arm, preventing the child's world from being stained crimson. Milk-white innocence preserved amidst spraying scarlet.

  The Black Rider on the right drew his sword first, and died first. Holar Peter Wilton's axe soared through the air with deadly precision, as if he'd been anticipating this moment. The black double-bladed weapon severed the knight's carotid artery, nearly decapitating him. Jim Harad reacted a fraction slower, unsheathing his steel sword and spinning to slash the rear knight's right leg. His blade carved through the knee ligament, causing the knight to collapse to one knee, his drawn longsword now merely a prop for his failing body. That sword was soon complemented by another as Walin Barklo Vaslov drove his blade through the fallen man's throat with both hands. The knight positioned on the left reacted most sluggishly, glancing frantically about before fumbling for his weapon. Fendi Firshield terminated his confusion by embedding a steel-tipped arrow directly into his gaping mouth.

  Only one cloaked knight remained. Orcss grabbed Caroline's wrist, pulling her back as a human shield. "Drop it!" he snarled, spittle flying from his lips. "Drop the blade!" He wrenched her pale wrist viciously. "DROP IT!" Caroline's fingers reluctantly released their grip.

  "Release her," Fendi Firshield commanded, training his crossbow on the retreating Orcss. "Or I'll ensure you join your comrades with an arrow through your skull."

  Orcss twisted Caroline's arm painfully behind her back, extracting a stifled groan. "Stay exactly where you are, you diminutive bastards," he growled. Drawing an Arad Scimitar, he pressed the curved blade against her throat. "Make one move, and I'll open this bitch's neck."

  The dwarves froze in place.

  "Weapons down. Now."

  With reluctant deliberation, the dwarves lowered their armaments. Caroline Tobias compressed her lips, beginning to whimper softly. Large tears welled from her glass-brown eyes and streaked down her cheeks. Only Fendi maintained his crossbow's aim.

  "DROP IT! Are you deaf?!" the Black Rider bellowed furiously. Caroline's left hand clutched the infant's swaddling cloth tighter, her tears falling more rapidly, her breathing accelerating. Only the baby remained blissfully oblivious, contentedly nursing.

  "You idiot, you hopeless idiot," Orcss hissed, his mouth twitching erratically. "Do you truly believe you can kill me with a single shot? Before you could possibly reload, I'd have spilled this whore's blood across the forest floor..."

  His tirade ended in a strangled cry as a cedar-tipped arrow suddenly protruded from his mouth. Dark crimson blood trickled down the shaft, dripping onto Caroline's hair. "You were mistaken about two things, knight," Fendi Firshield pronounced coldly. "First, the only blood decorating the ground is yours, you piece of filth. Second," he tossed his crossbow carelessly to the earth, "we dwarves use repeating crossbows. One hundred percent dwarf-crafted."

  The Black Rider toppled backward while Caroline Tobias collapsed like a marionette with severed strings. Fendi rushed to support her. "Are you harmed, miss?" he inquired gently. The girl massaged her reddened wrist and shook her head silently.

  The infant began to wail. "Have you had your fill, little one?" the girl asked with a dazed smile, cradling and gently rocking the baby. "Miss Caroline," Walin Barklo Vaslov said in awe, "you're a damn... I mean, a true warrior."

  Caroline Tobias responded by softly singing a lullaby.

  "This young lady isn't merely a warrior; she's a brilliant tactician," Jim Harad observed with appreciative laughter. "Concealing a weapon in her hair! More cunning than you, Lord Walin."

  "It wasn't hidden in my hair," she corrected suddenly, raising her right hand. A blue-and-white velvet ribbon fluttered in the breeze, catching the golden sunlight.