Mercenary Little Death Bringer (20 page)

I pointed to the healer. “He just told me to
go fight.”

“Only because he knows you won’t listen.”

“So then why are you arguing?” I asked as I
pushed open the door and ran outside.

The archers were lined up along the top of
the gate and firing arrows as quickly as they could. I felt
excitement and reached down for the power that lived within me.
“Please, god and goddess assist me in killing these ogres.”

“
Your wish was fulfilled at your
birth.”
A male voice said inside my head.

“Oh no,” I whispered, “Now I’m going
crazy.”

“What?” Favian asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing, um, let’s go.” I
charged forward and ran right passed Macon and the Masters and out
the gate.

“Marin! You’re going to get killed!” Master
Sean yelled.

Favian ran out with me and yelled back, “Just
watch.”

I took a deep breath and faced the ogres who
had all stopped and turned to stare at me. “You are trespassing and
attacking a school. If you do not turn around and leave this
instant I will be forced to kill you all.”

“Leave some for me, okay?” Favian asked.

I smiled. “Just try and keep up.”

The strange fire filled me and I felt like a
new person. An ogre charged at me and I ducked his fist and punched
him in the stomach. He grunted and then growled angrily. Favian had
kept hold of my swords and belt while I was kidnapped so I had them
on now. I pulled my sword from my sheath and smiled. “I love my
job.” I sliced the ogre’s left arm off and then sliced open his
belly.

The remaining ogres bellowed in rage and I
ran into the swarm of them, slicing, dicing and decapitating ogres
around me. My blood churned with energy and excitement as I killed
again and again. I could see Favian near me having as much fun as I
was, but killing a third as fast as me. Was Lawrence right? Was I
something other than human?

I didn’t have time to think about it as the
three hundred ogres continued to advance towards me. I killed and
killed and killed and the wounds I had never bothered me. I felt so
good and it felt so right to be killing these ogres. After an hour
the ogres were all finally dead and I was able to stop and relax a
moment and observe my carnage.

Ogre bodies and pieces of ogre littered the
field in front of the gate. It was incredible and I almost didn’t
believe that I was the one that had done it. Favian walked towards
me and I took a step back from him. “I think he was right,” I
whispered, “I think Lawrence was right.”

I had told Favian every word of my
conversation with Lawrence so he knew exactly what I was talking
about. “He only said that stuff to you to get you riled up. Come
on, let’s get inside.”

“I can feel it inside me. I can feel this
other part, this incredibly strong and fierce side just waiting to
get freed. Killing these ogres opened it.”

“You’re talking gibberish now,” he said
softly as he moved closer to me.

“I need to figure out my destiny. I need to
find out why I’m here,” I whispered.

He grabbed my arms softly and said, “We will
figure it out together. Okay?” I nodded my head and he wrapped his
arms around me. “Let’s go inside.”

“Favian,” I whispered.

“Yes?”

“I’m going to faint again.”

He caught me as I started to fall and then
the world went black.

~~~~

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Falling unconscious was extremely irritating.
I had fainted more times in the past month than I ever wanted to
again in my life.

“Food,” I muttered as I woke up and opened my
eyes.

Favian leaned over me and said. “It’s about
time you woke up sleepyhead.” He was trying to be teasing, but I
could hear the concern in his voice.

“How long have I been asleep?” I asked as I
sat up.

“Three days.”

I looked around and realized I was in my dorm
and a second bed had been brought in and was right next to mine.
“Have you been sleeping in here?” I asked in shock.

“Of course. I couldn’t let you wake up
alone,” he said as he mixed something in a cup and then handed it
to me. “Mother said to have you drink this as soon as you woke
up.”

I took the cup and gulped it down. “Are they
here?” I asked.

He nodded his head. “They’re in the food hall
right now. It’s breakfast time.”

“Where’s the medallion?” I asked him.

“I gave it to Father who promised to have it
locked up in our most secure area so that none will ever be able to
use it against you again.”

I sighed in relief. At least that was one
thing I didn’t need to worry about anymore. My stomach growled
loudly and I rubbed it softly. “I need food.”

He stood up and held out his hand to help me
up. I started to get up and then I met his eyes. “I remember
killing the ogres,” I told him. “I also remember hearing a man’s
voice before the fight.”

He sat back down and asked, “What did he
say?”

“I had asked the god and goddess to assist me
in killing the ogres and a man’s voice said, ‘your wish was
fulfilled at your birth’. What the hell does that mean?”

He frowned in concentration and then
shrugged. “I’m not sure, but let’s keep the fact that you heard a
voice in your head quiet for now.”

I laughed. “Right.”

He stood back up and held out his hand again.
“Let’s go eat.”

I took his hand and let him pull me up, but
then kept hold of his hand and forced him to meet my eyes. “Was I
frightening?” I asked.

He gave me his serious face since he knew I
was being serious and met my gaze with his own. “No, you were
graceful and magnificent.”

I was shocked by his answer and didn’t know
what to say, but was saved when the door to my dorm opened and
Father stepped inside. “Marin!” he said happily, “I am so glad that
you’re awake! You had us worried sick.”

I stepped away from Favian and let Father
envelope me in a warm hug. “I’m sorry I worried you,” I
whispered.

“Do not apologize, daughter.”

I pulled back and asked, “Father, what do you
remember about when you found me?”

He sat down and sighed. “I had hoped to avoid
this subject for a long time and especially not right after you
regained consciousness.”

“Please, I must know.”

“When we found you, your family was dead,
killed by the ogres and yet there were five ogre bodies lying dead
on the ground beside your family. Kato and I watched in shock as a
little four year old girl used axes much too big for her to kill
the remaining ogre and then sat down and wept. You were four years
old and you had killed at least one ogre, but most likely more than
that. It was impossible and yet we had witnessed it. After the ogre
was dead you dropped the axes and started crying for your mother
and father. I dismounted and walked towards you and you ran to me,
wrapping your arms around my legs and asked for help. I fell in
love with you immediately and picked you up and held you the entire
ride back to the Elven Kingdom and ever since I have raised you as
my own daughter.”

“How could I kill an ogre at four years old?”
I asked.

“Humans do things every day that are
seemingly impossible,” he said, but I could see he was hiding
something.

“Did you ever regret taking me in?” I asked
him.

He hugged me again and kissed the top of my
head. “Never. Not even when you stole my horse or broke the one
thousand year old vase.” He tilted my chin up and met my eyes. “How
are you feeling?”

“I feel great, but I am starving and very
confused and nervous,” I answered him honestly.

He released me and said, “Well then you two
should be on your way. I’m off to talk with Macon.”

I kissed his cheek and walked out of my dorm
feeling slightly better now that I knew the truth of how he had
found me. However, it raised even more questions than it answered.
I had to be something other than human to have killed an ogre so
young or wielded axes, didn’t I?

Favian whispered something to Father and then
caught up to me as we walked to the food hall. Favian opened the
door and as soon as I stepped inside the mood in the hall shifted.
Some looked at me fearfully and then most of the hall stood up and
started clapping.

Master Martin walked up to me and patted me
on the back. “Well done.”

“Why if it isn’t the Little Death Bringer
herself,” Master Sean said.

Master Martin tapped his chin a moment and
then smiled. “That’s a perfect name for her. Everyone please show
your appreciation to the Little Death Bringer for saving us from
the ogres!”

“Woo! Death Bringer!” The group began
cheering.

I walked passed them all and up to the food
line. The chef handed me a plate piled high with meat and bread. “I
figured you’d be really hungry after using that much energy and
sleeping for so long.”

“Thank you,” I said seriously.

“Thank you,” he said, “You saved us all.”

“I’m sure the others could have defeated the
ogres,” I mumbled, feeling somewhat embarrassed by all of the
attention.

“Yes, but there would have been many injured
and possibly some killed,” he said as I walked away.

I walked to our table and sat down beside
Mother who leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You look much better
without the bruises.”

“Thank you.” I started eating and Favian sat
down across from me, giving me a smirk which meant he wanted to get
in trouble by doing something we weren’t supposed to do soon. That
made me smile since it had been a long time since we’d gotten in
trouble for doing something fun. Macon sat down at the table and I
asked him, “So, did I pass the final test?”

He smiled. “With flying colors.” He looked at
Favian. “You didn’t tell her?”

“I was going to wait until after we finished
eating,” he said.

“Tell me what?” I asked.

“The graduation ceremony is in two hours,”
Macon said.

I gaped at him in shock. “Two hours?!”

“Where is she?” a familiar voice asked from
the door of the food hall. I looked up to see Father’s guard
looking around with a bit of a frantic light in his eyes. Kato
finally spotted me and ran to me. He didn’t say a word until he had
inspected me over thoroughly. “You aren’t injured anymore?” he
asked. I shook my head. He slapped the back of it with enough force
to move it forward and then glared at me. “Don’t you ever scare me
like that again. I thought you were dead!” he said angrily.

I stood up and wrapped my arms around the
elf. “I missed you too, you old badger.”

Kato hugged me back and then pet my hair like
he used to do when I was a toddler and was frightened. “Little girl
you are so much trouble.”

“And you love every second of it,” I said as
I pulled back to smile at him.

He smiled and said, “So I heard you have a
nickname now.”

“Yes,” Mother said angrily, “Though it is
hardly fitting of a lady.”

“Which is why it is very fitting for me,” I
said with a wink in her direction.

She sighed. “I tried so hard to make you a
proper lady. You are just too stubborn.”

“I can be a proper lady,” I told her
defensively, “When necessary.”

“Really?” she asked unbelievingly, “Show me
now then.”

I stepped back from Kato and curtsied with my
hands out like I was holding a dress. “I am honored by your visit,
Kato. Would you like to join us for a cup of water?”

Kato bowed. “I would be honored, Lady
Marin.”

I walked to the water pitcher up by the chef
and holding the pitcher as if it were a porcelain tea pot, filled a
cup of water. Once filled, I brought it back to Kato and sat it
down in front of and then I sat down on the bench beside Mother. I
picked up a piece of meat and chewed on it slowly with my lips
perfectly closed, like a lady would. “My compliments to the chef!
This is exquisite,” I called out.

“Now you’re creeping me out,” Macon said with
a smile, but I could hear a bit of sincerity in his tone.

“Why sir! I am a lady after all!” I exclaimed
and then nudged Mother who laughed loudly.

“Alright you’ve proven your point,” she said,
“Eat your food. I’m going to excuse myself so I don’t have to
witness your barbaric transformation.”

I waited until she left and then plunged into
my food. “This is so good!” I said happily around my mouthful of
food.

The talking resumed in the hall and I was
able to eat in silence. Favian waited until I was done and then
tilted his head towards the door to indicate that he wanted me to
follow him out. “Who sent the ogres after us?” I asked before
standing up.

“That was supposed to be a failsafe for
Lawrence. He told us that if he were to die they would come. I
thought it was a bluff,” Favian said with a shrug.

“Well it was a good thing we had Marin here,”
Macon said, “You were superb.”

“Thank you,” I said a little in shock since I
had never received such high praise from Macon before.

Favian stood up. “We should go get
ready.”

I stood up and followed him outside. He
pulled me in the opposite direction of the dorms and led me around
to the stables, which were completely empty. He opened Fire’s door
and pushed me inside before bolting it closed behind us.

“What?” I asked feeling nervous. “Why are we
hiding? What are we going to do? Paint something? Run away?”

He lunged forward and wrapped me in a tight
hug, pressing his face against my head. “Stop trying to die on me,”
he whispered.

I stiffened in shock, having thought that we
were going on some bit of fun and finding myself having to console
him instead. I hugged him back after a moment and then patted his
back. “I wasn’t dead, just sleeping.”

“Yes, but you were asleep for three days. We
were worried you wouldn’t wake up,” he said as he continued to hug
me. He pulled back and met my eyes. “I almost lost it when I saw
him choking you,” he whispered, “I wanted to gut him and torture
him for days until he begged me to kill him.”