The rescued were led to either Fischdorf's town hall, turned makeshift hospital, or the tavern.

  I grabbed the lv 13 healer, now lv 14. He was about the collapse and so was I. We slumped down on a bench exhausted.

  "What's your name kid?"

  "Rhys sir." He uttered, struggling to keep his eyes open.

  "Don't call me sir. I'm Harvey. You did good kid, real good. I know it was scary, to overcome that fear was impressive, you should be proud."

  Earlier, I saw him being ordered to treat a badly lashed back, particularly remembered the horror in his eyes. Each step he took toward the girl's back was laboured, as though wearing lead shoes. He lifted his quivering hand and it lingered, fingers half closed. A moment later he opened his hand, moved it closer and with his eyes squeezed shut, he started healing.

  The girl mumbled her thanks, quickly covering up. He'd stood looking back and forth between his hand and the girl walking away till she was out of sight. Then stood longer looking at his hand, till a request to help elsewhere snapped him out of his stupor.

  I gave the lad's shoulder an encouraging squeeze and gentle shake. So tired I was, someone managed to approach us undetected.

  "S'cuse me healer?"

  I looked up to find an individual I had to double take. He? An adams apple and masculine face would suggest so... He was a half elf healer, wearing the royal medics uniform— the women's version. He had long hair, tied in a back bun, under the long veiled nurses cap/habit.

  I couldn't see his ears but could tell by his features, shiny, almost glowing and glittering skin he was something other than human, but not quite— so half elf was my guess.

  I'd stared at him without saying anything, not my intention, I was just too knackered.

  "Aye sorry, you'se are loused— n' ye deserve a kip, lotta good you've done. But ah gotta ask. Dat spell ye were casting, a spray o' healing. Call me a wee numpty, but ah ain't ever seen that aboots.

  Could ah trouble you'se to tell me what it is? Aye, that be well sound, ye ken?"

  I could only get the gist of what he was saying. He had a heavy accent and spoke in slang terms from the Celt peoples that occupied the rugged end of an island not too far away.

  "You're in luck, it's a teachable skill... but it'll cost you."

  "Aw naw, dinnae be a nippit, I aint—"

  "My price is very high." I said, cutting him off. "Is healing what you want to do? Why are you a healer?"

  He scratched his chin, eyes furrowed.

  "Aye awright... me da were a cunt, as were most a'body. Naebody helped me 'cept for a healer. Told me "kill em' wit' kindness". Been slaying ever since. All I knaw, I love it, n' naebody cares how I dress when I'm healing them, or else dinnae say anything after. Ye ken?"

  "Hmmm, hey kid— Rhys, why are you a healer?" I asked, nudging Rhys.

  "Errrrr... I don't rightly know sir, it's just what makes me happy... not much with sword or me fists. Had magic from birth I did... healing is what I can do and... I feel err... like I'm doing something."

  I gestured for both their attention.

  "I'll teach you both tomorrow morning. Meet me at the tavern after breakfast. I know you didn't ask Rhys, but if you want to learn a neat healing skill— and you too uh...?"

  "Conall." The half elf said, leaning forward, keen to hear what I had to say.

  "Conall— if you want to learn the skill, my price is this...

  Both of you use it. Use it to help people, and carry on healing."

  Rhys managed to lift his head and grin, Conall swore loudly and proclaimed some gibberish clapping me on the shoulder.

  . . .

  Rhys thanked me again... and once more... then again, after Conall closed the door of my inn room. Hang on, I looked at Conall with a raised brow. He suggestively made his eyebrows jump up and down as he turned the key of Audo and my small shared room.

  Audo had gone to earn some money hauling seized goods from the ship. I found myself alone with a now confirmed half elf, femboy advancing toward me, doing an odd shimmy as he did.

  "Would ye let me thank ye? Mibay ah gobble ye tadger— Awww but ah be gantin for a solid pumpin, eh?"

  Fan-fucking-tastic, my harem options now included a twink...

  His cap was off, semi pointed ears on display, and he wore a bright sheet like a toga over an undershirt. Perhaps he'd borrowed or bought it from a local, or had it in his go-bag.

  "I'll say this nicely... No thank you, get out of my room."

  "AW! Ye fuhcking cocktease! Ah fought ye might be down on account ye pink ring!" Connal whined, pointing my ring. I breifly entertained the idea of seeing how gay he thought the ring would be punched into his face, but he was good guy.

  He grabbed my shoulders, planting a kiss on my cheek, lingering for too long as his hands starting to wander, I gently pushed him back.

  "Get off!"

  "Fank'ye for the skill, find me if ye change ye mind, eh?"

  "Aye! I'll certainly remember you for a while. Make good use of that skill!"

  Barely a minute after Conall left, Isabell knocked on my door.

  "Can I come in?"

  "Sure... what can I do for you?"

  She locked the door behind her then turned to me with a look of determination.

  "Harvey, yesterday was amazing! Audo and Layla are shaken but... But I feel amazing! We did it, Harvey! Us! We saved those girls!"

  I'd never seen her so emotive.

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  "Harvey I know, in my gut, there's something you're not telling me. You were an orphan snatched by a gang, forced to fight and pickpocket... I'll accept that— Please! Teach me everything you know. I want to be stronger, and I want to do more like what we did yesterday!"

  I sighed and shook my head. Was she in denial, was this her way of processing the shock of yesterday?

  "Isabelle... We killed people yesterday. You want to learn how to do that better? Really?"

  "They were monsters, just like orcs!"

  "No! They were human beings— Just Like Us!

  That dark skinned, bald man with an earring, the one whose throat you slit for getting too close to Layla. He wasn't a monster. He probably had a family. He may have been indentured to be a sailor. He may have been snatched as a child and it was the only life he ever knew."

  "THEY WERE TAKING WOMEN AND CHILDREN!! To sell, to work or to FUCK till their bodies break, or both! Then they'd discard them like worthless cumrags. Fuck them!"

  "Isabelle, listen!

  Believe me... It's easy to justify even the most horrific of actions when surrounded by people doing the same. When you're ordered to do it. When it's all you've known. When you're trying to survive."

  "And that makes it OK!?"

  "No... it makes it understandable, makes it human."

  Isabelle paced up and down the room. Turning abruptly to point at me, glowering and gritting her teeth. Her face was bright pink, a few tears had fallen and veins were visible on her forehead.

  "They were fucking monsters, I don't care!"

  I shrugged, giving up. What was I supposed to say.

  "Teach me, everything you know. Please."

  Thinking for a moment a dark idea occured to me.

  "OK... Yesterday when you took that sailor down. You didn't cut deep enough into his throat, you just dragged your blade from one side to the other. Not good enough. You want to get well into the trachea, and mess up both carotid arteries, before you move on.

  You pulled him down backward, threw him behind you— Sloppy. You should have kneed the back of his knee, held him like a dance partner, better controlled his fall.

  Worst was your follow up. A single thrust into his gut, upward into his chest, then holding the blade in as he died. Pfft. You took an unnecessary risk and caused unnecessary suffering.

  Pulling the blade out, with a twist, tears open the wound and causes more damage on the way out. Then you stab again, and again, and Again! Till they're dead."

  I stared into her eyes, analysing. She still seemed determined. "Is that what you wanted to learn?"

  "... Yes. Thank you." She broke eye contact, moving toward the door. "A general of the royal guard wants to talk to us. Some other guy too, but I think he's just looking for a story to tell. Let's go to their camp...

  Please teach me more later."

  "Oh! Where's Layla by the way?" I asked.

  "Already at the camp, she's talking with a priestess there."

  . . .

  "Woah hey! Here's come the man of the hour! My name's Fulgencio, I cover interesting stories and publish them in the capital. Could I hear from you about your daring plan to save the girls of Xeothea's?"

  Having reached the bottom of the stairs, I drew my hunting knife while crossing the distance to Fulgencio.

  "Woah! Hey!"

  I backed him up against pillar then grabbed a hold of his collar, placing my knife against his throat.

  "I speak for myself and my party. You keep our names out of whatever story you want to write. Because if I read about myself, or my party... I will find you. There is no corner of this world where you can hide. And I will kill you."

  "Wha- wha-what? Why mister, I just want tell yo—"

  "Shut up and listen. That ship was a giant, its crew a small army. The many many mercenaries involved to even Think! Of attacking Xeothea's... Those things come at a cost."

  Fulgencio squirmed. Showing him the hunting knife and tapping his cheek stopped him from speaking.

  "Sh-sh-shhh... Fulgencio, listen. Listen! Someone with very deep pockets went to a lot of trouble to try and snatch those girls. How do you think they're going to feel when their ship doesn't turn up? Hm Fulgencio? How are they going to feel?"

  Backing away from Fulgencio, I tapped the beastly hunting knife against my chest.

  "How do you think they're going to feel about me? Hm? My friends?

  And do you think such an individual would be kind to you, if you published something like "a group of adventurers who wish to remain unnamed". I don't think— I Know, you'd be found tortured to death... if you're found at all."

  I shushed Fulgencio, the clip point of the blade swishing in front of my lips. "Consider my words, now fuck off Fulgencio."

  I sheathed my blade and watched him. Fulgencio aghast, eyes wide, one twitching. He went to say something, lost his nerve then slumped back against the pillar, a man defeated.

  "There are consequences to actions, Fulgencio. Ramifications to our choices. Please Fulgencio... I beg you to make the right choice." I said.

  Isabelle glared at Fulgencio, adding her own silent threat, as we left

  A royal guard, perhaps waiting for us, held open the door before running off. We exited, leaving the scribe mulling over the dark situation.

  Rhys came jogging after us a few moments later.

  . . .

  Upon entering the temporary camp of the capital and royal guards, we waved at Leif, Paige and Rhys's party, minus the rogue. A Guard informed me and Isabelle to wait, Audovald and the rogue were being questioned.

  I let Isabelle do the talking, explaining to everyone the situation with the scribe and why they should be careful.

  "Audo, you OK?" I asked.

  Audovald shuffled out, looking contrite and deflated. He smiled at me meekly, before striking his own chest, puffing himself up.

  "I'm heading back to the ship, more work to do." He clapped me on the shoulder, nodded at his sister then jogged away before either of us could express further concern.

  After a short pause, one from the elite detachment of the royal guard stepped out. He wiped water from his lips and took breath while scanning me.

  "You Harvey?"

  "That's me"

  "Hmph, I expected someone older..."

  . . .

  Acting the aloof healer, I had gone over my version of the events and answered a fair few questions. General Armen studies me, a silence taook over the tent. I sensed a change in him when he huffed through his moustache and goatee combo, before leaning forward. His eyes locked onto mine.

  "Drop the innocent healer act Harvey, a guard interrupted me and Audovald, to tell me about the nosey scribe and how you handled him. I'm not buying it anymore. Who are you— Really?"

  Maybe it's the teenage hormones, maybe it's the former life under the organisation's thumb, I didn't think this grey haired general worthy of my steely assassin poker face. I smiled , looking at him with equal measure contempt and defiance.

  "I'm an adventurer General, registered with the adventurers guild. Need I remind you the guild and adventurers are neutral to affairs of the state?

  Your being here isn't because Xeothea's is a royal institution. It's because of its importance to the capital, its people. How many of your elite women were recruited from there?"

  The general sneered at my cockiness, I continued.

  "The adventurers guild didn't assist You here. You assisted the Guild— Because if you hadn't... The capital would have been in uproar and some of your best might've defected in protest.

  So General Armen, I'm here voluntarily to answer your questions. Do not overestimate your authority over me."

  The general leant back with an awkward smile. Trying to mask his annoyance, play it cool, he chuckled.

  "OK Healer, I see how it is...

  You, and the other men involved in sabotaging that ship, have received a rare invitation. Along with the women of course, the current head of Xeothea's wishes to thank you in person. We're packing up and leaving tomorrow. We won't be going at such a frightful pace, should be there by late afternoon.

  Several alumni are starting to turn up, to provide escort. We're done here, you may go."

  "Hold on... You managed to capture some senior crew and a couple of the high level mercs, any information on who organised this raid?"

  The general considered me for a moment. With a sharp intake of breath through his teeth, let out as a deep sigh, he conceded. Perhaps curious what I'd do with the information.

  "The captain fought till the bitter end, his quartermaster apparently got curious about a cat. We haven't found enough of him to even fill an urn, let alone a casket...

  There's a mercenary, likely the leader of his group... We believe he knows something, but so far haven't been able to extract the information."

  "Hmm, could I get some time with him?" Responding to a curious look— "I'm a healer... I know where it hurts the most."