Piotr and Sam collapsed through the inn’s door. Piotr flipped Sam onto his back before dragging himself to a nearby couch to rest his weary body against. His muscles felt tight, enhancing his reflexes for even such a short amount of time had taken its toll. 

That’s why it’s a Fheitgr specialty and not a Pioneer one, Piotr groaned in his mind. 

He craned his neck and stared longingly at the ceiling above. One Fheitgr was trouble enough now he’d have to face an entire band of them. 

Piotr mulled over the attack in his head. 

They weren’t your run of the mill Fheitgr that’s for sure. Surprise attacks is something that’s never even considered in Fheitgr culture. Sam and I were fortunate that there was some evident discrepancy within the group. Still despite this our mystery man still commands the mens allegiance.

This group’s leader is a clever man who clearly favours tactics, tactics that often an honourable warrior would not employ. 

On the positive side this means that they’re worried that a direct confrontation will lead to failure. We can use that for now. 

Piotr crawled to Sam’s side. Still breathing, steady heartbeat. Piotr scanned Sam’s body for any wounds. None that he could see. Besides a bad headache upon waking up the man should be perfectly fine. Sam and he were lucky to have escaped relatively unscathed. Any damage taken now would work to their opponent’s favour.

Right now they were locked in a battle of attrition, one which currently these mercenaries were winning. Piotr looked to the unconscious Sam,

“We’ll have to do something about that but for now, I believe we’ve earned a little recuperation my friend?”

Droplets of water pittered and pattered, interrupting the silence currently held between Christi and Ratchet. The two had been strolling without so much as a word exchanged in the last few minutes. Ratchet was surprisingly docile. 

Strange I’d thought he’d have more to say given what I just agreed to, Christi thought. 

Is he angry? 

Christi stopped. 

“Are you angry with me? It was an easy choice. This helps us find our enemy quicker.”

Ratchet met her gaze, the warm expression he had worn earlier was replaced with one that was more cold and serious.

“I’m just surprised, that's all, that you could agree to kill another so easily. You’ve changed much more than I thought Christi.”

All his talk of being there for me and now suddenly he wants to take the high road? Christi scoffed.

“Whether you like it or not this helps us, Piotr would’ve made the same decision.”

“Ahhh I see. He changed you.”

“Maybe this is just who I’ve always been, did you ever consider that?”

Ratchet’s gaze harshened.

“I don’t believe that. Answer me honestly, could you do it? If Kydin was standing right here, could you kill him?”

Christi shuddered, she had never seen him so grim before. She thought of all the unfairness in the world, everything she had loved was ripped from her. For once she was beginning to gain control over something in her life, why shouldn’t she kill Kydin?

“He deserves death doesn’t he? Men like him will never stop killing. Not until they’re dead.”

Ratchet stood unwavering, his expression remained fixed.

“I asked if you could kill him, not if he deserves death.”

Christi fumed, balled her fists. 

Why shouldn’t he die, people like Kydin took what they wanted all the time, the world took all the time. Selfish killers don’t deserve any peace of mind nor mercy.

“I could.”

Ratchet frowned.

“You don’t mean that.”

Maybe you’re right but right now I need to believe I could. I’ve second guessed myself far too much, we can’t afford such a luxury now.

“If I can’t do this Ratchet then Alex and everyone in Chrodrift died for nothing! I need to be strong enough to beat the hours. Killing one person is trivial in comparison! Something has to change, I’m tired of being helpless!”

Christi stormed off leaving Ratchet behind. He was upset but he, like Christi, had made a promise four years ago. He refused to be deterred in helping Christi. 

Christi and Ratchet strode into the room where Piotr and Sam lay. Piotr noticed how furrowed Christi’s brow was and how Ratchet embodied the word defeated. 

Looks like none of us had a good day it seems, Piotr noted.

“What happened to you two?” inquired Piotr.

Ratchet eyed Piotr up and down, noticing the dishevelled coat caked in dust.

“Should be asking you the same question, don’t look too pretty yourself.”

Piotr stifled a chuckle.

“We’ve both had an eventful evening, it seems. Care to share friend?”

Christi stood away from the group, arms crossed. She looked more unreachable than usual. Ratchet looked in her direction, his eyes looked sad. Something had happened between the two. 

“We met the leader of the Finders, well it was more like she met us. She offered to aid us in locating our mystery man.”

“Well that’s fantastic news, however given the nature of these kinds of things and your hesitation I’m expecting a big but. Go on.”

Ratchet looked tired, his shoulders and head were drooped low. It was obvious that what occurred in the meeting was plaguing him.

“This mystery man’s name is Kydin, he’s an infamous Fheitgr mercenary leader.”

Piotr perked up upon hearing his name, Kydin. Piotr had heard of his exploits, he was quite the wanted man. 

Kydin, I thought I heard his name being mentioned by the two warriors.  Who would’ve thought I’d get the opportunity to meet the man himself in Barakat of all places? 

“In return for aiding us, the Finders expect us to assist the group in eliminating Kydin and his group of mercenaries.”

Piotr held his tongue, it was a blessing that Sam was currently unconscious. The man detested killing. At least for now there would be no arguments. Sam was loyal and he had taught everything Piotr knew. He expected Piotr to uphold those principles, even if Piotr didn’t agree with most. Thankfully Sam was reasonable, If Piotr could present a sound argument, well the man would listen.

“That’s quite the tall order, and? What was your answer?”

“We accepted,” declared Christi.

Piotr watched the girl with intent. 

No surprise there, the girl was always eager to reclaim her retribution. It was a miracle alone that Sam and I were able to convince her to wait four years after what happened in Chrodrift. She’s tired of waiting and currently Kydin stands in the way. I detest all this, playing the role of the peacekeeper. I understand your plight Christi. Truth be told, I want Kydin dead too.

“Well then while I’d rather avoid a fight with such skilled warriors, there’s no denying that we can’t pursue the Bull without them gone. Perhaps the combined efforts of the Finders and the townsfolk will allow us to prevail” said Piotr.

Ratchet cocked his brow.

“The townsfolk don’t have any reason to help us, what do ya mean by that?”

“Sam and I have already encountered some of Kydin’s men. Men who massacred a guardhouse, we were quite lucky to escape with our lives. I’m sure the townsfolk won’t react well to what occurred.”

“Massacred? A whole guardhouse? Why do something so reckless?”

Piotr laughed, Ratchet was right.

“With the Fheitgr it’s best not to attempt to understand their insane methods. I suspect this is Kydin’s doing however, Fheitgr are warriors through and through but they do uphold honour above all. This may be Kydin’s way of declaring war, we’ve been pushed against the wall now. Christi was correct in her judgement, we don’t have any other options.”

“Couldn’t we just leave, and come back with help later?” Ratchet asked.

“Even if we did leave and return with help later, how do you think things would look if a high-ranking member of the Pioneers left and turned a blind eye to blatant murder? This town is governed by the Pioneers, it’s our duty to protect it.”

Ratchet had no answer.

“Any other method would be preferable but as things stand there is none. For now we’ll hear what the Finders have in mind”.

Piotr looked to Christi, her eyes burned feverishly. She reminded him of his younger days before he joined the Pioneers.

“Christi, did this leader of theirs share with you any details of how we may speak?

“Only that she would be in touch soon,” she responded.

Piotr slumped back.

“Then I suppose we lick our wounds and wait.”

What a mess this is, Piotr thought.

Kydin pushed through a flimsy wooden door. The wafty aroma of cooked Bosar meat, those farmland cattle from the bull’s ravaged farms have proved useful, Kydin thought. 

The stale stench of alcohol greeted his nostrils. He drew back his hood, and gazed ahead at the flurry of Fheitgr men gathered around a firepit. A chorus of exuberant cheers erupted as the men noticed Kydin’s approach.

“Welcome back Kydin, care for a drink?”

A mug of ale was pushed into Kydin’s calloused hand, he smiled.

“Why I thought you’d never ask, but why stop at one? I care for multiple drinks!” he belted out.

The men broke into laughter, Kydin gulped down his ale and slammed the mug down.

“Never did I think I’d see the day where men like us would get paid to drink and eat!” Krait, one of the more loyal of his mercenary band, loudly said.

Kydin stood, regaling his audience.

“You’ll see plenty more days like this under my leadership, so drink up! Feast to your heart’s content! Soon we will return to Ariva with a glorious task in mind and a worthy prize in tow!”

Kydin grabbed another mug of ale and hoisted it with vigour.

“To us! To a brighter future for Ariva!” he toasted.

Kolr, a tall rogue-like man, stood and proposed his own toast.

“To Kydin!”

“To Kydin!” the group rejoiced. 

Kydin laughed. He felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned. One of his men greeted him. 

“The Knight wishes to speak to you Kydin.”

Kydin sported a grin.

“Ah of course it does, all right I’ll go speak with it.”

Kydin ascended the twisting spiral of stairs, each step creaking under his weight. Finally he reached the peak, he climbed a ladder and found the Knight standing outside the lighthouse’s beacon on the balcony. Kydin joined it. 

Together the two overlooked Barakat. Kydin was always amazed at its appearance, frankly he’d never seen anything like it in all his travels. Save for its ridiculous height you’d be hard pressed to guess this figure wasn’t a man clad in impressive armour but actually a machine. 

In the distance a bell tolled from Barakat, wind whipped against Kydin’s ears and cheeks.

“You wanted to speak,” he inquired.

The wind whistled, weaving in and around the Knight’s cogs and gears. The subtle ticking noise that often accompanied the Knight could not be heard.

“I wish to know how things are progressing.”

Kydin folded his beefy forearms against the guardrail, letting his eyes get lost in the vast Farage sea.

“It’s going well, my men have been informed to continue with disrupting Barakat and to press onwards with the hit and run attacks on Henlein. Another day or two and he should be exhausted, easy pickings really.”

“What significance did you find in massacring a town guardpost?”

Kydin chuckled.

“Ah so you heard. Simple really, to sow chaos into the equation.”

“Are you not concerned about drawing the ire of the Pioneers?”

“With Henlein here there’s no worry of that, he’s a high ranking member and the poster boy. He’s always been one of the most capable of their bunch, leaving now makes him and the Pioneers look weak. However, the longer he remains unable to resolve the problem, the more agitated the townsfolk become. The Pioneers may govern the town but they aren’t popular within Barakat. Soon the town will turn on him, a lose-lose situation you see.”

“You’re as resourceful as they say, however one thing eludes me.”

“And what is that?”

The Knight turned, it towered over Kydin.

“You arrived here in Barakat with a crew far larger than you are currently utilising, why is that?”

“Henlein’s quite the monster, I need all the man I can muster. I need to retain my high success rate after all, it’s a hired hand’s bread and butter”.

“Yet you continuously insist on more information regarding the bull, which I find strange to say the least. Perhaps you have an ulterior motive? Something you don’t want to share?”

Kydin sized him up, he wasn’t about to let this mindless machine intimidate him.

“And if I did?”

“Then things would not end well for you to put it simply. You’re aware of the Yharnam tree are you not? Of the incredible heights it reaches and the fame surrounding it?

“Of course it can grow hundreds of feet tall, I’ve even heard of a city built into the tree’s trunk here in this land. What of it?”

The Knight drew its blade, held it aloft. 

For such a weighty looking blade he handles it with such dexterity, Kydin thought.

“What’s incredible is that despite all its amazing strengths, the tree itself is quite fragile at the roots. One good strike and the tree comes crashing down.” 

Kydin felt the sword skim his hair, The Knight revealed a small tuft of his murky green hair in its palm before letting the wind whisk it away.

“Even the strongest can be felled with one good strike. Remember that when next you ponder this ulterior motive of yours. I’ll be in touch.”

The Knight sheathed its sword and leapt from the lighthouse balcony, crashing to the ground below. A small crater formed at the crash site and the Knight departed.

No matter its threats Kydin would not be fazed. Its deductions were correct of course. He felt droplets of rain pelt his skin, and felt the rain trace his outline. 

Bad omen, he thought.