n

n

nSeeing Evan's strength and how quickly he`d dealt with the bandits, the girl calmed down and sighed with relief.

nShe looked at Evan and said quietly:

"I'm sorry, but I have no money right now...

"

nWhoosh.

nBefore she could finish her sentence, the blade of the sword was at her snow-white neck. The very end of the blade had already managed to plunge into the flesh, causing a thin trickle of blood to flow.

n

"You, wench, don't play with me.

" Evan's voice was calm and his gaze`s cold. If Evan wasn`t satisfied with her answer, he would take her head off without blinking an eye.

nThe girl was greatly frightened, but then she pulled herself together and timidly replied,

"If you will allow me, I can pay you in the town. The purpose of this convoy was to take me to the Mossy Vulture. I have nothing now, but in the town I can pay you back...

"

nWhile speaking, she felt the cold metal of the sword still presented to her neck.

nThe girl's name was Rosa van Erden, she was 19 years old. Rosa could not have imagined that she would ever get into such trouble.

nEvan looked at Rosa intently, and at the same time, he thought about what she had said. He knew there was no point in killing her. There was, however, a small chance that when they returned to the town he would be in big trouble.

nHe looked her over from head to toe once again and made a decision.

nEvan removed his sword from her neck and slid it into its scabbard, then stepped closer to the girl.

nRosa didn't know what he was up to or what he was going to do. The fact that Evan put his weapon away was a little reassuring to her.

nOnce close enough, Evan roughly took Rosa by the chin and lifted it.

nHe stared coldly into her eyes. Rosa didn't know how to react. She just waited and did nothing.

nAfter a few seconds Evan, pulled her to him and touched his lips to her neck. He slowly licked where the blood was flowing.

nAt that moment, Rosa was petrified. There was no way she could have expected this.

nEvan looked into Rosa's eyes once more, and they both headed inside the carriage.

nThe carriage swayed from side to side for a long time before it finally subsided.

n...

nSigh. Sigh. Sigh.

nThey both breathed heavily and intermittently, and their bodies burned.

nFor the next few minutes, they uttered only a few short phrases.

n...

n

"That was unexpected...

" There was a real storm in Rosa's head, and all her thoughts were jumbled.

nEvan only sighed and slowly replied,

"It was a rest after a hard working day.

"

nAfter these words, he got up and began to dress.

n

"Come on, it's time for us to head back to the Mossy Vulture. I still haven't gotten my award.

"

nRosa was surprised and muttered uncertainly:

"But what it was ...?

"

nEvan smiled weakly:

"Didn`t you like it? I'll wait outside.

"

nHe just left the girl alone and quickly got out of the carriage.

n...

nAfter about ten minutes, Rosa slowly opened the door and stood before Evan. Her hair was disheveled and her clothes were badly rumpled. There was no resentment on her face, just a faint smile and satisfaction.

nEvan saw Rosa's emotions as well as her flushed face. Nevertheless, he didn't stress it in any way.

n

"Well, shall we go?

"

nThe girl nodded in response and stood behind Evan.

nThey didn't say anything for the next couple of hours and spent part of the journey in complete silence. They still had about two more hours to get to the town, when they had one little problem.

n

"I... can't walk anymore, I need to rest.

" Rosa was not used to this kind of exertion.

nFrankly, any unprepared person will get pretty tired of walking the winding trails and woods for hours.

n

"All right, let's stop for a while. Don't relax, we don't have to waste much time here.

"

nEvan left Rosa alone and went deeper into the woods himself. He wasn't worried that the girl could run away. It was still a long, long way to the town. She had practically no strength, and she couldn`t rely on anybody`s help.

nSo Evan was the best option for her, who would protect her and get her to the right place.

nEvan, on the other hand, went to scout the area and in a few minutes was already back to the girl.

n

"Here you are.

" He tossed toward Rosa one ripe pear he had just picked from a nearby tree. He didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart, but so he wouldn't hear whining about hunger in a mile.

nRosa was glad of such a gift, and quietly thanked Evan and began to eat. She saw an apple in his hands, which only made her feel better. She knew very well how much rarer and more expensive a pear was, so she thought that he was giving her attention in this way.

nThe reality was a little different. It really was easier for Evan to find an apple than a pear. But it wasn't the rarity of the fruit or his special attitude to her. He just liked apples much better than pears.

nTo his surprise, with a little effort he was able to find many more big, green and most importantly very sour apples. Evan loved apples like that.

nHaving had a bite, Rosa and Evan moved on. The sun was high and the heat was very intense. Fortunately, the thick crowns of the trees saved them a lot. They shielded them almost completely from the fierce sun.

nEvan knew where the city was, but he had no information about the roads there. So his initial goal was to find a road and stick to it. It would save strength and time for both him and Rosa.

nBam. Bam. Bam.

nSuddenly Evan heard the sounds of fighting in the distance. He quickly ran over there. There was a good chance that it was another bandits, attacking some kind of convoy. There were plenty of robbers in these woods.

nSeeing his haste, Rosa quickened her stride as well. She tried to catch up with Evan, but it wasn`t easy to her. Luckily, they didn't have to run long.

nJust two hundred meters away from them, Evan saw the scene he had expected to see.

nOne wagon of goods, a merchant, guards, and bandits, just the way it was supposed to be.

nSigh. Sigh. Sigh.

nA few seconds later Rosa run close. Seeing this scene, she shouted, without thinking before:

"We have to save them...

"

nSigh.

nBefore the girl could finish her sentence, Evan covered her mouth with his palm.

n

"Be calm, there's no need to hurry. Keep in mind, if you try to save everyone, after a few idiotic decisions like this, you'll die and become the food for worms. So, just stay still and watch.

"

nEvan's voice was firm and hard, which frightened Rosa a little.

nThe girl nodded confidently, and Evan removed his hand.

nRight before their eyes, the guards were dying, and so were the bandits. Except there were more bandits than guards.

nRosa would never have thought she would just watch at people`s killing and do nothing. But if she ran forward now, she would just die. She knew exactly what awaited her.

n

"You stay there and come out only when I put together two fingers behind my back, is it clear?

"

nThe girl nodded and Evan headed straight for the wagon. All of the guards had been already killed. Only three bandits and the merchant were alive. And he was destined for a sad fate. Luckily for him, Evan needed him alive.

nUnlike Rosa's caravan, the mercant's horses were peacefully standing in the harness. Evan also didn't want to miss the opportunity to get something of value from the him.

n