CHAPTER 4 FAMILY.
A scar ran from the underside of his left eye to his right eyebrow. Another scar, shaped like two crossed swords decorated his left cheek and a small scar across his nose. We was clad in a leather armour that covered his chest while leaving his arm bare. On his left hand, he held a nasty looking mace that can crush a full grown man with just a swing.
Garen looked stunned. He looked ferocious; the type that would make little kids cry just by mentioning their name kind of ferocious. The man stared back at him and seems to be accessing him. "not much to look at, just some useless kid" the scar faced guy said as he dismissed Garen with a single look.
"whatcha say, will he fetch a good price uh? Hey! Old bahil, do you think he will fetch a good price." one of sitting ladies called out to an oldman at the back of the group. "let's just do away with him Mirian. Am sure the kid is up to no good." the buff man with the axe once again shouted out loud and seems ready to tear him apart. He felt his bladder give way and a cold and wet feeling enveloped his lower body. Too terrified to even be embarrassed of losing control of his bladder, he cried as he begged for mercy.
"shit" the buff man recoiled in disgust "this kid is as weak as f**k."
The old man, most likely old bahil, seems to be around 70 yet walked steadily without any support. He grab Garen with strength Garen think should be impossible for someone advanced in age as him and gave him a once over. Garen too terrified to speak or even move can only allow them to do whatever they want.
"nah" the old man said and shook his head as he left him alone. "those nobles like fresh ones. This one look like his been through hell. no one in their right mind will fork a good price for him." the buff man who kept advocating for his death look gleeful. "useless one ain't he? Can I do away with him now."
"pl....ple....ase, plea....se, don't kill me. Am useful, am useful the allfather his my witness. I can do all shores without needing anything, not even food. " Garen cried out as he plead with everything he has. That feeling of death isn't something he wish to experience again. The helplessness, the hopelessness, no matter what as long as it his a chance to live, he will hold on tight to it; even if he had to throw away his dignity. It's not like he had any before.
"hehehehe, look at the bas**rd, so useless. Never seen anyone as spineless as him." one of the men roared in laughter and the others join in too. "why don't we keep him? As a little toy uh? Will add a little bit of life here." mirian the long blond lady suggested with a small smile on her lips.
"yes, yes. I can amuse you too. No matter how ridiculous it is, I can fulfill every request." seeing a little trace of hope, he tried his best to look as ridiculous as possible and elicit quite some laughter from them.
"where are you from kid" the silent old suddenly opened his mouth and threw a question at Garen. He squinted his beady little eye as focus them on him as if he wish to bore a hole through Garen with his eyes.
Garen didn't waste any time and recounted all that has happened and how he fortunately escaped the slaughter due to being assumed dead by others.
"quite some luck you got there kid." the old man said and soon resumed his silence.
"f**k, we better leave here as early as dawn tomorrow. I sure as hell don't want that crime pinned on our head." the leader looked a bit worried as he said so. They are nothing more than a bunch of bandits, who wish to make quick bucks.An army after them for a crime they no nothing about doesn't sound appealing to him.
The scar faced looked him up and said."quite a fighter huh? You would do anything just to live. Boss let's take him in. Don't worry I will take care of him." the scar faced man looked at Garen and instead of laughing at him, he actually got his approval.
"keel him olauf. But make sure you keep him in line and can keep up, otherwise he his better off dead."
Olauf patted his chest as he dismissed his boss worry. "don't worry boss" "I will whip him into shape."
Olauf dragged him into one of the tent and threw him on the hard ground. "you look like you haven't slept for some time, better take the chance now. We will be heading out at dawn tomorrow." he said and walked back outside.
Garen looked up for a while and took a breath of relieve. "At least he won't die anytime soon." though he said this, deep down Garen long for nothing more now than power. The feeling of leaving his life or death to others twice in close succession is too much. He want nothing more than power, to grasp his own faith in his hand and not to be toyed by others at their whim and wish.
Soon the boy became too tired to think anymore and fell asleep.
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Olauf sat down on an even rock and look towards the full moon. A small smile linger for a while as he thought his youth. This smile soon turned into a grimace of pain and hate and memories he would rather forget came to him.
He clenched his fist tightly and his fingernails pierce through his palm and drew blood.
"you are hurting yourself olauf." the boss of the group walked up to him and patted his shoulder. He looked at him with concern and let out a deep sigh. "want to talk about it?" he asked even knowing full well the answer he would receive.
"no boss" olauf turned him down and slowly unclenched his fist. He looked unperturbed at the dripping blood and wiped it of. "it's nothing boss, just having a rough day."
The boss patted his shoulder again and didn't look offended at been turned down. "olauf, we all have our story, each and every single one of us. You don't have to share yours, just know we are your brothers and sisters and ready to help you."
"Thank you boss, thank you very much. I will keep that in mind." he looked really grateful. They may not have the most glorious reputation or live a good life but they live by their code. They will never let a sibling down. "truthfully am grateful boss. "