Manite (Bad at names, bite me)

On our small cart children laughing could be heard as junior and Amethyst played together they where both in the arms of two women, namely Sana, and her mother. I had taught the two a few games so they wouldn't be too bored.

"Rock, paper, scissors!" They screamed in unison, obviously Amethyst would win but junior didn't seem to be discouraged, maybe it was the few games he had won or maybe he was just having too much fun and didn't really care about the outcome.

I watched them as they played, a smile on my face. The journey was just beginning, they would get tired eventually. I was on the ground walking beside our cart, which was driven by one of the merchant's men. It wasn't our cart to begin with so it was only normal someone else was driving it.

In front of us two horses slowly galloped, these were the merchant's mercenary group, they were 12 in total, the two mentioned where located at the back, four on both sides of the caravan and another two in the front. Every single one of them had a necklace with an (X) symbol on it, which I guess is there emblem or something.

I had noticed that a few of the mercenaries were gifted, every once in a while I would notice glances directed at either me, my wife and my cart. Normally I wouldn't worry but these guys did it in way that normal human would notice, I mean there reflexes were just inhumanly fast.

Because of this I didn't plan to sleep for a while, maybe until am sure the target isn't my family or me, they can have my shit but not my loved ones.

....

Melissa POV

My daughter was actually happy, from all the things she would tell me I couldn't help but be thankful that her husband was such a good and capable person.

I had been helping her on how to keep him happy, I know it wasn't my place but I didn't want to see there relationship breakdown as mine did, surprisingly it didn't, Sana had given birth to a girl but he still loved her, he still cared fall her and little Amethyst.

Think about it made me remember when I had given birth to her, it was the night my life took a turn for the worst, back then Trek still loved me, after all we were sweethearts from such a young age and when we came of age we didn't waste time and got married immediately. What foolish girl I was.

With the birth of Sana, his eyes changed when looking at me, he stopped... touching me. He didn't even try to give me another chance.

With all this happening I was so glad, but also so scared when the hunter kid came over asking for her hand, Trek on the other hand could only think about the gains.

I had told her the best way to keep her man happy... Her body. If she could satisfy her husband whenever he needed her then maybe, just maybe she would be happy. My little turned out to be lucky, her husband was caring and careful, also cunning but at least only to a normal degree.

The best part was he was very stable, there family wouldn't have to worry about money as long as he was alive. But... the war came, every night I prayed for his return forgoing my own husbands safety, if that man survived my little daughter would continue to live happily there was nothing more I cared about than that.

Two years later my prayers were answered, he came back, he was bruised and bleeding but at least he was alive. The moment I saw him my heart skipped a bit, the way he looked at my daughter was just... He didn't even spare a glance at his children.

I knew from there that, my daughter had won the worst game in this world, she would be happy. A marriage in this world was only safeguarded if the man was happy, anything else would lead to a life of suffering and misery... I new.

That night I told Sana what to do, I gave her what to where and even taught her some limited knowledge about bed matters. She was a shy thing on the matter but she still listened. With a light silk dress that was intentionally see through I gave her the last instructions, and left carry both my grand children.

The next day I was shocked at my little girls condition, she was so tired she had fallen asleep in the kitchen trying to make breakfast, luckily she hadn't made the fire, otherwise I would be burying my new son-in-law and my daughter.

But this left me with questions, later that day, in the evening I asked what had happened to make her so tired. Apparently they had consummated the whole night. My first thought was how, then came what kind of inhumanly stamina did my daughters husband have?

Safe to say they will probably have more kid.

Or right my husband didn't make it from the war so sad, boohoo.

....

It seems we were considered a completely separate group from the main caravan party, I was expecting something like this but there attitude was completely unwarranted. We were not allowed near there camp, and would not receive any type of protection from The main group and such.

It had me thinking what was the point of asking for protection from them if we had to protect our selves. This had lead me to be very exhausted, in the night I would stay guard, the memory of those things kept haunting me the thought of my wife and children's life being snuffed out by those jaws frightened me.

The only time I got to sleep was while travelling, I had been living like this for the past week, and from the information our driver had given me, we still had another week to go.

"Jacob? wake up, I think something is wrong." The slightly similar voice to my wife's woke me up. "what is it?" I said as I sat up. She looked at the front were sounds of fighting could be heard. I quickly got of the cart and ordered my wife not to move away from it.

I simply moved to the side to get a better look, I was not about to rush into a fight while leaving my family to who knows what. Judging by the sounds of metal colliding it was most likely a bandit attack, which gave me more reasons to expect a rear surprise attack.

"Get off everyone, in here." I said before pushing everyone under the cart. Luckily our horse cart was quite large enough to fit everyone... Well almost everyone. "not you!" I said to the panicking driver.

"What!" he shouted in panic.

I pushed aside before drawing my sword. I could hear movements in the bushes to our left. Suddenly a spear came flying at me, luckily it was thrown with Normal human strength and was easily dodged, it slammed against the cart and got lodged in it, a bulky figure came charging at me but he was to slow, ducking at his reckless swing, I simply place my sword on his chest before slashing, he falls to the ground bleeding out.

Another smaller fellow jumps out with two spears. 'idiot.' I said to my self before quickly decapitating him. An arrow fly's towards our driver, his location isn't far but not taking any risks I decide against helping him, he falls dead to the ground with an arrow to the heart.

Another comes fly at my head but I easily tilt my head make it wheeze past me, And then another, and another, and another. With how fast they were being shot I almost thought it was more than one person, but the direction was always the same. I thought about rushing the archer but... A trap wasn't impossible here.

So with that I stood firm cut and dodging arrows. Soon they stopped, 'is he out?' as I was thinking this another arrow wheezed over but this one was aimed at my knee? No, its aimed at the cart, under it to be precise.

"fuck!" in quick reaction I lift my foot before stepping on the fast moving arrow not planning to continue this fucking game anymore I grab the spear stuck to our cart before throwing it at were I think the archer is. The sound of spear hitting a tree is heard before a thud soon follows.

I wait a couple of minutes before going over to check the situation. Looking over I see a middle aged woman on the ground with a spear size hole on her stomach, the spear itself is a few meters away embedded into a tree.

I look around and determine the were none left, I search the dead bodies for anything of value before walking back a few silvers richer. I wait for a few more minutes and the fighting at the front dies down, soon a bulky man in leather armour walks back checking each carriage.

When he reaches ours he stops and alternates between me and the two visible dead bodies. He walks up to me before trying to grab me by the collar of my shirt, I grab his wrist not willing to be manhandled by a stranger.

"If you can fight you should be on the front lines not cowering back here you spineless twig." He says while glaring at me.

As if on queue my family crawls out from underneath the cart. "I don't work for you or them, my only duty is to my family. Now try to grab me again, and you will be riding with one arm for the rest of the journey." I push him away not minding the glare.

He walks back to the front and soon we continue travelling, the rest of way was peaceful, I was now the one in charge of driving the cart, soon reach our destination, a farming city called Renfield.

It was quite obvious that this part of Ratey had the most fertile land, the fields outside the city are a beautiful golden colour, miles and miles around the city covered in golden grains.

We arrive inside the city, and find our selves in the business district, here we part ways with Mr Clement's caravan, since they were heading in the opposite direction of where we were going.

So here we are looking for another caravan to join, not long after we find a Jewry caravan heading to the mining town of Manite, named after their famous mana stones, the town was only a week away from here, the caravan would be moving out in three days so we had time to explore the city.

We decided to look for an Inn before night fall, luckily we still had the cart thanks to Mr Clements generosity. Since they didn't have enough people to spare, they didn't have a drive, I bought the horse for five gold and the cart for one gold, which was a steal.

After driving around we found an Inn called 'The middle House' we took up residence for six, three per night. I only bought one room to reduce spending's, my money wasn't running low but I still wanted to remain with a little more before we got there.

Our destination on this journey was, count Leon's city, Manite city was a booming city for blacksmiths and jewellers, plus I was offered free residents if I walked for the count. I was no ones bitch but the man offered some good promises, if they were kept that is.

While here we enjoyed the life of the big city, walking around, trying out the many cuisines and pastries the city had to offer, the last one was done to keep the kids out while me and Sana went back to the Inn for some quick fun between the two of us.

If it wasn't for the promised benefits awaiting us I would have definitely stayed here, but the offer was too good.

Three days later at the city gate, waiting for the fleet of carriages, I was flirting with my wife at the front of the cart while my mother-in-law watched the kids at the back.

We were on the dirt roads again, this time I had taken out some of the old kunais I had made back in the day, honestly I expect a lot of trouble with the current caravan we were travelling with, after all everyone loves jewellery.

....