The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

Baron bring the two Ogres that they had managed to subdue to Nameless in the square, and afterwards Kriss watched as her brother pulled them free of Evadne’s mind.

And the Trog thought she was conflicted about him before...

While Tora was embracing her surviving kin and sobbing with them, Nameless took several gulps of water from a canteen before turning towards his sister.

“I’m glad you two are alright.” He said with a weak smile.

Kriss hissed at him, annoyed without really knowing why as he tried to hide the trembling in his hands.

“I told you before that I don’t need your protection softskin. I need only to get my claws on the one who did this.”

“Fat chance of that.” Erica muttered as her eyes flicked to the dust-covered Nina, now glaring at the Chameleon.

But having to deal with the Tenebrae meant that Nameless was unable to keep his emotions in check, his cheeks reddening with anger even as he rolled his eyes at the Trog’s recalcitrance.

Though weakened from the ordeal of curing the Tenebrae without Volka’s help, he spoke with energy.

“Kriss, can’t you understand the odds that we overcame to get here?! I know you don’t... need me, but I thought that every relative I had was dead! So while you might not think this is a big deal, just know that it is to me! I’m... I’m a brother, I’m your big brother. And even though I haven’t had three fucking seconds to think about what that means, just know that I will always be there for you, whether you like it or not.”

With Tora and the other Ogres huddled together so close by and sharing in a tearful reunion, it was hard for Kriss to argue with his heartfelt declaration.

And it was plain to see to anyone that his words were having an effect on her; despite her cool attitude she was blinking rapidly to stave off tears.

Naturally she tried to shake it off.

“I-I am a warrior. I don’t need anybody to protect me.” She repeated with less conviction.

Risking life and limb, he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight.

“I know. But I’m going to anyways.”

She hissed at him again as her clawed hands settled on his shoulders, making to push him away.

Once he relented she shook her head and with one hand held up the edge of the tattered red fabric around her waist.

“All I care about is Evadne. This sash has soaked up enough blood to dye a river. It absorbed the blood of my mother the day she was tortured to death. One day, it will soak up her blood too.”

“No it won’t.” Nina declared, her arms crossing over her breasts.

“I don’t care how strong you are, no one will deny me my vengeance.”

“I’m not denying you anything. I’m saving your life. She’d kill you with her eyes closed. That’s a fact, so best you get over it now.”

Kriss ground her teeth together in frustration, unable to refute the giant’s words but unwilling to let it go.

Nina, realizing this, turned to Milly.

“Hey babe, gimme your spear.”

Wordlessly, Milly did as Nina asked, or rather ordered.

The tiny girl held the weapon in front of the fuming Kriss.

“This belonged to my friend Kar. Evadne killed her with it. Here, take a good long look.”

The Troglodyte did as she said, taking the black spear and examining the length of it.

“So what does this mean?”

“Nothing. But this is as close to Evadne’s blood as you will ever get.”

Kriss was taken aback, examining it closer for a time, but eventually she hissed and glared at the giant.

“Why do you keep standing in my way?”

“Because my master will lose no one else. He promised to protect you, and as such you will be protected, even if I have to pull your damned legs off to keep you safe. Good luck sneaking up on anyone while walking on your hands like a doofus.”

But before they could continue the discussion, or rather argument, word came of the Tenebrae that had been subdued by Tiana and the others, so their private moment had to end as Nameless’s duty called to him.

By the time he was finished, he was ashen faced and sick to his stomach, having endured over and over the agony of Evadne’s children turning to dust.

Just like she had so long ago, he felt the ash of their remains on his tongue, and it was some time before he was able to get the taste out of his mouth.

More bitter than even that though: thirteen.

Thirteen Ogres, of the sixty that entered the city, were all that they were able to save.

Though at least some of the others survived; for reasons unknown a large group of them fled when Evadne had, but the rest were killed either by Xalanth or by Aegis operatives who’d done the same grim work in the past, like Miranda and Grant and their respective monster girls.

To maximize the destruction, the Ogre clan had been directed to split into small groups and come at the city from several directions, but Evadne and Jonathan hadn’t counted on part of the city being so well guarded, so the largest group never made it into the streets.

A small mercy.

Tiana and the monster girls fighting beside her had succeeding in keeping the Ogres away from the boarding school, the pitched battle they waged turning completely in their favour when the groves of Dryads began to emerge from their precious woods to aid them with their magic.

As it turned out the reason Miranda’s neighbours were communing with their trees was to gather their strength in preparation for the next Lipton Falls, and the nature spirits needed every bit of the magic they had drawn out of their groves to help