This is my first serious attempt at writing, so constructive criticism and error point outs are ok. Please no you suck type comments. Enjoy
Slow burner so no sex this section. Lots of plot in between the fun.
Prologue
It started like any other day, hot and boring. Then the first call came in. "Kaughman, get your ass in gear! We got a Hostage out at the airport!" called the watch commander. I jumped out of my chair and ran for the SWAT van. The rest of the team would meet me at the site to gear up and get intel for the rescue. I checked my phone as I drove down the freeway and caught the date August 18, 2007 my 25th birthday. Memories flashed through my head. Blood, gunshots, explosions, and the screams of the dying. It had been 3 years since my discharge.
6 years ago,
"Shaun!" a voiced yelled behind me. I turned to look and saw my baby sister Isis running towards me. I was at the airport shipping off to Parris Island to start boot camp to become a U.S. Marine. "You were seriously gonna leave without saying goodbye?" she asked. I could see the tears in her eyes as I saw our parents behind her.
"You were crying in your room when I left," I countered.
"Asshole!" as she started to hit my chest.
"I'm gonna miss you too brat." I replied as wrapped her in a hug and placed a kiss on top of her head. Our parents came up and wrapped us both in their arms for what none of us knew was the last time.
"All right, I really have to go, or I'll miss my flight!" I laughed. "I'll write every week and see you guys at graduation!" I called after excavating myself from the group hug. I waved as I ran down the terminal to security.
The morning of graduation, my Senior Drill Instructor called me into the Instructor's Hut. "Lance Corporal Kaughman, I have the unfortunate duty to tell you your family was killed driving here for the ceremony." I was in shock and did not know what to say. Unbidden, tears started to pour down my face. "Shaun, I can give you five minutes by yourself, but after that I need you to lock it up till after the ceremony. That's an order Marine." He said as he left the hut.
After the ceremony, I requested to speak to someone who could change my orders. I was led to the Battalion Commander for my platoon. He had already been briefed on my situation and had an idea what I wanted. I left his office with new orders. Instead of the usual 2 weeks leave after boot camp, I went straight to the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, NC.
I threw myself into the training. Learning everything they would teach me and then some. I graduated at the top of my class with a recommendation to join Marine Force Recon. I went to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment out at MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hi. We were prepping to go on a MEU float when our world lit fire.
While I was at boot camp and SOI, things in South America where coming to a head. Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, and most of Central America found itself as new country under the largest drug cartel the world had ever seen. And they had set their sights north. As I was heading to my duty station in the fleet, they invaded southern Mexico. I spent 2 years fighting there as we pushed them back all the way into Panama.
August 18, 2003
It was my 21st birthday and tied for the worst day of my life. My unit rolled into a village near the southern border searching for more of the Cartels goons and mercenaries. Somehow, they found out we were coming and were waiting for us. My Recon team and I walked right into their trap. Me and our team leader where the only survivors. He died a year later another op; I was medically discharged after the shrapnel I took protecting him was pulled from my back.
Present Day
The memories ran through my head as I tried to force my way through LA traffic on this unremarkable Saturday morning. An earthquake warning came over the radio just as I came to a stretch of empty freeway. Seconds later, the freeway started to shake and crack. I slammed on the breaks and prayed the overpass I was on would hold. It did not. As the van started to fall forward into the empty space that used to be asphalt, I saw the brand spanking new canyon I was now plummeting into. As I fell, I prayed to whomever was listening, "Please let me see my family again." After I finished that thought, all I knew was black.
Chapter One
I awoke with a blindingly bright sun shining in my face. As I sat in my seat groaning in pain, I started to look around. And started to wonder if I had hit my head hard enough to start hallucinating. The first thing I did was stupid, I slapped myself. The pain in my head and slapping arm was excruciating. Fortunately, nothing felt broken, just sore and bruised.
I started to assess my situation like I had been taught in SERE school. Starting with myself, I was slightly injured bruises and a few shallow cuts that had already stopped bleeding. I was still sitting in the driver's seat of the SWAT van, so of course I tried to start it. Nothing. I opened the door and stepped out. I was in a small field surrounded on three sides with trees and a dirt road running parallel to the way the van was facing.
When I turned to open the hood of the van, I realized why it would not start, and never would again. The front was smashed like it had been dropped grill first into the field. The wheels were flat and obviously busted. The van was not moving unless I could get a crane and a flat bed here to pick it up.
As I reached to get my phone from the floor where I had dropped it, I remembered what had happened right before I woke up. "Where the fuck am I?" slipped out of my mouth as my brain shut down from the impossibility of what was going on. I have no idea how long I stood there before the scream of horses in pain pierced the air.
Then I heard shouting and the clashing or metal coming from the direction of the road and behind me. Instinctively, my hand dropped to the pistol in a drop-leg holster on my right side. I took off running in the direction of sounds.
I froze when I saw the unbelievable sight in front of me. I was looking at six hulking green skinned humanoids with large tusks attacking an ornate carriage drawn by 4 horses. The driver and two men wearing now ruined armor laid apparently dead as three others tried to fight them off. I drew my pistol as I ran forward to help.
When I got within 20 yards of them, started to angle myself so none of my shots would hit the carriage even if I missed. As I took aim on the first monster, the humans spotted me and yelled. Two of the orcs (as I later confirmed) turned and started heading towards me with their blood-stained clubs. I switched my target as my heart pounded in my ears. When my shot went off, everyone froze and looked my way. The orc behind my first target stared in shock as blood and brains from its friend dripped from his face. I was already aiming at the second orc coming my way. It fell next to its comrade when I pulled the trigger a second time. His skull and brain exploding out the back of his head. My pistol barked four more times, sounding the death knell for the last of the orcs as they charged towards me.
After scanning and listening for more, I holstered my pistol and walked towards the carriage. "Stop! Who are you and where did you come from?" yelled one of the guards as they all turned and pointed their weapons at me. I internally laughed as I took stock of the longsword, claymore, and halberd they attempted to intimidate me with. If I had not been carrying my 9mm Sig Sauer P320C, I might have been worried.
"I'm Sergeant Shaun Kaughman leader of Swat team 3 LAPD. And I have no idea where I am or how I got here." I replied as I raised my hands open at shoulder level to show I had no intentions of attacking. As I got closer, I could see how their weapons were trembling in fear. I had to give them credit, they tried to do their jobs even with the terror running through them not knowing how, but that I had just killed the enemies they would certainly have died trying to defeat. "Look, I'm lost and in desperate need of help," I started to say. As I started to continue, the door to the carriage opened and out stepped the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her fire red hair, and porcelain white skin were stunning. The freckles across her cheeks and nose gave her a cute, approachable air. The ocean blue corseted dress showed an obscene amount of cleavage making my mouth water at the sight.
"Princess! It's not safe, you should get back in the carriage," started the leader of the guards.
"Should I not personally thank the person who has saved all our lives?" she countered. "Shaun Kaughman is your name I believe good sir?" she asked while turning towards me. I noticed a slight blush came to her cheeks as she took in my 5'10" form.
"Ummmm ummmm yes mam," I stammered as my brain short circuited by her beauty.
"Seeing as my guard is now 3 short and you seem to in need of assistance, why don't we come to an amicable agreement to get what we both need," she finished.
Just then I noticed a small wagon and horse behind the carriage for the first time. "I think we can." I started. With a half-smile I continued, "Might I have the pleasure of your name? or should I just call you princess?" Her laughter was like listening to songbirds in the early morning.
"I am Princess Shalyndria McDonaugh. Fourth princess of the Islenase Kingdom. You may call me Shalyndria kind sir," she smiled as she responded. "We are short a few guards now. If you would add yourself to that number, I would be willing to pay you 5 gold and help you get to Verilant, the closest city." Shock ran through me when she finished. Gold was not a form of currency I was used to hearing outside of video games and fantasy novels. Not to mention a city I had never heard of.
"Well Shalyndria, let me use the horse and wagon hiding behind your carriage, and I believe we have a deal." I countered walking up to the horse and stroking its soft muzzle. A look of sorrow marred her beautiful face as she looked to the tree line behind me.
"You may keep them Shaun, their owners no longer need anything in this world." I turned and saw a pile of flesh, cloth, and broken bones lying next to the bruised naked body of a woman. The sight of her bloody pussy and ass while the rest of her was covered in the orc's seed made me wish I hadn't killed the fuckers as quickly as I had.
I looked in the wagon and saw household goods and the like. "What are we going to do with our dead?" I started to ask. "Fuck I'm sorry man, I never did ask you name." I finished as I turned to the new head of her guard detail.
He shook his head and extended his hand to me, "I am Terrance Mackall. We should cremate the bodies to prevent them from returning as zombies or Skeletons to hunt the living. All right, I think the four of us can gather them together pretty quickly. The princess can use a spell to incinerate them in an instant."
"I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore." Whispered past my lips unbidden. "OK gents, lets gather them up for the princess and we can get out of here!" I called to the other guards and we got to work. As we gathered her driver and guards, I watched Shalyndria walk towards the murdered couple. A few seconds later, the smell of burning flesh made me turn in that direction to see her walking back towards us.
"His body was too mutilated for transport, and I didn't think it right for more men to manhandle the poor woman, even good men like you four, after what they did." She answered our unasked question with tears in her eyes.
After the princess started the makeshift pyre, she excused herself into the carriage as I start to shift things in the wagon around to make room for the things I needed to get out of the SWAT van still sitting the clearing I awoke in. I sat in the driver's seat and took up reigns. "Terrance!" I called out. "I need to get my things from my broke down van I mean wagon, it's just passed those trees." I told him pointing in the direction I had come from.
"OK, be careful and hurry back, we need to leave or make camp soon." He called back as I started walking the horse in the direction of the clearing.
"Roger, be right back," I told him as I rolled past.
"Who the fuck is Roger?" I heard him ask the others as I pulled away and laughed.
I pulled up next to the back and jumped down. After I opened the back, I started to take inventory of what needed to come with me. I found 3 M4 carbines, 6 Sig Sauer P320 handguns, 2 MP5SD submachineguns, a Benelli M4 semi-auto 12ga shotgun, and a Remington 800 rifle with a Night force Advanced Tactical Scope. I also found about 10,000 rounds for each weapon. "Where did all this ammo come from?" I asked the empty van. As I piled the gun cases and ammo cans outside the van doors, I heard a gasp from next the wagon and turned. I found Shalyndria staring at me and the van. "An Outlander!"
Chapter 2
I just stood there staring, not knowing what to say. "This explains the strange words and phrases that keep stumping us." Shalyndria laughed as she started going through the cases on the ground.
"Stop!" I yelled. "Those are my weapons. Unless you know what your doing, they are just as dangerous to you as your enemies." I explained to her.
"I know weapons," she replied. I jumped down and climbed into the back of the wagon.
"Please hand me the small boxes first so I can load them up and see how much room I have left Princess." I asked of her. "Also, Why the wardrobe change?" I asked as we loaded the cases.
"Me and my maid thought blending in might be a better idea with our reduced strength." She answered as I took in her new outfit. Black leather pants were tucked into calf high boots while a white shirt under a green vest hugged her torso accentuating her chest.
After the ammo and gun cases were loaded into the wagon, I had a good amount of room left. I returned to the back of the van followed by Shalyndria. I gestured to the chair bolted to the floor, "Have a seat, I'm gonna look for anything else worth salvaging."
"Will you tell me about this and everything while you work?" she asked with a small flirty smile on her innocent face.
"Ask away gorgeous," I easily replied with a chuckle. I pulled out two pelican cases I had overlooked under the monitor desk.
She asked as I opened them, "What is LAPD and SWAT?"
"Starting easy I see," I laughed. "Los Angeles Police Department and Special Weapons and Tactics is and elite assault squad of officers from the Police Department." "Holy shit," slipped from my lips after I opened the first case.
"What is it?" she asked as I stared into the case.
"Grenades, and a lot of them. They shouldn't be here." I replied. Inside was 20 9-bang flash bangs and 30 M61 Fragmentation grenades. "No one can get their hands on these. Toss them in a room, everyone in it dies." I told Shalyndria as I carried them to the wagon and came back in.
"OK, what is Los Angeles Police Department?" she continued.
"Los Angeles is the name of the large coastal city where I lived and worked. The police department is the equivalent of the city guard, peacekeepers and law enforcers for the city." I replied as I returned from taking the case to the wagon. I grabbed an empty duffle bag and start packing the plate carriers and ballistic helmets. I was able to fit all 6 in one bag luckily.
"Where else did you train? Did you leave any family on your old world?" was her next question. "How about a wife and children?" she asked with a hopeful lilt to her voice.
I stopped and dropped my head as the memories ran through my head. "My family died as I was finishing my basic military training. Then I fought in a long war to protect mine and a neighboring country from tyrannical outlaws. Please don't ask more about that." I quietly responded as a few tears fell. I took a few seconds to compose myself, I then noticed one last case on top of the rack the armor had been hanging. "And no one special either, never had the time for love and kids. As for training, I am considered a master in three different methods of unarmed combat and an expert in several others." I responded as I pulled the case down and opened it. I was dumbfounded. This case definitely should NOT have been here circled my brain. Inside I found 4 detonator cord breaching charges, 10 1lbs blocks of C4, and blasting caps with detonators for it all. "Where the fuck did this extra weaponry come from?" I wondered out loud.
"I don't know, but stories say, other Outlanders have found themselves with equipment and weapons they didn't have before they appeared. No one has ever figured out where it comes from, however, they were always glad of it in the end I've heard." Was Shalyndria's reply.
"Well we're done here. Time to head out I guess." I replied as I carried the case to my wagon.
"What are you going to do with this wagon Shaun?" she asked as I settled it in place for the journey.
"Leave it here, I guess? I really have no idea. Wish I could destroy it." I responded. I felt an electrical charge fill the air as we walked away. I heard Shalyndria chanting on the seat next to me before a brilliant light and wave of heat washed over us from behind. When I turned to look, all that was left was a black charred circle of grass where the van had stood. "Was that you Shalyndria?" I asked as she slumped into my side heavily.
"Your welcome Shaun, but that level of spell takes a lot out of me." She mumbled before passing out on my shoulder.
When we arrived at the carriage, her guards were ready to move out. "What happened!" shouted Terrance as we pulled up.
"She used a powerful spell and passed out." I told him.
"Let's get her into the carriage to rest then." He said as he reached for her.
"She's fine, also it might be better to leave her disguised as we are short on manpower. She said her and her maid had discussed it while she changed." I countered.
"There is wisdom there. Ok, everyone move out." Terrence announced to his remaining men.
We rode on for an hour and half or so before Shalyndria started to stir. I moved the M4 I had placed on the floor under her to my other side and glanced down as her emerald green eyes opened and looked up. "Morning sunshine," I joked as she sat up, yawned, and stretched. "How was your nap?"
"I slept well, and most of my mana has oddly recharged already. It normally takes a full day for me to go from empty like I was. How long was I out?" Shalyndria asked me.
"Hour and a half, maybe 2 tops. Terrance says we will stop for camp in another 3." I retorted. "Do you think I can use magic?" was my next question.
She was silent for a few minutes as she thought about her answer. I found the way she chewed on her ruby lower lip unconsciously endearing. "Truthfully, I'm not sure Shaun. The records say most but not all Outlanders were able. I have something in the wagon we can use for an initial test when we stop."
"How about we swap stories and get to know each other till we stop for camp? I'll answer anything except about my time in the military." I proposed to the gorgeous red head.
"That sounds delightful." She smiled back. We spent the few hours becoming closer and learning more about each other as she also taught me about the world I have been suddenly dropped into.
Chapter 3
We pulled into a small field an hour before sunset to set up camp for the night. "Hank, please see if you can get us something for dinner. Bob, start to set up the tent for us. Shaun," Terrance started as we hopped down from our wagon,
"I'll start a fire after I get some wood unless you want me to do something else." I finished for him. He smiled back and nodded to me as I walked to the tree line to see what I could find. I froze in my tracks as Hank pulled the helmet from his head and I saw for the first time the wolf ears on top of his head. My jaw dropped to the grass as a beautiful black furred anthropomorphic cat wearing a maid uniform got out of the carriage and walked over to Shalyndria.
"What what what," I stuttered out as I stood there dumbfounded.
"You've never seen a beast man or a beast folk before?" Shalyndria laughed as she saw the look on my face. She continued as she walked over to me and closed my mouth with one finger, "Hank's father is a full-blooded wolf beast man while his mother is human making him a wolf beast folk. Milla, my personal maid, is a full-blooded panther beast man. Are they that shocking?"
"Where I'm from, it's only humans on the entire world." I answered. "It was just a surprise. Milla is exotic and beautiful. She single?" I asked with a shy smile. I didn't miss the hurt look that flashed across her face for a split second. "Your hot as hell yourself." I managed to finish.
As a blush spread across her cheeks, "Flattery will get you only so far. And you should know Milla is engaged to Terrance and head over heels for him. Looks like a lot of lonely nights ahead for you." She chuckled as she walked away back towards the carriage.
I ran through the day in my head as I gathered firewood. Everything from the point I awoke in this world made my head spin. The only bright spot in the whole day seemed too far out of my reach. I watched Shalyndria as she talked with Milla and they prepared the food for dinner. I wondered what it would take to get on her radar.
As we started to eat, they all asked to hear about me, and I realized the only one I knew was Shalyndria and I felt bad. "Yes, tell Terrance what you said when you saw Milla Shaun, come on now!" Called Shalyndria after we finished. I glanced at him, and he didn't miss the nervous look on my face and laughed.
"Go ahead, I've probably heard it all before." He urged as the others laughed at our exchange."
"All right, all right. I said she is exotic and beautiful, then asked if she was single. In my defense, I didn't know you two were engaged yet." Was my counter as I noticed Shalyndria had left the fire side.
Everyone laughed, "Beautiful she is, no harm in noticing." Terrance commented as he walked over and kissed her cheek. "But more, and we have a problem," Was his obvious warning.
After Terrance had sat down and wrapped an arm around Milla's shoulder and she leaned against him, I saw the princess walking toward us with an ornate box in her hand. She looked at me as she sat down on my right. "Earlier you asked if you could use magic." She opened the box to reveal a crystal globe about the size of a softball. "When you hold this espial orb, the color will show what element you are most adept with and the brightness it shines will denote how deep your mana pool is." As Shalyndria picked it up, a crimson light as bright as a car's headlight shined. "As you can see, I'm strongest with fire magic and have a very deep mana pool." She handed it to Milla. It shone with a bright emerald color like a 140w lightbulb in her hand. "Milla is a talented healer with an average pool to draw from."
The three guards passed it between them next. They each had a white light with varying degrees of dimness. Terrance had the brightest, still only as bright as a car's dome light. "White means they can't use any elemental magic, but having a pool means they can use mana to strengthen their bodies to fight." Explained Shalyndria as she took the orb from Bob, the last to hold it. "As for what kinds of magic there are, red is fire of course while green denotes healing and silver denotes light. Blue is water and brown means earth. Storm grey is the color for wind while white is physical enhancement." She explained as the moon started to rise for the night. "White is the only color that can't use any others. While any magus can use physical enhancement magic, white magi can only use it. While the color tells us what your strongest element is, you can use all the others to some extent. Being a fire magus myself, water is naturally my weakest element though I can use some of the lower level spells." Shalyndria finished as she held the orb out for me to take.
I slowly reached for the orb in her hand. As my fingers got closer, a bright gold light started to emanate from it. Once my hand wrapped around it, it flared as bright as the noon day sun! We all cried out in pain as we pinched our eyes closed and turned from the light. In my worry, I dropped the orb to the ground and the light faded in the clearing.
"What the hell was that!" Yelled Hank as he rubbed his eyes trying to clear them.
"That can't be......." Shalyndria exclaimed softly while looking from me to the orb and back several times.
"What are we going to do princess? We'll never see him again if they find out." Milla cried from Terrance's shoulder.
"Who is they, and why would you never see me again?" I asked through gritted teeth. The old rage burned through me as I thought of being separated from the first real friends I have made in years. Wait, friends? Since when did I start having those again? As my thoughts started spiraling, I was pulled from my musings by the princess's next words
Shalyndria's shaky fearful voice echoed around the camp, "Gold is the color of a True Magi, a magus capable of using all elements equally. Even mixing them in ways never seen before. The church will declare you a demi-god and either control you or kill you. I have never seen the orb glow so brightly nor have I heard of it ever happening before." She said as tears filled her eyes.
I reached with my hand to wipe the tears from her eyes and realized something. My cold dead heart was beating again, for her. I leaned forward resting my forehead against hers and said, "I'll kill anyone who tries to take me from my friends." I looked at the others and continued, "that means you meatheads as well." I laughed and looked at the sky. Next to the silver moon I saw earlier was a maroon one about twice its size. "Wha..." was all that slipped out of my mouth as my brain shutdown and I was swallowed by darkness once again.
Chapter 4
When I awoke, I noticed the pre-dawn light coming through a slit in front of me. I also noticed my left arm being tightly hugged between two soft full mounds and looked over. My heart melted at the sight. Shalyndria slept peacefully looking like an angel. She clung to my left arm like a drowning person does a lifejacket. It was pressed right between her large soft breasts. As I contemplated what was going on, I heard her breath hitch and she mumbled, "No, please don't leave me."
I rolled so I faced her and wrapped my right arm around her waist and pulled her tight. While I tried not wake her, her eyes fluttered open as I again rested my forehead on hers. "I'm not going anywhere, I swear." I whispered as tears filled her eyes.
"You don't understand. They felt the pulse of magic when you held the orb and are already looking for you. It's only a matter of time before they come." She cried.
"You just made a big assumption there. That they could take me away in the first place." Was my only reply.
I did something I had wanted to do since I first saw her. I pressed my lips against hers and felt heaven. After a moment, she pulled away and looked at me. I could see the conflict in her eyes. "As much as I want that and more, we can't." My heart fell at her words. As I pulled away and started to get up, she must have seen something in my eyes or manner. She shot up, cupped my cheeks, and kissed me again slipping her tongue against mine briefly. "Yet Shaun. As a princess I can only marry a noble. However, an Outlander who has proven themselves honorable and powerful is acceptable. You are a good man, and, what I saw last night says it's only a matter of you being you to become acceptable." She told me this with a small smile.
"Why did you sleep in here Shalyndria?" I asked as I sat up to see where here was.
"We were worried how you would wake up; a small number of Outlanders became hostile after passing out as you did. It is believed their mind couldn't handle the differences in our worlds and snapped. They had to be killed before they took innocent lives. Every time, the first person they saw upon awakening was not fully human." She shivered in my arms as she told me this. "We thought a human being here, along with the signs they all saw last night, brought us to the decision of I would be best to be here."
"I've always been a fan of this kind of stuff in the entertainment of my old world." I chuckled as I let her stand and stood as well. "That is probably the reason I'm handling this so well."
We exited the tent I had been put in to see Hank on watch and Milla at the fire stirring a pot I presumed held breakfast. "Hey, sorry for worrying y'all last night. My brain might have overloaded a bit from all the new info it had to take in." I waved to them and smiled.
"I'm glad you're ok now. Food will be ready in a bit; can you wake Bob and Terrance for me?" asked Milla as Hank waved back, nodded and continued patrolling the perimeter.
I walked over to the other tent and went inside. "Bob, Terrance time to wake up. Milla says breakfast is almost ready." I called as I shook them awake.
"We'll be out in a minute. Good to see your still you Sean." Said Terrance as I pulled open the tent. I smiled to him as I walked out.
We pulled out of the clearing about 2 hours later and continued our journey. The only change was Milla took Shalyndria's seat next to me in the wagon. After an hour of silence, she spoke up, "She wants to be with you, but her position makes certain criteria necessary."
"I know. I just worry about how long it will take to be acceptable, and, if she will still want me then." I sighed as the horses walked on.
"Would you like to start learning to control your magic Shaun?" was her way of changing the subject on me. I smiled and nodded,
"How do I begin oh great teacher!" I enthusiastically answered.
"Start by closing your eyes and feeling for the mana. It flows like a river through your body. Find it, follow it, and map how and where it moves through your body. After you have memorized its paths and flows, make it materialize as a small ball of light in your hand. We can move on after you complete that." Became my first task.
We rode on for hours. We just started to see the tops of the city wall's towers when I felt it. Several men were hiding in the field another hundred yards up the road waiting for us. "Terrance!" I yelled out. "Stop, I think my front axle broke!" As we stopped, Milla looked at me funny. "Several people are waiting up ahead." I whispered as I hoped down. Terrance and Hank jogged back and looked at me funny when they saw the axle was obviously fine. "Hank can you hand me the rope under Milla so I can fix this?" I asked as I crawled under the axle. As he handed it to me, "I don't know how, but I know there are," I closed my eyes and concentrated a moment on the road ahead, "Nine people are hiding in the field just up the road. I can feel their intentions like a sour scent on the breeze." I told them as I wrapped the axle in rope, pretending to fix it.
Terrance continued, "Drive around to lead then Shaun, we will see what happens." We then mounted back up and I passed the carriage. I smiled and winked at Shalyndria as we passed. Using the attached single point sling, I had slung my M4 on my body when I got back in the wagon. When we got close, three large men in dented armor stepped onto the road as three others stood on each side, effectively boxing my wagon with the carriage.
"All right ya pussies, give us the princess!" Shouted the largest of them.
"Why?" I asked with a confused look on my face. "She is supposed to be in Verilant City later today."
"We were paid to kill her before she got there!" he yelled as I laughed at his stupidity. "Kill them," is all he got out before I raised my rifle and fired. Two rounds pounded into his chest, spraying blood out behind. Terrance and Hank jumped down from their seats behind me when they heard the crack of my rounds and each attacked a group, Terrance going left and Hank going right.
The other two in front fell with their brains leaking out the large holes in the back of their heads. I looked around, Milla was standing watching the two guards for injury. I turned and saw Bob guarding the door to the carriage. I nodded to him and saw Hank struggling. So, I unhooked my rifle, hopped down and ran to help him.
"On your left!" I called as pulled up and stopped next to Hank and started to dodge the strikes of one of his assailants. His battle axe was slow and heavy. When he pulled it over his head to strike, I moved in for my kill. As I ran, I had pulled my 4" folder from my pocket and opened it, keeping it hidden in a reverse grip against my forearm. As I slipped under the rising axe, I struck at the first of the six major blade targets. I slashed the insides of his thighs severing the femoral arteries. Rising as he screamed, I stabbed through his leather chest piece just under the breastbone puncturing the bottom of the aorta. I then slashed through his upper arms, severing the biceps and brachial artery. With the light leaving his eyes, I finished by stabbing the blade up through his chin into the brain at the back of his head and twisted. Hearing the pop of his spine separating from his brain, I yanked the blade from his head and wiped it on his pants before returning it to my pocket.
When I turned to check, I saw Hank's opponent dead and him staring at me, a shocked look on his face. "How did you do that? You were faster than I am when using enhancement magic." Was all he could say.
"Maybe I did it on instinct?" Was all I could say. We then looked over to where Terrance was finishing up with his last opponent. We walked over as the asshole's head fell to the ground with thud. When we got to the road, I stopped and looked at the three I had killed.
"Milla, heal the leader enough so he survives. He's dying but hasn't passed yet." I called as Terrance walked over wiping his sword clean.
"Why? Death is the only sentence we can and will get." He questioned as he stopped Milla.
"While I agree, we should at least find out why, and if we are walking into a lion's den when we get to Verilant City." Was my response. "Part of my job before joining SWAT, was to investigate crimes and criminals. I apologize for overstepping my bounds, I just would like to know as much as possible before we move on." I finished my apology with a shallow bow of respect.
"I respect your instincts and accept the apology. Milla, go ahead." Was his response. "I needed to make sure why you wanted him healed before it happened. But he WILL die when we are done."
"I understand and agree. I never meant for him to survive anyway." I nodded, then we walked over just as the asshole started to stir.
"I fixed the holes in his lung and heart. He will live while you all need him to. I'll check on the princess." She said as she walked away not wanting to watch what we were about to do.
Chapter 5
Hank rolled the bandit onto his stomach as I pulled the handcuffs from my duty belt. After cuffing his hands, we rolled him back over just as he started to stir. He glared at us from his back once he fully awoke and started to strain against the cuffs. "Hello again, do you feel like answering my questions now?" I asked as he fought the steel on his wrists.
"Fuck you ya pansy ass! Go ahead and kill me. I'll never tell you about them." He shouted back.
"Well now," I laughed. "Now that we know that it is a them and not a he or she, we're getting somewhere already." I placed the toe of my boot on his balls and lightly pressed down to start. "So how many are they? Where did you meet?"
"Fuck off. Have your wolf boy-toy fuck your ass again." He cried as I increased the pressure on his balls. Hank jumped forward and racked his claws down the assassin's face. He screamed like a six-year-old girl.
"I don't think he liked that buddy." I remarked to out prisoner. "Now tell me what you know before I make you a eunuch."
"The fuck you will you candy ass. The Baron will," before he could finish, an arrow appeared in his left temple. Killing him instantly. I tried to sense whomever it was like I had before, but I got nothing.
"I can't feel anyone. I didn't even know they were there." I told the others dejectedly. "If you guys gather the bodies, I'll go get pointers from Shalyndria on fire magic so she can stay in the carriage."
"Go ahead, I'd rather not put her in danger right now," agreed Terrance.
I nodded to Bob as I knocked on the door. "The bandits are all dead, go help the others. I'll be here if anything happens." He agreed and walked off as Milla opened the door. "I need some pointers from Shalyndria on fire magic. We think its safer if I burn the bodies because someone killed the leader with an arrow before we finished."
"What do you mean Shaun?" Shalyndria asked. "Just before he died, he mentioned the Baron. As soon as Baron left his mouth, the arrow entered his brain. Please, we think it would be best if you stayed here until we reach your manor in the city."
"Ok. Hold out your hand. Now picture the flame of a candle hovering over your palm." I followed her commands. All three of us were shocked when the flame appeared. "I shouldn't be surprised." The princess commented. "Now picture it growing and shrinking according to your will." As I did what she asked, I had a thought. I pictured the blue heat of an oxy-acetylene welding torch. The fire immediately turned bright blue and we all felt the greatly increased heat.
"Ok, thank you princess. I'm going to go burn the corpses and we will get going. We won't be stopping till we get To Verilant this time." I informed her highness.
"I understand. Tell Terrance, have the gate guards tell Lieutenant Lontra I need her to come to the manor as soon as possible as well." We her orders.
I shut the door and headed over to the bodies. "Terrance, Shalyndria says to have the guards summon a Lieutenant Lontra to the manor at the city gates." He acknowledged the order as I extended my hand towards the pile of bodies. All three guards were shocked the heat coming from the bright blue column of flames I conjured. I kept the flames going for a couple of minutes. All that was left was a black circle of dirt when I was done.
We went back to the transports in a somber mood and were soon back on our way. Hank chose to ride with me this time. We talked about our lives, I told him stories about my time as a patrol officer. He finally asked the question that had been bothering him. "What are you and what are your intentions?" were all he asked.
"Shalyndria calls me an Outlander. I come from a world of only humans called Earth. We have no magic there but everything is created and run by science. What do mean my intentions?" was my answer so far. I didn't blame him for his questions. I had been dropped almost literally in his lap yesterday.
"We see the way you and the princess look at each other. Terrance and I have been worried. We also want to know what you intend to do once we reach the city." He wondered.
"Shalyndria and I talked about us already. I'm going to earn my way to her side hoping she will have me when I do. And I have zero idea what I'm going to do in the city. I am a fish completely out of water here." I admitted to my new friend. With a self-depreciating laugh, "I don't even know where to begin."
"Well, the five of us talked last night after you passed out," Hank started. I noticed the large gate in the wall about a mile in front of us. "It was decided to offer you a position with us guarding the princess. Depending on the answers I got of course. The answers are about what we expected, so will you take the offer?"
"I accept. You guys are all I know; y'all are family to me now." Was my response. "Good answer, Terrance, Milla, and definitely Shalyndria will be happy. We will talk more once we get in." Hank patted me on the back as we looked at the wagons and carriages we passed. Once we stopped at the open gate, Terrance stood, "All Hail Shalyndria! Fourth princess of the Islenase Empire!" he announced to all before hopping down and talking with a guard. Milla jumped out, whispered something to him, then ran off into the city. Hank turned smiling, "Welcome to our new home Shaun."
Slow burner so no sex this section. Lots of plot in between the fun.
Prologue
It started like any other day, hot and boring. Then the first call came in. "Kaughman, get your ass in gear! We got a Hostage out at the airport!" called the watch commander. I jumped out of my chair and ran for the SWAT van. The rest of the team would meet me at the site to gear up and get intel for the rescue. I checked my phone as I drove down the freeway and caught the date August 18, 2007 my 25th birthday. Memories flashed through my head. Blood, gunshots, explosions, and the screams of the dying. It had been 3 years since my discharge.
6 years ago,
"Shaun!" a voiced yelled behind me. I turned to look and saw my baby sister Isis running towards me. I was at the airport shipping off to Parris Island to start boot camp to become a U.S. Marine. "You were seriously gonna leave without saying goodbye?" she asked. I could see the tears in her eyes as I saw our parents behind her.
"You were crying in your room when I left," I countered.
"Asshole!" as she started to hit my chest.
"I'm gonna miss you too brat." I replied as wrapped her in a hug and placed a kiss on top of her head. Our parents came up and wrapped us both in their arms for what none of us knew was the last time.
"All right, I really have to go, or I'll miss my flight!" I laughed. "I'll write every week and see you guys at graduation!" I called after excavating myself from the group hug. I waved as I ran down the terminal to security.
The morning of graduation, my Senior Drill Instructor called me into the Instructor's Hut. "Lance Corporal Kaughman, I have the unfortunate duty to tell you your family was killed driving here for the ceremony." I was in shock and did not know what to say. Unbidden, tears started to pour down my face. "Shaun, I can give you five minutes by yourself, but after that I need you to lock it up till after the ceremony. That's an order Marine." He said as he left the hut.
After the ceremony, I requested to speak to someone who could change my orders. I was led to the Battalion Commander for my platoon. He had already been briefed on my situation and had an idea what I wanted. I left his office with new orders. Instead of the usual 2 weeks leave after boot camp, I went straight to the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, NC.
I threw myself into the training. Learning everything they would teach me and then some. I graduated at the top of my class with a recommendation to join Marine Force Recon. I went to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment out at MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hi. We were prepping to go on a MEU float when our world lit fire.
While I was at boot camp and SOI, things in South America where coming to a head. Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, and most of Central America found itself as new country under the largest drug cartel the world had ever seen. And they had set their sights north. As I was heading to my duty station in the fleet, they invaded southern Mexico. I spent 2 years fighting there as we pushed them back all the way into Panama.
August 18, 2003
It was my 21st birthday and tied for the worst day of my life. My unit rolled into a village near the southern border searching for more of the Cartels goons and mercenaries. Somehow, they found out we were coming and were waiting for us. My Recon team and I walked right into their trap. Me and our team leader where the only survivors. He died a year later another op; I was medically discharged after the shrapnel I took protecting him was pulled from my back.
Present Day
The memories ran through my head as I tried to force my way through LA traffic on this unremarkable Saturday morning. An earthquake warning came over the radio just as I came to a stretch of empty freeway. Seconds later, the freeway started to shake and crack. I slammed on the breaks and prayed the overpass I was on would hold. It did not. As the van started to fall forward into the empty space that used to be asphalt, I saw the brand spanking new canyon I was now plummeting into. As I fell, I prayed to whomever was listening, "Please let me see my family again." After I finished that thought, all I knew was black.
Chapter One
I awoke with a blindingly bright sun shining in my face. As I sat in my seat groaning in pain, I started to look around. And started to wonder if I had hit my head hard enough to start hallucinating. The first thing I did was stupid, I slapped myself. The pain in my head and slapping arm was excruciating. Fortunately, nothing felt broken, just sore and bruised.
I started to assess my situation like I had been taught in SERE school. Starting with myself, I was slightly injured bruises and a few shallow cuts that had already stopped bleeding. I was still sitting in the driver's seat of the SWAT van, so of course I tried to start it. Nothing. I opened the door and stepped out. I was in a small field surrounded on three sides with trees and a dirt road running parallel to the way the van was facing.
When I turned to open the hood of the van, I realized why it would not start, and never would again. The front was smashed like it had been dropped grill first into the field. The wheels were flat and obviously busted. The van was not moving unless I could get a crane and a flat bed here to pick it up.
As I reached to get my phone from the floor where I had dropped it, I remembered what had happened right before I woke up. "Where the fuck am I?" slipped out of my mouth as my brain shut down from the impossibility of what was going on. I have no idea how long I stood there before the scream of horses in pain pierced the air.
Then I heard shouting and the clashing or metal coming from the direction of the road and behind me. Instinctively, my hand dropped to the pistol in a drop-leg holster on my right side. I took off running in the direction of sounds.
I froze when I saw the unbelievable sight in front of me. I was looking at six hulking green skinned humanoids with large tusks attacking an ornate carriage drawn by 4 horses. The driver and two men wearing now ruined armor laid apparently dead as three others tried to fight them off. I drew my pistol as I ran forward to help.
When I got within 20 yards of them, started to angle myself so none of my shots would hit the carriage even if I missed. As I took aim on the first monster, the humans spotted me and yelled. Two of the orcs (as I later confirmed) turned and started heading towards me with their blood-stained clubs. I switched my target as my heart pounded in my ears. When my shot went off, everyone froze and looked my way. The orc behind my first target stared in shock as blood and brains from its friend dripped from his face. I was already aiming at the second orc coming my way. It fell next to its comrade when I pulled the trigger a second time. His skull and brain exploding out the back of his head. My pistol barked four more times, sounding the death knell for the last of the orcs as they charged towards me.
After scanning and listening for more, I holstered my pistol and walked towards the carriage. "Stop! Who are you and where did you come from?" yelled one of the guards as they all turned and pointed their weapons at me. I internally laughed as I took stock of the longsword, claymore, and halberd they attempted to intimidate me with. If I had not been carrying my 9mm Sig Sauer P320C, I might have been worried.
"I'm Sergeant Shaun Kaughman leader of Swat team 3 LAPD. And I have no idea where I am or how I got here." I replied as I raised my hands open at shoulder level to show I had no intentions of attacking. As I got closer, I could see how their weapons were trembling in fear. I had to give them credit, they tried to do their jobs even with the terror running through them not knowing how, but that I had just killed the enemies they would certainly have died trying to defeat. "Look, I'm lost and in desperate need of help," I started to say. As I started to continue, the door to the carriage opened and out stepped the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her fire red hair, and porcelain white skin were stunning. The freckles across her cheeks and nose gave her a cute, approachable air. The ocean blue corseted dress showed an obscene amount of cleavage making my mouth water at the sight.
"Princess! It's not safe, you should get back in the carriage," started the leader of the guards.
"Should I not personally thank the person who has saved all our lives?" she countered. "Shaun Kaughman is your name I believe good sir?" she asked while turning towards me. I noticed a slight blush came to her cheeks as she took in my 5'10" form.
"Ummmm ummmm yes mam," I stammered as my brain short circuited by her beauty.
"Seeing as my guard is now 3 short and you seem to in need of assistance, why don't we come to an amicable agreement to get what we both need," she finished.
Just then I noticed a small wagon and horse behind the carriage for the first time. "I think we can." I started. With a half-smile I continued, "Might I have the pleasure of your name? or should I just call you princess?" Her laughter was like listening to songbirds in the early morning.
"I am Princess Shalyndria McDonaugh. Fourth princess of the Islenase Kingdom. You may call me Shalyndria kind sir," she smiled as she responded. "We are short a few guards now. If you would add yourself to that number, I would be willing to pay you 5 gold and help you get to Verilant, the closest city." Shock ran through me when she finished. Gold was not a form of currency I was used to hearing outside of video games and fantasy novels. Not to mention a city I had never heard of.
"Well Shalyndria, let me use the horse and wagon hiding behind your carriage, and I believe we have a deal." I countered walking up to the horse and stroking its soft muzzle. A look of sorrow marred her beautiful face as she looked to the tree line behind me.
"You may keep them Shaun, their owners no longer need anything in this world." I turned and saw a pile of flesh, cloth, and broken bones lying next to the bruised naked body of a woman. The sight of her bloody pussy and ass while the rest of her was covered in the orc's seed made me wish I hadn't killed the fuckers as quickly as I had.
I looked in the wagon and saw household goods and the like. "What are we going to do with our dead?" I started to ask. "Fuck I'm sorry man, I never did ask you name." I finished as I turned to the new head of her guard detail.
He shook his head and extended his hand to me, "I am Terrance Mackall. We should cremate the bodies to prevent them from returning as zombies or Skeletons to hunt the living. All right, I think the four of us can gather them together pretty quickly. The princess can use a spell to incinerate them in an instant."
"I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore." Whispered past my lips unbidden. "OK gents, lets gather them up for the princess and we can get out of here!" I called to the other guards and we got to work. As we gathered her driver and guards, I watched Shalyndria walk towards the murdered couple. A few seconds later, the smell of burning flesh made me turn in that direction to see her walking back towards us.
"His body was too mutilated for transport, and I didn't think it right for more men to manhandle the poor woman, even good men like you four, after what they did." She answered our unasked question with tears in her eyes.
After the princess started the makeshift pyre, she excused herself into the carriage as I start to shift things in the wagon around to make room for the things I needed to get out of the SWAT van still sitting the clearing I awoke in. I sat in the driver's seat and took up reigns. "Terrance!" I called out. "I need to get my things from my broke down van I mean wagon, it's just passed those trees." I told him pointing in the direction I had come from.
"OK, be careful and hurry back, we need to leave or make camp soon." He called back as I started walking the horse in the direction of the clearing.
"Roger, be right back," I told him as I rolled past.
"Who the fuck is Roger?" I heard him ask the others as I pulled away and laughed.
I pulled up next to the back and jumped down. After I opened the back, I started to take inventory of what needed to come with me. I found 3 M4 carbines, 6 Sig Sauer P320 handguns, 2 MP5SD submachineguns, a Benelli M4 semi-auto 12ga shotgun, and a Remington 800 rifle with a Night force Advanced Tactical Scope. I also found about 10,000 rounds for each weapon. "Where did all this ammo come from?" I asked the empty van. As I piled the gun cases and ammo cans outside the van doors, I heard a gasp from next the wagon and turned. I found Shalyndria staring at me and the van. "An Outlander!"
Chapter 2
I just stood there staring, not knowing what to say. "This explains the strange words and phrases that keep stumping us." Shalyndria laughed as she started going through the cases on the ground.
"Stop!" I yelled. "Those are my weapons. Unless you know what your doing, they are just as dangerous to you as your enemies." I explained to her.
"I know weapons," she replied. I jumped down and climbed into the back of the wagon.
"Please hand me the small boxes first so I can load them up and see how much room I have left Princess." I asked of her. "Also, Why the wardrobe change?" I asked as we loaded the cases.
"Me and my maid thought blending in might be a better idea with our reduced strength." She answered as I took in her new outfit. Black leather pants were tucked into calf high boots while a white shirt under a green vest hugged her torso accentuating her chest.
After the ammo and gun cases were loaded into the wagon, I had a good amount of room left. I returned to the back of the van followed by Shalyndria. I gestured to the chair bolted to the floor, "Have a seat, I'm gonna look for anything else worth salvaging."
"Will you tell me about this and everything while you work?" she asked with a small flirty smile on her innocent face.
"Ask away gorgeous," I easily replied with a chuckle. I pulled out two pelican cases I had overlooked under the monitor desk.
She asked as I opened them, "What is LAPD and SWAT?"
"Starting easy I see," I laughed. "Los Angeles Police Department and Special Weapons and Tactics is and elite assault squad of officers from the Police Department." "Holy shit," slipped from my lips after I opened the first case.
"What is it?" she asked as I stared into the case.
"Grenades, and a lot of them. They shouldn't be here." I replied. Inside was 20 9-bang flash bangs and 30 M61 Fragmentation grenades. "No one can get their hands on these. Toss them in a room, everyone in it dies." I told Shalyndria as I carried them to the wagon and came back in.
"OK, what is Los Angeles Police Department?" she continued.
"Los Angeles is the name of the large coastal city where I lived and worked. The police department is the equivalent of the city guard, peacekeepers and law enforcers for the city." I replied as I returned from taking the case to the wagon. I grabbed an empty duffle bag and start packing the plate carriers and ballistic helmets. I was able to fit all 6 in one bag luckily.
"Where else did you train? Did you leave any family on your old world?" was her next question. "How about a wife and children?" she asked with a hopeful lilt to her voice.
I stopped and dropped my head as the memories ran through my head. "My family died as I was finishing my basic military training. Then I fought in a long war to protect mine and a neighboring country from tyrannical outlaws. Please don't ask more about that." I quietly responded as a few tears fell. I took a few seconds to compose myself, I then noticed one last case on top of the rack the armor had been hanging. "And no one special either, never had the time for love and kids. As for training, I am considered a master in three different methods of unarmed combat and an expert in several others." I responded as I pulled the case down and opened it. I was dumbfounded. This case definitely should NOT have been here circled my brain. Inside I found 4 detonator cord breaching charges, 10 1lbs blocks of C4, and blasting caps with detonators for it all. "Where the fuck did this extra weaponry come from?" I wondered out loud.
"I don't know, but stories say, other Outlanders have found themselves with equipment and weapons they didn't have before they appeared. No one has ever figured out where it comes from, however, they were always glad of it in the end I've heard." Was Shalyndria's reply.
"Well we're done here. Time to head out I guess." I replied as I carried the case to my wagon.
"What are you going to do with this wagon Shaun?" she asked as I settled it in place for the journey.
"Leave it here, I guess? I really have no idea. Wish I could destroy it." I responded. I felt an electrical charge fill the air as we walked away. I heard Shalyndria chanting on the seat next to me before a brilliant light and wave of heat washed over us from behind. When I turned to look, all that was left was a black charred circle of grass where the van had stood. "Was that you Shalyndria?" I asked as she slumped into my side heavily.
"Your welcome Shaun, but that level of spell takes a lot out of me." She mumbled before passing out on my shoulder.
When we arrived at the carriage, her guards were ready to move out. "What happened!" shouted Terrance as we pulled up.
"She used a powerful spell and passed out." I told him.
"Let's get her into the carriage to rest then." He said as he reached for her.
"She's fine, also it might be better to leave her disguised as we are short on manpower. She said her and her maid had discussed it while she changed." I countered.
"There is wisdom there. Ok, everyone move out." Terrence announced to his remaining men.
We rode on for an hour and half or so before Shalyndria started to stir. I moved the M4 I had placed on the floor under her to my other side and glanced down as her emerald green eyes opened and looked up. "Morning sunshine," I joked as she sat up, yawned, and stretched. "How was your nap?"
"I slept well, and most of my mana has oddly recharged already. It normally takes a full day for me to go from empty like I was. How long was I out?" Shalyndria asked me.
"Hour and a half, maybe 2 tops. Terrance says we will stop for camp in another 3." I retorted. "Do you think I can use magic?" was my next question.
She was silent for a few minutes as she thought about her answer. I found the way she chewed on her ruby lower lip unconsciously endearing. "Truthfully, I'm not sure Shaun. The records say most but not all Outlanders were able. I have something in the wagon we can use for an initial test when we stop."
"How about we swap stories and get to know each other till we stop for camp? I'll answer anything except about my time in the military." I proposed to the gorgeous red head.
"That sounds delightful." She smiled back. We spent the few hours becoming closer and learning more about each other as she also taught me about the world I have been suddenly dropped into.
Chapter 3
We pulled into a small field an hour before sunset to set up camp for the night. "Hank, please see if you can get us something for dinner. Bob, start to set up the tent for us. Shaun," Terrance started as we hopped down from our wagon,
"I'll start a fire after I get some wood unless you want me to do something else." I finished for him. He smiled back and nodded to me as I walked to the tree line to see what I could find. I froze in my tracks as Hank pulled the helmet from his head and I saw for the first time the wolf ears on top of his head. My jaw dropped to the grass as a beautiful black furred anthropomorphic cat wearing a maid uniform got out of the carriage and walked over to Shalyndria.
"What what what," I stuttered out as I stood there dumbfounded.
"You've never seen a beast man or a beast folk before?" Shalyndria laughed as she saw the look on my face. She continued as she walked over to me and closed my mouth with one finger, "Hank's father is a full-blooded wolf beast man while his mother is human making him a wolf beast folk. Milla, my personal maid, is a full-blooded panther beast man. Are they that shocking?"
"Where I'm from, it's only humans on the entire world." I answered. "It was just a surprise. Milla is exotic and beautiful. She single?" I asked with a shy smile. I didn't miss the hurt look that flashed across her face for a split second. "Your hot as hell yourself." I managed to finish.
As a blush spread across her cheeks, "Flattery will get you only so far. And you should know Milla is engaged to Terrance and head over heels for him. Looks like a lot of lonely nights ahead for you." She chuckled as she walked away back towards the carriage.
I ran through the day in my head as I gathered firewood. Everything from the point I awoke in this world made my head spin. The only bright spot in the whole day seemed too far out of my reach. I watched Shalyndria as she talked with Milla and they prepared the food for dinner. I wondered what it would take to get on her radar.
As we started to eat, they all asked to hear about me, and I realized the only one I knew was Shalyndria and I felt bad. "Yes, tell Terrance what you said when you saw Milla Shaun, come on now!" Called Shalyndria after we finished. I glanced at him, and he didn't miss the nervous look on my face and laughed.
"Go ahead, I've probably heard it all before." He urged as the others laughed at our exchange."
"All right, all right. I said she is exotic and beautiful, then asked if she was single. In my defense, I didn't know you two were engaged yet." Was my counter as I noticed Shalyndria had left the fire side.
Everyone laughed, "Beautiful she is, no harm in noticing." Terrance commented as he walked over and kissed her cheek. "But more, and we have a problem," Was his obvious warning.
After Terrance had sat down and wrapped an arm around Milla's shoulder and she leaned against him, I saw the princess walking toward us with an ornate box in her hand. She looked at me as she sat down on my right. "Earlier you asked if you could use magic." She opened the box to reveal a crystal globe about the size of a softball. "When you hold this espial orb, the color will show what element you are most adept with and the brightness it shines will denote how deep your mana pool is." As Shalyndria picked it up, a crimson light as bright as a car's headlight shined. "As you can see, I'm strongest with fire magic and have a very deep mana pool." She handed it to Milla. It shone with a bright emerald color like a 140w lightbulb in her hand. "Milla is a talented healer with an average pool to draw from."
The three guards passed it between them next. They each had a white light with varying degrees of dimness. Terrance had the brightest, still only as bright as a car's dome light. "White means they can't use any elemental magic, but having a pool means they can use mana to strengthen their bodies to fight." Explained Shalyndria as she took the orb from Bob, the last to hold it. "As for what kinds of magic there are, red is fire of course while green denotes healing and silver denotes light. Blue is water and brown means earth. Storm grey is the color for wind while white is physical enhancement." She explained as the moon started to rise for the night. "White is the only color that can't use any others. While any magus can use physical enhancement magic, white magi can only use it. While the color tells us what your strongest element is, you can use all the others to some extent. Being a fire magus myself, water is naturally my weakest element though I can use some of the lower level spells." Shalyndria finished as she held the orb out for me to take.
I slowly reached for the orb in her hand. As my fingers got closer, a bright gold light started to emanate from it. Once my hand wrapped around it, it flared as bright as the noon day sun! We all cried out in pain as we pinched our eyes closed and turned from the light. In my worry, I dropped the orb to the ground and the light faded in the clearing.
"What the hell was that!" Yelled Hank as he rubbed his eyes trying to clear them.
"That can't be......." Shalyndria exclaimed softly while looking from me to the orb and back several times.
"What are we going to do princess? We'll never see him again if they find out." Milla cried from Terrance's shoulder.
"Who is they, and why would you never see me again?" I asked through gritted teeth. The old rage burned through me as I thought of being separated from the first real friends I have made in years. Wait, friends? Since when did I start having those again? As my thoughts started spiraling, I was pulled from my musings by the princess's next words
Shalyndria's shaky fearful voice echoed around the camp, "Gold is the color of a True Magi, a magus capable of using all elements equally. Even mixing them in ways never seen before. The church will declare you a demi-god and either control you or kill you. I have never seen the orb glow so brightly nor have I heard of it ever happening before." She said as tears filled her eyes.
I reached with my hand to wipe the tears from her eyes and realized something. My cold dead heart was beating again, for her. I leaned forward resting my forehead against hers and said, "I'll kill anyone who tries to take me from my friends." I looked at the others and continued, "that means you meatheads as well." I laughed and looked at the sky. Next to the silver moon I saw earlier was a maroon one about twice its size. "Wha..." was all that slipped out of my mouth as my brain shutdown and I was swallowed by darkness once again.
Chapter 4
When I awoke, I noticed the pre-dawn light coming through a slit in front of me. I also noticed my left arm being tightly hugged between two soft full mounds and looked over. My heart melted at the sight. Shalyndria slept peacefully looking like an angel. She clung to my left arm like a drowning person does a lifejacket. It was pressed right between her large soft breasts. As I contemplated what was going on, I heard her breath hitch and she mumbled, "No, please don't leave me."
I rolled so I faced her and wrapped my right arm around her waist and pulled her tight. While I tried not wake her, her eyes fluttered open as I again rested my forehead on hers. "I'm not going anywhere, I swear." I whispered as tears filled her eyes.
"You don't understand. They felt the pulse of magic when you held the orb and are already looking for you. It's only a matter of time before they come." She cried.
"You just made a big assumption there. That they could take me away in the first place." Was my only reply.
I did something I had wanted to do since I first saw her. I pressed my lips against hers and felt heaven. After a moment, she pulled away and looked at me. I could see the conflict in her eyes. "As much as I want that and more, we can't." My heart fell at her words. As I pulled away and started to get up, she must have seen something in my eyes or manner. She shot up, cupped my cheeks, and kissed me again slipping her tongue against mine briefly. "Yet Shaun. As a princess I can only marry a noble. However, an Outlander who has proven themselves honorable and powerful is acceptable. You are a good man, and, what I saw last night says it's only a matter of you being you to become acceptable." She told me this with a small smile.
"Why did you sleep in here Shalyndria?" I asked as I sat up to see where here was.
"We were worried how you would wake up; a small number of Outlanders became hostile after passing out as you did. It is believed their mind couldn't handle the differences in our worlds and snapped. They had to be killed before they took innocent lives. Every time, the first person they saw upon awakening was not fully human." She shivered in my arms as she told me this. "We thought a human being here, along with the signs they all saw last night, brought us to the decision of I would be best to be here."
"I've always been a fan of this kind of stuff in the entertainment of my old world." I chuckled as I let her stand and stood as well. "That is probably the reason I'm handling this so well."
We exited the tent I had been put in to see Hank on watch and Milla at the fire stirring a pot I presumed held breakfast. "Hey, sorry for worrying y'all last night. My brain might have overloaded a bit from all the new info it had to take in." I waved to them and smiled.
"I'm glad you're ok now. Food will be ready in a bit; can you wake Bob and Terrance for me?" asked Milla as Hank waved back, nodded and continued patrolling the perimeter.
I walked over to the other tent and went inside. "Bob, Terrance time to wake up. Milla says breakfast is almost ready." I called as I shook them awake.
"We'll be out in a minute. Good to see your still you Sean." Said Terrance as I pulled open the tent. I smiled to him as I walked out.
We pulled out of the clearing about 2 hours later and continued our journey. The only change was Milla took Shalyndria's seat next to me in the wagon. After an hour of silence, she spoke up, "She wants to be with you, but her position makes certain criteria necessary."
"I know. I just worry about how long it will take to be acceptable, and, if she will still want me then." I sighed as the horses walked on.
"Would you like to start learning to control your magic Shaun?" was her way of changing the subject on me. I smiled and nodded,
"How do I begin oh great teacher!" I enthusiastically answered.
"Start by closing your eyes and feeling for the mana. It flows like a river through your body. Find it, follow it, and map how and where it moves through your body. After you have memorized its paths and flows, make it materialize as a small ball of light in your hand. We can move on after you complete that." Became my first task.
We rode on for hours. We just started to see the tops of the city wall's towers when I felt it. Several men were hiding in the field another hundred yards up the road waiting for us. "Terrance!" I yelled out. "Stop, I think my front axle broke!" As we stopped, Milla looked at me funny. "Several people are waiting up ahead." I whispered as I hoped down. Terrance and Hank jogged back and looked at me funny when they saw the axle was obviously fine. "Hank can you hand me the rope under Milla so I can fix this?" I asked as I crawled under the axle. As he handed it to me, "I don't know how, but I know there are," I closed my eyes and concentrated a moment on the road ahead, "Nine people are hiding in the field just up the road. I can feel their intentions like a sour scent on the breeze." I told them as I wrapped the axle in rope, pretending to fix it.
Terrance continued, "Drive around to lead then Shaun, we will see what happens." We then mounted back up and I passed the carriage. I smiled and winked at Shalyndria as we passed. Using the attached single point sling, I had slung my M4 on my body when I got back in the wagon. When we got close, three large men in dented armor stepped onto the road as three others stood on each side, effectively boxing my wagon with the carriage.
"All right ya pussies, give us the princess!" Shouted the largest of them.
"Why?" I asked with a confused look on my face. "She is supposed to be in Verilant City later today."
"We were paid to kill her before she got there!" he yelled as I laughed at his stupidity. "Kill them," is all he got out before I raised my rifle and fired. Two rounds pounded into his chest, spraying blood out behind. Terrance and Hank jumped down from their seats behind me when they heard the crack of my rounds and each attacked a group, Terrance going left and Hank going right.
The other two in front fell with their brains leaking out the large holes in the back of their heads. I looked around, Milla was standing watching the two guards for injury. I turned and saw Bob guarding the door to the carriage. I nodded to him and saw Hank struggling. So, I unhooked my rifle, hopped down and ran to help him.
"On your left!" I called as pulled up and stopped next to Hank and started to dodge the strikes of one of his assailants. His battle axe was slow and heavy. When he pulled it over his head to strike, I moved in for my kill. As I ran, I had pulled my 4" folder from my pocket and opened it, keeping it hidden in a reverse grip against my forearm. As I slipped under the rising axe, I struck at the first of the six major blade targets. I slashed the insides of his thighs severing the femoral arteries. Rising as he screamed, I stabbed through his leather chest piece just under the breastbone puncturing the bottom of the aorta. I then slashed through his upper arms, severing the biceps and brachial artery. With the light leaving his eyes, I finished by stabbing the blade up through his chin into the brain at the back of his head and twisted. Hearing the pop of his spine separating from his brain, I yanked the blade from his head and wiped it on his pants before returning it to my pocket.
When I turned to check, I saw Hank's opponent dead and him staring at me, a shocked look on his face. "How did you do that? You were faster than I am when using enhancement magic." Was all he could say.
"Maybe I did it on instinct?" Was all I could say. We then looked over to where Terrance was finishing up with his last opponent. We walked over as the asshole's head fell to the ground with thud. When we got to the road, I stopped and looked at the three I had killed.
"Milla, heal the leader enough so he survives. He's dying but hasn't passed yet." I called as Terrance walked over wiping his sword clean.
"Why? Death is the only sentence we can and will get." He questioned as he stopped Milla.
"While I agree, we should at least find out why, and if we are walking into a lion's den when we get to Verilant City." Was my response. "Part of my job before joining SWAT, was to investigate crimes and criminals. I apologize for overstepping my bounds, I just would like to know as much as possible before we move on." I finished my apology with a shallow bow of respect.
"I respect your instincts and accept the apology. Milla, go ahead." Was his response. "I needed to make sure why you wanted him healed before it happened. But he WILL die when we are done."
"I understand and agree. I never meant for him to survive anyway." I nodded, then we walked over just as the asshole started to stir.
"I fixed the holes in his lung and heart. He will live while you all need him to. I'll check on the princess." She said as she walked away not wanting to watch what we were about to do.
Chapter 5
Hank rolled the bandit onto his stomach as I pulled the handcuffs from my duty belt. After cuffing his hands, we rolled him back over just as he started to stir. He glared at us from his back once he fully awoke and started to strain against the cuffs. "Hello again, do you feel like answering my questions now?" I asked as he fought the steel on his wrists.
"Fuck you ya pansy ass! Go ahead and kill me. I'll never tell you about them." He shouted back.
"Well now," I laughed. "Now that we know that it is a them and not a he or she, we're getting somewhere already." I placed the toe of my boot on his balls and lightly pressed down to start. "So how many are they? Where did you meet?"
"Fuck off. Have your wolf boy-toy fuck your ass again." He cried as I increased the pressure on his balls. Hank jumped forward and racked his claws down the assassin's face. He screamed like a six-year-old girl.
"I don't think he liked that buddy." I remarked to out prisoner. "Now tell me what you know before I make you a eunuch."
"The fuck you will you candy ass. The Baron will," before he could finish, an arrow appeared in his left temple. Killing him instantly. I tried to sense whomever it was like I had before, but I got nothing.
"I can't feel anyone. I didn't even know they were there." I told the others dejectedly. "If you guys gather the bodies, I'll go get pointers from Shalyndria on fire magic so she can stay in the carriage."
"Go ahead, I'd rather not put her in danger right now," agreed Terrance.
I nodded to Bob as I knocked on the door. "The bandits are all dead, go help the others. I'll be here if anything happens." He agreed and walked off as Milla opened the door. "I need some pointers from Shalyndria on fire magic. We think its safer if I burn the bodies because someone killed the leader with an arrow before we finished."
"What do you mean Shaun?" Shalyndria asked. "Just before he died, he mentioned the Baron. As soon as Baron left his mouth, the arrow entered his brain. Please, we think it would be best if you stayed here until we reach your manor in the city."
"Ok. Hold out your hand. Now picture the flame of a candle hovering over your palm." I followed her commands. All three of us were shocked when the flame appeared. "I shouldn't be surprised." The princess commented. "Now picture it growing and shrinking according to your will." As I did what she asked, I had a thought. I pictured the blue heat of an oxy-acetylene welding torch. The fire immediately turned bright blue and we all felt the greatly increased heat.
"Ok, thank you princess. I'm going to go burn the corpses and we will get going. We won't be stopping till we get To Verilant this time." I informed her highness.
"I understand. Tell Terrance, have the gate guards tell Lieutenant Lontra I need her to come to the manor as soon as possible as well." We her orders.
I shut the door and headed over to the bodies. "Terrance, Shalyndria says to have the guards summon a Lieutenant Lontra to the manor at the city gates." He acknowledged the order as I extended my hand towards the pile of bodies. All three guards were shocked the heat coming from the bright blue column of flames I conjured. I kept the flames going for a couple of minutes. All that was left was a black circle of dirt when I was done.
We went back to the transports in a somber mood and were soon back on our way. Hank chose to ride with me this time. We talked about our lives, I told him stories about my time as a patrol officer. He finally asked the question that had been bothering him. "What are you and what are your intentions?" were all he asked.
"Shalyndria calls me an Outlander. I come from a world of only humans called Earth. We have no magic there but everything is created and run by science. What do mean my intentions?" was my answer so far. I didn't blame him for his questions. I had been dropped almost literally in his lap yesterday.
"We see the way you and the princess look at each other. Terrance and I have been worried. We also want to know what you intend to do once we reach the city." He wondered.
"Shalyndria and I talked about us already. I'm going to earn my way to her side hoping she will have me when I do. And I have zero idea what I'm going to do in the city. I am a fish completely out of water here." I admitted to my new friend. With a self-depreciating laugh, "I don't even know where to begin."
"Well, the five of us talked last night after you passed out," Hank started. I noticed the large gate in the wall about a mile in front of us. "It was decided to offer you a position with us guarding the princess. Depending on the answers I got of course. The answers are about what we expected, so will you take the offer?"
"I accept. You guys are all I know; y'all are family to me now." Was my response. "Good answer, Terrance, Milla, and definitely Shalyndria will be happy. We will talk more once we get in." Hank patted me on the back as we looked at the wagons and carriages we passed. Once we stopped at the open gate, Terrance stood, "All Hail Shalyndria! Fourth princess of the Islenase Empire!" he announced to all before hopping down and talking with a guard. Milla jumped out, whispered something to him, then ran off into the city. Hank turned smiling, "Welcome to our new home Shaun."