Chapter 26

Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

Nervousness washed over me. That was a lot of pissed off people. “Wait, wait, I just saved your women!”

But they didn’t hear me. They marched forward from the village. The last of the women who had almost been taken fled behind them. Lana leaned against me, recovering from her injuries. Her wings fluttered. Garnet planted hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks.

“How rude!” my little sister-succubus said. “We saved them.”

Halia glanced at me. “You really are going to go after the other.”

“Yes,” I said, my face flat. “He tried to kidnap women. You say he’s already kidnapped others from this village. If they’re alive, I’ll return them.”

Her blue eyes studied me. Then she whirled and marched towards the advancing mob, her back straight. She looked gallant. Strong and impressive. A hero standing up to injustice. I found myself straightening my back.

She inspired me.

“Stop!” Halia shouted, shocked that she was even doing this. “What are you doing?”

“He’s one of them, ain’t he?” growled a farmer at the lead. A grizzled man name Shellin. “A dungeon builder. Were those his monster girls?”

“Do you think he would have fought and killed them if they were his?” Halia demanded. “What are you doing? Do none of you have eyes? Did you not see us saving the girls.” Halia spotted one. “Mellea, you saw him saving you.”

Mellea, her skirt still tied up to expose her knees, shrugged. She lurked on the edges of the mob. “I mean ... yeah, I guess. But ... He has monster girls with him.”

“Monster girls that saved the women of our village!” Halia said. She sheathed her sword.

“Didn’t they capture you?” gasped a tanner named Vobil. “Yeah, yeah, Norso said he captured you.”

“I thought he killed you,” another said, a man with ad big ears. Halia didn’t know him that well.

“Do I look dead?” she asked. “That man just risked his life to fight against overwhelming odds. When he heard the attack, he came running.” She put her hand on her father’s blade. “He returned my weapon to me and trusted me to do what was right.”

“Then he’s weak!” shouted Korlin. The farmer brandished a pitchfork. “Let’s rush him!”

“After he saved your daughter?” demand Halia. “I saw Arlia escape. You would condemn her savior? What honor do you have?”

“What honor does he have?” Korlin shot back.

“He could have let them take the girls. He could have sent his own monster girls to attack this village. Instead, he fought to save it. For what? Where are his forces to swoop in and attack us? To overrun us and make demands. He’s not here to despoil the daughters of our village.”

“What about you?” demanded Mayor Bevlin. He pushed forward, his gut straining the wool shirt he wore. “You were in his grasp. Did he despoil you?”

“I remain a virgin!” She declared. “You can have that bony hag you married, Mayor, inspect it and see. He held me prisoner, but only because he wanted to talk. To have peace. My party and I would not parley with him. The fact that Nostro told you I was captured is proof he released my companions. He came here to release me today when the attack happened. Upon the name of my father, Anguin, I swear that he is not an enemy to Astovin Village.

“So if you want to attack him, you must first cut down one the daughters of this village.” Her words shocked her, but right was right. Actions proved Leo’s intentions. He could be throwing spells at the mob, dispersing them. He had power. He could kill so many of them.

And didn’t.

An angry mutter came from the mob. They stared at her like she were a traitor to the village. But she stood firm in her convictions. She would not wave from them. She was Anguin’s daughter. She would be as strong as him.

“What will it be?” she demanded. “Huh, Dorvin? We played together as children.”

Dorvin shifted, clutching a spear with a rusting point he must have dug out of his parents’ attic.

“Or how about you, Master Shoren? How many times did you have my mother and me over to dinner?”

The owner of the dry goods store rubbed at the back of his neck.

“Ol’ Vanil, your granddaughter and I were the best of friends. I stood at her side at her wedding last month.”

“Aye, you did,” he muttered.

“I vowed to protect this village like my father did. I vowed to fight the evil in this world and ... Leo is not evil. He’s planning on attacking the dungeon builder who sent those satyrs and oozes to harm you. He plans to retrieve the women stolen.”

“My Bellia?” croaked Volilim.

“Yes!” Halia stood proud before her village. “We are going to save your girls. Or are you going to attack the only hope they have?”