Mercenaries of the Gods: Chronicle One - Stories

Lavender Hair

The relevance of my mortal incarnations is none, so I will omit those events. The story starts three days after the first full moon after the summer solstice four thousand three hundred six years past. On that day, I broke the incarnation cycle on my native coil once and for all and found myself in this strange world permanently. As freeing as breaking the shackles of incarnation was, my luck didn't put me with a family like many end up with, for few troll spirits make it to this coil. My age was the equivalent of twelve and my soul was searching for direction, so I wandered for some time. I quickly found out many humans have a natural fear of my kind, though a few found me useful. If you did not know, my race reaches maturity fast and my body was very close to what you see now. Despite my intimidating appearance, my gentile demeanor and great strength proved valuable assets. Work comes easy as labor is always in need, however lodging proved then as it does now a significant challenge. As one might guess, my stature is incompatible with most human homes, so barns and stables is where my head rests most nights. Sixteen seasons passes without much worthy of note other than I learn many things while wandering including the discovery that I sometimes suffer from sea sickness. 

One day in late October, right after the sun hid behind Mount Tai, my form was returning home after a long day of heavy lifting. The night was calm and a pleasant breeze made my dreads, which were much shorter at this time, dance ever so slightly. The songs of crickets filled the rice paddies, the glow of fireflies filled the air and my spirit meditated in the peace. I lift my head to the sky just as the first stars peeked out of the increasing darkness and I spot Luna peeking down on the pleasant view through the trees. Then the tranquility of that pleasant moment is shattered by a scream of a young woman that pierces the air. In the darkness, my superior eyes located a pair of young men carrying off abound girl through a meadow. I remove my hat while slinking closer, silent as an owl gliding towards its prey. My eyes witness them gag her just before I hear word that fill me to the brim with anger. 

"We never get to enjoy them." One of the men states, his vile words dripping with lust. "Come on, the boss will understand if we have a bit of fun!" 

I sneak closer as the second man retorts. "Ya know they worth more virgin! Boss says being em back unopened. And ya know boss don't play and neither do I.""

We can just use her and dump her and take another one." The first man counters. My fist clenches in rage as he continues. "I don't care anymore; I'm going to have fun with her." 

Despite objections from the second man, the first sinister human moves to disrobe the young maiden. Very close to the men now, I let a low and malicious growl leave my snarling lips. The first man slowly lifts his head up, his fear stopping his horrid actions. Using the stealth that my race gets little credit for, I silently leap into the air, landing one human arm's length from the man. Fear flows through his doomed form when my massive fist strikes his stomach with all the power I can muster. I feel his organs rupture as his body collapses around my fist. My fist retreats only to return as a mighty uppercut. The force of my strike results in the back of his head greeting his shoulder blades. His head hangs limp upon his torso and the lifeless body crumples to the ground. Quicker than I expect, his partner pulls out a short blade and foolishly decides to force it into my side. My gaze starts at his hand holding the blade in my abdomen, traveling up his arm and end locked on his fearful eyes. 

My hand grips his shoulder. With the coldness of the tundra, I state "Running was the proper reaction." My free hand palms his head and violently turns it until his chin touches his spine. My hands release his corpse, and a small sigh leaves me before my attention turns to the frightened girl. 

Some may think her plain, but her beauty strikes me instantly. She cannot be over five feet with a small frame dressed in a simple white shirt and long brown skirt. Her raven hair is quite a contrast from her beautiful alabaster skin that seems to glow when kissed by Luna. I make eye contact with her and find her small and striking eyes are somewhere between shock and fear. She turns her gaze from mine as she struggles in vain against her bonds. Slowly, I squat near her and don the most comforting smile I can muster. My eyes grow gentile as does my voice when I speak to the poor girl whose age couldn't exceed fourteen. "You are safe now fair maiden." I slowly move my hands towards her. "Let me release your bonds." Her form is deathly still as my fingers remove her bonds and gag with the care of a new mother holding her child. 

Her powerful black eyes full of dread attach to me. Scared and stuttering words leave her narrow carmine lips. "A-a-are y-you going to e-eat me?" 

I shake my head and chuckle in annoyance before I ask, "If devouring you was my plan, why would I unbind you?" 

My logic shatters her fear, and her head lowers almost in shame of the question. She sits in silence for a moment rubbing her wrists before saying softly "Thank you for saving me. I am Ying Yue." 

My memory recalls her name. Her father Wang is known to me as a farmers close to my home. Ginning behind my tusks, I reply "Well met maiden Ying Yue. People call me Thrack." 

Shyly she turns her head as a magnificent smile crosses her face. As my eyes take in the beauty of her smile, her face fills with worry and eyes grow then lock on the blade protruding from me. "You are hurt!" 

My yellow eyes look down. "Yes, I suppose I am." Removal of the blade is easy, and I cast to the side. Olive blood drips slowly from me as my form sits in the grass. In her concern for me, she darts over to me. After ripping cloth from the hem of her long skirt, she lifts my shirt to administer aid. When she gets a glimpse of my muscular form, her fair face turns as a beet. Just as her slender arm raises the scrap of cloth to my wound, I see torch light moving in our direction. My fist clenches as my mind hopes this doesn't mean more chaos. 

From the light, a voice shouts "Ying Yue!" 

 Releasing my shirt, she flings around with joy in her eyes. Her small form releases quite a loud shout. "Father! I am here!" 

Ying Yue stays near me while her father and six brave volunteers approach. Armed with crude weapons and farm tools, the come upon the scene. Ying Yue runs to her father, and they embrace in a tearful reunion as the other six approach me and look upon the bodies. A respectful and relieved smile fills my face as I notice my landlord Qingshan among them. 

Qingshan speaks to me while the others lower their makeshift weapons. "I am pleased to see you Thrack." 

 While giving him a small bow, I state "I am very pleased to see you as well Qingshan." 

He looks down at the bodies. "I see you took care of the abductors." 

I smirk. "They spoke of defiling maiden Ying Yue. Honor demanded I intervene. It seems no harm came to her, though I cannot say the same for her abductors." 

Qingshan lets out a small laugh. From my right, Ying Yue's teary eyed and very thankful father walks before me, drawing my gaze. Dropping to a full bow, humble and grateful words leave him. "Thank you! Thank you! You saved my only child from a fate worse than death! All the praises of the heavens upon you honorable Thrack!" 

Respectfully, I respond "Your words of gratitude honor me greatly, but there is no need to bow to me. Fate put me here to save her." Wang wipes away tears while returning to his feet. Ying Yue walks up behind him and peeks up at me. Her lovely eyes gaze upon me and she gifts me an intoxication smile. The look fills me with a rather uncomfortable, though interesting, feeling. One that I had never felt before. 

As the stars move through the sky, I detail the events of the rescue with the posse. Once completed, Wang insists that I move in with him and his family as a token of his gratitude. The posse disbands and I leave with Wang and Ying Yue to my new home, but not before praising Qingshan for his kindness over the last few seasons. That night my small wound is patched, and I feast with Wang, his wife Jia and the young maiden Ying Yue in the barn. My mass is too big to enter the home, but the barn is made comfortable for me. The Jiangs return the house after the feast, giving me a moment to ponder the strange events of the day. With a happy heart and full belly, I move to the cozy part of the barn and rest my head upon a hay bale Jia lovingly covered in a blanket. 

Sleep was just starting to take me as my superior hearing hear someone quietly enter the barn. Wearing a smile and a simple white sleeping gown, Ying Yue slowly glides towards me on bare feet. Donning not but a fundoshi, I sit up as the natural grace that flows off her form attracts my eyes. Our eyes meet and gazes lock as she carefully makes her way to my makeshift bed. Slowly, she lowers till she sits on the blanket covered ground beside me. Her small and soft hand rests on mine as she thanks me again. A waft of her lavender hair strikes me as her tiny form stretches and her lips grace my unworthy cheek. My face dons a soft smile and my heart releases a content sigh. We talk through the night until the sun peeks through the lone window. Six months later we were married.