The 'Extra' Lord (Unlimited Plunder) - Chapter 74

They were brought to a large room in the cellar of the castle. Old marks lined the wall that may have been where wine racks had been situated. Whatever had been sitting there, had been longed lot long before. If it were wood, then they’d have used it for fuel for fires.

At least thirty or so beds had now taken their place. Beds was putting it nicely. All they had done was create a rectangle border, then put sand into it, covered it with leaves from a specific cactus, then covered it with a burlap sack. Well, it was better than nothing, he supposed.

“You’ll find your beds at the back of the room,” Josh said, pointing to the back. “Now, there’s a lot of soldiers here, so it may get a little rowdy in the morning. If I were you, I’d try and get up before them. The rush to the food hall is a chaotic one.”

“Thanks for the heads up, Josh,” Owen said with a smile, then changed the subject. “What do you think of Larian?”

Josh thought for a moment, before saying, “He’s a good leader that does what is must in order to protect his people. Sure,” said Josh, chuckling, “those methods may seem barbarous to others, but we’re not in a place to think otherwise, are we? Together with the founders, I think we’ll make it.”

“The founders?” Owen asked.

“Oh, Lord Larian hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?” Owen smiled.

“If Lord Larian hasn’t told you about it then—”

“What’s wrong?” Rehan interrupted. “We come here and fight for you, risk injury, and this is how you treat us? As outsiders? What are these ‘founders’?”

Well done on the manipulation tactics, Rehan, Owen thought, rolling his eyes.

“Sorry for my friend’s rudeness,” said Owen. “It’s just that we’ve come a long way, and Larian’s leadership has made us a little… wary, if that’s the right word? We need to know who we’re fighting for, Josh.”

Josh shifted on the spot, then reluctantly said with a sigh, “Well, I call them the founders. They are the original people that took over the castle. When they got here, it wasn’t open. Monsters resided within these halls. It was thanks to them that we now have this place.”

“Them?” Owen pressed.

Honestly, he felt a little bad watching Josh squirm under his questions. But he needed to know not just for his own safety, but of Justin and the others. They had followed him here, for payment, but also for a potential gateway back home. Owen had to know everything. That nagging feeling at the back of his mind was gnawing at him. 

“Larian, Hassan, Jonah, Doyles, and Hannah. They were the ones who found this place. It was only after that did they start to find us, guiding us here to safety. They are heroes.” Josh’s eyes sparkled. He was telling the truth.

“So Larian lied?” Owen asked. “He said before that they fought with more to claim this place.”

“Oh that? He tells that to everyone now. People felt unsafe when they were told there were monsters in here. When people look at this place, they think it impenetrable. So when they’re told otherwise, they get a little scared.”

“Josh?” a woman walked into the room. She had short ginger hair, choppy, like she had cut it herself with a blade. She wore a metal chest piece with pauldrons to match. The metal looked like it was bubbly, with various holes all the way around it. It was the only metal on her body. Her greaves and arm-guards appeared to be of a hard leather. Holding a spear, she exuded a valiant air that was impossible to hide or fake.

“Everything alright?”

“Yep!” He said with a smile. “Was just telling the newcomers a little about Larian and the founders.”

“You know we don’t like talking about that, Josh,” she said, frowning.

“I know, but they were just a little worried, that’s all. Besides, they seem strong enough to know the truth.” Josh looked at them, and their weapons/armour. “Looks like they’ve seen plenty of battles.”

“You must be Hannah,” Owen said. 

“I don’t care if you have questions, don’t go badgering the people here. We’re all scared and hungry and we don’t have time to deal with your bullshit. We just need you to fight and kill those beasts. Do your job, get paid, then get out.”

The moment her words were over, she turned around and left.

“She’s got a good spirit that one,” Rehan said. “I think she’s my type.”

Owen grinned. 

“Well,” Mirian spoke up. “That was a warm welcome.”

“Sorry about that.” Josh scratched his head with an awkward smile. “I would like to say she’s not usually like that, but she is. Like you, she’s seen a lot. But I think deep down, she’s kind at heart. It’s mostly thanks to her butchering skills that we’re able to eat the serpents. We all have our flaws at the end of the day.”

Owen clapped his shoulder. “We certainly do.” 

***

With Josh leaving, all that remained was waiting on Justin to return. Owen had told the others to be ready for anything. Justin could be caught at any moment, and depending on the reaction of Lord Larian, there was a possibility they’d have to fight their way out.

At some point, the room started to fill up. Men and women reeking of blood and sweat made the room almost nauseous to be in. Owen was hardly adverse to it. The stench of corpses had long stuck to his nose hairs. There wasn’t a moment that went by where he didn't smell the putridness of battle. Or maybe it was just the memory of it that had stuck to him.

Regardless, the smell didn’t bother him. But the looks they gave him and his party did, however.

“Are they asking for a fight?” Rehan whispered. 

“They just don’t trust new faces,” Owen replied, not even attempting to lower his voice. “I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t either.” 

“But according to that Lord, we’re the only one that’s accepted their pleas. They should be on their knees thanking us.”

“What did you say?” A tall, muscular man had just finished dropping his hard leather chestpiece to the floor when he nudged his nose at Owen. “We should thank you, huh? Think you’re all superior? Let’s see where you get that confidence from.”

Owen stood up with an apologetic smile, hands in surrender. “He didn’t mean anything by it. We don’t want any trouble.”

The man grumbled, then wandered over to his bed. A woman next to Owen, who had a gnarly scar across her forehead, spoke up. “Sorry about Hank. He’s got more testosterone than brain cells.”

Owen chuckled. “No apologies needed.” Owen nudged Rehan. “It was his fault for being rude. Seems like these sands put all of us on edge.”

“You can say that again,” she said and thrust her arm forwards. “Name’s Sarah. I’m in the Forward.”

“As in on the battlefield?” Owen asked. “I saw you. Feel bad for the serpents that meet your blade.”

Sarah grinned. “They have it coming.”

A couple more hours passed and the wave had already crashed against them. Submerged, it was pitch black. An hour later, and the darkness swirled. Owen noticed a presence appear on his right, guard down, he already knew it was Justin. 

“Find anything?” Owen whispered. 

“Just a little—”

Although it was pitch black, Owen saw the mental image emerge. Justin was grinning.

“It’s time for bed,” Justin whispered. “I’m exhausted. Tomorrow’s going to be fun.”

A man of his words, Justin explained nothing, and went straight to bed. Owen’s lips twitched, annoyed. But then he thought it through… were people listening in? Justin wasn’t one to play childish games. Everything he did had a reason. 

And so, Owen hit the hay, eyes turning heavy until everything turned black.

***

Josh wasn’t lying when he said it was a mad rush for breakfast. Owen and the others had gotten up especially early, so they were already at the table with their meal: meat and potatoes. Candles, at least sixty of them, lined the hall, trying their damndest to battle the darkness still consumed by the wave.

He figured it’d be the same meal every day. There wasn’t exactly a farm attached to the castle, after all. Not like Owen’s kingdom…

A few minutes later, a storm of people entered, pushing and shoving their way to the food tables. Owen just shook his head. He’d never seen so many people desperate to eat before a workout. That was why Owen kept it light. Not enough to fill him up, but just enough to satiate the hunger grumbling in his stomach.

Just as everyone had taken their seat, Owen placed his hands on the table and rose. Justin and the rest followed him.

“Ah,” Josh said from the side, “Leaving already? You barely finished. Oh, and the wave is still overhead.”

Owen flashed him a smile. “Ain’t no rest for the wicked.”