Rest Stop

            “You haven’t traveled much, have you?” The burly man said to the attractive young woman in the inn.

            “What makes you say that?” She was young. Perhaps around eighteen or so with a beautiful head of blonde hair and a bright, open smile. She had come into the inn earlier in the day and spent most of it sitting by herself, drinking ale. Her money purse lay on the table and, from the looks of it, was quite full.

            The burly man sat down. He was a large fellow with a full beard and dark hair. He wore a leather tunic from which hung a large axe and he was clearly not someone to be meddled with. But, despite that, his face had an open manner and his laughter had been heard to fill the inn through most of the day. “When you leave your purse open like that, you invite danger. Particularly in places like this. The Slaughtered Lamb is a good place for a tankard of ale and a leg of meat but it can be a dangerous place as well. Most of these men are soldiers and they are used to killing over the slightest provocation.”

            “You are remarkably well spoken for a barbarian.”

            The burly man’s face showed anger as he fought with his emotions. Suddenly, he laughed and it was a good, loud laugh full of humor and life. “I’ve just decided that I like you, which is good news for you, my sweet.”

            She took another swig of her ale. “And why is that good news?”

            The man leaned in closer. “Because if I didn’t like you, I’d have killed you by now. I am Brill, late of the country of Klein. Warrior by vocation, lover of all things beautiful by nature. And you are?”

            “Growing bored. Can’t you go bother someone else?” She answered.

            “Oh, I have! Believe me! In fact, I have bothered nearly everyone in this inn and they are all wondering who you are and why you are here. No one knows you. You’re a stranger to everyone. You’re young, pretty, and unaccompanied. Plus you are waving around an inordinate amount of cash.” There were several small groups of men who were watching this exchange with great eagerness. More than a few of them eyed the woman’s purse as greedily as they did her.

            “That’s my business. It appears that it is time for me and my ‘popular’ purse take our business elsewhere.” With that, she grabbed her money sack and sauntered out the door. Her step was a little unsteady and more than a few pairs of eyes watched her leave.

            Outside, she leaned drunkenly against the wall as she walked into the alley. Not surprisingly, a few of the men followed her. When she got halfway down the small lane, another group appeared before her. She turned around to try and flee, but saw the first group and knew that she was trapped. Strangely, she was not afraid but smiled instead.

            “Look at her,” one of the men said, “she wants it. C’mon, girl, give us the money and we’ll let you party with us.”

            “I don’t need anyone to party with me.” The woman replied. “I can find my own fun.” She leapt into the first group of men. Unprepared, they fell back and she was on them in an instant. Her moves were a blur. Kicks, punches and smashes flew as they fell one after another.

            Undaunted, the second group advanced and attacked her from behind. One managed to get through her defenses and land a hard blow against the back of her head and she fell instantly. They leaped upon her. Tearing at her clothes and ripping her coin purse away. “We could have done this easily,” their leader said. “We could have all had some fun and you would have been happy and safe afterward. But now you’re going to have to pay for this pain you’ve brought.”

            The woman smiled. “Thank you. I’ve been waiting to hear that all day.”

            A sudden flash of brightness surrounded her and the men backed out, temporarily blinded. She floated in the air before them and slowly, very slowly, began to draw something out of all of them. Her eyes were white with no pupils at all and her breathing was like the rasping of a large, angry cat. The men’s flesh grew gray and started to sink in on itself as their bodies were drained of all life. They collapsed into piles of lifeless bones. She slowly drifted back to the ground and the life came back to her eyes. There was a satisfied smile on her lips.

            Brill clapped. “Now I’ve seen everything. A Soul-Stealer with a sense of morals. You’ve been waiting all day to be attacked, haven’t you?”

            She smirked. “Took them long enough.”

            “We should leave now though. This village will not be safe for even one such as yourself. Do you know who the leader of this little gang was?”

            “Does it matter?”

            “It might to you. He happened to be the son of the governor of this town and he will not take well to you sucking the life out of his only male child. I am traveling the open road in search of a cause worthy of my arm and my axe. You are welcome to join me.”

            She considered the offer. “Why not? Apparently I need to broaden my horizons. The name is Chandra, by the way.”

            “I knew I would like you.”

            “Just keep your distance.”

            “Certainly.” He brushed her arm with his as they walked. “Is this far enough?”

            Her laugh was loud and full as it mixed with Brill’s.