Bandits had been causing trouble lately in Laeto. Nelanna had heard that they were attacking anyone traveling by foot through the rainforest or near the border. From the stories she’d heard, no one was seriously hurt. Each victim was stripped bare of all of their valuables, leaving them with nothing but the clothing on their backs. Kohaku often walked through Laeto along the same path when traveling between Mamlak and Virens. Even he did not go unattacked. However, Kohaku was not their average victim. He put up a good fight even against their larger numbers, and he managed to cut off the hand of one of the bandits before they fled. He was furious that their attack caused him to lose some of his fresh fruits, cursing them and claiming he would get back at them. Nelanna had been thinking the same thing, though for a different reason. Bandits were dangerous. She could not allow them to continue their thievery any longer. And so she and Kohaku went to the rainforest. With Kohaku’s sensitive sense of smell, he managed to track the blood trail of the injured bandit, leading them straight to their hideout.
They had caught the bandits off guard, finding them relaxing and drinking in a small cabin. The power of a Champion and her ex-guard and manslayer was more than enough to handle the ten men. The bandits were then bound and tied up outside. Nelanna entered their cabin while Kohaku kept an eye on the thieves. She was amazed by the amount of belongings they had stolen. It was all piled up in one corner, a mix of jewelry, weapons, tools, houseware items. It seemed they didn’t care what they took, so long as it appeared valuable. Even food had been taken. It made her blood hot with anger. Why were some people so selfish that they couldn’t spare a couple little coins to get what they want? Why did they feel the need to take from someone else who might need it even more? This was just the kind of injustice she wanted to end. She stomped out of the cabin to speak with Kohaku about their next course of action, and hoping the fresh air would calm her.
“What did you find?” Kohaku asked, who was standing against a tree with his arms crossed over his chest. “Everything,” Nelanna replied, glaring at the bandits as she walked by. “They have a big pile of things they stole. We will need to find the true owners and return their belongings.” Kohaku raised a brow questioningly, “And how do you suppose we do that? We can’t just walk around town asking every person we come across, “Excuse me miss, did bandits steal your necklace in Laeto? You, Sir, did your tools get taken from you?”” Nelanna frowned and cupped her chin in thought. She supposed they could bring the belongings to the guards in Mamlak and have them spread the word to the nearest towns and cities. It would catch enough attention at once, but there was no guarantee that people won’t claim some of the belongings were theirs only to get something for free, instead of it returning to the original owners. Even seemingly innocent citizens were vultures just waiting for the right opportunity.
The sound of hooves pounding across the ground raised Nelanna’s eyes and blinked with surprise. One of Zanar’s Rangers had come on horseback. The horse skidded to a halt, a look of alarming urgency plain as day on his face. Instantly Nelanna knew something wasn’t right. “Lady Nelanna, Zanar wishes you to seek him out. It’s urgent,” said the Ranger. Nelanna’s gaze hardened seriously before she glanced at Kohaku. “Take the bandits to Mamlak and turn them in. And take the stolen belongings to my house and wait for me there. We will discuss what to do with them when I return,” she ordered as she mounted her own horse. Kohaku nodded with a simple wave. And then they were off. Jade Vine raced at the Ranger’s side as they evaded the trees and burst out of the rainforest, through the Plains and straight into Virens. By the time they reached their destination their horses were panting heavily and sweating.
What Nelanna saw was not at all what she expected when Zanar entered her sight. He was standing over a woman with a knife in her leg, his foot pinning her to the ground. His eyes were brimming with rage, a sight that reminded her very well just exactly who and what he is. A God, a Deity with incredible power and an aura that gave the Champion spider-leg chills down her spine. But she held herself with confidence and strength, doing her best to look as strong as her title suggested. “I am here,” she announced, and hopped off of her horse.