The peel of the orange was thick, when I dug in my nails—black dirt underneath them.

When I was a kid, my mother used to peel it for me because I hated the burning in my nails. Now, she was dead and I had a lot of time to get used to it.

After I finished peeling, I discarded the orange, acidic skin. Then proceeded to make two halves of the slices. Placing one half on the sideways turned carriage.

I looked up and saw five cloaked figures riding towards me. I glanced at the darkening sky, and I smiled. When they finally arrived I had eaten through half of my orange. 

"You are terrible at hiding, lad." One of them came forward, the leader, his voice used to ordering.

I shrugged, making it so that the hood on my head would fall back. Smoothly, of course. "Who said I was hiding, m'lord?" I said, smirking.

The figures behind Rai Marsit muttered curses, sneering and glaring daggers at me.

"By the law of this land, I hereby sentence you to hang a hundred times in the city square," Rai said, voice wrought with pity and sorrow.

"And what are my crimes?"

One of the men growled and started forward.

My hand flinched to the hammer hidden behind me, but I managed to keep my calm as I saw Rai grab his man back. Scowling at him.

He cleared his throat and spoke, "Your crimes are: murder of Konus Marsit." His voice slightly cracked at uttering the name of the abomination that had been his son. 

L
The fucking black bastard. This whole fell situation created because of that whoreson.

I listened patiently as he listed the names of his son's men that I had killed. Who I'd kill a thousand times again. Fucking Konus and his men!

"I know Konus wasn't a good man, but his men were, they left children orphaned, wives widowed.” My throat constricted. “I am here to give them justice. Not my son. Do you understand?" 

Before I had those men ignored as collateral damage, but now… it almost made me give up on myself. No. No, I couldn't do that. There were four more abominations to put down today. So, I stepped down from the carriage, making the Rangers cringe back. 

They knew exactly who I was and what I could do. My fists clenched, a burning sensation snaked down my arms and gathered in my palms. The air started to get muggy and sweat dripped down my head, steam rising from from my hands. but it was glorious.

Knowing what I was doing, dwarven-steel shields cracked open from their hands. 

Nifty bastards the dwarves were. 

Finally the energy built up in my hands and I lifted my arms, hands pointed at the sorry lot in front of me who thought they were here to take revenge for their mate. 

I let the flames out, they spread over them and going beyond the forcefield of their shields, but not touching them. I stopped, and picked up the hammer, letting them think I was exhausted. But, I pointed my hands down and let the fire out, it propelled me into the air and forward.

I dropped right in their midst. The forcefield of the shields was only strong against my fire, not my fury.

I brought my hammer down the leg of one of them. It broke clean from the knee. He started wailing and clutched his leg

A sword came at me, I hardened fire and it turned into a black, shining metal disc around my left arm. Deflecting the sword, I countered and smacked the hammer into the owner of the sword. It took him in the chest, caving it in.

Rai Marsit kicked out at me and I lurched back. Stumbling into someone and falling over them. A woman yelled and bolted forward, a short sword in her hands. I lashed my leg, taking her in a shin and momentum carrying her down towards me. I grabbed a knife from my hip and lodged into her neck as she fell. 

Hot blood gushed onto my face, in my mouth and eyes. I pushed her away and quickly rolled to my side, punching the blade in the throat of the man who had been under me. I stood up to face the Rai. 

"Embarrassing, I wonder how they progressed through the ranks to become Rangers?" I said. "Oh wait, because your son was a corrupt, nepotistic and a rapist bastard.” I snarled at him. “Among other things, like a murderer. Of my brother."

I should've been there to protect my little brother, but what Konus did was unspeakable. So I had to kill him, painfully and slowly. But I didn't need to put salt in his father's already festering wounds.

Rai looked down and removed his hood. Revealing a man of fifty years with long grey hairs falling down on his shoulders.

"I knew one day he would get himself killed and I also knew he woulda deserved it." He wiped his face. "Grant me an honourable death, aye lad?" 

I nodded, feeling immense regret. "Aye m'lord. I can do that."

A few minutes later I walked down the road, not knowing where I was going.

The craving of orange wine, and I knew exactly where I needed to go.