THE RISING BASTARD SON-Chapter 33 - - - Bad luck
Bad luck -
Sometimes the air turned biting cold, and other times it seared like flame.
The forest seemed to breathe with moods of its own—temperamental, untamed. The breeze that slithered through Elderwyn Forest carried a strange disquiet, unsettling even to those accustomed to hardship. But to the uninitiated, like Sam, it was almost otherworldly.
Not just Sam—others, too, were beginning to falter.
The heat grew merciless beneath the patchy canopy, and the pace of the slave line slowed. Throats were parched, lips cracked. Each prisoner was allowed a small leather cope—a simple flask, barely enough for a few sips. That flask was their only possession aside from the rags they wore.
Now, most of those flasks hung empty.
The clink of chains was joined by ragged breaths and muffled curses. The weaker ones stumbled, their feet dragging. Those who lagged too far behind earned a cruel crack of a whip from the watching soldiers. Blood mixed with sweat. Tears were hidden behind defiant scowls or vacant stares.
Some slaves cursed the gods. Some whispered desperate prayers.
Others simply marched with hollow eyes, still unable to process their fate—soon to be sold at the slave markets of Pyrethorne like cattle. Some held tightly to memories of loved ones, of laughter, of homes they would never see again. A few dared to hope they’d be bought by someone kind. But most didn’t believe in kindness anymore.
Then—
A sharp horn cut through the forest.
Lieutenant Kadran raised a gloved hand, signaling a halt. The mounted soldiers around him responded instantly. Veterans among the guards shifted into a defensive stance, their eyes scanning the surrounding trees. The younger soldiers froze, uncertain.
The line of slaves came to an awkward stop, confusion flickering through their ranks.
Garrik, the senior officer, approached Kadran’s side. "Sir," he said cautiously, "has something happened?"
Kadran didn’t answer at once. He stared into the forest, unblinking. When his face turned toward Garrik, the blood drained from the officer’s cheeks.
It wasn’t anger he saw in Kadran’s expression.
It was tension.
The kind of quiet fury that meant something was very wrong.
"You idiot—" Kadran began, voice sharp and cold.
But before he could finish—
"RRRAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"
A roar shook the trees to the right. Birds scattered into the air. Leaves rustled. Somewhere deep in the forest, something massive was moving. The sound rolled over the group like thunder.
Kadran’s jaw clenched. A bead of sweat slid down his temple.
Kadran’s POV --
Damn it. That’s not a sound we were supposed to hear in this part of Elderwyn. Too soon. Too close.
He barked commands with the urgency of a man who knew what was at stake.
"Formation No. 4! Defensive line!"
He pointed to the rear. "Get the slaves to the back—ten soldiers to guard them. Shields up. Anyone breaks rank, they’re dead."
He swung off his horse in one motion, landing lightly. Turning to a young soldier beside him, he thrust the reins into the man’s hands.
"Take the horse. Protect the girl. If anything happens to her... you won’t live to regret it."
The soldier paled and nodded quickly, tugging the horse toward the rear line.
Moon stirred slightly on the saddle but didn’t wake. Her pale hair fluttered in the rising wind. Sam craned his neck to see what was happening, but the line of guards obscured his view.
Then the second roar came.
"RRRAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"
The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
Branches cracked ahead.
And then it emerged.
A monster—a beast of muscle, claw, and fury—broke through the treeline, eyes glowing with primal rage.
It wasn’t just any beast.
It was a giant bear—but not of flesh and fur alone.
This thing was wrapped in living flame, fire crackling across its massive body like a second skin. A burning monstrosity. Its a fucking flame bear.
A walking furnace of death.
Its hide was blackened charcoal, cracked with glowing veins of molten red. Flames licked up its limbs, trailing from its joints and spine like a hellish mane. Every step it took scorched the forest floor, trees wilting in its wake.
It stood upright.
A tower of muscle and fire, at least ten feet tall.
And then it opened its jaws—
"GRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
The roar wasn’t just sound—it was force. It slammed through the forest like a shockwave, shaking leaves from the trees, rattling bones, and silencing every living thing within earshot. Birds scattered in all directions. Horses reared in terror. Even the flames on the bear’s body seemed to ripple outward with the sound.
The very air heated up, the breeze now thick with ash and panic.
Every soldier froze.
Some pissed themselves.
Sam’s heart plummeted. His knees weakened. The slaves around him dropped to the ground or trembled in place. Even the guards who had seen battle looked pale, gripping their weapons with white-knuckled fists.
Its eyes—two glowing coals—swept over the gathered mortals.
Those eyes didn’t just look.
They burned.
It felt like the creature could set your soul on fire with a glance.
Kadran stood at the front, his sword still sheathed. For the briefest moment, a shiver crept down his spine. His body screamed at him to run.
But he didn’t.
He had expected dangers in Elderwyn, yes—but this? A beast of this rank? He hadn’t anticipated anything like it this early into the journey. It wasn’t just a wild creature—it was a force of destruction.
Still, he clenched his jaw, forcing his legs to stay locked.
He would not die here.
Kadran drew his blade slowly, the metal whispering as it left the scabbard.
He turned his head slightly, voice low and cold.
"Shields forward. Fire formation. Surround the slaves. Keep the girl safe."
A moment of hesitation passed through his ranks—but then the trained soldiers responded, snapping into motion. Spears angled outward. Shields raised. Archers climbed the carts. The ring of steel echoed beneath the burning trees.
The beast growled again, steam hissing from its nostrils.
And then it charged.
[ End of Chapter ]
[ Please read Author note ]
Thank you
