The afternoon sun shined broken rays through the thick treetops above, chasing away the gloom that had settled over the forest floor. As a gentle breeze blew through the foliage, it carried with it all the scents of the forest: damp earth, rich loam, the sweet smell of new leaves, and the faint odor of a decaying carcass.
Banceli sat atop the jockey box of a conestoga wagon, his presence exuding a mysterious and dangerous air. An odd fellow, that, but the faded stench of corpse alerted him, putting him on edge. A paladin of unknown origin, he wore a painted sallet helmet with a bevor that obscured his face, adding to the enigma. His armor was a testament to his martial prowess, with a brown-black gambeson collar accentuating his broad shoulders, pauldrons, and rondels adding to his intimidating presence. His arms were covered with jack chains, and a knightly coat of plates provided additional protection. The rolled leather gloves with braces on his hands allowed for deft movement, while his lamellar skirt, cuisses with oval side-wing protrusions, and leather boots with flat soles completed his foreboding ensemble. A partisan laid behind him for ease of access, and on his waist was a Warhammer and buckler. His light armor provided maximum mobility, allowing him to move quickly and silently, but also provided some necessary protection, though it wouldn't withstand any magic or heavy-hitting weapons.
Sitting behind him, impatiently, was Sabrina. She was a young druid girl with honey-blond hair styled in a playful and carefree manner. Two small braids adorned her hair on either side of her head, while her short bangs framed her forehead. Her hair flowed down her sides, messy and unkempt, with a similar style at the back of her head. A large green bow was nestled in her hair, and a dainty bowtie graced her neck.
Her clothing was just as whimsical, with a short green cloak revealing a black tunic that dipped into a V-shape to show a hint of her navel. White low-waist shorts offered comfort and ease of movement, and white gloves covered her hands. Her golden eyes shone with youthful curiosity, and her yellow stockings led down to her small green and yellow boots. In her hand, Sabrina held a yew scepter adorned with carvings of delicate flower and leaf motifs, a symbol of her burgeoning druidic abilities. Despite her lack of experience, there was a playful and innocent energy to Sabrina, drawing people towards her with an irresistible charm. Though, her lack of armor would definitely prove to be a problem.
A merchant between them was dressed lavishly, sparing no expense on his garments. His puffed-out hat was of a deep purple, with a large purple feather sprouting from the side. He wore a gold-trimmed blue doublet, with a large yellow cape draped over one shoulder. His trousers were of a lighter blue, and he wore a tall pair of black boots with a gold trim. He had a long, red beard and his eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.
The wagon bumpily continued down the shoddy dirt path, which most likely was only used by farmers, the sound of its wheels rattling and jostling its passengers. Banceli seemed to be constantly scanning the surroundings like a paranoid watchdog. Sabrina. instead, looked down in boredom at the passing grasses and brush.
Suddenly, Banceli paused. He gestured for the merchant to halt the wagon, speaking up in a quiet but serious tone.
"Trouble ahead."
Sabrina and the merchant seemed confused, but Banceli didn't care. He grabbed his partisan and jumped down onto the path, walking a few meters closer to the odd clearing, then kneeling for closer analysis. The merchant looked at Sabrina hoping for an answer to his confusion, but she merely shrugged and followed Banceli.
Upon closer investigation, it wasn't obvious what Banceli was looking at. The clearing was littered with chopped branches, but as Sabrina tried to follow Banceli's gaze, something stuck out. Someone attempted to hide the branches, although half-assedly.
Sabrina spoke, a hint of fear in her voice. "What do you think? A trap or something?"
Banceli nodded solemnly, with her responding with a small concerned pout. He looked to the side, then entered the thick woods. Sabrina was surprised, but she followed him.
"What are you doing?"
"Quiet." He said, his low-volume voice becoming more of a whisper now. "Ambush up ahead. We're going to get them from behind: Enkulette."
Sabrina nodded, not understanding what he meant, but trusting his expertise. As they snuck through the shadows of the trees, Banceli was constantly looking for signs of danger, his senses honed from years of experience. He constantly kneeled to the grown and checked for prints, and to Sabrina's surprise, found some. They were small, three-toed claw marks with a flat area behind it where the heel of the foot has landed. The claw marks are deep and clearly defined, measuring up to several inches in length, and spaced several inches apart. There were several, Sabrina wasn't sure if all of them belonged to the same creature, but Banceli seemed to be confident.
The two continued the path of prints, and the ever-so-faint sound of yapping could be heard, like a pack of whispering hounds. Banceli's eyes grew wide before whispering to Sabrina.
"Kobolds, probably a pack or less. Get ready."
Sabrina was a sheltered child, but still, she's heard of kobolds. They were these short, reptilian humanoids with cowardly and sadistic tendencies. Similar to goblins, but usually weaker and more subterranean. But outside of dungeons and caves, they were usually harmless and easy to handle, probably due in part to their photophobia. This gave her a little confidence, and she pulled out her scepter and stood behind the more armored Banceli, almost clinging to him.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
They stepped slowly, attempting to maintain their advantage of surprise. Banceli moved some branches to the side, peering within a closed canopy of treetops and foliage. A couple, around five or seven, stood in the trees holding spears and rope. The low-light enclosure didn't seem to bother them.
Banceli leaped forward, disemboweling two in one powerful blow with his partisan. Sabrina panicked, the showering of blood and guts made her uneasy. She tried to follow with a swing of her staff but ultimately failed to hit the scaly ills. Two quickly jumped down, throwing their spears at Banceli in a panic, but his armor deflected them easily. Kobolds weren't the best craftsman, most of their weapon materials being stone or scraps.
Sabrina put away her scepter and drew her sling, whipping a bullet. It struck one in the head, the bullet lodging itself into its jaw. That was three down, and Banceli killed two more effortlessly. One kobold screamed, its a voice like a shrieking child, and ran away into the forest. Sabrina felt relieved the fight was over, Banceli, however, chased after the fleeing prey.
"Wait!" Sabrina yelled, but it was too late. She followed, attempting to catch up to the armored man. He was quick, too quick. He eventually disappeared, leaving Sabrina alone in the woods.
****
Banceli was hot on its trail, the monster's little body swirling and curling in response to the tree roots, rocks, and twigs that lay in its way. It moved much like a snake, trying to get Banceli off its trail by leading him to barriers of trees, logs, and branches it knew he couldn't pass.
But Banceli was experienced, and he had tracked many a foe before. He gracefully leapt over the barriers, never missing a beat, and eventually caught up to the Kobold. It was cornered in a small clearing, and Banceli approached cautiously.
The Kobold snarled and hissed, but Banceli was unfazed. He spoke to the creature in a low, guttural, and deep language, and the Kobold seemed to understand. It spoke back brokenly, telling Banceli of a group of Kobolds living in a nearby cave. Banceli gestured for it to run off, and it sprung to its feet, sprinting away as fast as it could. Before it got out of the clearing, a cold, piercing pain stung from behind. It looked down, seeing the thick blade of Banceli's partisan dripping with his burgundy-red blood.
The Kobold collapsed, the life leaving its eyes. It looked back to Banceli, who towered above, whipping the blood off his blade and sheathing it. Banceli looked down on him like a king looking down upon his subject, but not with malice or hate. Something worse. He looked at the Kobold with a cold, terrifying, calculatingly-unempathetic gaze. His eyes almost glew in the dark of his helmet, and he spared no time for the lifeless body.
Sabrina stood behind Banceli, a look of horror painted on her face. She had never seen someone killed like this before. Banceli didn't move, didn't even look at her. He just stood there, his gaze fixated on the dead kobold.
"W-why did you do that?" She whimpered, her voice trembling. "It surrendered!"
Banceli said nothing. He simply turned around, walking past her and back toward the wagon. A chill ran up Sabrina's spine, and she shivered. She hadn't worked with him for long, only a couple of hours since the quest began, but she didn't expect him to be so... ruthless.
They walked back to the wagon, Banceli covered in blood. Sabrina kept her distance, just wanting to get to town as soon as possible. The merchant, however, seemed unfazed, just thankful that the danger was gone. The wagon soon left the forest, but the eerie chill of death still lingered in Sabrina's mind. Sure, she had to put down the occasionally savage beast, but she did so with mercy, ensuring it a painless, peaceful death. They're just animals, after all, and not even malicious ones. But Banceli seemed to see them as nothing more than pests, to be killed without hesitation.
The image of the kobold, its reptilian body pale and lifeless, mingled and eviscerated, lingered in her memory. 'Was that really necessary?' She thought, her stomach churning with disgust. She looked over to Banceli, his face expressionless. She still didn't know who he was, or where he had come from, but he seemed proficient in the art of killing.
And, she realized, this was probably just the beginning.
The wagon pressed on, eventually getting to the place the kobolds laid in wait. The splots of blood could be seen stained into the dirt, seeping from the outskirts of the road. A few rope traps were covered with leaves, apparently severed by Banceli. They seemed to have been aimed at tripping the horses off the wagon, but thankfully, their plan had been foiled.
Soon the path widened open, the small town of Gumdee resting in the center. The sun was starting to set, and the merchants' wagon finally arrived in the small town. Both Sabrina and Banceli dismounted, each with their own thoughts. The merchant gave them both a special token as proof of their services, something to turn in at the guild for their reward, and the two of them went their separate ways, Sabrina heading to the local inn, and Banceli seemingly disappearing into the night.
She sat at a wooden table in the inn, looking down at her plate. Stewed mule flanks with boiled carrots and parsnips, and a rye bread roll. A small dish of butter lay beside it, and she sighed, pushing it away. Eating became difficult with the image of Banceli's cold and calculated gaze in her mind.
She looked up, taking in the warm and lively atmosphere of the inn. It was a welcome change from the cold and eerie forest. People laughed and joked, merchants sold their wares, and the smell of freshly cooked food permeated the air. The tavernkeeper, a grizzled old man with a thick mustache and a booming voice, bellowed out orders as he worked.
It was then that Sabrina noticed a figure in the corner, draped in an all-black ensemble. Banceli, his face still hidden beneath his helmet, was now wearing a dark robe, only his warhammer equipped. He sat in contemplation, observing the people of the tavern, his eyes never leaving the ground. Sabrina couldn't help but feel an odd connection to him. She felt like she empathized with him (to some extent), his ruthlessness in the forest, and his aloofness in the tavern.
But, then again, she was a druid. She was taught to respect all life, no matter how abhorrent it may be. She felt like she wanted to say something, to reach out to him, to understand him. But, she couldn't. Instead, she finished her meal, paid her dues, and left, without ever uttering a single word. Perhaps tomorrow, she thought, she would find the courage to speak to him.