anything.

He would have kept on going if it weren't for the sound of the horses freaking out. They ran out to see a man trying, and failing to untie one of the horses. It wasn't because the ropes were so tight it was because of the hooves and teeth. Taking a rope from the side of the stable, Endermon expertly got a rope around him, keeping his arms straight at his sides.

With a slight tug, he was flat on his back and was staring straight up at three angry faces. Endermon said that if he valued his life, he ought to start by telling them why he was trying to steal one of their horses. At first he wasn't talking, but when he heard the click of the axe, he said his wife was sick and all he was trying to do was get home.

None of them believed him, and looked at each other to decide what to do. Endermon just said 'Let's get started, shall we?', and the other two stepped back a few paces. Seeing the two of them back off gave the man some confidence as it was just a woman who was questioning him. He started getting full of himself and refused to answer her questions despite being flat on his back, and a rope keeping his arms rather useless.

He tried to kick out at her and then he heard Dresden say, 'You shouldn't have done that.' He turned his head to ask why not, only to nearly get a bone-handled knife hit the ground in front of his face, missing his eye by the smallest of margins. Feeling dainty yet unforgiving fingers grip his chin and forcing him to look at his captor, he was alarmed to see pure black eyes staring at him.

Trying to ineffectually scramble backwards away, he was stopped by an axe landing a hair width behind his head. Fearing for his life, he finally lie still. The woman with black eyes asked him again why he was trying to steal one of their horses, how he found them, and what his plan was afterwards.

He told her he was paid to, and that someone in a black cloak told him he was supposed to lure them to a specific building in town and then he would get paid and was supposed to leave immediately.

The woman told him in no uncertain terms that he was to leave the area and forget this 'meeting' ever happened. And if he were to try to inform anyone of any of it, he would come to regret it. She then asked how much he would have been paid, had he been successful. He named an amount, and the woman tsk'd condescendingly. She asked if he realized he'd been set up, and had he been fruitful in his foolish errand, he would have been disposed of when it came to get his payment? He turned pale at that, and realizing he was in over his head began begging the group to let him go.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

When the rope came free, he scrambled to his feet and ran the opposite way he came from and never looked back. Endermon sighed and thanked the others. She wasn't sure if her bluff was going to work. She really had no idea what would have happened if it didn't work.

Dresden, remembering the towel snapping incident just said he wasn't aware he had spoken aloud. Not commenting on the fact that he could be civil when it suited him, Endermon nodded and said it was okay. Rutus noticing the same thing, said the man was giving off weird vibes and needed some target practice anyway.

Since it was still some time before lunch, they decided to have a bit of a sparring match. It was agreed that they wouldn't hold back but would try their hardest not to injure each other as it would get awkward between them. They found things suitable for their purposes, and it was on.

Dresden tried different animal attacks, while Rutus tried to hit him with projectiles. Endermon used the landscape to her advantage to defend or get shots in at either of them. Since all three had two attackers to fend off, it was pretty evenly matched. They went until they were exhausted and lay on the ground, panting.

Once they had their breath back, they sat up and went to their rooms to freshen up. Once in clean clothes and feeling better, Endermon started making lunch. Gathering ingredients and different components, Endermon was content. They had all gotten a workout and were at least decent at fighting for themselves. They had yet to team up and fight an enemy, but she hoped that day would never come.