“The rain is coming soon, should have something to hide in” remarked Talora as she ran her longsword up and down the strop in groups of three; a nervous habit she picked up from Vindall while she was still just a beginner with the blade.

“Are we moving out soon?” Raith asked as he finished his bowl of the morning stew.

“We move when the clouds cover the sun”.

“Are we still donning no steel today”? Raith asked with an unsure expression.

“It’s a smaller group than usual by Berrick’s count, we should have the soldiers and the merchants cowed before they’re able to make a counter.” Talora replied, she felt confident in this robbery. ‘The soldiers are restless these months’ She thought to herself. ‘We need a good score and we’ll take some leave so the men can see their families’. The last four months had been hard on her soldiers, the officers especially. “Raith I’ll handle the morning inspection, would you check on Jerricho?”

“Yes sir, do you want him fighting today”? Raith asked

“I trust your judgment on Jerri, but I doubt he’s gotten through the worst of it” Talora replied as she pulled the straps on her gambeson tight. ‘Jerricho is absolutely broken, is he ever going to recover from Marco’? She leaned down and grabbed the leather belt. ‘It’s been since last brush fall that he’s held a bow for anything other than a hunt’ the leather belt tightened around her waist securing her gambeson, and she reached for the longsword. ‘The drinking has to be taking a further toll on his health, but how do I get him to stop it? He’s destroying himself from the inside and I feel powerless to make a real difference’ She fussed with the straps to no success, her frustration now visible in her posture and the way she aggressively pulled the cord into place. ‘I can’t lose him now, do I need to place a guard on his tent overnight now? Is he at risk to leave alone in this state’? Her eyes became foggy and she set the blade back down

Raith leaned in and hugged her from behind, Talora’s thoughts stopped spiraling as she leaned into the embrace. “Thank you” Talora muttered softly as the warmth filled her chest.

Raith says softly “I know love, it’s hard to see him break down like this”

Talora pulls out of the hug and reaches again for the blade. “I just wish he would know that we all loved Marco and he doesn’t have to suffer this alone”. She said tightening the cord to her belt. She tested the hold by grabbing the scabbard in both hands and pulling in every direction. “I’m afraid he’ll do something when he’s alone”.

Raith “we can’t make him more willing to talk about what happened, and I’m sorry Tally but I don’t think the feeling that he’s got compatriots in this pain will really help right now”. Raith moved to the tent flap and held it with one hand. “This may just be something he has to work through alone now”. Raith then stepped out of the tent.

Talora felt like there might have been an implication there, an implication that she was afraid to think about.

Raith rang the bell and yelled “quick and quiet like today! No metal to your chests, on your feet at attention.” He ducked into Jerrichos tent as the orders got passed down the line of sergeants. Jerricho was half dressed and looked as though it hadn’t been long since he fell asleep. ‘Smells of Ale and vomit in here’ Raith thought as he shook Jerricho awake. ‘He’s only just awoken and his eyes already have that distant glare as though he’s seeing something far beyond; the nightmares must be getting worse.’ Raith thought to himself.

Jerricho rose to his knees and grabbed his leathers as he began to shamble out to the armament stacks. “If it’s going to rain my bowstring won’t fare well, I’ll need to find or make another soon.” Jerricho said in a mumbled soft tone.

“We’re hitting a small caravan today from the east province today, they were heading to the capital city if I’d have to guess. Should be over and done with before they knew we had them surrounded.” Raith gazed into Jerrichos eyes as he picked up his bow. “You don’t have to fight today if you don’t feel like you can Jerri”.

Jerricho looked back up at Raith and frowned. “I don’t want to be a useless burden that drinks all the ale and puts nothing back in”. Jerricho said, defiant.

“You’ve done more for this lot than any ale could ever repay, but what happens if you can’t fire that bow; or worse you miss and hit one of our own”? Raith said, holding an even tone trying not to come off as angry.

Jerricho looks down at his strung bow “I’ve fought feeling worse than this, I’ll do fine”. As he tossed his bow over his shoulder and stood

As Raith stepped out of his tent the men began lining up in squads of five; Talora and Berrick walked the line and inspected weapons and armor. The ten archers stood with halberds in their right hands, bows in their left, a quiver of arrows on their hip, and chainmail? Talora stopped in front of Bat`tor, a short stout man with bushy brows and blocky features.

“Why are these men in the loudest armor you could find?” Talora asked loud enough for the group to hear

There was an anxious shuffle in the line as the archers looked at eachother with unsure glances, but the man Bat`tor straightened his back and looked her in the eye as he said “I don’t see why we have to strip ourselves of defense if we’re sitting back for the duration, there’s no chance they could hear us commander”

Talora looked over the group again, now standing more firm in her assertion as their impromptu leader ‘Jerricho knows these men better, gods be damned I don’t even know how to fire a bow’ Talora took a moment for the anger to settle and spoke “I understand your concerns with the order today but it’s too much of a risk for us to take, you won’t be standing at the front of the line in the path of the cavalry bringing the line to a halt; I will. If I have enough trust in Berrick’s report and my own tactics to stand nearly unarmored against those who could easily run us through with all the leg strength of a thoroughbred warhorse, then I would hope you have enough trust in me to stand in the trees far away and make sure that doesn’t happen.” She turned to Jerricho as he exited his tent and called him into his place in line.

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After a short mumbled conversation the men returned their chainmail to stockpile and stood back at attention. Berrick walked to the end of the line and turned to face parallel the band of brigands. He yelled across the men and women of the band “If you haven’t done so this morning, relieve yourself before the fight. There might be medicines in this caravan but I wouldn’t count on it, it’s a small convoy from house Elantori bringing steel and preserved foods to a keep on the edge of the kingdom. If we take this we’ll have plenty to sell and we should be back on our feet for recruitment, hold your pikes straight and keep your faces covered. We leave when the sun breeds mist”! And with that the men moved off to the outskirts of camp to do as he recommended. Talora headed back to her tent to grab a cowl and mask to hide her features.

As she said a prayer to the forest spirit Al’thurri and covered her face, she turned and startled. A lanky man with sharp features and ashen hair stood nervously at the door to her tent. “Damn Jerri did you have to sneak up like that?” Jerricho sunk and his eyes glazed over a bit as he mumbled apology

“I’m sorry Tallie, I didn’t want to bother you but I’m worried.” His eyes drifted down as he stared at something far beyond.

‘He looks worse than he’s been in weeks today.’ Talora settled in her chair and invited Jerricho to sit with a wave of the hand. “Maybe you should sit this out today Jerri, Bat`tor is rough around the edges but he can lead the men in combat.” She said, glancing at his shaking hands.

Jerricho suddenly looked up with a frown. “I feel as a parasite tagging along, eating and drinking funds.” He wilted somewhat after he said that.

“You’re never a parasite brottmari, but I can’t have you leading men today if you can’t keep your hands steady and your eyes straight.” Talora said in a soft tone, but nonetheless the words must have hurt as tears began to form and his cheeks flushed. “We love you Jerricho, I will always be open to hear what it’s been like for you”. Talora said with a soft smile, trying to reassure him.

“I’m sorry commander, I’ll do better I promise, just please give me time.” He said despondent and stood to leave.

Talora watched him go with soft eyes and a pain somewhere deep as she stood to go, picking up a halberd and a shield. The sun breached the hill and all at once they began moving in groups of five, west to the kings highway.

The pikemen lay in anxious wait in the moss and the dirt on the forest floor, as Talora stood with her group of ten in the center of the road. The lead man from the caravan appeared some ways away and faltered, he sat still on horseback as he glanced over the crowd from left to right; and with a kick his horse galloped back out of sight. Talora whistled under her obscuring cowl and Bat`tor moved up to her side. He nodded and waved his arm as ten bowmen emerged from rocks further down the road. The group of archers moved to be sat behind Raiths pikemen on the right side of the road and Bat`tor spoke “captain, Tal says when you hear ‘my men must be fed’ hop to position and we should be on with it.” Raith nodded and spread that to the ten men on his side of the road as Talora moved to spread the message to Berrick and his ten on the other side. As the rain fell the dirt kicked up and soon all the men were indistinguishable between roots and moss. The quiet clang of chain and sword accompanied the fall of hooves as a line crested a twist in the road further down. ‘Twenty mounted men to ten pikes are not the worst numbers, Berrick didn’t mention foot troops trailing behind though.’ With a start the mounted troops broke off into a gallop and chaos broke through the rain. Talora barked a quick “move!” As the cavalry charged with lances couched, swords still at their sides. Bat`tor let loose an arrow that just missed a slit on the neck of the lead horseman, and with that nine more arrows fired all at once. They had lost their organization in the panic and all arrows fired at the lead horseman. Some found purchase and others plinked off his plate, and so the man fell from his horse.

Raith yelled “Bat`tor send to infantry!” as his men stood and latched onto pikes.

Ten men a side two to a pike left ten pikes thrusting for the charging knights and three were struck well; dropping the mounted warriors to the earth. Arrows rained on quickly approaching infantry but they had enough time to raise shields. “Drop bows and move in with halberds.” Came from Talora as a shout. Talora’s forces moved back onto the road as the cavalry passed and she chased quickly behind. “Don’t let them gain momentum” barked Talora as she rushed forward, tossing her shield to the side as she put both hands on the halberd. The pikes turned to approaching infantry as they raised shields and stopped in a skein. “Tight square men!” Came a shout from one of the merchant guards, and within a moment they had created a solid shield wall and began rushing for the pike formation. Raith saw Bat`tor’s men circling behind the ten infantry soldiers and Raith ordered an aggressive push with pikes in hand to hold their attention. Pikemen on the other side rushed out with pike in hand and Bat`tor’s troops found position in a loose block ready to poke at the backs of infantry. The other men converged on the group and Raith’s number formed a tight skein. Shouts came from down the road further and Raith could see glinting steel as five cavalrymen came back through lances couched. He didn’t have time to pull his men back to cover so he called out “Brace the ground and face Horses” His men quickly dropped low and braced their pikes on the ground. The horses ran through as screams of pain came from the beasts and four were speared through the chests launching armored men off and into the crowd of infantry; but two of his men were pierced with lances leaving one horse charging through. Men scrambled to grab halberd and shield leaving broken pikes on the ground. The mounted soldier dropped lance and pulled a longsword from the saddle as he began weaving large swaths into the backs of men, stabbing at indisposed soldiers. Raith jumped up and Rammed his halberd into a break in knights armor where the hip bends, a yell of pain came from the man as he kicked and galloped back down to where Talora’s forces had moved, taking Raiths halberd with him. Raith picked up the lance and began furiously stabbing at the broken squad of infantry and quickly only two were left standing. The survivors dropped weapons and fell onto knees proclaiming surrender.

Berrick called to Bat’tor “Have your men watch these two while we move up to Tal!” And his men began sprinting. The group of eighteen left standing rounded the corner to find Talora fighting with ferocity against two horse men Standing over her. Her cowl ripped off and blood streaming from her forehead. Several horses laid dead further down and a scuffle between steel and leather clad troops broke out. As the horsemen came upon her Talora rolled underneath one of the standing horses out to the other side; pushing up from the mud she speared the man above her just under the chin. Talora Kicked his horse in the side and it broke off leaving the man leaning off one side of the saddle as he clutched under his helmet. The man who had charged for Talora kept his momentum and changed targets to Raith, who was standing at the front of a wide wedge shape made of footmen. Raith barely had enough time to raise his shield as the knight ran through lance couched. With a crash the lance ripped into his shield and he felt a sharp pain ring through his shoulder and collar. As Raith toppled to the ground his men raised halberds against the man who, carried by momentum, ran straight into the sharp points. He was grabbed off of his horse by three separate halberds hitting all at once and pole vaulted over the crowd. Like a puppet his arms and legs went limp as he was launched. The horse jumped the wedge and continued on disappearing down the road. One of the last six remaining cavalry charged at Talora who promptly dropped to the ground, butt of her halberd planted in the mud. The horse reared before reaching the point of the weapon and the man backed his horse up. Regrouping with the men further down the road and giving enough time for Raiths forces to move up, yet Raith still lay on the ground shield still sticking to his arm. Berrick and his men rounded the corner, moving quickly to aid. The men on horseback shared a word and dismounted. One stepped in front, removing his helm. They took a place near horses and Talora’s infantry surrounded them. Talora drew her hood over her head and sprinted back to Berrick's men. She reached Berrick who was now kneeling over Raith and said “move up to order their surrender, I need to get Raith to a safe spot and check his injuries”. Berrick nodded and called his men to follow as he moved up to the surrounded men.