From dawn and till dusk they road, only stopping periodically to rest there horses and get a bit too drink and some food. Gill and John had brought with them only a few provisions other than the gold they stole from Starlight City. They were being chased down by the whole country for burning down all of Starlight.

“OK Gill what's the plan?” Yelled out John from behind.

“I say we lead the soldiers into the nearby ravine, periodically shoot at them to slim down there forces.” Yelled back Gill while nudging his horse to go faster.

“Are you suicidal! Under what condition do you think we could do that? There are over a 100 soldiers on our tail, and you think we could just shoot them all down and call it a day?” John said exasperated while coughing up dust.

Gill thought to himself, why on earth has he put up with this idiot for all these years?

“I also have a few tricks up my sleeves.” Laughed out Gill.

In the early morning a small ditch on the side of the road Gill and John were rigging together a few traps and snares to slow down the knights.

“Ok John I will have you tie down this rope to the tree across the road.” Gill said excitedly.

“I still don’t understand, who is stupid enough to fall for this?” John said doggedly.

Gill tried to explain to his friend the delicacies of setting a perfect trap. From Gill’s understanding and his experience there are three important points to setting a trap. Never expect it will succeed, have another plan if the first one fails and if your plans burns down always have a way to escape.

Under the conditions these boys are under they don't have a lot of time, the Governor's army is about a full day's ride behind them.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

As Gill was finishing up setting up the rest of his contraptions John was passively getting his bow and arrows ready. John gently dipped his arrows into the small jar of oil that he brought with him. Gill noticed John’s movements and decided to himself that he would sharpen his sword and check on the horses.

The two boys that afternoon climbed to the top of the ravine. They left there horses in a small cave just below there hiding spot incase they need to make a hasty escape.

Gill and John sat together in the dark chewing on dried meat and stale tasteless bread. In the darkness upon the cool cliff tops John noticed a small flicker of light. John quietly crept towards the cliff edge and watched the forest line flicker back and forth in torch light.

Gill watched John’s movements silently, he reminded to himself the more movement they both make the faster they will spotted.

The commander of the Governor's forces peered over the horizon line with a grimace.

“We should have at least spotted there tracks by now.” He blurted to himself.

Commander Ron Shawl was known as the kingdom's finest. Nations fear his ferocity in battle and those who know him personally love his bravery and kindness. They have been tracking the thieves for the past three weeks now.

Each and every turn they make and every nook and cranny they step there have been traps. We have had to resort to sending in scouts at every turn. Sometimes they don't return, unless you consider returning having an arrow protruding from your chest or falling into a ditch filled with spikes.

At this point Commander Shawl has lost over 20 men from these excessive attacks. From the reports his men have given him there are only supposed to be a couple of thieves. On the third night of there pursuit the attacks had started, flaming arrows rained down there encampment. Men fell down from tripwire into pits filled with spikes tipped in poison in the darkness.

 We had lost half of our supplies that night and over eleven men died in that god forsaken forest. Everyone suffered from some sort of injury or burn, but that wasn't the worst part of the whole excursion the mental trauma that was inflicted upon my soldiers was Mine numbingly painful. The soldiers jumped from even from the most obscure of noises. Even when a forest creature runs past there legs they piss themselves. We are also low on supplies we had thought this trip Would take a day or two at most. We have had to resort to hunting wild game found upon forest floor. If we do not find these arsonist soon we will have to turn around If the gods forbid I would have to report back empty handed.