Fated Circles

The moon waxed over the grasslands, nearing its end.

The nights were still chilly, but Spring was drawing to a close. Hot Summer was mere days away.

A group of people were hiding behind a small knoll. This small contingent of soldiers lay huddled and also wrapped tightly in thin cloaks. About half a mile away in the distance a small wood, populated with a few trees punctured the plain landscape.

Months of tracking and fighting led the Military to this hidden camp of bandits.

"Wake the Captains, the signal should be here soon."

The veteran scout nudged his sleepy eyed apprentice.

The young man clutched his worn cloak tightly as he crawled to a position near the base of the mound behind them. There, accompanied by some servants lay the resting men. He passed the message while still wondering why this team of ten Military soldiers needed 'four' captains.

"Captain!"

"Captain!"

The calls rang out very softly in the dead night. In the silent grasslands, sound travels very far. Making noise before staging an ambush was never a wise choice.

The four thick, fur-lined cloaks all opened one after the next, unwrapping its contents from the comfortable cocoon. While they had long toned down their extravagant behaviors, demonstrating might through riches was always their forte.

"Get up you lazy slobs! As 'Captains' you need to set an example for your men!"

Young master Gofart was the first to speak.

"You'd better shut your trap poser. Otherwise nobody will respect you, 'Dullard'."

Prickus mumbled back as he stretched out some stiff limbs.

At the side Rufang kicked a swollen cloak rolling out the contents. he nearly vomited at the sight which greeted him.

"Tochus you dolt! Why the hell can't you keep your vices out of public sight. Nobody wants to see your bare ass in the moonlight!"

Rufang spat in disgust at the two naked men now sprawled out on the grasslands for all to see.

The culprit of that anger merely got up as another servant began dressing him in the dim light. He slowly turned his head soaking in the faces of all the soldiers nearby.

"Stupid, stupid Rufang. Everyone here knows about my relations with the Commander. Add the support of my family and not a man here dares to spurn me."

"Not here among these low ranked soldiers. But when you return to Frost City, Weak Bladder Tochus will forever be a hot topic. If word gets out about you and the Commander, he wont be able to save himself much less someone with a poor reputation."

Prickus chimed in, replying to Tochus.

The raised voices prompted the scout to interrupt their conversations. Dawn was nearly upon them, the ambush would begin.

The soldiers all scattered around the side of the mound, like a half crown viewing the shadow covered woodlands. A gray band of light began in the east, slowly widening and brightening.

Master Gofart gaze fell on another mound closer to the target. Another team led by Roberts crouched there hidden, also waiting for the signal.

"Why the hell do we have to act as support during this time. We won't earn an ounce of Merit or Achievement."

He grumbled to Tochus who sat at his side seemingly without a care.

"You say this, but Commander Fredijak has his reasons. You do remember the reason behind chasing these bandits right?"

Tochus replied.

After the fiasco in the village to the north, the Military wasted no time in tracking the perpetrators. The Wold Demon's head was proof of existence, an existence without a body. As a result the upper echelons of the Empire demanded satisfaction that no unaffiliated Sersen roamed its lands.

Hence Commander Fredijak wasted no time in casting the net. The Military supported by the Houses and Clans that took part in the previous demon hunting stormed across the grasslands. They tracked and captured any bandit group.

After a brief interrogation they killed them earning fame from villages in the process. A solid lead to the Mong bandits came when a scout tracked an ambushed survivor to their camp. This camp was about three villages to the south east of Chu's and hidden in the woods.

"There they go."

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The platoons of soldiers and hired fighters rushed silently towards the woodland. All around small teams were doing the same. Consequently it did not take long for the sounds of battle to fill the air.

Under an assault of trained fighters the resistance of the Mong bandits quickly crumbled. This group of rag-tag brigands relied on the strength of numbers so as to achieve their desired aims. Finally having to face well trained fighters had them scampering away into the grasslands.

The bandit camp consisted of probably just over one hundred members remaining with a prized possession of thirty horses. The horses were part of the group normally used during the Spring collection event held every year. Using horses to make a grand entrance cowered the villagers into paying a levy. It also served as a lure to gather prospective members.

The bandits conducted most of their ambushes and raids on farms by foot. Yearly recruitment made up for losses from failed battles and brawls. Outstanding members also obtained rewards of young girls and captured women.

'Ming's dream occupation ended abruptly for the present employees.'

First of all, the recruitment drive in one village met with fierce resistance. That group was totally wiped out and so never returned to camp. In addition, smaller groups out hustling the surrounding farms ended up being targeted by bands of fighters. Only through an informant did they finally learn news of the event.

Commander Fredijak was an old hand in conducting these types of tactics. The Military was different from the Empire's army. They did not fight head on with demon beast but used hit and run methods, ambushes and the like. Some commanders were not adverse to even using hired help as bait.

The leader of the Mong bandits was distraught, nearly dying from a stroke on the report. The bandits who died in village ambushes by the Military consisted of almost all his elite members. Furthermore they were his prized performers meant to strike fear and awe.

Worse yet, it was becoming widely circulated that he probably had a Sersen in his camp.

That announcement alone had him coughing up blood.

'If I had a Sersen under me, do you really think I would be in this line of work?'

Now before he could regroup and think of a way out of this predicament, his camp was being raided.

"Fuck Me!"

Normally he would show off his battle prowess with a large hammer. That skill was enough to contend against a garrison guard. It also served to gain praise from the dunderheads that surrounded him. In the face of blood thirsty fighters out for bounty, it became useless.

His organization built on the wonderful foundational rule collapsed.

'Among the blind, the one-eye man is king!'

Besides him and a few others, the rest of the bandits served the purpose of batching up the numbers. It did not take long for them to be either captured or killed outright. Politics was ever present in raids like these. Therefore killing the Sersen meant no other power could make use of them in the future.

The weaker bandits who usually served to either make up numbers or used as fodder ran away on foot. The small teams guarding the encirclement was given the job of capturing these stragglers. A company of mounted officers handled the ones escaping on horse back.

"Damnit I have never worked so hard in my life!"

Master Gofart raged as he launched a kick behind a lanky bandit.

It seemed like nearly all the runners had decided to escape to their location. Since most of his soldiers were occupied in confronting the fugitives, he had to act. Given his physical conditions he soon became tired out.

At the moment Rufang had some soldiers stripping the prisoners to conduct visual examinations for a tattoo. As a result, It soon became evident that this batch possessed nothing of value.

"Do we kill them like the others?"

Tochus asked as he leered at the naked men.

The surroundings was already littered with bodies of slain men.

Master Gofart was about to agree when he had an epiphany.

"Stop Prickus, hear me out first."

Master Gofart led the other four captains away from the rest of the squad.

"We just ended up with a gold mine. The Mong bandits were the largest group of brigands in these parts. Now that they are gone, a void will need to be filled. Remember I am from a Merchant family. If I can raise the new group of bandits, I will hence control all the trade along the forest."

Young master Gofart beamed as he talked.

If they controlled the local bandit group, they also controlled who and which merchant might successfully trade in lumber and pelts. By allowing close associates and family to pass through the area unhindered, while blocking rivals he could crush the competition.

"Well its not like I see it as a problem. More money to you means more to spend for us."

Prickus commented.

Master Tochus quickly had the naked men released and brought over. Twenty bandits remained alive in the group while one suffered injuries from the fighting.

The soldiers left the men to the mercy of the young masters. Having carried out the instructions of the Commander their task was done. Whatever fate had to dish out for the prisoners was of no concern to them.

"You ruffians are in luck. Due to the fact I am in a good mood, you have two choices. Either serve me and become the new 'Mong' bandits in the region or die."

Young Master Gofart talked while walking with his hands behind his back and head facing the sky. Gathering no response from the gawking and shocked bandits he finally looked towards them.

"Do it!"

On his next instruction, Daffodil dragged the injured prisoner out to the front and swiftly sliced his throat. Because it was intentionally not a clean cut, the man died in a slow and brutal manner.

"Well?"

Came the follow up question.

The twenty bandits dropped to the ground in prostration.

"Agreed my Lord, we agree!"

With the backing of a lord the sky was the limit, therefore it was not surprising for dead men to swear allegiance.

Under the unison replies, young master Gofart smiled.

"Spade, get these riff-rafts some clothes and crude weapons. Since the south is still hot with activity, take them up north to the previous village there. You can train them a little by likewise ambushing those caravans from the Trading Post. I would be a foolish merchant if I did not see they were making a fortune. High time I collect some dues."

Tochus laughed as he heard Gofart instructions.

"Not a bad deal from this expedition. When you corner the trade in this region make sure you find me some playthings. Now that we are finished lets have some fun. I saw a herd of Inyoni just a while ago, help me chase them around for sport."

He stared at the naked men like a hungry wolf.

"You there! Yes you. I name you as the new Mong bandit leader. My eyes for men are never wrong, you have the face of a killer."

Young Master Tochus pointed out the man.

A man with an unforgettable face stepped out and bowed.

It was the face of a perpetually sneering man.