Talax's heart pounded with a sickening mixture of fear, disgust, and anger as he gazed upon the gruesome scene before him. The small clearing was eerily silent, except for the low moaning of the barely-conscious man who hung from two thin spruce trees, his weight bending the tops of the trees to their limits. Talax couldn't tear his eyes away from the man's battered and bruised body, or the red, angry tears that had formed on his shoulder blades from being suspended for so long.
As he scanned the clearing, his eyes caught sight of the bandits, and his blood ran cold. The two men he had followed were joined by four more, two of whom were sleeping soundly next to a dying fire, seemingly unaffected by the brutality surrounding them. The depravity of the situation was highlighted by the bandit who was rifling through a pile of clothes, only to reveal the lifeless body of a woman beneath the garments.
Talax could barely contain the bile that rose in his throat when he saw the woman’s dead body. Her fair skin was marred by bruises, and her mutilated breasts and blood-soaked lower body left no doubt as to the horrific violence that had been inflicted upon her. The ground beneath her was stained a deep, otherworldly crimson, glinting in the flickering light of the nearby fire.
Talax couldn't help but recoil in horror, feeling the need to hide deeper within the shadows of the trees. The sight of the brutalized woman and the dying man was almost too much to bear. His mind swirled with thoughts of how such a monstrous act could have been committed, and his stomach churned with revulsion. For long moments, he stood there, paralyzed by the sickening sight that played out before him.
His introspective moment was rudely interrupted by a rough, gravelly voice that barked, piercing through the silence of the forest. “Finally! Did you find them?”
Talax cautiously peered from behind the tree, only to catch sight of a middle-aged man, his hawkish features etched with a fierce brutality that seemed to radiate off him like heat. Despite his gaunt and malnourished appearance, his body was as taut as a bowstring, coiled and ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Talax's eyes drifted over the man's armor, a patchwork of mismatched pieces that looked like they had been scavenged from various sources. The leather breastplate, pockmarked with holes, barely covered his torso, while the metal pauldrons that protected his arms looked like they had been fashioned for a giant. The only item of value on him was his bow, which hung lazily on his back, made of glossy lacquered wood that gave off a hint of mana even to Talax’s untrained eyes.
“They are searching towards the clawed hills.” The bandit that had searched for him responded, the man was of small stature and looked like a weasel, with small beady eyes and a slightly hunched back. His companion on the other hand was tall, with a pimply face and serious eyes. They lacked the protection of their leader and only sported scuffed hand guards.
“We found tracks leading to the cart.” The tall one supplied as if he didn’t want to be overshadowed by his partner.
“Oh?” The leader said with a deceptively calm voice with an underlying current of danger.
“At first, we followed one set of tracks but later whoever he was, he joined someone else.” The leader waited for more explanations as the two bandits looked at each other with indecision.
“We lost their trail somewhere in the forest...” The leader’s hand twitched and the two subordinates gulped looking uneasy, as if they knew that they were treading on thin ice.
“The man we captured seems to be someone important, his armor alone costs several hundred gold. Maybe... “The leader murmured as if talking to himself and then his eyes light up with greed, and his smile transformed his face into something feral and unsettling.
“Maybe we should approach his party and propose an exchange, let’s say three hundred gold coins?” The man’s predatory smile left Talax unnerved. The disturbing smile seemed to have the same effect on the two bandits who looked around nervously as if they wanted to bolt.
“Umm... Their party is strong, they have a dozen warriors, most of whom are second tier... how...” The leader interrupted the weaselly man with a cutting motion of his hand and an angry scowl painted on his face.
“Don’t you worry your little head with that Drip, you are only good traipsing through the forest...” With contempt oozing from his face he added, “Well maybe not even that, given that you lost the other two...” The small man went red in the face but reined his anger, which seemed to disappoint the leader who looked to be itching for a fight.
“Now go, Blotch is on guard duty.”
The two bandits scampered away like rats, their dark figures darting through the shadows of the camp. Talax watched them go, his heart pounding in his chest, as he scanned the area for any other threats. His eyes lingered on the leader, who slumbered soundly on a tattered bedroll just a few meters from the lifeless body of the woman they had killed, seemingly unaffected by the horror next to him.
As the scouts sat down to eat, the stench of the filthy pot filled the air, the scraps of food left behind barely enough to sustain the two bandits. Talax's senses were on high alert as he made his silent retreat, every step measured and calculated to avoid detection. As he put distance between himself and the camp, he finally let out a deep breath he didn't even realize he had been holding.
The rush of oxygen to his brain was dizzying, and he doubled over, gasping for air. It felt like the past few days had been nothing but one harrowing experience after another, with only brief moments of respite to catch his breath before plunging back into danger.
As he paused to collect himself, the weight of the decisions ahead weighed heavily on his mind. He needed Qalo's input on their next move. Should they try to slip away undetected from the forest, or try to find the lord's party and inform them about the captive? Or was it time to take the fight to the bandits themselves, despite the overwhelming odds against them?
The idea of attacking the bandits' camp seemed like sheer suicide, but the thought of the captive dying alone and helpless left a bitter taste on his mouth. He couldn't hope to face the bandits alone, but with the help of Qalo they had a chance of saving the man. A small part of him told him that it would be inhumane to leave the man to his fate. Another part of him, his more practical side, told him that if they managed to save the captured man, they would be welcomed with open arms by the rest of the expedition. He was somewhat uncomfortable by his thoughts, he knew though, that saving the man would earn them a spot on the expedition.
His mind whirled with conflicting thoughts as he trudged through the dense forest, getting lost more than once as he searched for his way back to camp. At some point he felt a surge of mana and noticed a new bud blossom in his core.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
When he checked, information flooded his mind.
Tracking skill, level 1
1% to observation, 1% to clue detection
As soon as he read the information, the path before him lit up guiding him in the right direction. He could now see his faint footprints and the path he had followed when he had stalked the two bandits.
A dim accumulation of mana illuminated his way and Talax found the camp thirty minutes later.
The sound of Qalo's snoring reverberated through the forest, deep and sonorous. The rhythmic noise was both reassuring and frustrating, a reminder that while they were safe for now, they could be discovered at any moment. Talax couldn't help but feel frustrated at the big orc's ability to sleep so soundly, despite the danger they were in.
Talax shook him roughly, his fingers digging into Qalo's thick shoulder. The orc grunted and snorted, his eyes flickering open slowly. When he finally came to, his voice, usually shrill, was like the sound of rocks grinding together, rough and gravelly.
"What?" he grumbled, his eyes bleary with sleep.
"We have a problem," Talax replied urgently. Qalo's expression shifted, his eyes suddenly alert as he scanned the area for any signs of danger. His gaze flicked back to Talax, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Well? Why did you wake me this early? I need my beauty sleep or else I get cranky!" he complained, but Talax was in no mood for his friend's teasing.
Talax growled in frustration as he recounted the events of the night, his voice low and urgent. Qalo listened in silence, his massive form hunched over as he absorbed the news. When Talax finished, Qalo's troubled eyes met his.
"Let's go!" Qalo barked suddenly, his movements quick and sure as he gathered his few belongings.
"Where to?" Talax asked, his eyes fixed on Qalo's face as he weighed his options.
"We need to get as far away as we can while the bandits are asleep. If they are this near to our camp, we will eventually bump into them. Come!" Qalo replied, his voice urgent.
Talax hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking back towards the bandit's camp. He knew that he should follow Qalo's lead, that it was the safest option. But he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had to help the poor man. Without a word, he turned on his heel and set off towards the bandit's camp.
“Where are you going?” Qalo demanded. Talax without looking back he responded. “I can’t let that man die knowing that I could help.”
"You will die!" Qalo's rough voice echoed through the forest as he grabbed Talax's shoulder and spun him around. The grip was so strong that Talax felt the pressure on his bones. Qalo's angry face was twisted into a fierce scowl, his eyes bore into Talax's as if daring him to challenge him.
Talax's heart pounded with fear and anger as he jerked away from the orc's restraining hand. He could feel his rage building, like a wildfire on the verge of exploding into an inferno. The embers that had initially been stroked by the bandits' actions were now raging by Qalo's attitude.
With gritted teeth, he glared up at Qalo, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I am not an idiot! I am not going into the camp and hope for the best! I have a plan," he growled.
Qalo's eyes narrowed as he looked down at Talax with a mixture of disbelief and disdain. "No, you don't," he said, his voice dripping with contempt.
Talax felt a surge of anger at Qalo's condescension. "I am going, and you can't stop me! Now go cower in a corner while I go save that poor man!" he snarled, his voice rising to a fever pitch.
Qalo's eyes blazed with fury, and Talax could see the bulging vein on his temple throbbing with anger. The big man balled his fists, ready to pummel Talax into submission.
"I am not a coward!" Qalo roared, his voice echoing through the forest. "The orcs' courage is being sung across kingdoms! You dare question my honor?"
Talax could feel the tension in the air, like a storm brewing on the horizon. He knew that Qalo was about to explode, and he had to act fast to diffuse the situation.
"I just thought that a fine warrior such as yourself would jump at the chance to crash some common bandits. I was obviously wrong!" Talax said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Qalo narrowed his eyes, and Talax feared that he had seen through his ploy. "If I wanted to, I could kill all the bandits without breaking a sweat!" Qalo declared, thumping his chest with his fist.
"Good. Let's go then," Talax said, nodding his head towards the enemy camp. He started running, hoping that Qalo would follow. He took a calculated risk by challenging the half-orc, he knew that he couldn't convince him with rational arguments, but questioning his courage was a sure way to get him to come along. With bated breath he counted the seconds until, thankfully, he heard Qalo’s heavy footfalls following him. He let a sigh of relief, because despite all his boastful claims he had no idea how to defeat the bandits. Having the half orc by his side was reassuring. Maybe the man wouldn’t be able to defeat the bandits single handedly, but together they could form some plan of attack, that would let them come out of it alive.
As they ran through the forest, Talax tried to use his stealth skill to remain undetected, but Qalo's heavy footsteps made it impossible. Branches snapped and animals scattered as they crashed through the underbrush.
Talax could feel his frustration building with every step. He stopped and turned to face Qalo, throwing a stick at his surprised face. "Can't you be a little quieter?" he hissed.
The tusked man looked chastised and the next moment he tried tip toeing through the woods, looking like an overgrown ballerina, which inevitably ended with him tripping over some roots and crashing to the ground with a loud bang.
Talax was standing over him with his hands folded ready to rain down abuse to the big, uncoordinated buffoon but when he spotted the remorseful look on his tusked face, he sighed in resignation, feeling like a villain about to kick a helpless puppy. He turned around and resumed his trek.
By some miracle, they managed to arrive at the enemy camp undetected. The fire had died out, shrouding the camp in darkness. They surveyed the clearing, trying to identify the bandits' positions. They had to find the best way of attack, they couldn’t just charge into the clearing and hope for the best.
Talax spotted a lone guard making his rounds around the camp. The two scouts were sleeping on the western side of the clearing, next to their loot. The leader slept against a tree at the opposite side, his snoring filling the silence. Two more bandits slept in close proximity next to the firepit. The bound man seemed to be asleep, for a moment Talax thought that they were too late and he had died, but then he noticed his chest rising and falling with each breath.
Qalo leaned in towards Talax, his breath hot on his neck as he whispered urgently, “Well? You have a plan?” The air was thick with tension as they peered through the trees at the group of bandits.
Talax's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. He knew that the two archers were the biggest threat, their keen eyesight and deadly aim could easily take them out in seconds. With a grim determination, he drew his two knives from his belt, the metal glinting in the moonlight.
He turned to Qalo, his voice low and intense. “There are two scouts, they are our priority. I'll take out the one on the left, you take out the other.” He pointed at the sleeping form of the leader. “We need to do it quietly, without anyone noticing.”
Qalo's eyes widened in disbelief. “That's your whole plan?” he hissed.
Talax shrugged nonchalantly, his heart beating fast in his chest. “Do you have a better idea?” he challenged, trying to mask the fear in his voice.
Qalo's fists clenched at his sides, and for a moment, Talax thought he might punch him in anger. But instead, he took a deep breath and seemed to calm himself. When he had his anger under control Talax said. "Your archer is the leader, so he will be the strongest. Wait for him to wake up before you attack. He will probably hear me coming, so try to catch him by surprise. If I manage to kill the two scouts without waking the rest, I'll try to approach the ones next to the fire. So don't attack unless my cover is blown. Ok?”
Qalo still looked furious, but he nodded his understanding. “Good luck,” Talax whispered, before activating his stealth skill and disappearing into the shadows of the forest.
He took a deep breath and steeled himself for the fight ahead. The forest was alive with the sound of crickets and the rustling of leaves as he crept towards his target, his knives glinting in the moonlight. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and every muscle in his body was tense with anticipation.