1.09

Not long after their rest, the group heard noises up ahead. Doing their best to keep silent, Fenrick and Mamzo broke away from the group to investigate.

As they peeked through the bushes, they saw a small clearing. Ramshackle shelters were spread about.

After observing for ten minutes, the pair noted only three thugs wandered aimlessly about the campsite.

One of the bandits lit a fire and cooked food on a stick. One went into one of the shelters, and the third disappeared into the forest on the other side of the clearing.

Fenrick went back to the group and brought them to the edge of the clearing.

“What should we do?” Bodwyn asked.

“Has anything changed?” Fenrick asked Mamzo.

“Only that the third one has come back into the clearing and gone into a different home from the first one. That one’s eating now.”

“Have you seen any kind of metal man?” Sharampf asked.

“I think the rest of Hank’s little crew have gone back to Cobbleson.” Fenrick’s face became a scowl. Weapons at the ready.

“So, what do we do?” Sharampf asked.

“Let’s get some answers from them,” said Bodwyn.

“We should try and get back to Cobbleson,” said Mamzo.

“My map might be here,” said Bodwyn.

“Just a map? We can come back for it later,” said Mamzo.

“Its very important,” said Sharampf. Sharampf and Bodwyn exchanged a concerned look.

“Our priority is to help save Cobbleson,” said Fenrick.

“Do you know a faster way to get back?” asked Bodwyn, frustrated.

“Maybe one of them could show us a faster way? said Sharampf.

“I don’t think they’d be so kind,” replied Bodwyn.

“I wasn’t suggesting we be nice about it.” Sharampf’s voice grew quiet as she spoke.

“What do we do?” Mamzo looked to Fenrick. Fenrick took a hard stare at the ground for a moment.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“There must be a faster way back to Cobbleson, and I’m sure these guys know what it is. We’re running out of time.” Fenrick could feel the pressure on him. It brought up an old anxiety he hadn’t felt in a long time. Whichever decision he made was going to affect someone else.

“Fenrick?” asked Bodwyn.

“Ambush them. We get one to show us back. Try and not kill any if we can help it.” Fenrick narrowed his eyes on the one that was eating food.

“Attack plan?” Mamzo asked.

“Surprise.” Bodwyn acted before anyone could do anything.

A crossbow bolt whizzed through the air, with an overexcited Bodwyn close behind. Cold steel bit into flesh.

The thug roared in pain as her calf seized up, and the expletives continued as she burned her hand with the bowl of boiling soup. Her eyes locked onto Bodwyn, and she barked for the others to join her.

Bodwyn shot again and missed. The thug had now closed the gap, her axe swung down with more power than Bodwyn had anticipated. He stepped toward her and parried the handle.

“This was not the plan.” Frustration seeped through Fenrick’s voice.

“It was my plan though.” Bodwyn avoided the axe yet again and was swiftly greeted by the knuckles of her piston fist. He gasped for air.

“We didn’t vote on it though,” said Mamzo.

One thug made for Fenrick, and the other went for Bodwyn. Fenrick was ready, weapons in hand. Bodwyn and Sharampf cut off the other.

Fenrick immediately recognised his attacker as the bandit he had helped back at Cobbleson. The bandit faltered as he too recognised Fenrick. Fenrick grasped the moment and thrust the pommel of his sword into the side of the bandit. The bandit dropped his weapon, eyes wide with pain.

“Stop. We don’t want to kill anyone.” Fenrick lowered his sword, but his grip stayed tight.

“You attacked us in our home,” breathed the bandit.

“You all attack Cobbleson all the time. Look, we just want a quicker way back to town to stop Hank. What do you know of this metal man?”

When he realised it was two against one, the bandit dropped his club and held his hands up to Mamzo and Sharampf.

“Smart move,” said Mamzo. He kept his daggers out and took a quick glance at Bodwyn.

Bodwyn’s vision flashed white and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground and his chin blared in pain and his teeth felt rattled.

The axe bounced off a wall of gold coins and the bandit stood, momentarily stunned. The coins collapsed and disappeared, and the bandit made to swing again before Fenrick smashed into her side with his shield.

Fenrick and the bandit recovered equally as quick and were ready to clash again before a geyser of water exploded into the bandit’s back.

Before the bandit could get back up, Fenrick’s sword was pointed at her throat. Her glowing green, elven eyes narrowed at Fenrick. Her orc tusks were smaller than Sharampf’s and her pointed ears poked through her hair.

“Enough. No killing. We just want to get back to town. Will you help us?”

“And why would we help you?” she spat.

“Because lives are in danger. We want to stop Hank before he does something stupid.” Fenrick bared his teeth as he spoke.

“I’ll help,” said the one that attacked Fenrick.

“Traitor,” hissed the half orc.

“No, this is too much. With the metal man working, Hank is too dangerous. He’s not the same Hank I grew up with.”

“So you’ll show us?” Sharampf asked.

“Yeah, I’ll take you.” The other two bandits looked defeated.

The journey back took less than an hour. As they neared the edge of the forest, screams of terror could be heard, drowned out by a maniacal laughter.

“These things were dangerous back in the war, so be careful,” warned Fenrick.

“What can they do?” Bodwyn asked.

“Depends on the model,” said Mamzo. The goblin and gnome readied themselves and ran back into the village with Tad close behind them.