The Rescue
This time is midnight. I'm sitting on the floor, thinking. Right now, I want to keep myself sober. I was having a short nap earlier, to prepare for my job - only go at night.
Lilia told me to return to the tavern to take more work after a week. Right now, it has been straight a week already. I'm about to go. I have already prepared the gear, now I just need to stand up... and go.
She told me to come to the tavern at midnight. Of course, enter by using the backdoor.
Hmmmm... I slowly stand up.
Right immediately, I see a sleeping Elena. This young girl just returned recently here after her adventurer job. She now seems to be very exhausted. She is sleeping on the bed, her breaths are heavy and her body cowers.
Earlier, I pretended like I was sleeping very deep when she got in here. Elena told me that she would like to have a day off in the next day, but sadly.
She wants to pay more attention to me or something, I can't tell. But I know she just recently realized that she hasn't spent much time with me. This girl brought me - a stranger back home. She recently wants to give me more attention, and she wants to do it by using the next day.
But sadly - no...
She makes me feel like she wants to build a relationship with me. A relationship between a big brother and a little sister, that must be what she wants at this moment.
But sadly... no.
Hmmmm... I really want to pat her head to say goodbye.
But I don't want her to wake up because of that...
I later approach the window and look outside. The street is now completely deserted. Even the local guards aren't here anymore. They just newly left the town to go back to guard that small outpost.
The murder case has been closed, I think. They have finally left it unsolved...
I slowly crawl out of the window carefully. I let my body hang with my hands holding the window's stool.
Not so long later, I get down with a soft fall. Elena's room is just on the 1st floor of the inn. The outside of the window has so many advantages for me to come out of. This way can be used conveniently in case I don't want to go outside by using the front door.
Hmmmm... good.
I get up, I slowly re-check my leather belt. My short sword has been tightened so well, as well as the poisoned dagger. This town has a small weapons shop. But I only bought the short sword, the dagger was given to me in the beginning by the resistance.
Based on what I heard from Lilia, carrying weapons is forbidden here. But it only applies to the commoners. Those who have adventurer cards or mercenary cards are the exceptions to that law. According to the laws here, I'm possessing these melee weapons illegally.
But I can hide these things behind the cloak. The guards at the outpost only check the appearance of the individual. They may check things behind the cloak. But they won't check the pockets of the individual... they don't work carelessly, they just can't think about that scenario that far.
Hmmmm... enough thinking. Must go now or I'll be late.
The sidewalk that occurred the murder scene is now before my eyes. A week has already passed, but still no one dares to go across it.
I slowly walk on that path. Not so long later, I finally reach the bar. I go around and approach the backdoor.
I knock on the door three times, and slowly step aside to wait for it. A few seconds later, a resistance fighter opens the door and goes out. He sees me, he nods and I slowly step in. The door is closed, he stands behind me.
"I need your weapons, man". - Alright, he wants to seal my weapons before letting me go in to meet the leaders
I freely raise both of my hands widely from the left to the right. He touches my body, checking from my torso to my feet, doing it on both sides. After stripping off my weapons, he finally opens a door for me. I step in there to find the resistance leaders.
I thought the meeting would occur underground, but things didn't go as I thought.
The room before me appears to be quite small. Well, I have never seen this room before. It must be a room on the tavern's backside. Instead of seeing lights from the magic stones, the only light sources in the room appear to be lanterns and oil lamps.
Joe and Lilia can be seen sitting on the opposite side of a wooden table. From what I know till now, both of them are just two of many small leaders of the resistance. Among this kingdom has many resistance groups, some have been wiped out or weakened. This resistance group is one of many.
Just a gossip I heard from some fighters. It's not a trustworthy source at all. Some of these resistance groups work together, but most of them work independently. Same goal, but different leaders and ways of organization, not unified.
These two are just vice leaders, the real boss never appears before me in person.
"Don't stand there anymore, come here". - Joe grumbled, he told me to get closer
I approach the table. Lilia gets off her chair and taps on my right shoulder, she sighs. Then she walks away, leaving the room. I just wonder why she doesn't join the meeting.
"We killed the wrong guy...". - Suddenly, Joe got up and approached me. "Talas was innocent, and you killed him". - Right right, now you're blaming me, huh?
This resistance group has a very big issue. They didn't investigate fully, he told me to kill his twin brother and I just did what he told me to do. Nothing I did was wrong, I just followed his orders.
I say nothing. I stand still before him, I show him my cold face, I don't give a fuck.
"They keep searching and killing our fighters, nothing changes after you killed my brother". - Joe got his face grumbled, he talked to me in a pissed tone while approaching me gradually. "Someone is out there, standing behind it and we don't know who he is...". "After all the things, you keep showing me your worthless face and your shitty work!". - He successfully pushed me to the wall, but I stood still with my cold face at him
"I'll give you one last chance, or your head will be chopped off right here, right now!". - While yelling at me, he gave me a map
"A resistance leader of a small village near here was arrested just recently!". "He's Carlson, a black guy, he's my friend!". "The village was burned down, he and some other live ones were arrested and stuffed into a carriage!". - This guy makes me want to kill him, his tone is like speaking to a worthless animal
"That carriage will start from the village to the Capital city, will be there in tomorrow morning".
"Use the map that I drew, that carriage will pass those locations on its go". "Go and die alone, you die either way if you don't save him out!". "Save Carlson at all costs! Return here with him in peace or without him and you'll see your consequences!". - Done scolding me, Joe left the room in an undescribed anger
I tiredly take a short look at the fur map. It is very well drawn, but the route of the carriage itself is a problem. Just only has a straight line, very stupid to me. On the go, that vehicle may go through some issues on the road, it will surely change its direction for the safer go.
I haven't memorized the map fully yet but I later hear some loud voices. There's a big argument out there, I think. My eyes peek out of the room to watch. Joe and Lilia can be seen arguing, even his subordinate cannot stand it.
But for some reason, Lilia shuts her mouth off and stands there. Joe walks away after glaring at her in anger. Lilia sighs, she later turns around slowly. I come out of the door and approach her.
"You're wise to keep your mouth shut, kid". "Talking to that stupid is pointless...". - Lilia sighed again, her breath was very suffocated and she put her right hand on my left shoulder. "This mission needs at least four to five men for the highest chance to success".
"Sadly, like he said, you have to be on your own". - Then, Lilia gave me something. "Listen first". "This town has two outposts, guards are sure to check on the paper when you meet them at the gate". "Our underground tunnels have two routes that lead outside of the town, here's the map for you if you need". - She also gave me a map
"Do you know how to use it?".
I take a look at the thing that she gave me. This strange-shaped weapon is also similar to the one I used to operate. But this weapon is much shorter, can be hidden behind the clothes. It has a black color, it has a black handle and the head is quite short.
I know how to use it, but I don't remember what is this thing called.
I nod.
"We found this thing among many God weapons, I did expect that you could use it". - Lilia later gave me a leather holster and some materials for the weapon. "You need them, the wand cannot shoot without those things, kid".
"Weapons like this are very strange to us, we need time to figure out how they work". "Help us if you want, I use capable people and I will treat them well". "Now I can only put my trust in you, kid". "Our resistance men will put their suspicions away when you show them enough".
I nod.
"These things are very loud, we need time to train our men to use these". "Must be in another place, this town isn't fit, neither below our feet".
"The map Joe gave you is trustworthy enough, just follow that route and you will surely meet the carriage". "That's the safest route and the shortest route to the Capital city, they will surely go that way no matter what".
I nod.
"It's very rough for you to do this mission alone". - Suddenly, she pointed to the bar's backdoor. "I've put one man outside, follow him and listen to his instructions". "Sorry, cannot gather more".
"Here's your prepaid reward, 250 Gads". "The rest will be paid when your mission is done, I'm counting on you". - Lilia later gave me a brown bag. "Take Carlson back here alive, he's very important to us and the resistance".
I nod.
I put the metal wand into the leather holster. I slowly tighten the holster to my belt. The materials, I put them in the empty pouches. The guy that took my weapons earlier now returns them to me.
I tighten my weapons and slowly go to the tavern's backdoor and leave the tavern in silence. I immediately spot a carriage parked before the backdoor. The carriage is before my eyes, I see a man in a light brown coat and a black hat standing before it. He looks very likely to be a merchant.
"Hey, I'm Ted". "Boss sent me here to help you with the mission, she's briefed some for me, so now let's go inside". - He punched my left shoulder slightly before going toward the carriage's backside
The guy lifts up the curtain and I see the interior of the carriage's backside. The inside of this carriage is very wide, it contains many clean clothes. There's a handbag inside the small space. I can only see those are goods to sell.
"Well, it's quite cramped here, but I hope you can be patient to sit in here". - He turned around, speaking to me. "Guards mostly walk around to check, they're lazy, but in some cases, they may take a look inside". "Stay in here, we'll talk when this wagon reaches the main road".
I nod. I head inside and take an empty slot of the wooden stool to sit on. Ted closes the curtain after that, and I can hear him mounting on horseback for the departure. The wooden wheels later roll on their way. I sit tight inside, I close my eyes, slowly getting used to my echoing breaths.
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About two minutes later, I open my eyes because I hear something outside. I listen carefully and learn that the local guards are checking. They say a few words to Ted or something. I can hear some footsteps walking around, but no one enters the backside of the carriage to check.
The wooden carriage later rolls its wheels on the road once again. I sit inside, I start pulling out both of the maps. Maybe I should take a look at these two scribbled drawings to set up my own plan, I must do it as soon as possible.
Hmmmm... let's say that the carriage will go in the line that was drawn. It won't change its direction at all. That means I will have to reach a location that the carriage will surely go across on its go. I will set up an ambush there and then rescue the guy Carlson.
"You can go out now, kid". - Suddenly, a voice called me
That voice came out of the front side of the carriage - the driver area. I slowly move out there and see Ted in his seat. He's controlling two horses at the same time, by using the long whip and the reins.
"You see? Checking one person is always faster than checking two". - He looked at me, he tapped twice on the empty seat beside him. "Sit".
I take a seat beside the guy, I say nothing.
"Not so talkative, eh? I'll be very sleepy when there's no one to talk with, you know?". - He kept controlling the horses to make them go stably on the right route. "We're on the main road now, the trail...". "Could you give me the map? The route that the carriage will go". - He raised his hand toward me, asking me
I slowly give him that map. Ted takes a look at that map.
"You do know how to read, right?". - He looked up and returned the map to me, he started asking me
I nod.
"Good...". - He breathed out. "So... the village that got burned down was named Tobol, you can see it right on the map". - He kept his eyes on the road, he kept riding the horses while explaining. "That carriage must be on its way now". "That route is likely to be the only way it will go". "In case it's not, so yeah... we're fucked, man".
"So my boss is a very careful woman...". "She's already given you the plan, follow it".
"We'll park this baby somewhere on that route, waiting for the carriage to come across and we'll ambush it immediately". "Then we will save all the prisoners". "That's the plan".
I nod.
"We don't really know how many guards they have to escort the carriage so... we'll die in case we're unlucky". - That guy later looked at me, giggling a bit. "Just kidding". "They outnumber us but you still have this driver here".
Suddenly, the guy sighs.
"Cut off the rope and flee with these horses if we're fast enough... at least we still have our asses saved". - He looked at the two horses that got attached to the carriage, thinking about the backup plan in case the mission failed
Yeah, retreating is the worst scenario that I can think of.
Ted later pulls out some stashes of dried meat - the rations to taste a bit.
"I know a good place on this route that we can set up the ambush, I've been going from places to the Capital many times...". "Departing at midnight is not very good for udt, man, bandits can come out anywhere, anytime...". - He explained to me while eating his rations
"I'll report to you in case I see anything, man". - Ted later tore out a piece of dried meat, he gave it to me but I didn't react to it at all
"Alright, mute boy... you win". - He ate that piece, he later returned to ride his horses
I guess I will watch the maps for a few more times...
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This time is already morning, and we haven't seen the carriage yet. We got to this area because Ted told me that this place would be good to make the sudden ambushes. This is just a straight line of dirt trail. This area is deserted, safe, and rarely see a transport here.
We have been parking our carriage here for hours just to wait for it. But it is a risky opportunity for both of us. Those guards may change the direction of their carriage anytime, anywhere.
We haven't located where is the carriage yet. We lack men, but both of us have no choice but to put our trust in luck.
Ted is now checking on the front side of the road. While I sit inside, watching the outside through a gap in the curtain, I need to be patient. My eyes feel so tired when I have to keep them open to watch the air. I keep my hope, I keep watching the road.
Suddenly, I later see a figure of a carriage moving toward here from afar. I focus on looking at the carriage closely. Then, I see three men with spears in metal armors, on foot, going up front to escort the carriage.
That carriage itself has two horses with guards on horseback. I watch more and see two men on the stool. There must be more of them on the backside and the interior of the transport.
Hmmmm... I hope there is no coincidence here. This carriage could be from another group, I don't know. But I think I have no choice but to risk it now. The prisoners might be inside the interior, but I can't see anything through the curtain.
"I've found it".
"What?". - Ted was surprised
"Behind us...". "Start the car, chat with them as long as possible while I do my job". - Done saying, I returned to watch the carriage behind me
Our carriage's wheels later move ahead. Ted keeps the speed low to make sure that carriage can keep up with us. Two minutes pass, and that carriage is now moving alongside ours. Ted is sure very struggling, I think so.
He has to keep the carriage's speed to be not too slow or not too fast. He has to make sure it synchronizes with the speed of that other carriage. I'm going to take action, but I have to wait. I have prepared the poisoned dagger now.
Alright, let me count.
Front side, seven men:
Three spearmen upfront, two horsemen, two seaters on the carriage.
Back side, one man:
A spearman who guards the backside, he sometimes turns around to check his back.
Behind the curtain of the backside of that carriage is still a mystery. I assume there must be nine to ten guards.
But that number, to me, is just a few for an escort.
Maybe the prisoners inside that carriage only have one, or two, I don't know...
I will wait for the best opportunity to take action.
"Good morning, Sir!". - Finally, Ted started his fake performance to be a merchant to fool the guards
"Hey, you there". - Alright, now I must wait for the best moment to strike
I will now listen to their conversation. I will make a flash assault on that guard when he turns around.
"You travel alone?".
"Yes, Sir". "I'm too poor these days, can't find a good cheap mercenary to protect me".
"Good things never cheap".
"You're right, Sir". "Yeah, good things never cheap".
"What are you doing, Sir?".
"Just moving some betrayers to jail, nothing special".
"Where are you going?".
"To the Capital, Sir, no one buys clothes in town, I hope coming up there will help me get more cash".
"Then we're heading to the same point, you're lucky to have us here". "Bandits won't attack you when they see us, and your career is saved too".
"That's the blessing of the Goddess, Sir".
"Yeah yeah...". "Do you have clothes for children?".
"I sell clothes from the children's size to the adults, Sir, please save me".
"Let me see some, I wanna buy some for my wife too".
"Please hold the horses for me, I'll be back shortly". - Hmmmm... Ted, stop it
Hmmmm... I must get out of this carriage to kill that spearman soon. Otherwise, some guard will accidentally come up here and spot me.
"I'm holding your horses now, very good breed you have here, huh?".
"My neighbors gave me, haha, please wait, Sir". - Ted's eyes told me to hurry, he started bringing out some clothes to show the guards
"Nice clothes there, good...". "I'll buy some, but remember to "lower" the price".
Suddenly, that spearman turns around. I immediately come out of the carriage and sneak toward him swiftly. When the guy looks back, a blade from the low angle stabs straight up. I stabbed him through a gap in his armor in his left armpit.
His throat, his neck, his torso and some other parts were hard to reach. But I have successfully killed the guy. The guard collapsed in a single stab. The poison was activated right instantly.
But this kill was lucky.
The blade is now clean, I could only use the poisoned blade just one time.
But to me, it's enough.
The conversation between Ted and those guys keeps going like nothing happened.
They haven't found out.
I later draw out the metal dark wand from its holster. Holding the thing, I slowly pull back the part that can be pulled back. I slowly sneak toward the backside of the carriage, I lift up the curtain.
The interior of the carriage is dark due to lack of light.
I have no choice. I climb up there and encounter three men in dirty tunics, their clothes have black marks. Two of those men are black, one is white. Their hands can be seen tied with chains, their faces have some black marks of burn, they don't look sober.
Those men sit on the stool, alongside... wait!
I roll my eyes and see two men in metal armors sitting along with them.
There are ten guards in total that escort the carriage.
"Who the hel-". "Ahhhh!". - That guy got his head blasted, blown up by the wand when I pulled the trigger
I point the wand to the other guard, but I fall when a man bumps into me. That prisoner was shoved at me by the guard, I was so careless.
I accidentally slipped off the wand during that process.
Having no choice, I throw the prisoner aside. I draw my sword out of its scabbard and slash the guard before me. However, the blade hit him but his armor had protected his torso. I use all of my strength to jump into him, hoping to crush the guy.
I pull out the dagger, trying to stab the guard. He resists forcefully, as if to try to turn me over to stab me instead. He suddenly punches me, not once but twice. I try to stay sober, I resist and he powerfully throws me back.
In that mess and chaotic situation, I endure the pain, I start crawling. I see the wand lying in a dark corner, I crawl there and manage to grab it. Having the metal wand, I point it back to the guard and pull the trigger.
I shoot in anger, in madness. The guard collapses right away after taking three shots to his torso. Finishing the guard, I point the wand to the front side of the carriage.
I point the trigger as I see two guards inside. Two shots hit the guard's torso right away, while the last guard only gets a sallow shot in his left calf. The wand doesn't shoot anymore, I remove the material from its handle to replace another one.
Suddenly, a wounded guard charges at me with a spear but he misses. A black prisoner on the floor has held his leg, so his attack missed. While that guy is trying to crush the poor prisoner guy, I snatch my sword on the floor.
I slash from the right side to the left side, the angle is slashing up. Luckily, the blade manages to cut right exactly at the gap of the metal helmet part that protects his throat. That annoying guard is no longer a problem. I point the wand to the guard who got shot twice but didn't die.
Taking two more shots, he lies down and dies. I spit at his face and then retrieve my dropped dagger on the floor. Not so long later, I grab the hands of a black guy and lift him up slowly. He seems to be very confused, till now doesn't know if I am a friend or a foe.
For some reason, the guards from outside don't get inside here to check. Except for the two on the stool, all of those guards did not go in to check. This makes me worried that these guards are calling for backup. I wonder how is Ted.
All of a sudden, something from the outside bumps into the carriage. We start smelling something like smoke, as if this carriage is being burned down by something from the outside.
I later see two guards rushing to the interior. It turns out that they were hiding from outside and did not come in. My wand shoots a guard's torso three times and he collapses right away.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!". - The last guy, that prisoner used his strong right foot to kick him out
We start hearing the sounds of fire, the bright light of the flame catches my eyes not so long later. This carriage is being burned, the wooden material of the front side is getting wiped out so quickly.
I turn around. Two black prisoners and a white prisoner are standing there, watching the incoming fire. My left hand pushes the guy to the backdoor. All of us jump out together before the entire carriage is covered by that bright and furious flame.
Right after I come out, I try to look for Ted. He isn't there anymore, as well as his carriage... fuck me!!!
Are you fucking kidding me?!!!
I look around, I see three guards on the front before me fleeing the burned carriage. One of them sees me while running, but ends up getting shots to his torso. That guy collapses on the ground, and the others run away, they don't care about us anymore.
Suddenly, I see from afar, something looks like a carriage is coming. It turns out to be Ted's carriage, good.
The carriage stops not so far from the burned carriage, Ted waves at me. I turn around and drag a big black prisoner to force him to follow me. Other prisoners also follow me till both of us reach our rescue carriage.
"Is anyone here named Carlson?". - Ted asked the prisoners
"It's me, I'm Carlson". - That big black guy answered
"Are you the resistance leader that got captured in the village named Tobol?".
He nods.
"Who the hell are you?".
"Joe sent us". - I replied
"I didn't expect that". - That guy smiled in happiness
"They're my men, please let them join". - Carlson asked for Ted's help to save his subordinates, the guy nodded
All of us later jump up the wooden carriage. I sit beside Ted on the stool, sighing a bit. The guy mumbles or something "Sorry, a guy made me lose control, these horses ran without orders".
"Who's this?". - Suddenly, one of Carlson's men said something
I look over there. Beyond the lifted-up curtain is a mess room of the carriage's backside, clothes all over. There's a body of a guard lying on the floor. He seems to have died or something.
"Sorry, I was burning down the wagon and that guy jumped in". "Had to strangle him, it was annoying". - Suddenly, Ted confessed
"Take the wheels for me". - Ted later gave me the whip and returned to the backside
"We need to cut off those chains first". "C'mon, change the clothes and take that handbag with you, people". "Fake citizen cards are in there, just in case you guys need to use them". - While waiting for Ted, I guess I will have to learn how to control these horses myself
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It's afternoon already, and we have just passed the outpost to get in the town.
After rescuing Carlson and his men, we helped them to cut off the chains. They later changed their clothes and took the fake citizen cards. After getting everything solved, we started our carriage. It took us hours to return to this Border town.
"I promise I'll never forget what you both have done to me and my men". "I'll do my best to reward you both". "Give me time, I'll find the best gifts to give you". - Carlson sat beside me and Ted on the stool, saying that he would repay for us
This black guy has been talking about this for hours without stopping. I see that he is a promising man, but now I only care about the rewards. Not his rewards, but the rewards that Lilia and Joe would pay me after this rescue mission.
"Well, here we are...". "Look". - Ted stopped the carriage
We have finally returned to the tavern. I slowly get off my seat stool and jump down. Carlson and his men also come down. I guess I will lead these men inside to see Joe. through the backdoor.
"I'll stay here, you guys come in first". - Ted told me
I nod. I look at Carlson and his men to tell them to follow. The four of us approach the bar's backdoor. I knock on the door three times, and a resistance fighter opens it up.
He keeps the door open widely, I head inside with the guy Carlson. Another resistance fighter opens the door to the meeting room. About to enter, but I see Carlson's men hugging the other fighters. Maybe they feel so happy when they have the chance to be reunited.
"Just let them be". - Carlson told me, I ignored it and both of us entered the room
We come in the room and immediately see many resistance fighters and Joe standing inside.
"Thank you... thank you...". - Carlson put his left hand on my right shoulder, he later put it down and approached his brothers
Joe rushes right into Carlson and hugs him very tightly. Other resistance fighters join to hug Carlson when Joe is hugging him. I stand at the door's frame, watching the scene, making a heavy sigh.
All of a sudden, someone bumps into me. Turns out that was Lilia, she just passed me.
I look back and see my right hand holding a money bag. The metal wand isn't on its holster anymore. I guess Lilia took it away... she did it not just swiftly but also wisely.
Hmmmm... I sigh once again, but all of my tiredness has gone away.
I turn around, I slowly leave the tavern.
Mission completed.