n

n

nThe bandit horse galloped fast, but the animal was already exhausted. The bandits must have ridden them hard.

nSweat dripped off the horse's dark flanks and its breathing came in puffs of steam.

nKrow spotted the herbalist carts at the same time that red flickered on his Map.

nHe reined the horse in, ignoring the lookout who tracked him with a nocked arrow.

nThe scout-mark on the Map was ahead of them.

nObviously an ambush.

nBut they were also…underground? Krow exhaled a breath.

nHe'd left out the spirit-worm to scout for more of those pebbles as they traveled. It was only luck that it passed through the correct section of tunnel and managed to detect the rest of the bandit riders.

n

"It's Krow!

" called one of the herbalists.

nHe blinked at the sound of his name, then waved sheepishly.

nThe sound of the horse approaching obviously had alarmed them. The tenseness of the group, now that he was paying attention, could be felt from where he was.

nHe jumped off the horse.

nJarihar skidded to a stop near him.

"Nice armor, did you buy that in Rakaens?

"

n

"No.

" He'd checked out the local shops though. Fairly good selection; unfortunately, he didn't have the drax for the good pieces.

"Things are good?

"

n

"We caught two of the bandits. They're younger than Menrike, can you believe it? But where'd you get the horse?

"

n

"Regular bandits. Nothing like your baby bandits at all.

"

nJarihar scoffed, crossed his arms.

"Bandits are bandits.

"

n

"And it's not over yet.

" The scout-mark hadn't moved from its place, but he was a bit uneasy. He was still getting used to the ghost-stones – he hadn't fully tested them.

nAnd he did search out ghostcaller guides. There was only one and it was a negative review.

nHulach came up beside Jarihar, patted the horse.

"Found the rest of them, I see?

"

n

"I fought a group,

" Krow agreed.

"But I don't think they were with the children. There's a camp…

" He pointed in the direction of the children.

"that direction. Young children. The only adult is injured.

"

n

"There are two groups of bandits?

" Jarihar was dubious.

n

"The bandit captain who owned this horse might have recognized me. He said he was told that Cerkanst hired a mercenary as protection.

"

nThe other two's faces tightened.

n

"I didn't get all of them,

" Krow continued.

"But apparently there's a tunnel nearby? It leads ahead.

"

nHulach came to the same conclusion.

"Naekrin's Cave. An ambush.

"

n

"You know about the tunnel?

" Krow was surprised. A security hole like that…

"Why hasn't it been blocked?

"

nHulach sighed.

"It has. Most of the obvious entrances anyway. It's not actually a cave.

"

nNo?

n

"It's part of a network of mining tunnels through this section of mountain.

" Hulach continued.

"Most of the tunnels are local knowledge, something that kept the villages around here from being wiped out in the ancient wars against the plains. We have long memories.

"

nJarihar nodded.

"That's why no villager would tell anyone who didn't already know about those tunnels.

"

n

"It's not unusual that bandits would find them and use them. That's why Rakaens has a regular Guard recruitment. Bordertown Guards are sent on long patrols to root out unwanted tunnel inhabitants.

"

n

"Naekrin's Cave opens one kilometer ahead.

" Jarihar pointed out.

"We should attack.

"

nAh. The scout-mark hadn't been a kilometer in front of them.

nThe ambush hadn't been set up yet.

n

"I'll go,

" Krow nodded.

n

"I'll go with you,

" Jarihar smiled, slight excitement in his eyes.

n

"No.

"

n

"It's a good idea,

" Hulach interjected.

"The cave mouth is a bit difficult to find. And some of the others, with one of the archers.

"

n

"You only have three.

" Krow pointed out.

"Just Jarihar will be fine.

"

n

"If it's as you said, the danger behind has been neutralized and it's more dangerous ahead. We already cleared the tree. We just have to deal with the children and we'll likely meet you ahead.

"

nKrow relented.

"Not the archer though. I already have my guns.

"

nNo sense in turning away a guide and people to protect that guide. An archer would come in handy in ambushing the ambushers, really, but three archers were barely enough to protect the carts.

nWait, could his ghost-scouts find a location if he only had the name?

nProbably not.

nGhostcaller was one of his tinker subclasses – he was stuck in apprentice-rank territory and that didn't give advanced skills.

n

"Oh, also, there are several bandit corpses on the mountain behind. Just follow the road. Can someone help with that? They really didn't tell me much. There might be a clue to who sent them.

"

nKrow had been in too much of a hurry to search them.

nAll this over a single supply contract with a major apothecary?

nVicious.

nHulach stayed behind.

nJarihar, Tharjan, and four others went with Krow.

nWith their speed, a single kilometer was traversed in minutes.

nKrow cautiously circled the cave opening.

nHe dismissed the spirit-bird and sent out the spirit-snake.

nThe cave mouth was indeed difficult to find. It was overhung by vines and mossy branches. Not very large. If Krow hadn't been led toward it, he wouldn't have found it.

nThere was no-one in sight.

nHe smiled, waved at the others.

nTharjan came beside him, eyes alert.

n

"There's no one here, yet.

"

nTharjan nodded.

"Then we wait.

"

n

"There should be five of them, but I might be wrong.

"

n

"We'll be ready.

"

nHe pointed upward to a grassy ledge on the cliff overlooking the cave.

"I'm heading there.

"

nThe spot had a view of the opening and much of the overall surroundings.

nTharjan understood.

nKrow bounded up to his designated lookout and sniper spot. He watched as the others arranged themselves in semi-comfortable ambush positions.

nHe glanced at the red scout-mark on the Map.

nSuddenly, it jumped.

nStartled, Krow tensed. The difference was about four hundred metres.

nWhat?

nWhy were the bandit riders the only one that had a moving scout-mark?

nHe shook his head.

nEven more importantly, the enemy was less than a hundred metres away.

nKrow dismissed the spirit-snake. Would they have been spooked by the ghost?

nHe raised his arm, waved at the others below.

nThe others tensed as he did, armed themselves, and melted more cautiously into the landscape. Krow drew his primary revolver.

nThey waited.

nOnly a few minutes later, there was movement in the cave mouth. A horse neighed.

nThe tunnels were large enough for horses?

nIn the distance, on the mountainside, an answering whinny.

nThey all froze.

nKrow's eyes widened. If he'd thought the horses would betray that things with the first group hadn't gone to plan, he'd have shot them with their riders.

nHe hunkered down.

nA rider came out of the cave.

nThey scouted around briefly, before bellowing into the opening.

"It looks like the others haven't started yet!

"

nThere was a murmur of voices, indistinct, slightly echoing inside the cave.

nHe laughed.

"Don't be impatient, idiot! There's a prime spot nearby to jump them.

"

nHe guided his horse through a mossy and rock-strewn path.

nThe second came out, and the third. They followed the trail of the first.

nKrow breathed deeply, eyes on the cave mouth.

nThere should be two others.

nYes.

nTwo riders trotted out of the cave.

"Finally! I thought I was going to die from the smell down there!

"

nThe other ignored him, made to spur his horse faster.

nKrow glanced at the first three.

nThey were in range of the others already.

nHe aimed.

nEight bullets sent in succession knocked the fourth rider off his horse. The fifth's horse screamed and would've bolted if not for the rider's iron control.

nThey made for the safety of the cave.

nKrow leaped to his feet, aimed the secondary gun and sent three shieldbursts that the horse crashed into. He leaped down, shooting.

nSix darkspears hit the bandit before the notification appeared.

nYou've eliminated a Lvl 14 bandit and gained three (3) silver serpens! 6

/10

nHe bounded for the first bandit he downed, sent two bullets into the struggling man.

nYou've eliminated a Lvl 15 bandit lieutenant and gained five (5) silver serpens! 9

/10

nHe whirled, reloading as he ran for the ambush site.

nThere was only one bandit left, and Krow was unneeded there.

nYou and your allies have defeated a bandit attack! 10

/10

nDefeated?

nHe moved closer to the huddle.

nOh. There was one still alive.

nKrow leaned on a rock, rolled his shoulders. After all that anxiety, it was over in barely a minute.

n

"Who hired you?

" Tharjan calmly regarded the last bandit.

nThe man spat at Tharjan's feet, ignoring the blood dripping down his temple and cheeks.

nTharjan was unfazed.

"All the others are gone, even the band of riders on the road.

"

nStill, the man was silent.

n

"Your leader died early. One of you betrayed him and told us where you were.

"

nA flicker of disgust showed in the man's expression.

"It had to be that newbie that he liked so much. I don't even know why captain allowed the brat to join.

"

nWas he talking about Amonrei?

nThe bandit then spat again.

"If everyone's dead, as you say, what's it to me?

"

n

"You are still alive.

"

nThe bandit laughed.

"You're to kill me, farmer? Oh, right, you have a butcher here!

" He looked around. Abruptly, his expression changed.

"I…no…

"

nThere was a long silence.

nKrow glanced up.

nThe man blanched.

"He's here! He…tell him to stay away from me…

"

n

"Who?

"

nThe bandit chuckled.

"Death's come for me. There's nothing to say now.

"

nHe looked straight at Krow.

nUh?

nKrow wanted to laugh at the absurdity.

nThe guy couldn't mean him?

nTharjan turned halfway, blinked at Krow, then his attention returned calmly to the bandit.

"I see what you mean.

"

nThe bandit's eyes widened.

"You see him too? The Shadowed?

"

nWhat.

nBut Tharjan was nodding.

"Perhaps we are all marked for death.

"

nThis bastard.

nDid he want Krow to impersonate a priest of Takrul?

nThere was no way.

nKrow shifted to ease his muscles. The bandit's eyes locked on him again.

nThe hit to the head had obviously done something to his eyes.

nSo Krow went with the flow. He leaned forward slightly, whispered in a voice that carried.

"Speak.

"

nTo his surprise, the bandit started to talk.

nHe surreptitiously glanced at the rest of the herbalists, who were doing incredible impressions of stone faces.

nWeeping skies.

nHe was not going to live this down.

n