Drumwe Isles

chapter eighteen

The bandits had made it to the very edge of Fallburne's forest and night had blanketed them. Beneath the canopy of large redwood trees, they felt well enough to settle down in a camp for the night. None of them were altogether sure where the tree would be in Fallburne but, hey, how hard can it be to find a tree in a forest? Lynet's tent was just beside Alais and Botolfe's, while opposite them was Sukie, Fowke and Randoul. In the centre, Fowke and Randoul had begun setting up a fire on the agreement that if they did so, Sukie would prepare one of her signature soups from Euridayl.

There were certain politics to the group that would only be registered if you lived among them. Everyone was fond of Alais, though she returned those affections only to Lynet and Sukie. The men assumed she favoured women in general and didn't take the matter too personally. Fowke and Randoul had the bond of brothers and were quick to defend the other. Sukie had a distinct distaste for Randoul and considered him to be, frankly, an idiot. Botolfe was a bit harder to discern. He was a quiet old man who would hardly ever defend anyone but Lynet suspected he had an affinity for Sukie, being that she was a woman of great capability.

In general, they all got along well enough to cohabitate and any horrific arguments were settled by a brawl without the use of weapons. In terms of pure strength, Botolfe and Lynet were at the top of their charts, followed by Fowke and Randoul. What Sukie and Alais lacked in physical strength, they made up for in tactic and skill. Understand, nobody in their group was weak, but there was definitely a range in their skills. Alias and Sukie were the best in terms of blade work, while Fowke and Randoul could not be bested by way of bows. Lynet and Botolfe most usually bore large and heavy weapons though they were halfway decent in other realms as well.

In their own deranged sort of way, the bandits were a family. When the group had only just started, it had been Alais and Lynet. Nobody was sure where they'd come from only that they came together and had a very particular sort of bond. Botolfe had been next to join them, having been bested by Lynet in a bar fight and developing a great respect for her. Randoul had heard news from Botolfe of the group and met up with them at the outskirts of Dillac, figuring it was best to be in a group if you were going to live this sort of lifestyle.

Sukie had just gotten off a boat in Taudor when Alais tried to rob her and found herself cut up to hell. Lynet had quickly jumped up and overpowered Sukie, threatening to kill her if ever she harmed Alais again. Then Lynet dragged Sukie by her hair into a halfway hidden location and they'd been gone for a long while before the women came back. Lynet declared that Sukie was to join their group and at first all the others had been weary, but eventually they warmed up to Sukie. To this day, they are unsure how Lynet came to accept Sukie or what information was shared between the two women. Nobody dared to ask because it seemed a very intimate and touchy subject.

Last to join was Fowke, and he was still in the process of gaining their complete trust, though he'd yet to betray or harm any of them and everyone was content enough with that.

Anyhow, the fire had been started and one by one the members gathered around it for their nightly comradery. It was an unspoken tradition between the group. Sukie was hovering over the fire with a large black pot settled before her. In it, she brewed a delicious mess of squash, lamb meat, and various herbs or vegetables. None of the others knew what recipe she followed, but they were all sure that it was a heavenly one and swore by her cooking in most arenas.

"You're an angel."

Randoul stated between mouthfuls of Sukie's soup.

Sukie rolled her eyes but smiled begrudgingly as she scooped out more bowls.

"I called dibs on the second bowl."

Sukie hands Alais her bowl and then waves for the others to come closer. Botolfe and Fowke did so silently, as was their way.

"Lynet?"

"Get your bowl first, love."

Sukie nodded and scooped out her own bowl before taking a seat. With everyone else fed and comfortable, Lynet rose from the floor of her tent and strode over to the pot of soup. When she'd gathered her portion, she sat down beside Alais and started eating. Alias had already gobbled down her first bowl ravenously and went for a second. It was a wonder she was so small considering how much she consumed, and Randoul made it a point to joke about her "hollow leg".

Alias was sort of like the group's resident little sister. She was small and spritely, with blonde braids about her head and large blue eyes. She looked sweet on the outside but they all had the hindsight of having watched her rip people open with her blades so quickly and forcefully that ribbons of their skin could be found about their body after they'd died. It was a terrifying sight but also one of great intrigue.

"Whoever wants seconds should grab them now, before Alais cleans out the whole pot."

Alias shot a glare at Randoul, who grinned playfully.

His comment earned a smile from Sukie and a chuckle from Fowke.

"Who's standing watch tonight?"

Botolfe asked, with a neutral expression on his face.

"Not Sukie, she watched last night."

Everyone nodded, that was fair.

"These forests have a great deal of dangerous creatures."

Sukie pointed out, dark eyes unreadable in the firelight.

"Think we ought to put two people on watch?"

Lynet nodded.

"Who's least tired?"

Fowke and Botolfe raised their arms up and Lynet nodded.

"You two will be on watch then, if nobody minds."

With no sounds of protest, it was settled. Lynet breathed in the heavy forest air around her. This night was going to be another sleepless one, she could feel it in her aching spine.

"Lynet?"

Her eyes found Alais before her, clutching her knives with an unsettled expression.

"What's wrong, dear?"

"The demons, they're back again."

Lynet nodded sadly, patting the smaller girl's head to comfort her. Alias was troubled with afflictions of the mind and had been as such for a very long time.

"You can sleep in my tent tonight, if you'd like."

Alias nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."

Lynet hugged Botolfe and bid the others goodnight before she and Alais disappeared into her tent. 

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