DON'T PRAY TO ME

12. Long Forgotten Lore

Slade had been cleared by the school's physician, with a note to Slade's family doctor for when Slade will visit home and can see Drazeydan's family physician for a second opinion. Slade had already thrown away that note. He feels fine. More than fine. He seems to be full of energy, and in need of finding a way to use it. So he managed to convince Cosman to let him go along with Bron and Reagan for one of those real world assignments. They are once again assigned to Nikolai of West Dhamenci Army. This time, they are at the Se-Hi Roadway - a popular trade route for merchants. For the past month robberies have been reported in this route - A group of about ten men block any fitting vehicle and steal all the valuable goods on board. The thieves also beat up the drivers and passengers, and assault the women. The roadway authority tried to apprehend them, but their officers were severely injured by the thieves. From the report given to WDA, the criminals seem to be at least of Rank B level.

Nikolai, his men and the boys separate into five teams and each team takes the road at the assigned time of the day. On the twilight hour, Nikolai, one of his men named Zod, and the boys ride a large carriage pulled by three oxen. It is the vehicle most used by the miners for transportation of rare metals and minerals, making it a high value target. Reagan yawns and lies down on the floor of the vehicle. "How much longer?" He says. Nikolai says, "It's a two hour ride, but with this carriage, maybe three to four." The boys groan and all lie down. "Kids these days," Zod says, "have no patience." "Instead of waiting, wouldn't it be better to go search for them? They can't be far off their preying ground," Bron says. "You know why people use baits and traps to catch animals?" Nikolai says, "It's because they increase the chance of a successful catch. Baiting assures the presence of the animal, while also making sure it's in a place that's favorable and convenient to us. That's why we can either chase after those thieves, which will waste both our effort and time, or we can give up only the time and save our effort while patiently waiting here." As Bron sits up to counter Nikolai's philosophy, they hear leaves rustling outside. "They must be here," Zod says.

Four men appear across the road at the front, blocking the way and forcing Zod to pull the reigns and stop the carriage. When Reagan opens the backdoor, they see six men with spears and swords. "Just do what we say quietly and you might get to return home in one piece," the man at the front of the group of robbers says. "That's funny," Nikolai says, looking over above Reagan's shoulders, "I was going to say just the same thing to you guys. But instead of home it would be prison." The men become alert, knowing the passengers are officials in disguise. Nikolai, Zod and the boys jump out of the carriage and start fighting the men. Even though the thieves are Rank B Dhamenci they are no match for the trained soldiers and three Rank A boys.

However, the robbers' weapons are indestructible, impervious to the blows they take, and can cut through any kind of armor or shield. These spears are made of Aertrim, an unrivaled yellow-colored metal known for its strength. It's often been mistaken in human literature for the unbreakable gold, like the fur of the Nemean lion. The fight lasts for longer than Nikolai had expected and he begins to grow tired, and fails to watch his back. Taking the chance, one of the thieves throws his spear at Nikolai's back, but Slade catches it right away. He stabs the spear end to the ground, leaves it there, and approaches the thief. As Slade apprehends the man, the man suddenly cries out in pain. Startled, Slade lets him go and notices the burn marks on the fallen thief's arms where Slade had grabbed him. They are no ordinary burn marks - the wound glows in white and blue. Terrified, the thief scrambles to his feet and runs away. A dumbfounded Slade doesn't follow him. When Slade looks up, he sees Reagan is looking back at him. Reagan saw what happened and is just as confused. But the fight is still ongoing, so the two are forced to return to it, putting this away for the time being. After a few more minutes, seven men are captured. Three had run away, including the one Slade almost had. The prisoners are tied to the cart and a message was sent to the WDA soldiers who are camped nearby. Soon the soldiers arrive and move the thieves.