The Bandits of Infinity Forest

Chapter Three

We're on the move already, it's only about six.

A couple hours later, the slot slides open and a pair of metal poles with blades attached to the end glides through that're connected in the middle.

"Turn around," a voice commands gruffly.

I warily do so, tense as a bow string and ready to spring away in a moments' notice.

But then I hear a tearing rip and my hands fall to my sides. The rope lies coiled on the vibrating floor.

I turn quickly, surprised, as the giant pincers pick up the rope, and the soldier manning them yanks them back out through the slot. Someone drops another loaf and full water-skin inside.

I eat hungrily, wondering why my hands have been freed.

In the afternoon the pincers return, only, they're grasping Blackwire cuffs.

Blackwire is the hardest steel on earth, tougher than the hardest iron.

Wow, I think, they're really afraid of me!

I refuse to put them on, I might not be able to escape, but I'm not going to help them imprison me further.

I end up throwing them out through the window bars.

The wagon stops and five or so soldiers enter-with the cuffs.

I try to slip out the door, but a big, burly man steps in the way. They finally overpower me and snap on the cuffs, but at least my hands are in front of me instead.

Several days later we are slowly rumbling across the drawbridge to the castle.