Journal of Rollo Lavius 1

Entry #123 - Part 2 - Ranulf the Ranger

DAY 92 (12th Kythorn)

The next morning they set off again. Oz had become more familiar with the horses although none of them liked him much. Top left was a mare called Pinky, top right was a mare called Zip. Bottom left was a gelding called Footsy and bottom right was a gelding called 'The Bastard'.

The morning was uneventful and they arrived at the edge of the forest by about lunch time. They spotted a man sat at the side of the road eating and apple and he waved at them as they stopped.

He introduced himself as Ranulf the Ranger and he asked 'Don't you know it's dangerous to pass this way?' After some conversation Fenrir persuaded the ranger to travel with them and he hopped onto the driver's seat with Dan and Oz.

Another hour or two passed and they came across an almost totaly dried up river bed that went across the road in the forest. It was quite rocky though and Dan stopped the coach remarking that some of the stones would need moving to let the coach through.

Just as Oz was stepping down though, Ranulf drew his sword and with one dire stroke slew Dan the Driver. Fenrir shot a magic bolt from his hand and hit the ranger who leapt down on the other side.

Arrows started to fly from the woods as bandits hiding behind the trees opened fire. Fenrir was hit twice, but returned fire with his ethereal bolts, chasing into the woods, killing a bandit with each blast.

Meanwhile Oz had run down the road then doubled back in the trees and saw Ranulf with Giselle over his shoulder making for the trees. But Fenrir had spotted this and blasted beneath the coach wheels killing another bandit and sending the ranger falling to the ground.

Oz killed two more bandits, one as he fled, with deadly aimed bullets from his sling. The skirmish was over though. Oz and Fenrir left the terrified ladies inside the coach while they looted the dead. There was the equipment and belongings of six bandits and the ranger, an impressive haul and they both smiled gleefully at the thought of how much money they would make from its sale.

Oz returned Aunt Bitty's stolen jewels to her then wrapped up Dan's corpse in a horse blanket and lashed him to the roof of the coach with the luggage.