They found the clearing faster than General Thrushbeard expected. The weary warriors dismounted and unsaddled the horses. This would be a rest for all.
Rojier knelt by the creek and took a quick drink. He unsheathed his sword and made his way to a tree. He sat with his back on the tree and placed his sword on his laps. He closed his eyes and rested.
The others made their way to the pack horses for food. The Hammer grabbed bread, broke a piece off and handed it to other. They sat spread out in a semicircle by the creek. They ate lightly not knowing the next time they would rest.
"Oh what lovely horses you have there," said a man dressed in a hodgepodge of leather and tri corner cap on his head. He had a long, black unkempt beard.
"Leave us be, brigand," General Thrushbeard said.
"How much will you pay us to leave you alone?"
"Us?"
The brigand whistled. Twelve more men came into the clearing. All dressed in the same hodgepodge leather clothing.
"You have to be joking," General Thrushbeard said. "I mean the forest is huge. It's a great place to hide but to find them so soon."
"We need to kill them all," Corban whispered.
General Thrushbeard disagreed with a shake of his head.
Corban motioned to Crow. Crow nodded. His hands discreetly grabbed his bow and an arrow. Corban's hand crept toward the handle of his sword.
The brigands came closer. None paid attention to the sleeping Rojier. Each carried a sword in one hand and dagger in another.
"I tell you what. I am a reasonable man. You have plenty of horses. We will leave you each with a horse and enough food to get you to the next town or is it a village."
"What's the difference?" another brigand asked.
"We're getting off topic. What do you say?"
"I say you leave now, and you live unharmed," General Thrushbeard. "Continue down this path, and you will die."
"Listen, old man. I don't think you appreciate the situation you are in. I was being nice because you are two old men and a bunch of children. Now I'm going to have to take everything and let nature decide your fate."
"I don't want to kill you boy," General Thrushbeard said. "Do not make me."
The lead brigand's eyes shifted toward Corban who glared at him.
"What's your problem, boy?"
"I'm going to kill you first. Now, Crow!"
Crow loosed an arrow while Corban leapt to his feet. The arrow killed one of the brigands as it pierced his heart. Corban cut down the leader with his sword.
"You were dead the moment you saw us. You never had a chance." Corban looked to others. "We can't afford them telling anyone they saw us. Hammer's Fist attack."
Ferine lunged toward the closest brigand. Her daggers cut into him. She leapt to her feet and chose her next target.
Crow aimed for those closest to the forest. One dead than another. The rest of the brigand got the message that heading for the forest was the quickest way to die.
The Hammer rose to his feet slowly. He lifted his Rainmaker in the air. He smiled at two brigands.
The smile frightened them. They braced for impact. The fear died with them as they felt the blow of his mighty weapon.
General Thrushbeard rose to his feet. His sword remained sheathed. "Surrender!"
"This is not the time," Corban said.
He lunged forward stabbing the final brigand. He fell dead beside the sleeping Rojier.
"Crow, how good are you at tracking?" Corban asked.
"Better than you?"
"Find out if there were any more brigands. If you catch any, do what must be done?"
Rojier opened his eyes. He looked around to see a number of dead bodies. "What did I miss.?"
"Nothing much," Ferine said. "A band of brigands tried to rob and kill us. So we killed them."
"Oh, that's all," Rojier said. "It's good for team bonding fighting in a battle and spilling some blood. Wake me if something interesting happens."
"Oh, it is definitely about to happen," Ferine said.
"Who is fighting?"
"Corban Steele and good old General Thrushbeard Cole," the twins answered.
"Oh, this should be fun," Rojier said sitting to full attention. "My money is on Cole. He never loses a battle."
"This one might surprise you," Ferine said.
"I do hate surprises."
YOU ARE READING
The Winter Queen of Havenshire
FantasíaIt is an age without Heroes, an age of Tyrants, an age of Legends. The Winter Queen kidnaps Ambrosia, the sole heir of the Master of the North, demanding a large ransom for her freedom. Most believe her to be a myth. A legend cannot challenge the Ty...
