Razzius Grimm: The True Story You Were Never Told

The Ballad of Wyrn Grimm part 2

The sounds of crickets chirping echoed throughout the night air and all manner of creatures sounded off in the still dark woods just outside of Haile. Wyrn and Reinhardt finally came to, their heads pounding and their bodies felt like they had been punched and kicked a hundred times. They were surrounded by a wooden cage. A short ways off they saw a modest campfire and several tents and makeshift lodgings. A few indistinguishable men sat near the fire sharpening what looked to be rusted swords and dagger, building rugged, rudimentary arrows and pulling at bow strings.

Reinhardt reached over. "Are you alright?" He whispered, grabbing Wyrn's hand. "Tell me you haven't been stabbed, brother."

"I'm alright," Wyrn whispered back, squeezing his friends hand. He tried to move but his body felt like he had been fired from a cannon. "What do we do?"

"I can tell you what you don't do," a familiar voice called from behind the cage they were in. "You damn sure don't try to escape or do anything stupid like that." The man from before circled around the cage and knelt down. "Because if you do, I'll kill you meself." He bit at his lip. "Then again, I see a little more use out of you two so in the event that you don't try to escape, tomorrow morning I'll put the two of you to work. How's that turn ya, fellas?"

Neither Wyrn or Reinhardt said a word and the man smiled when he saw no objections.

"Well isn't this magical," the bandit spoke once more. "You've only been here for near a few hours and you've already learned the most important rule..." He stood and kicked dirt in their faces. "Shut the fuck up and do as your told!" He moved to the campfire and the group celebrated in laughter.

Wyrn tried to brush the dirt out of his face and compose himself. He could not and Niether could Reinhardt. The night had come and it went without much sleep for the pair. Sunrise came all too early.

"Get up!" The bandit shouted, stomping around the cage. "Wake up! Wake up!" He grabbed the cage and shook it violently. "Move your arses, boys!"

Wyrn and Reinhardt shook out of their sleep and scrambled to their feet, both of them immediately collapsing in pain. Again they stood and again they fell.

"Get up!" The man shouted, ripping the door open. "Move it!" He grabbed Wyrn and Reinhardt and pulled them to their feet. "Move!" He threw them out of the cage and the two tumbled to the ground outside.

"Cranos, I don't think these two get it," one of the bandits called. "Me thinks they need a tune up."

Cranos shrugged. "Could be," he said. He knelt down and got in Wyrn's face. He pulled out a knife and held it to Reinhardt's face. "Stand up," he spoke calmly. "Now."

Wyrn shook off the pain and slowly stood to his feet. "Okay," he said, keeping himself together. "Just don't...hurt...him."

"But he's my prisoner," Cranos argued. "He belongs to me, doesn't he?"