Where would a good bandit ambush be?
Hmm, Cathy muttered. Close to the main road, I would think, trying to catch a merchant caravan.
Even with all the military outposts along the road?
Why not? Cathy asked.
It would be too close. The guards would be checking it out.
Check your map, Cathy pitched. Maybe there’s a long stretch of road between outposts. If I were to ambush someone, it would be in the middle between two outposts, the furthest spot for either outpost to investigate.
I stopped and pulled out the map the hunter gave me. Natalie and Aaron stopped and gave me a puzzled look.
“What’s wrong?” Aaron asked.
“Nothing,” I answered. “I figure the best place to look for an ambush would be along the road between outposts.”
“In the middle, the furthest distance from each one,” Natalie said thoughtfully. “Good thinking.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Sometimes the voice in my head gets something right.”
HEY! Cathy exclaimed.
“The voice in your head?” Natalie asked worried.
“It’s a magic thing,” Aaron explained.
“Ah,” Natalie chuckled relieved.
Checking the map revealed no difference in the distances between outposts. Each one was evenly spaced along the road to maximize the protection. Our best bet was just to go to the closest outpost and start walking. I looked over the landscape for the direction of the road and started walking.
In the distance I could make out what looked like a watchtower. To get onto the road I was going to have to stay hidden as best as I could.
Or you could cast an Illusion spell on him to make us invisible, Cathy pitched. Just like in your dream.
But that was a dream. This is reality.
All I did was create the situation, Cathy explained. All the power and actions came from you. From YOUR confidence and abilities.
But...I can’t cast it over the whole outpost.
Cathy laughed. If you could, we wouldn’t have slept in a cave and walked through the forest. It’s only one guy in a watchtower. Where’s the difficulty?
Agreeing with her, I changed my direction so I was aiming right at the watchtower. The sooner I had him under an Illusion the better. I picked up my pace focusing entirely on the watchtower. When I began to sense his mind, I slowed to a stop. His mind was better guarded then a common citizen but it still wasn’t as difficult as facing off against another Mage. With ease, I entered his mind and planted the Illusion. We would be invisible as long as we didn’t make any noise.
“That watchtower won’t be a problem anymore,” I explained as I turned back to Aaron and Natalie. “We just have to be quiet when we get close though.”
“What did you do?” Natalie asked.
“Made us seem invisible to the guard,” I answered.
“Impressive,” she nodded. “You would make a good thief. Any chance I can convince you to join me on heists?”
“I’m needed at the Tower after my mission,” I said turning back to the direction of the watchtower.
I led them past the watchtower to the road and we hurried away as quietly as we could. The other guards at the outpost were preoccupied with a merchant and didn’t pay any attention to us. When I felt we were a good range away, I dropped the Illusion and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Any bandits around yet?” Aaron asked.
“We’re still too close to that guard outpost,” Natalie said.
“Be ready never the less,” I said as I switched my focus to scanning the area for mental activity.
My mind was starting to grow weary from excessive magic use but it was good exercise should my whole quest be similar. When I sensed the hum of mental activity up ahead, I could feel the excitement in their minds as well as their intentions. This was the bandit ambush we were looking for.
“Bandits up ahead,” I said to Aaron and Natalie as I counted the minds. “Three...Four of them.”
“So soon?” Natalie said scanning the area.
“We’re further away than you would think,” I said. “They’re spotted us already. Aaron, can you see anything?”
I looked at Aaron and he focused his eyes to the road ahead.
“Not yet,” he said. “But there is a tree and bushed area up ahead. That’s the smartest bet.”
“Agreed,” Natalie said. “Get ready without making it obvious.”
My magic was always ready but I saw Aaron’s bow slide off his shoulder. As we approached the tree, two figures stepped out and onto the road. They waited with their arms crossed as we approached.
“Halt,” the shorter, weaselier one said, probably the leader of the group. “There is a toll for taking this road.”
“Right,” Natalie chuckled. “And what’s this toll for? Maintenance?”
“That’s correct,” the muscled goon to the leader’s right said. “These roads don’t fix themselves.”
I felt around for the other two. One was in the tree, no doubt with a bow fixed at one of us, and the other hid in the bushes. This was going to be an easy fight. I crossed my arms behind my back and held my one hand open to the tree.
“And what is the toll?” I asked.
“100 gold,” the leader said. “The road is long and requires a lot of work.”
“See, that’s where we have a problem,” I said with false sincerity. “We don’t have that much gold.”
“I find that hard to believe my friend,” the leader smiled. “Fine trader’s like yourselves probably have tons of spare gold to part with. I mean it’s a fair trade for your life.”
“A fair trade for our life?” Natalie asked with a laugh. “You make it sound so threatening.”
“Well, this toll is mandatory,” the leader smirked. “All travellers have to pay it and we always collect. One way or another.”
I fed power into my hand and transferred it to the tree. The branches started to sway gently as I tested my control.
“So,” the leader continued with his smirk. “Did you want to hand it over or are we going to take it from your corpses?”
“Let me think,” I said as the tree started to shake violently.
The bandit in the tree cried out in panic. I commanded the tree to grab the bandit with a branch and throw him to the ground. With a loud crash, the bandit landed at the feet of the leader and his muscled goon. I brought my hands in front of me with my palms out and sent a large Pulse that caused them to stagger.
From the corners of my eyes I saw Natalie charge and Aaron draw his bow. As the leader tried to regain his balance, he was dropped to the ground by Aaron’s arrow to the forehead. The muscled goon was struggling to stay on his feet before Natalie jumped on him plunging her blade into his neck.
The last bandit charged at Aaron from behind the bushes and I focused my power into them to restrain the bandit by his foot. When he realized that he was stuck, he slashed at the bushes to free himself. The bandit turned back to attack Aaron but was stopped by an arrow to the chest. He fell backwards into the bushes.
The bandit that had been thrown from the tree was struggling to get up onto his hands and knees before Natalie plunged her blade into his back. She withdrew the blade and retracted it with a smile.
“You are a lot of fun to have in a fight, Demon,” she said. “I understand why nobody wants to fight a Mage. You would embarrass the best fighters in Kalenden.”
“We should remove the bodies from the road before the guards or that merchant come,” Aaron said seriously. “If they find us dressing in their armour they’ll have a few questions I’m sure.”
“No celebrating the fight?” Natalie pouted then laughed. “Grab the undamaged gear and get changed quickly then. We need to make it to the quarry by dinner time.”
Aaron and I grabbed a body and dragged it towards the bushes.
Natural Magic is kind of fun when it’s not used against you.
ALL magic is fun when it’s not u
sed against you, Cathy laughed.
Touché.
Chapter 17
Fully disguised and back on the move again, we jogged across the countryside towards the quarry. Natalie was fully confident that we would pass for bandits, as long as we kept our mouths shut. “Passing as a bandit takes a certain...brute finesse,” she had explained. Not wanting to deal with the ‘intelligence’ of bandits in the first place it was an easy instruction to follow.
With the pack on my back bouncing and the short sword at my hip swaying, I felt like I would fall over every time I made a step. How anyone felt comfortable with one of those things bouncing on your thigh is beyond me.
They are pretty handy to have actually, Cathy explained. It would be in your best interest to start to learn how to use a sword.
I have my magic though. Why would a need such a bulky weapon?
Magic can’t always save you, she answered. As someone who has died 25 times by a sword you might want to consider my advice.
I’ve been taking your advice so far. Why stop now?
Exactly! She answered excitedly.
I’ll agree as long as it doesn’t keep hurting my hip.
Cathy chuckled. Oh, stop your complaining.
Natalie stopped close to a pass into the mountains and we stopped behind her. “Bandanas up,” she said as she pulled out her scarf and headdress.
I pulled the bandana up from my neck so it covered my nose and mouth like Natalie had shown us. Natalie wrapped her head completely looking similar to the night we had first met her in the pub.
“On the other side of the pass is the entrance to the camp,” she explained. “After we get through it, we still have to get to the top of the quarry. We should be able to get to the mine easily from there.”
“Are we expecting resistance?” Aaron asked adjusting the collar of his armour.
“Only if we do something stupid,” Natalie answered. “You might get the odd drunken challenge but that’s normal.”
“What about outside the camp?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “I’ve never made it that far.”
“I thought you had been to the mine before?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she answered, “but I came up from Malkia. Something we don’t have the luxury of doing this time. Just stick close to me and I’ll make sure nobody hurts you, Demon.”
I couldn’t see the mocking smirk she was giving me but I knew it was there behind her bandana. I guess my display of skill with the bandits impressed her a bit. She’s starting to make ‘Demon’ seem more as a friendly nickname. Perhaps, she is warming up to me.
Nah, Cathy said. She’ll still kick you in the face if you let your guard down.
Thanks, you are SO reassuring.
I try, Cathy said with exaggerated cheerfulness.
Natalie started walking up the path with Aaron following closely behind. I expanded my mind to feel for the bandit camp as I followed them slowly. The hum of mental energy was intense. We were literally right around the corner from the camp.
I stopped searching with my mind and picked up my pace to fall in behind Natalie and Aaron. We followed the winding path to a wooden gate with a small tower behind it. In the tower, an archer watched over us as we approached the giant of a gatekeeper. He drew a massive claymore from his back and lumbered towards us. The fact that we weren’t immediately attacked was a good sign.
“Speak the password,” he snarled.
“A coin purse drops,” Natalie answered in a gruff and scratchy voice.
“That’s the old one,” the gatekeeper replied.
“Well, what do I bloody care about some damn password,” Natalie exclaimed. “I’m too damn busy to play paranoia with Road Dogg. You can either let me in or bring him out here so I can smack him around until I get bored.”
Aaron shot me a worried look but the gatekeeper roared out with hearty laughter. “Still the same old Nate,” he smiled with a mouth of various missing teeth as he put away his sword. “You’re always welcome here. Who are the ankle biters?”
“Falcon,” Natalie answered pointing to Aaron, “and Demon,” pointed to me. “Picked them up at Thurlborn Peak. We’re heading up to Carendath Mine.”
“Good luck. Road Dogg’s shut the gate to the quarry because of the tension with Dulga’s boys on the other side,” the gatekeeper warned. “No one paying less then 100 gold can get out.”
“Thanks, Rog,” Natalie said.
‘Rog’ the giant gatekeeper grabbed the wooden gate and dragged it open in an impressive show of strength. We entered the camp and the gate slammed shut behind us.
“See,” Natalie whispered to us in her normal voice. “Brute finesse.”
“Falcon?” Aaron asked.
“Yeah, because of those crazy eyes of yours,” Natalie said.
“How are we going to get the 100 gold?” I asked. “I think between all of us we might have 40-50.”
“Nothing to worry about there,” Aaron said. “We have the left over gear from the bandits. Just do what you did to Burt in Riverside and you’ll be fine.”
“The smith here won’t be some weasel looking for a quick con,” I said.
“That’s exactly what the smith here will be,” Natalie chuckled. “They are used to dealing with bandits. A little brute finesse and you’ll get what you want.”
“Very well,” I said. “Lead the way.”
“Work your magic,” Natalie said in her ‘Nate’ voice. “And stick by old Nate.”
The mountain pass continued for a few more metres before opening up to the quarry and bandit camp. Tents dominated this cramped little corner of the quarry and a makeshift wall of broken carts protected the perimeter. I had pictured the camp being a large bandit paradise but having seen it, the term ‘camp’ really was most appropriate. Maybe 20-30 bandits called this dirty place home.
Weaving through the crowds and tents, we were all given every dirty look you could imagine. The urge to return the look was almost too strong but we needed to hurry and not start a fight with every person we came across.
It would be fun though, Cathy said longingly.
Maybe some other time.
For real? Cathy said hopefully.
Only if you’re good.
I’m always good, she whined.
We approached a large tent that smelt of smoke and body odour. A small, grizzly looking old bandit with scars along his face worked the small forge and anvil. When he looked up and saw us approaching he dropped the sword he had been pounding into a bucket of water.
“New customers?” he said with a sinister looking, toothless grin.
Natalie nudged me to indicate that I was the one to do the talking.
“Yes,” I nodded and slid my pack off my shoulders. Aaron and Natalie did the same and we pulled the three short swords and bow we had collected from the bandits and placed them on the table for the old man to study. I motioned for Aaron and Natalie to leave and the look in Natalie’s eye suggested that she was excited to see what I would do to intimidate this merchant.
To be honest, Cathy started. I am too.
It’s not going to be anything fancy.
While the bandit picked up and studied the weapons, I found the door to his mind wide open. I wasn’t going to do anything grand because of the crowd of people around us. Just make myself seem more physically intimidating.
I was starting to understand why Mages that spent time outside the Tower could be corrupted. All the power at your fingertips was hard enough to deal with but by keeping your identity a secret, you could have power over the thoughts, senses and feelings of the people around you without them realizing it. The temptation could very easily become too much.
There is nothing wrong with a LITTLE corruption, Cathy said.
A little, yes. With our mission, we need to use whatever we can to overcome the odds stacked against us. But I’m not in a hurry to go crazy with power.
Cathy laughed. You have nothing to worry abo
ut there. You are far too nice a person to take advantage of innocent people.
Wow...thanks for the surprising compliment.
Now, scare this old man, Cathy said excited.
“What do you think?” I asked with a menacing voice, planting the seeds of my Illusion in his head.
The old man cleared his throat and looked up at me for a second before turning away back to the sword he was holding. “These are good pieces, not great but not worthless either. I’ll give you 50 gold for the lot.”
“50?” I boomed. “I was thinking closer to 100.”
“100?” he asked looking up at me but not enough to make eye contact for longer then a second. “I’ll starve if I started paying out that much.”
“It’s not starvation that you need to worry about right now,” I said as I put my hands on the table and leaned in closer to him. “100 gold means I stay in this good mood I’m feeling. Anything less I may become...unreasonable.”
I could see the wheels turning in the old man’s head. He knew it would be the smarter decision to just give me the 100 and get me away from him.
And he didn’t live to be this age by being an idiot.
The old man reached under his table and pulled out a bag of coins and tossed it to me. I caught and hefted it in one hand.
“It’s all there,” the old man said trying to sound in control. “I never cheat anyone.”
“Good,” I said leaving the ‘or I’ll be back’ unsaid.
I turned and walked away slowly, waiting until I was back with Aaron and Natalie before dropping my hold on the old man’s mind.
“How’d it go?” Natalie asked still in her ‘Nate’ voice.
I tossed her the bag of coins. “It’s all there.”
“Nice,” she said. “How’d you do it? It didn’t look like you did anything.”
“I didn’t,” I smiled.
“Fine, be cryptic,” she chuckled. “I’ll figure out your secrets one day.”
She led us towards the main gate to the quarry. The area was pretty deserted except for the gate guard and the archer in the tower. Over the makeshift wall, the quarry stretched empty ahead of us with edge wrapping around the whole line of sight. I could make out no path to the top of the quarry from here but it had to be out there somewhere.
The Tower Of The Watchful Eye: The Legend Of Kairu Book 1 Page 14
