I woke sweating. The sun was just beginning to rise and as I looked around everything was fine. For a moment I just laid there and breathed to calm myself. Not again, I refused to die to that Monster again. There was a soft chirp and a beak poked above the carriage top. Pina chirped at the side fully craning her neck.
With a smile I gently rubbed her head, "I'm fine, just a dream."
It was earlier than I needed to wake up but there was no point idling. From the previous time we would leave just after nine once Taylor arrived from her night out. I cooked a light breakfast and as usual ended up making too much. I knew however that the pair of drivers from last night would be more than happy to take the leftovers.
After caring for Pina and double checking the luggage I decided to take a small walk around the inn. All three times I had passed through before I didn't have much time to wander or really a want to. With my mind still tired from the nightmare… it was better to keep my thoughts away from it. I rounded the inn and found myself in the small backyard adjacent to the stables. There in the early morning light of the sun, the Hero was swinging her sword in practice. I had caught her doing this a few times during the journey but I hadn't expected it inside the town.
A slight sweat had built up on her skin as she swung the fine blade repeatedly. Each motion seemingly simple but as her sword descended the grass beneath her feet would quiver and a strange energy filled the air. I was captivated. Her hair tied in a bun and wearing light clothing that stuck to her body. There was a beauty beyond just her appearance but in her every move. Finally she stopped and turned to me.
"Good morning," she smiled.
For a moment I panicked but righted my expression, "Apologies for disturbing you." I was about to leave but she called again.
"Ah wait, if it's not too much trouble can you please get me a towel?" she asked a little embarrassed.
"Of course," I bowed respectfully and left returning with a towel and some water.
She rubbed off her sweat and washed her face, "Thank you very much."
"A task such as this does not need thanks."
She frowned, "It's called being polite. By the way-." Her words were cut off as her stomach suddenly grumbled. "…."
I struggled to keep my face straight, "If the Hero wills it I have prepared a breakfast she may eat."
"Ye-yes please…." She hid her embarrassed expression.
We arrived at the carriage and I prepared her a plate. With a small thanks she took it and began to eat within the carriage.
"As I thought," she nodded and looked at me.
"Is something the matter?"
"It's just your food tastes better after all," her smile was dazzling. "I'm glad I got to eat here instead."
It was getting really hard to keep my expression neutral, "Thank you." With that I quickly left to prepare for the rest of the day.
*
The journey to Wester was the same. Nothing happened. Well relatively. During lunch Marley complained to the Hero about missing out on my breakfast which led to me cooking more than before to sate her. Aside from that we progressed as usual. Taylor tried to scare me again which I was ready for and the others ignored me. Only the Hero would occasionally glance my way. Well Marley did as well but that was only when it came to food.
Wester was a smaller town than Stonewall. It was quiet with much less traffic passing through than others. Most people heading West would deviate further North where the roads were more protected and monsters were less likely to amble from the forests. Of course with the Hero and her party, there wasn't quite the need for protection. Or you would so think had I not died three times so far.
Like the previous night the Hero and her party stayed at the inn and I stayed outside with carriage. Unlike before however I had an agenda and I quickly completed my duties and brought the extra supplies needed in town. Usually I'd quietly settle down to sleep or pass the time by doing one of my many 'hobbies'. While the others were at the inn I chose to head to the bar.
It was a place to drink and talk but also for shadier dealings as well as being a great place to pick up rumours.
"What'll will you have?" the bartender asked me as I approached.
"Spiced wine, half glass, no ice," I passed him the coinage required and he returned with the glass. "I was wondering have there been any strange things happening in the area lately?"
"What's it to you?" the man eyed me suspiciously.
I waved it off and took a sip, "Please, I'm a driver for a carriage. I'd rather not get into any trouble." The slight burn down my throat from the alcohol was refreshing.
"Couldn't say, I spend all my time here." He pointed to the back wall, "Those guys in the back however are another story."
"Thank you," I passed him another coin and moved to the group of men. They were wearing traveling gear, though it had definitely seen better days. From the side of their cloaks well used daggers poked from their belts.
One scowled at me as I approached, "What do you want?"
"Peace my friend," I held up my hands. "I'm just a simple driver here to share a drink."
"Really now," another smiled. "Because mines empty."
I raised my hand, "A round for the fine gentlemen." With the Kingdom's support, money wasn't a problem. Though me spending it how I liked was another issue entirely. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.
"How generous of you."
"It's the least I could do for a fellow traveller," I smiled amicably. "The bartender tells me you're not from around and I'm a man fond of stories. Anything interesting?"
"Bit of this and that," one chuckled as he sipped at his fresh tankard. "Demons along the border be getting rowdy. Monsters more common than usual."
"Anything to the west of here?"
"West huh...," a quick glance was shared among them. "Sorry we came from the south."
"I see…." It was strange then that their clothes were thin. The southern temperature was cooler than the North. Most people coming that way had thicker cloaks, however I felt pointing that out would be unwise.
"And what's a traveller like you going west for? Guiding a merchant?"
"Nothing of the sort, just a band of travellers. What about you, heading East?"
"We're thinking of staying in the region for now," he let out a smirk. I hid my frown. Just my luck. When the bartender said these people might know something, I thought they'd be part of the solution not the problem. I couldn't be quite sure, but they were probably bandits scouting the town. Unfortunately I had just painted a target on my back.
"Well it was a nice chat." I held up my empty glass, "Enjoy your drinks."
"We will."
I left the men and once clear of the bar frowned. Damn it. I may have just lost one of my ways out of this mess. The first two times in Wester we had left quite early, but the third and the time I had died we left later with a difference of half an hour. Now no matter what time we left, I'd probably be attacked on the road.
"Hello Rain." My body tensed at the voice and it laughed, "Oh so you can scare."
"Is something the matter Taylor?" I turned to face her. The street had been empty and yet now here she was standing not even a meter away.
"Just curious as to why you were having a nice chat with those men," her breath held a trace of alcohol. "They didn't look like the most savoury of sorts."
"I was simply looking for information to our destination. It's my job to assist you where I can, knowing a clear road will at least give everyone peace of mind."
"And here I was led to believe you didn't know where we were heading next," her eyes sharpened but I didn't let it faze me.
I smiled, "Please. There are only so many paths we can take."
"So you say, however," a knife flashed forwards and appeared at my neck. My muscles tensed and a spike of fear threatened to break my composure. "Should bandits attack us tomorrow I think it would be quite obvious who would be to blame."
Shit. I knew I should have just gone to sleep as usual. Change the path and now I look suspicious. Of course we'd get attacked tomorrow. If the bandits didn't kill me Taylor would.
Suddenly she let out a light laugh, "I'm joking. Don't worry those men aren't bandits."
"They aren't?" I was surprised.
"Of course. They're smugglers."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry you didn't let anything slip. You were all acting super suspicious, they probably thought you were part of the Kingdom's agents."
I frowned, "You were listening?"
"I was at the table next to yours, it was hard not to," she smiled. The heck? I could have sworn the tables around us were empty. Well she was a Master thief. "Those men did come from the North but they're harmless to us. The problem are the bandits outside of the town."
"So there are bandits?" I folded my arms in slight annoyance. Talking to her was like being thrown in a loop.
"Of course there are, whether they're close or not," she shrugged, "that's just a matter of luck." Unfortunately I think my luck ran dry when I was recruited for this 'mission'.
"Whatever, I'm going to sleep," I turned to leave. There was no point worrying now. If I died, I died and then I'd most likely just listen to the Queen prattle on once more. There was always the chance I died permanently but to that regard I couldn't just stop, I should already be dead by now anyway.
"Hang on," Taylor stretched her arms around me and pulled me closer. "Because of you I couldn't stake out anyone. How about making it up to me and slipping by my room later tonight?" her body warmed up against mine and her lips seductively whispered in my ear.
"Yeah no," I gently pushed her away. "Try that on someone else."
"Tch, you really are no fun."
*
Not even ten minutes had passed since we left Wester. Because of my interactions with Taylor last night we ended up leaving even later than before. The question was whether that would lead to me dying or not. A simple fifteen minute difference could spell the end of my life. Just thinking about it gave me an empty feeling, the fact I was so close to dying.
I sighed and checked my pocket watch. It was just past nine in the morning. If I recalled correctly and I should, where we were now matched where I had died before. Now I was actually here my heart was beating uncomfortably. Was it too late to tell the Hero? Maybe she'd believe me but I doubted it. The words of a simple citizen held little value. Right now however my senses were primed to the extreme. Even over the rattling of the carriage, I strained my hearing and sight to detect any threat. To the right of the road a thick forest sat several metres away and to the left was grassland. Not a bad place for an ambush.
Slowly the time passed and as the minutes went by I thought possibly I had made it out. After all, the first two times I hadn't died here. It was at that moment when I began to relax I heard the familiar slap. It was barely audible but after the years I spent learning how to hunt back home, I knew what the sound of an arrow being launched sounded like.
I ducked and pulled hard on the reigns. Pina chirped in surprise and began to skid to a halt. In that instant several arrows flew past where we would have been had I not stopped.
"Pina go!" I pulled her to the left and she quickly jumped into the grasslands as shadowed figures peeked from the trees. A sudden pain shot through my side and I fell against the seat of the carriage. Shit. An arrow stuck from my body and several more had punctured around me.
"What's going on?" Ronalt's head poked from the window.
"Bandits!" I replied painfully as Pina ran full tilt away from the forest. There was no way it would be this easy to get away. If we made it to safety then the bandits would be hunted down by the Kingdom's army. They'd chase us till the end to silence us.
The sound of horses galloping came from behind us. With the carriage Pina wouldn't be able to get away from them. That wasn't their plan however as from the grass figures popped from the ground, spears pointed. I turned the carriage as hard as I could but not enough as the spears caused Pina's feathers to fly from her body. She squawked in pain and fell down into the grass.
"Damn it," I heard Ronalt curse and the door to the carriage flew open. He burst out with his shield and sword in hand. With one clean swing he knocked away the advancing spearmen. It was too late however, we were already surrounded.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Dozens of rugged men and some women, they numbered over fifty. This many bandits working together was almost unheard of. With that many of them they could attack Wester and be gone long before the army made it.
The Hero stepped out from the carriage. It was the first time I had seen her angry. A calm frown that struck more fear than it should. Behind her Earnest smiled with a hand on his sword.
"And here I thought I'd have to wait till we reached the border," he cracked his neck.
"Marley support me!" Ronalt yelled and began to advance as Marley blessed him. "Forget the driver, your priority is the Hero then us."
I couldn't even speak out in protest. Even though I laid there dying, with her powers as a Priest she'd be able to heal me. Instead she nodded and her eyes focused to the fight in front of her. Goddess damn them all. My vision began to blur and the pain in my chest spiked. It seemed the arrow had been poisoned. Pina groaned on the ground and her eyes began to shut. They could at least save her, but no, they couldn't afford to without risking themselves.
A flash of light burst into the sky and a torrent of flame burned across the ground. As my vision began to darken I caught the Hero in my sight. Her steps were unfocused and her gaze kept flicking back to me but she had no time to spare as the bandits piled on to her giving her barely any space to breath. Yet still her eyes met mine. I'm sorry.