I had been thinking a lot since we left Stonewall. How to defeat the bandits or whether we should bother at all. The problem wasn't just their numbers but more so how organised they were. The tactics they had used on us and how prepared they were, if it weren't for the fact we had avoided them the first two times I would have been sure we were being targeted. Knowing the strength of the Hero and her party they could probably fight that number of bandits with relative ease. Ordinarily if it weren't for the surprise attack they wouldn't have been pushed back. Which begged the question should I just try convince them the bandits exist and have them make a pre-emptive strike? That is if they would even believe me. The other point was what the bandits were planning. Why group in mass so close to a town like Wester? Simple reason being it was a great target. It was a town doing well for itself, unassuming and more importantly lightly guarded being relatively close to the Capital. I could only think they wanted to pull off one last raid. Hit the town hard and be gone by morning. Taking the south road they could split apart and make it across the border to the neighbouring countries spoils intact. The army wouldn't even be able to follow them with the demon threat. So, if I repeated the first two times and tried to leave as early as possible we could avoid their ambush… but then the people of Wester would be slaughtered. I frowned.
We arrived in Wester and after dropping off the Hero and her party to the inn I parked the carriage in the lot beside it. My duties included caring for Pina, maintenance for the carriage and buying any supplies needed as well as to organise the inventory. There wasn't much to do after only being two days into the journey or at least that's how it should have been. The sun had set and I wasn't where I usually was. No, I was outside town in the cold keeping an eye to the west. The moment we had arrived I excused myself and kept an eye out for anyone leaving the city.
Although I had never been taught how to use magic or a sword I had been taught how to hunt, to stalk prey in the dark and, mind my confidence, was pretty damn good at it. I wasn't bad with a bow either but as a non-combatant, excluding my kitchen knife, I was never given any weapons. Not that I wanted to fight, in fact if there was fighting I much rather to sit back and hide behind a rock.
Still my main priority was staying alive and to do that I needed information. Just as I was beginning to tire a flash of light came from the forest far into the distant. There was a pause and gazing into the darkening town a flash of light replied. A coded message. The flashes continued but didn't follow any of the proper signals I knew of. What I did know was that it couldn't have boded well. I needed to make my move.
"Hey what are you doing?" Taylor's voice almost caused me to have a heart attack. "Relax, I'm not here to kill you." She smiled.
"I was just taking a stroll…." Even I knew that was a terrible lie.
"Sure you were."
"What are you doing here anyway?" I changed the subject.
"Well our driver vanished and I thought I might as well see where he went. I must say you're pretty good. It was kind of hard to find you."
"Thanks," I replied dryly. Obviously I wasn't good enough.
Taylor's gaze sharpened, "So do you mind telling me the truth?"
I raised my hands in surrender, "Nothing nefarious if that's what you're thinking. I heard some rumours of bandits coming from the North. I just wanted to keep an eye out."
"The lot in the North? I thought the army was taking care of it."
"Maybe but I heard from some fellow drivers that they might be heading south. Wester fits right in their demographic to be attacked and there hasn't been any more news of the bandits for a few days. Plenty of time for them to make their way here."
"That's a little far-fetched isn't it?" Taylor didn't let up. "Why head south when east would make an easier escape."
"Because that's what everyone would think right? East to the untamed forests, the army isn't so stupid to let that happen."
"I see, so head south and further into the Kingdom. Smart, but still the chances of them ending up in Wester are pretty small, negligible even. Why care about it?"
"So is running into the Hero while making your escape," I teased. "I prefer to not leave things to chance."
Taylor let out a huff and smirked, "Point taken. Any evidence though?"
I pointed to the forest and a far off window, "Someone was communicating to the forest using flashes of light before. It may not be much but…."
"Oh how interesting," she licked her lips and drew her dagger. "Shall I take a closer look?"
"Well that would be for the best," I nodded and finally began to relax. With this, things were looking up.
"Just one thing," Taylor grabbed my shoulder. "You're coming with me."
"What?"
"You're still acting way too suspicious for comfort," her smile dug into my brain. Shit.
*
A short while later I had been dragged to the building I had seen the light come from. It was a dodgy looking house on the edge of town with nothing of interest around it. Just from the tracks on the ground I could tell not many people came by and most in passing. Looking carefully however I could make out the footprints of at least three people entering and exiting.
"Here we are," I pointed to the house as Taylor squatted beside me in the alley across from it.
"Well don't stop here, let's go," she pushed against my back cheerfully.
"You know I can't fight right?"
She looked at me dubiously, "You're telling me a person who can cook, drive, tailor, smith, hunt and everything in between can't fight? Surely someone would have taught you."
"Look, not everyone needs to know how to swing a sword around. Besides no one could teach me," I shrugged. Even if they could, there was an outcry when someone suggested I learn how to. 'Just what do you think you're trying to teach our Rain?' or so they would say. The fact Morgan even could teach me how to hunt was a stretch.
"Hmmm," Taylor pulled something from her belt and held it out for me. It was a knife, and not one for cooking. "Better late than never right?"
"You're kidding…."
"Nope. If I wasn't here what were you planning to do, just waltz up and ask them?"
Honestly I hadn't though that far ahead. My plan involved something along the lines of convincing Ardent to help me. I much more preferred him….
I sighed and took the knife, "If I get stabbed you better have Marley heal me." My words were serious. I didn't want to be neglected and left to die again.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's do this," with a curt step forward she silently reached the door of the house. I followed her more slowly and by the time I arrived she had already picked the lock. She gestured for me to stand closer beside the door. Confused and suspicious, I did as I was asked. Wouldn't it have been better for her to lead? The question barely entered my mind in time as with a sudden shove she pushed me into the house. I thudded onto the floor loudly.
"What was that?" a surprised voice came from the stair well.
I turned back to the door to find Taylor gone. That bitch. Worse still just as I made it on my feet whoever was upstairs made it down.
"Who the hell are you?" it was a women. She was wearing rough travel clothing and had a thick sword by her waist. My mind ticked back. She was one of the bandits who had attacked us.
"Umm, sorry I thought this place was empty," I said awkwardly. "Just a poor man looking for a place to sleep.
She drew her sword and raised it level with my neck, "If you don't want any trouble you better start walking away."
"Right…," I stepped back relieved. Now all I needed was to get out of here safely. I had confirmed all I needed to know. Just as I stepped back there was a blur of movement and my instincts screamed at me to duck.
"Damn," the women cursed as her blade barely missed me.
"Wait!" I panicked and raised my hands. She wasn't stopping.
Just as she jumped forward her body suddenly went limp and hit the ground. Behind her Taylor was standing looking at me disapprovingly,
"Why didn't you use the knife?"
"You think that would have helped?" I angrily whispered to her. "Also, the heck was that before?"
She waved away my complaints, "Bait and distraction. It makes it much easier to get the jump on people when I'm not their target. Now come, I tied up one of the guys upstairs. Let's see if your theory is as good as you think it is."
"What about this one?" I gingerly kicked the unconscious women.
"She'll be out for a while." With incredible nonchalance she turned her back to me and moved upstairs. With a sigh I followed her.
The first floor room was more than I expected. Five men filled the room, four of them unconscious and in the back a single window had been opened. The last man had been tied up and currently had something stuffed in his mouth. Taylor ripped it out and pressed her knife against his neck.
The man instantly swore, "You bitch I'll gut you like a-,"
Taylor pressed the knife down harder and a line of blood smeared down his neck, "Now now, I'm a pleasant enough girl however I'd choose your next words wisely. Who are you and why are you here?"
"We're just travellers I swear!" a fear had crept into his eyes.
"Did I mention I also don't like liars? Because simple travellers don't go trying to kill people as soon as they meet."
"What did you expect? You're the ones who barged in here," he remained stern.
I frowned, "And if I were to say I saw your signal from before? How are your 'friends' in the forest doing? Gearing up to attack the town?"
For a moment he faltered and tried to turn his head but Taylor's knife didn't let him, "I don't know what you're talking about."
A snap and then he screamed in pain. Taylor had broken one of his fingers.
"You bitch!" he cried.
Taylor smiled darkly, "You have nine more and I have little patience. Now spit it out before I start counting down. Of course I'll be using your fingers."
"Wait-,"
"Nine." Another crunch and he groaned. Taylor was still all smiles but her eyes had become cold. A sight that I truly didn't want directed at me.
"I'll talk just stop," the man whimpered. "We're bandits."
"And?"
He glared at her, "What do you mean 'and'!?"
"Eight," she snapped another finger.
"We're here to raid the town!"
"How many of you, when and where?"
He paused, conflicted, clearly thinking of his punishment if he were to tell us.
"Seven." With another finger broken, I was thinking I had to redefine my view of Taylor. She was brutal. "Mr bandit, you might have a boss that will probably kill you, but that's probably. If you don't tell me what I want to know now, I 'will' kill you. Of course that would be after I meticulously break every bone in your body."
He already looked broken and through a strained face he began, "Please… we're camped in the forest. There's about sixty of us. Starting from tomorrow we were going to seal off the town and raid it in the night."
"Thank you," Taylor stood up and with a flick of her knife slit his throat. The man fell to the floor dead. She turned to me as I stared at her blankly. "Do you have a problem?"
"Nope," I answered simply hiding my churning emotions. These people were bandits who had killed more people than I could guess, me included. It was a bit gruesome but I had the feeling this would just be the beginning. "Now what?"
"Well you were right but," she shrugged "it's not our job to do anything about them."
I looked at the other unconscious bandits, "Let's hand the others to the guards. I'm just your personal valet, don't be expecting me to do much else."
"Well aren't you a tease," Taylor smiled to me devilishly. "After we're done, we should have some time. Want to help warm my bed?"
"After what I just saw you do, no thanks." This thief really did have a one track mind. "Also if the Hero or anyone else asks, I was never here. I'd rather not be involved in whatever you decide to do next."
With that my night was finished and I went to sleep. Alone.