"Hey there!"
The people by the caravan stiffened, glancing back nervously. A few of the guards instinctively gripped their weapons.
Ren raised an eyebrow as he whispered to Talos, "Nothing says 'totally not suspicious' like freezing up at a simple greeting."
Skorn, undeterred, jogged ahead, holding up his hands to show he wasn't a threat.
"I'm Skorn, traveling with my friends to guard another caravan. Just thought we'd say hi—safety in numbers, right?"
The group visibly relaxed. One of the guards, a burly dwarf with soot-stained hands, stepped forward. He introduced himself as Keo.
"Aye, can't argue with that logic. Name's Keo. You folks new to this route?"
Skorn grinned. "First time. What about you?"
Keo exchanged a quick glance with another man standing nearby, a human with fiery red hair who introduced himself as Eugan.
"Let's just say we're… familiar with these roads," Eugan said, his tone nonchalant but his gaze sharp.
Ren crossed his arms and muttered under his breath, "Yeah, familiar as in 'staking it out for ambush spots.'"
Talos chimed in, loud enough for everyone to hear. "So, what are you hauling? Anything exciting? Rare herbs? Ancient relics? Maybe some contraband?"
Eugan snorted, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Just the usual merchant wares—tools, fabrics, a little luxury wine. Nothing scandalous, I promise."
Olivia, ever the diplomat, stepped forward. "It's good to meet fellow travelers. The roads have been dangerous lately, so it's reassuring to have others around."
As the two groups fell into step together, Ren leaned toward Skorn and whispered, "You know this is a setup, right? There's more red flags here than in a military parade."
Skorn shrugged. "Maybe. But if it is, we'll handle it. You're good at handling setups, aren't you?"
Ren sighed, casting a glance toward the caravan. "Yeah… just wish they'd get more creative.
This script is way too predictable."
-----
As the combined group traveled, Ren couldn't help but observe the "merchants." Their guards seemed overly trained for simple protection duty,
and the caravan carried an unusual air of secrecy. More than once, Ren caught their leader, a striking woman with ice-blue eyes named Valeri, surveying his group with a calculating gaze.
"Olivia," Ren said quietly, sidling up beside her. "Something's off here."
She glanced at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Ren replied, keeping his voice low, "their 'merchants' are way too composed. And those 'goods'? Notice how nobody's touched or adjusted anything the whole trip? They're not real."
Olivia frowned, her gaze flickering toward the caravan. "What do you think they're after?"
Ren shrugged. "Us, probably. They're likely sizing us up right now, figuring out how to catch us off guard."
"You're sure?" Olivia asked.
"Not 100%, but come on. Bandit attacks, sketchy merchants, overly cautious guards? This is Bandit 101," Ren muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
As the sun began to dip low in the sky, the caravan ahead slowed. Keo called back, "We'll make camp here for the night. Good spot, close to water."
Ren stopped walking, a chill running down his spine.
"And this," he muttered under his breath, "is where the fun starts."
----
The two groups set up camp by a shallow creek, the gentle flow of water creating an almost soothing atmosphere. Keo and Eugan busied themselves with their "merchant goods," while Valeri perched nearby, idly inspecting her bow. Zeph, the quietest among them, seemed to fade into the background, his calm demeanor betraying nothing.
Ren, however, couldn't shake the sense that they were being scrutinized. Every glance from the other group felt calculated, their movements deliberate.
"Skorn," Ren whispered, pulling him aside as the others started gathering firewood. "We're in a trap. I'd bet my last silver coin on it."
Skorn's cheerful demeanor faltered. "You think so? I mean, yeah, they're a little weird, but—"
"They're too weird," Ren interrupted. "Their gear's too good for simple guards. And Keo? He's a dwarf. Those guys are almost never out here unless there's treasure or a fight."
"Maybe he's the exception?" Skorn suggested weakly.
Ren gave him a flat look. "Skorn, when have you ever met an exceptional band of merchants?"
Skorn sighed. "Alright, fine. What's the plan?"
"For now, we wait," Ren said. "Let them make the first move. If we're right, they'll reveal themselves soon enough. Just… be ready for anything."
---
As the night deepened, the other group's guards exchanged subtle nods. Valeri moved silently to a vantage point while Keo busied himself sharpening a blade by the fire. Eugan, feigning casualness, approached Ren and the others with a flask in hand.
"Drink?" he offered, his grin too wide to be genuine.
"No thanks," Ren said, leaning back against a tree. "I don't drink on the job."
"Suit yourself," Eugan replied, his gaze lingering a second too long. He turned to leave but paused. "By the way… nice caravan you've got there. Must be carrying some pretty valuable stuff, huh?"
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Not really. Mostly standard goods. Why?"
Eugan smirked. "Just curious. You never know who might be watching these roads."
As he walked away, Skorn muttered, "Subtle as a brick, that one."
Ren's hand twitched toward his weapon. "Here we go."
Suddenly, Valeri loosed an arrow from her perch, the whistle of it cutting through the night air. It struck the ground mere inches from Olivia, who leapt back in alarm.
"Looks like the game's up," Eugan said with a laugh, flames sparking to life in his palms.
Keo charged forward, his axe swinging, while Zeph appeared out of the shadows, his calm voice cutting through the chaos.
"Leave no one alive."
---
Skorn immediately stepped between Olivia and Keo, summoning a wall of stone from the earth to block the dwarf's strike.
"Not today, shorty!" Skorn shouted, shoving the wall forward to push Keo back.
Eugan rushed at Ren, twin daggers blazing with fire and ice. Ren dodged the first strike, electricity crackling to life in his palms.
"You're fast," Ren admitted, sidestepping a second slash. "But not fast enough." He released a burst of lightning, forcing Eugan to leap back with a curse.
Valeri continued her assault from above, her arrows guided by icy winds. Talos countered, whipping up a gust of his own to deflect the projectiles.
"You know," Talos called out, "it's rude to shoot at people without saying hello first!" He hurled a swirling ball of air and nature magic toward her perch, forcing her to relocate.
Meanwhile, Zeph observed from a distance, his dark magic forming tendrils that snaked toward Olivia. She countered with a stream of water, the two elements colliding in a hiss of steam.
"You're strong," Zeph said calmly, his voice unnervingly steady. "But you're outmatched."
Olivia frowned, her focus unwavering. "We'll see about that."
The battlefield became a cacophony of clashing elements and weapons.
Skorn created shifting terrain to trip up Keo, who responded by summoning fiery whirlwinds to clear his path.
Ren unleashed arcs of lightning, while Talos kept Valeri pinned down with precise wind blasts.
Through it all, Ren's mind raced.
This is too coordinated for mere bandits. They've been watching us, testing us. But why?
As Zeph stepped forward, his dark energy swirling ominously, Ren muttered under his breath, "They're the last act, sure, but someone's backing them—and those people?
They're not simple. This is just the tip of the iceberg."
With a surge of power, Ren sent a massive bolt of electricity into the ground, illuminating the battlefield,
his tone was sharp but calm as he addressed the team.
"Let's finish this quickly. We've got a merchant to deliver safely."