Champion of the Gods
Copyright© 2025 by QM
Chapter 24
Darras was assisting Tiruk and Amina to deal with a gang leader who was also an open follower of the Dark Lord. However, Erren believed this was just lip service to enhance his already ruthless reputation. The trio had ridden north from the township of Nulii in the kingdom of Kernush to some of the more northerly villages to hunt down the bandits who were based in the forests next to the OrcRul.
“I take it the villagers support this man, Gertul?” Darras asked Amina.
“They do, his depredations affect the traders between Nulii and Tarimen, and the kingdom does not have the necessary forces available to protect all,” Amina replied. “Apparently, he uses some of his spoils as bribes to the village headmen.”
“That and his open declaration of allegiance to the Dark Lord is a direct challenge to Erren,” Tiruk chuckled. “Especially as he is irredeemable.”
“That’s why I’m along,” Darras nodded. “Erren does not wish for your souls to be tainted by his death.”
“Hell of a protection she gave you,” Tiruk chuckled.
“It is, though I have no idea how it works,” Darras replied. “But Erren says I’m protected from the effects of killing others deemed irredeemable, and that’s good enough for me.”
“Good enough for us, too,” Amina smiled. “Normally, I’d expect you to have Firios and his team with you.”
“They’re busy down south with Klea.”
“Ah, scouting Gresh,” Amina nodded. “I take it they accept Klea now?”
“Somewhat,” Darras chuckled. “The Elven reputation for holding grudges is no joke.”
“She’s not in danger from them, surely?”
“No, they all accept Erren’s word, but it can be tense at times when old memories surface, particularly with Demala, as her youth is not tempered by maturity.”
“Does seem strange calling someone over seventy years as a youth,” Tiruk chuckled.
“It does, but judging Elves in Human terms would be a mistake,” Darras smiled.
“True, they are very different at times,” Amina nodded.
“Those are the woods,” Tiruk pointed out.
“Best find an inn,” Darras acknowledged.
“Going to hunt them down?” Amina asked.
“Information gathering,” Darras corrected. “Someone, somewhere, will know something.”
“Crannok says he’ll loosen tongues,” Tiruk confirmed.
“As will Erren,” Darras replied as they approached a village.
The trio soon had arranged rooms and were sitting down to a meal. It was obvious that some in the bar were interested in who they were and what the trio were trading. The trio openly discussed this as they acted as if they had few cares.
‘It’s working, ’ Erren said to Darras. ‘One of the patrons has left to pass on the information, I suspect you’ll be targeted tomorrow.’
“Good to know,” Darras murmured.
“We’d best be careful,” Tiruk added, having been informed by Crannok.
“We will, our gods will advise,” Darras nodded.
The trio set off just after dawn, stopping at the just-opening market to pick up provisions. It was apparent they were being observed as they left town, and Darras expected an ambush of some sort to be sprung on them as soon as they reached the woods. In this, Darras was correct, though it was amateurish in its execution, as several men sprang forth from cover and charged the trio, with nothing but bludgeons as a weapon. This turned into an utter fiasco as Darras and Tiruk charged in turn, with Amina following up, holding a knife. Darras’s strength soon had the attackers reeling, with two of them driven to the floor from agonising blows. The others, seeing their attack fail, scattered to the woods in an attempt to escape.
“What was that about?” a puzzled Amina asked. “They can’t surely be the ones we are after?”
“They aren’t, they’re just opportunists who thought they could emulate the bandit’s activities,” Darras replied.
“What do we do with them?” Tiruk asked. “Not like there’s any law enforcement around here.”
“Erren says to let them go, we’ve left them in a state they’ll not forget soon,” Darras shrugged. “Apparently, all but one are redeemable, so we can’t do much else.”
“Oh, they just thought to beat and rob us?”
“Well, the one who is irredeemable had other plans for Amina, but yes,” Darras replied.
“Typical,” Amina grimaced. “He needs to be dealt with.”
“Yes, I’ll take care of him on our way back.”
“Good!”
The trio resumed their journey, following deeper the trade trail into the woods, Darras keeping an eye out, as did Erren. Soon enough, Erren warned of approaching trouble, and Darras slid his bow out of his pack as the three sought cover. Soon, three men, all armed, came along the trail, though they looked confused as there was no sign of the trio.
“They must be close,” one of the men said.
“Or they heard us,” another replied.
‘All murderers, please deal with them, my Darras, ’ Erren requested.
“Yes, my love,” Darras murmured, loosing an arrow at the rearmost of the men before swiftly drawing another arrow, drawing it and firing it at the lead bandit. Tiruk had in the meantime drawn a sling and spun it before sending an iron bullet straight into the other bandit, though not killing him. Darras accomplished this with his knife.
“Now the hunt begins,” Darras said, cleaning his blade as Amina looted the men for anything worth taking.
“Crannok says they came from over there,” Tiruk pointed.
“Let’s go,” Darras nodded, seeing Amina had finished.
“Nothing much, just a few small gold coins,” Amina said, seeing Darras’s glance.
“Hopefully, there will be a bit more at their camp,” Darras replied.
“Hope so, the orphanage funds need a top-up,” Amina smiled.
The trio hid their packs, and then Darras began tracking the trail left by the fallen bandits. This was easy enough to follow, as the men hadn’t been expecting trouble from the trio, which led to their fatal mistake. Soon, though, Darras held up a hand to stop their progress as he detected a lookout.
“Bit amateurish,” Tiruk said quietly. “Don’t they realise their actions will bring about a response?”
“I suspect they think that the area is too remote,” Darras replied. “After all, trade with the OrcRul is generally just furs and dried meat.”
“Valuable enough in its own way, but yes, it’s not going to attract any of the main companies,” Amina agreed.
“Caused enough deaths of innocents, though, and that’s why we’re here,” Tiruk replied.
The trio lapsed into silence as Darras led the way through the woods, observed by but not interfered with by the forest folk. The trail led to a shallow valley where Darras observed a few tents and several men sitting around a campfire, drinking.
‘All irredeemable, ’ Erren confirmed. ‘A very nasty, if lazy set of characters.’
Darras waited until Tiruk made his way to the far side of the encampment and then started loosing arrows. Two of the bandits had fallen before the others reacted, three charging to where Darras was positioned, and two toward where Tiruk waited with a cudgel. It was a short, if vicious, fight as the bandits racing to Darras could not believe just how quickly Darras could draw his bow and loose an arrow. Tiruk held his attackers off until Darras finally dispatched them.
It was then that a man emerged from a tent, stretching, then pausing in disbelief, and the dead scattered over the site. He then snarled and drew a sword, only to collapse with a look of surprise on his face, an arrow protruding from his chest.
“Was that him?” Darras asked Erren.
‘Yes, well done, my love, you’ve dealt with a very nasty running sore for this area.’
Amina searched the bodies before exploring the tents, finding a large pouch of silver and gold, as well as several trade goods. The biggest surprise was discovering that the bandit leader’s sword was made of mithril, an incredibly rare and expensive item to find in this part of the world.
“Wonder where he got this from?” Tiruk mused, examining the sword, finding it uncared for, though the blade was in pristine condition.
“Possibly looted from an Elven battle,” Darras replied. “It’s not designed for Dwarves, and the Humans here couldn’t afford one.”
“Aye, true enough,” Tiruk nodded.
“Doriel, goddess of the woods, we offer these bodies to your folk to deal with as they see fit,” Darras intoned prayerfully.
Darras, Tiruk and Amina then policed the site, extinguishing the fires as a silent Woodnymph and several Fauns entered the site and dragged away the bandit bodies. They then made their way back to where they’d hidden their packs.
“One final task to do on our way home,” Darras said as he placed his bow and arrows in the hidden compartments.
“That rapist?” Amina asked.
“Yes, Erren confirms that he is irredeemable and has already forcefully had his way with several women in the surrounding villages,” Darras replied.
“Surprised he’s still alive,” Amina huffed.
“He was masked, according to Erren,” Darras explained as the trio set off. “Not sure how he intended to have his way with you, but the intent was there.”
“I’d rather have died,” Amina grimaced. “Preferably, if I could take him with me.”
“The world is a better place for you being in it, my lady,” Tiruk replied.
“Thank you,” Amina said, blushing.
The man whom Darras was targeting lived alone. This made him an easy target, and Darras felled him as he left his cottage. The arrow itself had a note wrapped around it, saying ‘rapist, your sins have found you out’. This caused some disquiet amongst the men of the village, though not their women, many of whom had suspected that the one killed was not of a pleasant manner.
The trio finally reached Nulii and stepped through the gateway into Erren’s domain, being greeted by a smiling Erren and Crannok. They then relaxed in the pools as the gods went over the mission with them.
“Serulon later?” Darras asked.
“Soon,” Erren nodded. “Apparently, my brother is a tad unhappy about the death of his follower.”
“He didn’t seem that important,” Amina shrugged.
“As far as I’m aware, he wasn’t,” Erren smiled. “But my brother does like to create a fuss over such things.”
“Too right,” Crannok chuckled. “Probably because he has so few of them.”
“Well, no doubt she’ll appreciate a decent drink when she gets here,” Darras smiled.
“That seems likely,” Erren giggled.
Serulon appeared several minutes after that, strolling across the lawn to the pools, her clothing vanishing as she stepped into the hotter part, gratefully receiving a large goblet of wine from a smiling Erren.
“Interminable?” Crannok asked.
“Very,” Serulon sighed. “He knows what scum his follower was, but he tries to get Darras condemned because it wasn’t his time!”
“Well, normally I wouldn’t have bothered,” Erren admitted. “Only I didn’t want Tiruk and Amina’s souls stained.”