Chapter 7

Darras paused at about midday to simply rest, eat a few provisions and enjoy the view over a large valley that contained the hamlet of Lethrwy. He also took the time to polish his bow skills by taking down several rabbits, expertly skinning them and preparing them for a later meal or to sell at the market in Lethrwy, carefully wrapping the pelts and meat separately.

‘They still haven’t discovered the body, ‘ Erren informed him.

“Guess he wasn’t so popular as to be noticed,” Darras said.

‘Sooner or later the gang will.’

“That’s kind of the point,” Darras chuckled.

‘Yes, your killing of Ramsden has them thwarted for the moment, though there are plenty of other corrupt merchants around, should the opportunity arise for them.’

“Can’t say I care much for this Kingdom,” Darras shrugged. “People are nice enough ... well, the honest ones.”

‘Yes, its rulers and merchants leave much to be desired, ‘ Erren agreed.

“And with that, on we go,” Darras nodded, getting to his feet.

The road wound down into the valley until it reached a rivulet and then followed that downhill to the village as it grew to a stream which was dominated by a large watermill. The inn itself was clean and tidy and Darras managed to get a reduced rate by handing over the rabbits for the pot. The main topic of conversation seemed to be about some scandal going on between a couple of nobles or rather a noble and the wife of another and there was much speculation as to when or if there would be a duel. As it was of no interest to him, he kept out of it, merely listening to see if he could pick up some information on the brigands, as he was now on the edge of their main operating area.

Darras did glean some information when a troop of militia turned up and got permission to sleep in the stables. It seemed the brigand leader had been leading the various troops and militia a merry dance and had more or less made the Saltion Forest a no-go zone for anything less than a full company of knights, even then the knights could find no traces of their base.

“I should be able to reach there tomorrow,” he murmured to Erren.

‘You’ll need to be careful. They have scouts out.’

“I will.”

Again Darras woke at dawn and swiftly left the village, though this time cutting across country, skirting the edges of various woodlands, until he reached what the locals called the ‘bastion’ high point where an ancient fort had once been. It was a good lookout point for him and he was able to view the road as it skirted the edge of Saltion Forest and he could plan an approach.

‘They found the body of the lookout late yesterday and it has them angered, ‘ Erren informed him.

“Good, angry people make mistakes,” Darras replied, wishing he had his old trusty spyglass.

‘They aren’t that angry, ‘ Erren chuckled.

“A pity, but I’m going to be working on making them very angry.”

‘That’s my Darras, ‘ a bubbling laugh of a reply came back. ‘Have you planned a route?’

“Yes. I suspect they’ll be watching any route for larger groups, not individuals, so will approach from the edge of that copse,” he pointed.

‘Mm, lot of cover for an individual.’

“Yes. From there I’ll rest and wait till dusk, when the sun will be behind me, then get into the forest itself and begin dealing with these people.”

‘Good plan.’

“Hope so. It’s relying on them not knowing the type of danger someone like me can be.”

‘Yes, though as yet they won’t know you’re coming.’

“They soon will,” Darras grimly chuckled.

Getting to the copse was easy enough, though Darras had pulled over himself a cloak Erren had handed him before leaving. The cloak obscured his outline with an odd colour scheme as well as fake plants seemingly growing from it. Nor did he hurry his approach, taking his time and ensuring he was not observed and always keeping the copse between himself and the forest. Hence it was late afternoon before he positioned himself at the edge of the trees where he could observe the forest and any activity that might be happening.

‘They are there, I can assure you, ‘ Erren said into the silence as Darras watched.

“I suspect they must be using poacher’s hides,” he replied as he relaxed and kept a constant look-out.

‘Yes, now that you mention it.’

“They seem more like an army than brigands.”

‘That’s the influence of the shadow on an already intelligent leader.’

“Hmm, I won’t be taking prisoners, Erren,” Darras warned.

‘I know, my Darras. Though they do have some captives they use as slaves.’

“Those I’ll spare, if I can.”

‘Thank you.’

Darras waited patiently until dusk arrived before ghosting through the fading light towards the forest. There was no reaction from any watchers and so he slipped into the trees and began scouting out the various trails, following them deeper within the forest, hoping to find the encampment the brigands were using. He found a place within the forest but on a route he could take when he returned where he could hide his pack and left it suitably hidden. It took a while, but eventually he ran across a group of men moving inwards and was able to cautiously follow them to a small valley where a series of tents had been set up around some lodges. From there Darras simply circled around the encampment, marking its location on a small piece of paper and trying to get a feel for where this shadow might be based.

“Over a hundred of them,” Darras mused quietly. “Not going to be easy.”

‘Might be best to attempt it if they go on a raid?’

“Yes,” he agreed. “Assuming they do.”

‘And if they don’t?’

“Start taking out sentries, stragglers etc.”

‘You don’t have enough arrows for that, ‘ Erren replied, sounding puzzled.

“They do,” Darras chuckled.

‘Ah... ‘

“Perhaps I should have stuck to my original plan and gone after all their observers and fences,” Darras mused quietly.

‘It was a good plan, but they would have become very paranoid and much more cautious, ‘ Erren replied.

“Yes, though a quick dash in is not going to work either,” Darras sighed. “I’m assuming he and it are in the central lodge.”

‘Seems likely, though I’m loathe to use my power here in case it detects me.’

“Too well-lit and guarded too ... though only the front.”

‘Interesting. There’s a lot of shade at the back there.’

“There is. I think I’ll take a look.”

Darras slipped around the campsite before sneaking past a dozing sentry and into the mass of tents that appeared to be used for storage, as there was no living soul about. The only activity appeared to be at the front of the main lodge and that was simply the sentries talking in low voices. Silently reaching the back of the lodge, Darras studied it. He saw no doors, but there was a window set high in the wall that was a possibility for entry. At this point Darras was forced to retreat into the shadows as one of the guards came around on patrol, though it was clear he was doing it by rote, not because he was suspicious of anything.

Once the guard went on his way Darras approached the lodge again and, using his agility, hoisted himself up via a low rail that appeared to have once been used by the original occupants as a tethering post of some kind. From there he was able to reach an eave and haul himself silently up to the window and gaze inside. The room appeared to be used for storage and was otherwise empty and so Darras forced the window open and slipped inside, landing awkwardly, if silently, on the floorboards.

Pulling himself to his feet, Darras listened, hearing very little except a possible low drone of a noisy sleeper somewhere else in the building. He could no longer sense Erren as she obviously did not want to alert the shadow and so he extremely cautiously opened the door to the store room which fortunately opened quietly. It led to a central area with several doors leading off it, though the most notable thing was a throne-like chair just to Darras’s left where presumably the brigand chief gave his orders from. Darras padded from room to room, most of which were mundane in aspect containing food or a kitchen range. The room the droning noise came from had several women in it as well as a cot for a child and Darras presumed these were the ones Erren didn’t want harmed.

Darras had avoided an ornately decorated doorframe, figuring that it would be the master bedroom, but now he had reconnoitred the lodge and sealed the front entrance against any sort of rush he moved to the special doorway. He paused to examine the door, seeing the hinges were both dry and rusty. He went back to the kitchen area and a swift search found a small oil pourer and he used this to coat the hinges. Darras then carefully opened the door, hearing only a slight squeak, but he hoped that, should the leader be asleep, it would not disturb him.

In this Darras was correct, though unfortunately the shadow did not sleep and left the brigand’s body to attack Darras, clearly not knowing the danger it put itself in. It soon became aware of this when Darras grabbed its throat and it realised Darras could actually see it. Darras, holding on to the struggling shadow, pulled it back through the doorway and squeezed its throat tightly as it raked its claw like limbs over his arms, desperately trying to break free. Darras, however, was far too strong for it and clearly had the advantage as his grip caused the surface ... skin of the creature to bubble, boil and peel away, until finally it became limp, disintegrated and slowly dissipated on the floor.

‘Well done, my Darras, ‘ Erren’s voice came to him.

“Just have to figure out how to get his women away,” Darras acknowledged with a nod.

‘It’s past one in the morning. I’m sure you’ll manage as all are sleeping, other than a couple of guards outside.’

“Good, now to deal with the leader.”

The brigand’s death came swiftly as the man never even awoke from Darras’s slashing of his jugular with his knife. Darras did however pocket several small leather pouches filled with precious jewels, that he presumed were intended for rewards. These he intended handing over to the women, assuming he could get them away.

There were a few muffled screams when Darras opened the door to the women’s chamber, though most just looked resigned and broken. One, however, moved to protect the sleeping child and glared defiantly at him. Darras gave her a nod of respect.

“Relax, ladies. I’m here to get you out of here,” Darras said quietly.

“But Klarch?” one of the women questioned softly.

“Is dead,” Darras replied, seeing the despair in their eyes turn into hope.

“Really?” the one guarding the sleeping infant asked.

“Really!” Darras confirmed. “Now, my goddess needs me to get you to safety.”

“You worship the Lady of Light?”

“No, she’s my boss,” Darras chuckled, making them relax.

‘Fibber, you do worship me in your heart,’ Erren laughed joyfully.

“No lying to you is there, my Erren?” Darras said with a smile.

‘No, now save these unfortunates. I believe in you.’