Chapter 8

Despite the knights not being particularly swift on foot, or indeed quiet, they made good progress, with a grizzled infantry sergeant and two troopers assisting Darras as they advanced. Although they did not have bows, all showed themselves to be experienced woodsmen and capable of spotting any movement coming towards the knights. The clearing where the brigands had gathered was deserted when Darras reached it, though he suspected they hadn’t gone too far. This was confirmed when an arrow hissed out to hit the armour of one of the knights, though it simply startled him. This gave Darras a direction to return fire and this he did with Erren’s aid, taking the bowman out at extreme range.

“Seems like we are but decoys to draw them out for you, sir Darras,” the Captain chuckled.

“Would that it were not so, Captain Flask. But life rarely treats us kindly in combat,” Darras replied.

“Agreed. I will have a few suggestions for my Commander when I return with regards to having a group in each company who can use ranged weapons,” Flask nodded.

“A good idea, light horse archer cavalry would greatly increase the offensive capabilities of the Kingdom.”

“Yes, we certainly have skilled archers as well as horsemen, though have never combined them,” he agreed.

“You’ll need a different bow, but an Elven Kingdom would no doubt sell your Kingdom some.”

“Aye, having seen yours, it does strike me as a perfect weapon for cavalry.”

‘Lot of brigands moving towards you!’ Erren warned.

“Tell your men to seek cover, we have company,” Darras warned the Captain.

“All down! Seek cover!” the hushed command moved along the ranks as the knights and infantrymen sought to hide themselves.

“A hundred at least,” Darras murmured to the Captain. “Mostly bowmen, but a few in improvised armour too.”

“If we can get them to within twenty yards of us, we can take them!” the Captain said grimly.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Darras chuckled, loosing off an arrow in the direction of the advance which missed, but let the brigands know someone was there.

A hail of arrows then hissed over the ground where the knights were crouched down, though hit no one as the brigands were as yet unsure where the knights were. In turn Darras fired back as rapidly as he was able, taking down a further two and wounding one as there was a yelled order and the brigands charged towards where he was, assuming he was alone. Darras kept up the fire as the brigands seemingly threw caution to the wind, enabling him to hit two more before a yell of “At them lads!” came from the Captain. The knights caught the brigands totally by surprise and finally got in amongst them and began the grisly business of cutting down the lightly armed archers and other fighters.

Darras took his time after that to target any brigand archers holding back in an attempt to aid their own force ... or in the case of a few, not get too close in order to escape if necessary. Though they were outnumbered, the armour of the knights and infantrymen more than made up for the difference in numbers. The bravado of the brigands turned to panic as half their numbers went down in the first few seconds, with many turning to flee and going down to a thrown spear in their back or an arrow from Darras if they had gained some distance.

“No quarter!” the Captain ordered in a yell as the now panicked brigands suddenly scattered in an attempt to get away from their implacable foe.

A few naturally made it. They were unencumbered by armour and were swiftly able to outdistance the knights and infantry. These escapees, if known, were declared outlaw by the Kingdom and hunted down for a bounty by any who could. Others simply returned to being law abiding subjects in another realm, in the hope they could rebuild a life without being noticed.

But this was a tiny minority. The ambush by Captain Flask had worked perfectly with minimal injuries to his command and no fatalities. This was followed up by a swift advance to the camp, finding it partly ransacked, though much of the brigands’s ill-gotten gains still remained. A few desolate camp followers remained, most looking used and abused by the brigands, though Darras’s offer to ensure their future welfare was accepted by the Captain and so none were harmed. The followers even showed where more of the stolen goods were hidden as Flask’s command secured the camp and rooted out any hidden brigands, most being hung on the spot after capture.

Darras, with the Captain’s permission, took enough of the spoils to ensure the camp followers had compensation for their abuse and to aid in the setting up of a new life for themselves, though this was only a fraction of the sheer volume of stored goods in and around the campsite. After saying his farewells Darras borrowed a wagon large enough for the followers and, after they climbed in, took the winding track back to the main road, keeping an eye out for any stray brigands who might hope to escape by seizing the horse.

The landlord at the inn was surprised to see Darras’s return as well as being less than enchanted at the number of refugees. However the gifting of the horse and cart cheered him somewhat as his revenue had more than tripled in the last day. Hence, with the aid of his sons, he soon had a temporary set of canvas covered shelters set up for them where at least they could avoid the worst of the weather. Darras then went to the Temple to inform the priest of his extra charges, though was assured this was of no bother and the Temple Headquarters was sending aid to assist in the repatriation of the survivors.

Darras then headed back to the inn to join in an impromptu celebration with the women and the others he had freed from bondage, spending much of the late afternoon and evening with Tinaraq the daughter of Veshily perched on his knee as the partying went on. After that, he took to his bed and slept till dawn, before slipping away into the early morning to travel back to the capital.

‘You did well, my Darras, ’ Erren spoke quietly in his mind as his pace ate up the miles to the village of Tungeld.

“Thank you, though the gift of the bow made things much easier,” Darras replied.

‘I’m glad you like it, ’ her reply came with the hint of a smile.

“Will the refugees be OK?”

‘Yes, the Kingdom may be badly ruled ... for now, but the Temple is quite efficient.’

“For now?”

‘The ideas you gave Captain Flask have taken root and in ten years or so time, the Kingdom of Rachtelin will suffer a coup and the new ruler will inherit a superb military keen to take their place in this world as a force for good.’

“A great victory for you, Erren.”

‘Not that great, simply a putting right of things, ’ Erren sighed. ‘Humans can get themselves into such messes politically and it’s always the ones at the bottom that suffer.’

“I see,” Darras nodded. “Even those brigands would have been good men, once.”

‘Most of them, not all.’

The rest of the journey to Tungeld was spent in companiable silence and other than a few fellow travellers, Darras saw no one of consequence. The tavern at Tungeld was unfortunately full, though Darras was given permission to sleep in the stable for a couple of coppers. The reason for the crowding was a convoy of wagons as well as a military escort travelling to a distant barony escorting a bride-to-be, who was apparently staying out of sight in her room.

Still, the meal was good and the ale passable as Darras found a corner to sit and contemplate life and think about ordering another helping. His revery was, however, interrupted by a demand to give up his seat for his better. A demand made by a richly dressed young man.

“And which better would this be?” Darras asked, slightly amused.

“Listen peasant. When I command, you obey!”

“Surprised you reached maturity with an attitude like that,” Darras chuckled.

“Guards! Remove this peasant from my sight!”

Two burly men stepped forward to grab Darras, only to find that he was both stronger and quicker than they were. One went down to a sharp blow to his jaw, the other collapsed when Darras kicked him in the groin.

“Anyone else want to interrupt my drinking?” Darras asked the now silent tavern.

“I will have you hung for this!” the young man almost shrieked.

“I doubt it,” Darras shrugged and sat down insolently.

“Fosloss, what are you doing?” came a very sharp voice from the doorway to the sleeping chambers.

“Simply trying to get this ... peasant to give up his seat and table so you could be seated, Rienne,” the man replied, flinching slightly.

“By threatening him?”

“He is a peasant. He must obey his betters!”

“So you insult the man as well?” the reply came. “He is clearly no peasant, you utter fool.”

“I care not.”

“Which is why you look extremely foolish. Your personal guards are dazed and the rest of this tavern see you as just another foolish noble. Now, wait outside till I resolve this ... all of you!”

“But, Rienne!”

“Out, now!”

He slunk out with his men, looking extremely angry, though it was obvious who held the real power between them and she approached, along with a female guard, to Darras’s table, who immediately stood politely in acknowledgement of her status.

“I apologise for the actions of my foolish brother, good sir,” she began the conversation.

“I paid it no real matter. No blades were drawn or blood spilled,” Darras replied politely.

“Nevertheless, you were insulted, so an apology is warranted.”

“Thank you. Do you and your guard desire to sit?”

“Yes, that is most kind of you,” she nodded. “Please join us too, sir...?”

“Tis Darras, a mercenary and agent of the goddess,” he replied and signalled to the barman to bring wine, ale and food.

“Oh dear, my brother was more than a fool then,” she sighed. “I am Lady Rienne tras Alvastros, travelling to the Barony of Coolos.”

“Escorting the bride-to-be?” Darras enquired, glancing at the guard and wondering at the anomaly of her obvious inexperience.

“Yes, a necessity. Though personally I’m more worried about the band of brigands in the forest ahead.”

“You need not worry. They were extirpated the other day,” Darras informed her.

“Really?”

“Yes, by Captain Flask and his company of knights along with a company of infantry.”

“Good news indeed! Thank you for passing this on, sir Darras.”

“I was there when they returned. They even saved hostages who will be looked after by the Temple.”

“Praise the goddess,” Rienne’s guard whispered quietly.

“Indeed,” Darras nodded, his suspicions firming that the guard was most likely the bride-to-be.

‘You are right, my Darras, however be polite, ’ Erren chuckled.

At this point their repast arrived, the two women getting cups of wine, Darras a beer. The stew arrived shortly after along with the usual cob of bread and hunk of cheese.

“If you intend to disguise yourself as a guard, you need to at least eat like one,” Darras murmured as the guard appeared lost when seeing the food.

“Ah, you noticed,” Rienne chuckled.

“No callouses on her hands and no watchful stare,” Darras pointed out. “Though admittedly less chance of being molested, unlike a servant or maid.”

“How ... how should I approach this...?” the guard asked.

“Tear a chunk off the cob, use your blade if it’s too hard,” Darras explained. “Dip it in the stew to soften it and use the spoon to ladle any extra onto it and eat. You won’t get it all in one mouthful so don’t worry about man-sized bites,” Darras demonstrated.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure, though I doubt the disguise is necessary now that the brigands are dealt with.”

“To be honest, it’s quite liberating,” she admitted with a shy smile. “I am Liliba tras Ordetos, the youngest of Earl Ordetas’s children.”

“Darras Blain, servant of the goddess, Erren.”

“Not a priest though?” Rienne queried.