Bandit Territory

Majvoc lined up the shot. He stared down the arrow shaft, focusing his attention on the point of the arrow’s head and his target. He breathed slowly, his muscles confidently holding the bowstring taught. He could feel the amount of raw power being held at bay by nothing more than his fingers grasping around the nocking point.

Then he let go.

The arrow flew through the air, snaking across the forest in an elegant dance.

But splashed and bounced off a rock.

‘Bugger,’ cursed Majvoc as he watched the fish in the river dart away downstream. Majvoc thought about heading down to fetch the arrow but he decided it was ultimately not worth the effort to retrieve a smashed arrowhead and a shattered shaft. That left him with just short of a dozen arrows. Which was a fancy way of saying ten.

He had left the motley band of heroes only a few hours ago, with every intention of returning with food. Or fed. He hadn’t quite decided which. Majvoc had mostly occupied himself with what he liked doing best, which was generally pissing about and doing little, if anything, productive. He thought it might have been easier to do that without Balar breathing down his neck.

Majvoc hopped onto a nearby rock and looked out at the dark night that loomed over the green plain. From his vantage point, he should have been able to see right across to the next town. It was a clear night, and he could count the stars with his naked eyes. But there was something thick and heavy bearing down on the plains. A shadow.

Through that thick blurry barrier, he could pick out tiny little bright spots of light. Upon the sloping hill was the little copse of trees, the trunks of which were illuminated by Balar, Tiella and Luna’s fire. Which was good, because it meant he had a way back.

But there was something else to see. And to hear because they were loud.

Coming up the hill was a row of smaller lights, like torches carried by men. Even from here, Majvoc could hear them singing. A merry tune. Well, they sang it merrily, but the lyrics of sleeping with a mayor’s daughter and then cutting her head off undermined that cheery vibe somewhat.

No doubt they were bandits, outlaws patrolling their territory for unsuspecting travellers. And the little band of travellers they were heading for were severely outnumbered by them.

Majvoc packed up his things and made off back to his companions as fast as his legs would take him. Hopefully, he would reach Balar and company before the bandits did.