With the full moon high the stars lit the way through the woods for the four Imperial personnel. The horses began to struggle on the uneven path and the coldness had got worse as their altitude rose. The mountains came closer at every step. The group continued quietly tiring from the increasing steepness as Michael’s thoughts turned to Atriop.
‘Captain, what exactly are we to expect when we reach Atriop, you haven’t spoke of it’?
‘Well sergeant, I have little information. An order from the Elders chambers was given to me to inspect the town, and make sure everything is in order’
Michaels was bemused.
‘I don’t understand, what could possibly be wrong? I know the town is far from Imperial authority in these lands but….’ he paused ‘Hmmm seems very strange to me Captain if you don’t mind me saying’
‘Of course I don’t mind Michaels, but orders are orders, I’m sure whatever it is we will resolve it tomorrow’.
They continued on up the path. The trees on either side were full of strange noises of wild animals and Bryant wanted to get as far as possible under cover of darkness. Goldric who was scouting ahead could be heard galloping back to the group, he looked alarmed:
‘Captain there are people on the roads, A large group, some on horses – and their well armed’
‘Damn – did they see you soldier?’
‘I don’t think so sir’
Bryant ordered everyone to the trees; the horses struggled to fit into the thick branches that stood like walls on either side of the road.
They found a spot where they could observe the road
‘Listen to me’ Bryant whispered. ‘Grab you’re sword and be ready for anything, but stay quiet, we cannot take on a large group’
The 3 soldiers grabbed their swords; Marsha crouched down in the bushes silently behind them, worry on her face. From the track the sound of people moving could be heard, a very large group. Some had flame torches as they continued down the track getting closer at every step. He could see they all were well armed, with shields, maces’ and some with swords. He held his horse so it would not expose them and sword in the other hand.
‘Look like rebels sir’ Michaels whispered.
‘Quiet’ the Captain replied.
The large groups were now passing the trees where the imperial guard lay hid. They were definitely rebels he thought; they wore animal furs and had long beards with long matted hair. They were experts in these cold conditions, as they had lived in the mountainous woods for many years. They spoke no words, their only sounds were the odd cough and their boots scrunching on the gravel. As they passed and Bryant had to admit to himself they looked like a very functional group of warriors, something he would report back to the Elders.
Once the rebels had passed they could breathe a sigh of relief. Bryant slowly stepped back into the path and looked down to where the rebels had gone just seeing the flame torches bobbing down the path.
‘I wander where they are headed sir’
Bryant continued to look down the hill towards the soldiers.
‘Yes Michaels, they are a mystery. I have never been so close to them before. They could be headed anywhere on these hills as don’t forget, this is their land’
Goldric stepped from the trees as well and joined the two closely followed by Marsha.
‘What a scary bunch’ she said.
Bryant Chuckled ‘yes Marsha, they are’
‘Ok people; let’s get back onto the path for a little while longer than we can settle for the night’
Bryant looked into the sky and estimated the time by the stars.
‘Goldric you go ahead as usual and we will follow behind, be more alert everybody there could be more of them’
Marsha looked uncomfortable
‘I hope not Bryant’
‘Marsha… I hope not as well’
Folk night at The Templar’s inn was always lively, and tonight was no exception. People from all over the slums would pack into this small wooden building to dance, flirt and most importantly – to drink. A number of fights had broken out and the guards had removed around 4 patrons to the loud joy of all inside. The band played upbeat music whilst many patrons together to the beat of the drum, only pausing to drink large glugs of ale - most of it pouring over their clothes. Folk night was one of the only times these people had the chance to forget about slum life in an overindulgent haze of ale and music. In one corner amongst the chaos sat four men fixed in concentration as they held six cards each. Money sat piled high in the centre amongst jugs of ale. Only two men would take this money and Lorgan was intent on one of them being him. His friend and travel companion Hoyt sat next to him, his dark skin a novelty in the inn. They had travelled from slum inn to slum inn for some time hustling themselves some gold. Hoyt leaned towards Lorgan.
‘Lorgan, lets lay our cards, these ones are good’
From across the table the exceptionally large, and exceptionally unattractive ‘Flogger’ (as he was known) eyed them with suspicion, as his much smaller sidekick sat next to him necking his ale.
‘Alright let’s do it’
They leaned back into their chairs looking confidently into Flogger’s blood shot eyes.
‘OK Flogger, are you ready to lay?’
‘Ha! Lorgan, I aint lost in four years, and have never lost to a swine like you. Lay your cards and lets get this over with’
Lorgan said nothing, and him and Hoyt laid their cards on the table simultaneously. Flogger and his sidekick did the same. No-one said a thing as they all inspected each other’s cards. Flogger’s face turned from calm concentration to shock, realization of Lorgan’s victory swept over the Large unattractive man, his face reddened even more than normal.
‘ARRRGGHHHHH!!!!’
His huge hairy fists pounded the wooden table with fury, scattering the coins to the sticky floor.
‘Hey Hey, youre knocking my money in the air!’
Lorgan exclaimed with a large triumphant smile across his lips. He wrapped his arm around Hoyt and kissed him on the cheek
‘Steady there Lorgan, lets pick the money up first and get the hell out of here’
Flogger’s face was contorted in fury, as he grabbed his sidekick by the scruff of his neck flinging him to the floor.
‘Im da best player in the slums. How did you beat me Lorgan!?’
Lorgan casually picked his gold coins from the floor, and the table putting them into his inside pocket wrapping himself tightly in his dark cloak. His smug grin stayed on his face.
‘Ah Flogger, I’ve used my lucky cards. In fact Flogger, I think you’ve lost your touch ha-ha!’
At that Flogger swept his arm across the table knocking the jugs off the table ale splattered to the ground, some covering Flogger’s petrified sidekick as he tried to stand. Hoyt and Lorgan stepped back from the scene clearly in a hurry to depart. Flogger calmed and sat down in the struggling chair, his hands over his face.
‘Well Flogger, it was fun doing business with you. Common Hoyte lets spend our winnings’
‘The misses will gut me!’ Flogger said from under his hands.
The men turned to walk off into the rabble of the bar but as they did so Flogger’s floor bound sidekick started pointing furiously at the pair
‘Flogger! Flogger! ’
Lorgan turned, and realized in horror that some cards had fallen from his sleeves. He was normally so careful. Lorgan and Hoyt looked at one another. Hoyt pointed his finger at Lorgan, clearly not happy.
‘I bloody told you this would happen’
‘Hoyt, lets discuss this later, we need to get out of here’
Flogger stood with such force he knocked the chair over backwards
‘YOU CHEATING BASTARD’
Flogger cracked his knuckles, and stretched the muscles in his neck, the bones cracking under the force – a sign they were in big trouble.
‘Lorgan, I will make you regret you’re slut of a mother brought you into this world’
Flogger was a massive man, and was renowned in the slums for his right hook, which Lorgan was well aware of. Flogger kicked the table over and began to storm towards the pair, his arms raised ready to swing. Thinking quickly they began to flee. He and Hoyt attempted to barge through the crowds as quickly as possible. Flogger hot on their tales used his strength to barge the crowds out of the way. People fell to the ground, and a scene began to unfurl. He was gaining quickly on the cheaters; his face contorted with fury
‘LORGAN IM GOING TO TEAR YOURE PRETTY BOY LITTLE HEAD OFF, NOBODY CHEATS ME!’
The door was now only feet away, but people who stood everywhere tankards in their hands blocked Lorgan and Hoyt from escape. Lorgan knew a serious injury, or several was about to become very likely – he had to do something!
To Lorgan and Hoyt’s massive relief eight imperial guard burst into the Templar’s inn, struggling to get through the door swords raised. The musicians stopped playing, and the inn silenced.
‘What is going on in here?’ the sergeant of the group demanded.
Flogger calmed and turned to face the guardsmen who assembled at the door battle ready.
‘Nothing at all sir, why don’t you and you’re little buddies leave this inn. Our business is not yours’ followed by a toothless grin.
‘Do not tell me what to do; I am a sergeant of the guard. I will ask you one more time, what is going on here?’
Lorgan piped in
‘Hello Sergeant, good to see you this evening. My name is Lorgan and this is my associate Hoyt. I and this large gentleman were just having a friendly discussion about military tactics, and we were giving the inn a demonstration. Barmen pour these men some ale’
The men behind the sergeant looked up in glee. But their sergeant was having none of it.
‘It did not look like a friendly discussion as we were walking past’
He that started pointing his finger at the trio.
‘I am sick and tired of having to come to this dive to sort trouble out, and frankly I’m not interested in what you have to say’
One of the guards behind the leader of the pack grabbed ale and started drinking. The sergeant turned to his junior.
‘Put that Ale down now!’
He grudgingly put it back on the bar, pulling a comical face when the sergeant wasn’t looking.
‘And Flogger you’re always at the centre of the chaos aren’t you. Guards arrest this man’
Hoyt and Lorgan looked at one another and smiled, but there relief didn’t last.
‘Arrest these two as well. They can show their ‘military tactics’ to the jailors’.
