by Justin Wayne
***
“What the devil was that!?” Thom bellowed from the ground after falling off Jiff in surprise. “It was like Hell itself had been unleashed.”
Outsider heaved the hobbit back onto the horse and sped off into a gallop. “A special concoction I made that as you saw is extremely volatile.”
Thom’s eyebrow raised in an arc. “What’s in it?”
Outsider laughed and shook his head. “You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to tell you. You would use the knowledge to blow your way out of prison.”
The thief laughed in spite of himself and smiled deviously. “Well. Maybe a little.”
Outsider sped Jiff on to separate themselves from the destruction before anyone came to inspect what had transpired. After all, it was still in view from Rusk’s highest towers. And though he was sure the fires would be extinguished by the weather and much of the ground was too wet to burn, the smoke was already rather high now and coiled off into the sky like a titanic black serpent.
They left the scene quickly; content the orcs were dealt with, but ready to move on. It was only a day’s ride to Journ where he could stock up on supplies before heading out for a tenday to Cain Sander, keen to receive his pay and be rid of the thief before the little one could wile some way out of capture. He had been a bounty hunter long enough to know better than underestimating someone. Especially by size.
This one is going to give me trouble. I just know it.