When the call had come in this morning, Ashlynn had been frantic about pulling every available person out and sending them to the settlement. Estole was now operating under a skeletal crew. She had even called in several retired guardsmen to fill in the holes, which they had been happy to do, fortunately. Broden did not think they had left enough men behind to deal with Estole’s usual problems, so he spent most of the boat ride over sending a prayer toward the heavens that for once, Estole would have a peaceful day.
“Where be she?” Broden asked, already moving forward.
“Follow the main road all the way down,” Ash directed. “She’s in that huge hickory tree.”
Broden followed his instructions precisely and even though he roughly knew where his daughter was, he still could barely detect her up in the tree. Actually, he saw the young guardsman, Thorne, first. “Ho, ye two,” he called up softly.
“Da, come up.”
At this invitation, Broden grabbed a branch and hauled himself up until he was a good twenty feet off the ground. There he found Thorne and Riana, both perched on the same branch. As that did not leave any room for him, he went to the next one over, sitting down comfortably. “What do ye see?”
Riana pointed a finger straight ahead. He craned his neck, strained his eyes, and saw what his daughter was watching. “Ho now. I do no’ like the look of that.”
“Me either,” she agreed grimly. “Da. I be counting a good forty men over there. And there be more on the east side. What be the odds that the Grey Wolves would send their whole gang here?”
“And leave their territory defenseless?” He scratched at his chin before shaking his head slowly back and forth. “Daughter, I doubt that. But I know they be no’ this big before we left.”
“Nowhere near,” she confirmed. “So one of two things happened.”
“Either they grew a lot in the past three months, or…” Broden hated saying the words out loud, but they had to be said, “we be facing two bandit gangs.”
“Da,” Riana said mildly, “I did no’ want to hear that.”
“Sorry,” he sighed. “I did no’ want to say it.”
She shifted but the branch was sturdy enough that it did not even sway. “I could no’ get a headcount of the other bunch,” she admitted sourly. “They be far enough out I barely could see them at all.”
That meant she had no idea how many they were really up against. “We brought thirty men with us.”
“Thirty guardsmen, two wizards and two archers,” she summed up. “Da, ye think we can fight them off with that?”
“They fought off a small army afore this,” he reminded her. “I do no’ give even two bandit gangs good odds.”
Thorne grinned at them. “Besides, having the two of you tips the balance in our favor.”
“Ah, listen to the lad,” Broden drawled with a wink at her, “he makes an old man blush, he does.”
Thorne was one of the ones he helped train and he grinned at his mentor. “I’ve been practicing religiously, sir. Can I fight alongside you?”
“It would be an honor, lad.” Broden would prefer that, actually. The boy had skills but no experience and he would like to watch Thorne’s back until he was a little less green. “For now, stay up here. Daughter, we need to speak with Ashlynn and make a plan.”
“I’ll keep an eagle eye on them,” Thorne promised them both.
Riana was reluctant to turn her back on an unpredictable enemy but she followed her father down the tree with the trust that Thorne would be true to his word. Ashlynn and Ash were standing not far away, just on the edge of the finished road, both of them with some sort of magical lens up to their eyes. Broden had seen the lass use it a time or three before and knew it to be like a spyglass. Only better, according to her.
Ashlynn came up to his side and lifted the lens to his eye. “What do you see?”
Broden took a long, hard look, taking her wrist and directing her so that he could pan the woods. With all of the trees and shrubbery in the way, it was hard to make out details, but he saw enough to make him want to swear. “Trouble, lass. Daughter, turns out it be the latter option. We do no’ have one gang out there, but two.”
Riana did not break out in swearing or cry, but he could tell she was tempted to do both. “Ye see enough to make it out?”
“They got Tree out there.”
“Tree?” the twins repeated, not following.
“Man belonging to the Crimson Tides,” Riana explained. “He be unusually tall. They call him Tree.”
“Canno’ mistake him for anyone else, the man be a giant.” Broden panned the area again, trying to gain more information, but it truly was hard to catch anything solid except what he was catching through glimpses. “But if Tree be here, then we got two gangs to contend with.”
“How big is each gang?” Ashlynn asked in worry.
“Well, now, they both be about the same size. Eighty or so in each, I be reckoning. But they will no’ have sent every soul here. Can no’ afford to, what with needing to protect their own territories.” Broden finally lowered her arm. “Thank ye, lass. I be reckoning mayhap about forty from each?”
“They can no’ send more than half of their force,” Riana agreed. “No’ without risking losing their territories altogether.”
“So we have roughly eighty men out there.” Ashlynn frowned into the woods. “Eighty men who are skilled at fighting in the woods and ambushing.”
“That be the size of it,” Broden agreed heavily. “Even with the force we have, it be no’ good odds. This will be quite the fight.”
“Will they put up a fight?” Ash sounded skeptical. “I mean, that first attack, only about ten actually stood their ground.”
“If they brought this many with them, and partnered up with another gang to boot, they will fight, lad.” Broden blew out a breath and drew in the courage he needed to once again face the same old enemies that had haunted his footsteps for so many years. “I do no’ like the fact that the past be following us here.”
“Me neither,” Riana grumbled. “Da? Can we lure them in some? Yer guardsmen do no’ have experience fighting in the woods. They be at a disadvantage.”
Yes, and that disadvantage would get them killed. Fighting in forests was entirely different than fighting in a city, which was what they were used to. Broden had learned the hard way what those differences were and he had had help from Ashlynn with that learning curve. “We need to think of a way. We can no’ afford to lose even one soul here.”
“Truth,” Ashlynn agreed, nibbling at the edge of her thumb. “Can we evacuate the people? It’ll be two-fold, getting them safely out of the way and making it more tempting to the bandits.”
“We’ll have to be careful how we do that, if we choose to,” Ash cautioned. “I swear to you that they’re just keeping an eye on the settlement for now and watching our patterns before deciding how to approach. If we do anything major, then it’s going to upset the status quo we’ve got right now.”
“Removing the people will no’ go over well,” Broden disagreed. “They like to take people for ransom.”
“Is that possibly why they’re waiting?” Ash looked disturbed by this idea. “They’re picking their targets?”
“Aye, belike that be part of it.” Broden knew from experience who they would choose, too. Children first, as they were the easiest to control, women second, and then anyone that came along as the last choice. If those louts figured out that they had high-ranking officials in the camp, they would head directly for them. Fortunately, neither Ash nor Ashlynn ever wore anything eye-catching. Especially these days, while they were doing rough-and-ready work, they chose tough and plain clothing. If they had actually looked like wizards, the bandits would already be on them.
Broden moved in a slow circle, looking around him at all angles. There were only a few buildings that had real walls up, and of those, only one had a roof on it. Considering its size and layout—that had to be the inn. “Ash. Can ye f
it everyone into that building yonder?”
“If we don’t include some of the builders, I think so. They’ve been adamant about fighting with us to get rid of the bandits anyway, there’s no way they’d agree to hiding out. Why?”
“I think ye should put all of the people ye can into the building, set up a ward to protect them. Then mayhap an ‘official’ should come over.”
Riana caught onto the plan in a flat second and let out a whistle of admiration. “Smart, Da. Dress someone up fancy-like, have them come in and put on airs, the bandits be thinking finally they have someone worth ransoming. It might bring them rushing in.”
“Exactly so.”
“And then when they do come in, create a kill-box and trap them inside?” Ashlynn shared a speaking look with her brother. “It’s better than being reactive to whatever plans they have. Who can we dress up?”
“Someone that’s a good fighter. Someone that you can spare.”
“I brought every good fighter that I could spare with me,” Ashlynn responded with considerable asperity. “Unless you want me to play the part.”
“Already seen yer face,” Broden disagreed. “They like as no’ have spyglasses aimed at us even now. We need someone else.”
“Marissa? Amber?” Ash suggested. “Have them borrow one of your fancier dresses before coming over here.”
“If that’s the case, it’ll have to be Amber. Marissa and I are different sizes.” Casting about, she looked around before asking, “Once we draw them in, then what? Attack?”
“Bandits do no’ have strategy aside from ambushing,” Broden observed. “Trying to think of one to combat them be pointless. Hide some men to ambush them without being obvious about it. Use what walls that are up to yer best advantage.”
“We’ve been acting like nothing’s really wrong all day, just going around building.” Ash canted his head toward the guardsmen that were still waiting at the docks. “If we act like they’re just here to help us build, we can slip them in without raising any real alarms.”
Broden was not as sure about that, but it was worth a try anyway. “Then call Amber. It be early in the day yet and if we can get them to attack now, so much the better.”
“Go back to building,” Ashlynn ordered her brother, “and spread the word for everyone to go to the inn for lunch as naturally as possible. I’ll have a ward set up and ready to go by that time.”
“Right.” Ash moved off, Riana like a second shadow.
Broden followed Ashlynn into the inn, where she paused and made the call to Amber, explaining the plan and what the other woman needed to do. Amber, bless the woman, readily agreed and promised she would be there within the hour.
When that call ended, Ashlynn went to every door and corner of the inn, laying down the groundwork for the ward. Broden kept track of her by ear as she went about but chose instead to duck into the kitchen and get an early lunch. A man did not fight on an empty stomach if he had any choice about it.
Nicole Sadler greeted him with a worried frown. “Master Broden, how are things outside?”
Grim. He did not say that aloud but put on a smile for her. “Ah, lass, do no’ ye worry about it. We have seen far worse than this. If ye can, spare a man a plate of food. Make up one for yon lass as well. We will no’ be able to join ye all for lunch.”
“Of course,” she assured him, already reaching for one of the wrapped sandwiches. “I have apples too, if you want me to slice you up some?”
“Bless ye, that sounds fine.” Broden leaned his back up against the counter and ate steadily as food was passed to him. He gave the cooks praises, which they appreciated, but he could tell that they knew it was a bad situation.
Ashlynn came in while he was eating on the apple. He passed a sandwich to her without a word and she sensibly started eating without an argument. “I’ve prepared a ward to go up around this building,” she informed the women in between bites. “If something does happen, run here and either I or my brother will activate the ward.”
Violet put a hand to her heart as she breathed out in relief, “Thank you for that. Are we expecting an attack soon?”
“We’re going to try to trigger an attack soon,” Ashlynn corrected. “It’ll give us the advantage. So for lunch, there’s going to be a lot of people stuck in here for a while.”
The women exchanged worried looks but nodded in understanding.
Ashlynn polished off the last of her sandwich. “It’s been close to an hour. Let’s go to the docks. I bet Amber will arrive soon.”
Broden fell into step with her as they walked that direction. Keeping his voice down to a confidential level, he admitted to Ashlynn, “There be a chance that they will no’ take the bait. What do we do then, lass?”
“Figure out something else. We know they’re going to attack; sooner or later they’re going to lose patience and rush in, so all we have to do is stay vigilant and wait for them.” Ashlynn spoiled this confident reply by adding, “I just hope that they do take the bait. We’re going to be put at a disadvantage otherwise. Reaction is always harder in battle than action.”
That was truth. Broden prayed their scheme would work.
Chapter Five
Amber arrived with much fanfare, dressed fashionably and with her hair done up, which set more than one guardsman and miner’s head to turning. Her brother was acting as her bodyguard and he gave very murderous glares to anyone that stared for more than three seconds.
No one expected the bandits to move the very second she arrived. After all, they needed time to realize she was there and then more time to decide what to do about it. But when an hour dragged by and nothing happened, Riana lost all patience and went toward the tree Thorne was in.
He saw her approach and leaned forward, belly to bark, to whisper loudly to her, “No movement.”
She stared up at him incredulously. “At all?”
“At all. Cook fire is still going strong. I think they’re actually making lunch over there.”
Now didn’t that beat all. Throwing up her hands, she stomped back toward the inn, where everyone was sitting on the front porch.
“No one be coming,” her father guessed, just off the stormy expression on her face.
“Aye.” Riana almost snarled the word. Bad enough that they had bandits sitting on their doorstep, but now they weren’t cooperating at all.
Amber pointed a finger at herself. “I thought I was good bait. I mean, Bria did my hair and everything.”
“You’re wonderful bait,” her brother assured her, soothing a hand along her back. “Beautiful. They’re just idiots.”
Ashlynn groaned, thoroughly disgusted. “Sitting here any longer isn’t going to do us any good. We’ll have to think of something else.”
“Something we have no’ tried afore.” Broden frowned at the ground.
Captain Bragdon quirked a brow at him. “You’ve done this before?”
“Something akin to it, aye.” Broden shrugged, palms splayed. “No’ with these gangs. But someone over there recognized it as the trap it be.”
“Smarter than we gave them credit for.” Bragdon stood, offering his sister a hand up, which she needed. She apparently didn’t have much experience in dealing with long hems. “If we’re not going to do any good here, we’ll go back. Sheriff, rest assured, we have Estole well in hand until this situation is resolved.”
Ashlynn stopped worrying at the tip of her thumb long enough to give them a brief smile. “I’m not worried with you in charge. Update Edvard for me when you get back, will you?”
“Of course.” The Bragdon siblings strode off for the docks without a glance back.
Ash drummed out a rhythm with his fingers on his right knee. “I really thought this would work.”
“We all did,” Ashlynn grumped.
“Broden,” Ash waited until the other man looked at him before continuing, “what other tactics have you used before? That consistently work?”
“Ambushes work fair agains
t them, if ye can get the drop on them. No’ that we can do that here.” Broden frowned as he tried to recall everything he’d done in the past. “Flushing them out works fine most of the time. Starving them out works even better. That tactic works like a charm.”
“Starving them out,” Ash repeated slowly, turning considering eyes onto the forest. “We can’t starve them out there, can we?”
“Too much game to be had,” Riana said. “And wild roots and onions. The diet may be a limited one, but they can fill their bellies.”
“How much spring water be over here?” Broden asked her. “They can no’ drink from the channel, after all.”
Because it was salt water, right. “There be two within throwing distance of here.” Riana pointed in their general directions. “Next one out be much further, several marks inland. And hard to find.”
Ashlynn followed her pointing with fingers of her own. “Isn’t that the two directions where the bandits are making camp?”
“Aye.” Riana considered that for a moment. They’d made camps near the only sources of fresh water, which only made sense, that’s what a sensible person did. Aside from those areas, they’d have to walk a long distance to reach anything else. “Can we block them from using the springs?”
“If we put up a ward around each of them…yes.” Ash gave an unholy grin, sitting on the edge of his chair as if he were ready to get up and do it right now. “Maybe we can’t starve them out with food, but we can do it with water.”
“Hold up now, lad,” Broden cautioned. “Ye be talking about getting mighty close to these camps and then doing some timely spellwork.”
“You and Riana are used to sneaking around their camps,” Ash said confidently, not a trace of doubt in his voice.
“Aye, lad, well….”
“And we don’t have to be smack on top of the springs to pull this off.”
His twin looked at him in surprise and queried doubtfully, “We don’t?”
“Riana and I figured this out the first day we were marking things out,” Ash explained to her quickly. “I put the mark on her arrows, she fires where it needs to go, and then when the last arrow is in place, we set up the ward just like normal.”
Arrows of Promise (Kingmakers Book 2) Page 4