Caravan to Kittikin

by Brian S. Pratt

  Reneeke reveled in the wind on his face. It took them twenty minutes to reach where the road entered the hills. By then, the sun had reached the horizon.

  “We won’t have long,” Rojer said. “We go a league or two farther and see if there are signs of bandits.”

  “What signs are we looking for?”

  Rojer shrugged. “Keep an eye to the top of the hills in the distance; see if anyone is watching us, that sort of thing.” A quarter league in, he pulled up and dismounted next to a pile of horse manure. Using a stick he poked at it and broke some apart.

  “Day’s old.” He glanced to Reneeke, “Nothing to worry about.”

  “Wagon tracks, too,” Reneeke said, indicating the twin, parallel tracks running to either side of the droppings.

  “Good eye,” Rojer praised. “If you look, there are five different sets of tracks.”

  Reneeke dismounted and looked at the hoof prints in the dirt. “Heading to Reakla I’m thinking.”

  “That’s what I was figuring.” Rojer swung back in the saddle. “We still have a ways to go and the light is fading fast.”

  Mounting, Reneeke followed him deeper into the hills.

  “How long will they be gone?”

  Midden glanced to Jaikus. “Be back after dark.”

  Larko saw the worry in his eyes. “Don’t worry for your friend. It’s rare for bandits to be so far out of the mountains.”

  “But not unheard of,” Somak added.

  “No,” Larko agreed. “That’s true.”

  Dinner was served and while Jaikus ate, he kept watch on the road. As the light faded, his worry for Reneeke grew.

  Coming to a where the road curved out of sight around the next hill, Reneeke happened to glance down an arroyo and saw a dark object off among the trees.

  “Look there,” he hollered, coming to a halt

  Rojer turned about and joined him. “What do you see?”

  “Not sure.”

  Moving along the arroyo, they discovered the object to be an abandoned wagon. Its planks showed signs of extensive charring. The buckboard was broken and the left wheel was shattered.

  “Do you think bandits?”

  “Undoubtedly,” Rojer replied. “But the question is, did this happen recently or not.”

  “If it had happened to the caravan that had just passed through here,” Reneeke said, “wouldn’t Master Tuppin have heard about it before we left Reakla?”

  “So I would assume.” Rojer glanced around the area and then directed his attention to the more distant hilltops. The fact that no smoke rose from a campfire didn’t necessarily mean that there were no bandits in the area. It could also mean that they were careful.

  “Do all caravans stop at the lake like we did?”

  “I think so,” Rojer replied. “Why?”

  “Then it would stand to reason the bandits would be aware of that fact as well. And, if they are aware of that, wouldn’t they keep someone posted to watch for campfires at the lake?” he turned to Rojer. “To know when to set an ambush for the next day or the day after?”

  “If they are active in the area, then I could see your point.”

  Reneeke glanced at the neighboring hills. “Where do you suppose would be a good spot to keep an eye on the lake?”

  “Any number of these hills,” Rojer said.

  “Not necessarily.” He spied one that was a bit higher than the rest and had easy access to the road. “My granther used to say that a person will work just hard enough to accomplish their task and little more. So I think it unlikely that a bandit set to watch the lake would travel very far or through unfriendly terrain.” He pointed to the hill. “Let’s try there.”

  “Okay, but we’ll need to head back afterward. Night’s almost upon us.”

  They headed to the hill and after leaving the road, came across a narrow trail leading to the top. Along it was a fresh pile of horse dung.

  “I don’t believe it,” Rojer said, looking to a grinning Reneeke. He then glanced up toward Hermit’s Pass.

  “My granther knew a thing or two.”

  “That he did.” Rojer glanced up to the top of the hill. “We better check this out.”

  Taking the lead, he made his way up the narrow trail as it wound to the top. They did not find anyone at the top of the hill, but they did find a commanding view of the road coming up through the hills. Off in the distance by the lake, the campfires of Master Tuppin’s caravan were clearly visible.

  “We better return and inform the others.”

  Reneeke nodded.

  Jaikus was in the midst of doing drills with Larko when the sound of approaching horses announced the return of Reneeke and Rojer.

  “They’re back!” Jaikus hollered, he tried to break off from Larko and got a bruise on his right shoulder in return. “Ow!” he complained.

  “We aren’t through yet,” Larko said.

  “But…,”

  “Again.”

  Jaikus paused just a moment too long in deciding whether to continue with the drill of break off and go to Reneeke. His decision was made for him when Larko’s Waster launched into an attack. He parried it to the side at the last minute.

  Another slash came aimed at his head and he managed to deflect it but the back-handed slice took him across the ribs. The blow knocked him backward.

  “You don’t ever…” hack-hack-slash-connect with thigh… “break off in the middle…” thrust-slash-slice-slice-stabbed shoulder... “of training!” He then launched into a series of lightning flash attacks that Jaikus was ill-prepared to counter. Pain flared in no less than six places throughout his body, the last being on his backside when Larko sent him face first into the ground. “Do you understand?”

  Jaikus flipped onto his back and waved his Waster around as if to ward of further attacks. When none materialized, he stopped.

  Reneeke rode up just as Larko asked again, “Do you understand?”

  Eyes flicked to Reneeke first then back to the teamster. “Yes.”

  “Okay then.” Extending a hand, Larko helped him to his feet.

  “Did I miss something?” Reneeke asked.

  “No,” Jaikus replied.

  “Just improving his swordsmanship is all,” Larko said.

  Master Tuppin came up and asked, “Did you see anything?”

  Rojer nodded. He then explained about the charred wagon, the horse dung on the trail and the hilltop overlooking their camp.

  “Sounds like things could get interesting,” Somak said.

  Turning to the two Guild members, Master Tuppin said, “Looks like you may get to see some action.”

  Jaikus grinned and turned to Reneeke. “Yeah!” he said enthusiastically. Reneeke just nodded.

  “Rojer, set a watch,” Master Tuppin said. “The rest of you turn in. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  Chapter 6

  They got an early start; on the road before the sun even rose.

  Rojer rode point while Somak rode in the middle between Peter’s wagon and Larko’s. Jaikus rode with Peter in the second wagon and Reneeke was again with Larko. Midden brought up the rear.

  Conversation was subdued as each kept an eye on the hills ahead and to the sides for any sign of an impending attack. After what Rojer and Reneeke discovered, they were on edge. Even Jaikus refrained from regaling Peter with tales of his exploits.

  The caravan rolled slowly into the hills. Rojer would advance sometimes up to a league before returning. Each time he vanished from view to check out the road ahead, they would worry for his return. But he always returned.

  Coming back from a prolonged scout, he found the caravan stopped and the horses being watered. “I’m not seeing any sign that there is an impending attack.”

  “We won’t until there is one,” Master Tuppin said.

  “Could be they saw our numbers and decided against an attack,” Somak said.

  “I wouldn’t trust to that,” Midden said. “They’re out there, and they mean
to take our goods.”

  Jaikus was both worried and excited. He was ready to test his mettle and in the process garner some fame. Reneeke on the other hand would happily forego acquiring fame in lieu of safe passage.

  “We should be at the base of the mountains come sundown,” Master Tuppin told the Guild members.

  “Then four days to the other side of Hermit’s Pass,” Midden added. “If we can make it that far, we’ll be fine.”

  Reneeke nodded and hoped that would be what happened.

  Once the horses were watered, they resumed their trek through the hills.

  Midday came and went; rations were eaten while the wagons rolled.

  They reached a fork in the road come early afternoon. Branching off to the west, it quickly disappeared into the hills.

  “Fort Spindlewynne lies up there,” Larko told Reneeke. “Years ago, its soldiers patrolled the Pass and kept it clear of brigands. Now, it lies abandoned and locked from what I understand.”

  “Why did they abandon it?”

  Larko shrugged. “I think it had something to do with politics and the fact that the ownership has been in dispute for centuries. But that might be rumor. For all we know, a banshee could have set up residence there and they were forced to leave.”

  Reneeke laughed. “I doubt that.”

  “So do I.”

  Rolling past the fork, Reneeke stood on the bench and tried to catch sight of the old fort but the hills blocked his view.

  About that time, Rojer came riding back fast.

  “Tracks less than half a league ahead,” he announced.

  Master Tuppin reined in his team and brought his wagon to a halt.

  “How many?”

  “At least four.”

  “Still might not mean an attack,” Master Tuppin said.

  Rojer looked doubtful. “We should still proceed as if there will be.”

  Master Tuppin gazed to the road ahead, saw how it wound between two hills and quickly curved and disappeared behind the one on the right. “Agreed. Stay close.”

  “Right.”

  With a flick of the reins, the wagon started moving.

  “What’s going on?” they heard Jaikus ask.

  “Just keep an eye out,” Peter told him. “We’ll be attacked by dusk.”

  The young Adventurer turned a quizzical look upon him. “How can you know?”

  “You been on the road as much as I have and you learn to trust your gut. My gut says that before the sun sets, we will be attacked.”

  Jaikus took hold of his sword hilt. “Does your gut say if anyone dies?”

  “It says I won’t.”

  “What about me?”

  He eyed the young guildsman. “Sorry, kid.”

  “What?” he exclaimed.

  Peter chuckled. “Just kidding. My gut doesn’t say anything about you either way.”

  Jaikus flashed him an annoyed look and then turned his gaze to the hills and road ahead.

  Trees dotted the hills and the brush was overgrown. If men were hiding up there, they would never know it until it was too late.

  They trundled along the road as the hills rose taller around them. Coming to a bridge spanning a small river, Master Tuppin slowed.

  “Rojer, scout ahead.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied.

  Nudging his horse into motion, he crossed the bridge and galloped down the road. After checking the far side of the bridge and another half a league, he returned with an all clear.

  Master Tuppin crossed the bridge.

  “My gut’s getting bad,” Peter said.

  “You aren’t messing with me again,” Jaikus asked, “are you?”

  He shook his head. “No. Something’s in the air.”

  Jaikus scanned the hills, hoping to see the enemy while at the same time scared to death that they would. The bridge was out of sight behind them when motion out of the corner of his eye caused him to turn his head.

  “What?” Peter asked.

  “Thought I saw something.”

  “Where?”

  Then just as Jaikus pointed to the hill on their right, the tell-tale sound of a tree cracking as it fell brought them all to attention.

  “Watch out!” Somak yelled as a tall pine tipped toward the road, heading for the back of Larko’s wagon. He whipped the horses and the added burst of speed brought the wagon just beyond the path of the tree. Limbs slammed into the wagon as it hit the ground.

  Midden had reined in and his team had escaped being crushed.

  Men boiled out of the nearby trees. Five threw bladders of oil at the tree; two others flung burning torches.

  “Midden!” Larko yelled as first the bladders hit the tree and burst, spilling their oil, then it erupted in flames when the torches hit.

  The flames effectively blocked the road. The hills to either side were very steep, too steep for a limited force to scale and overcome defenders.

  “Protect the wagons!” Master Tuppin yelled.

  “What about Midden?” Reneeke yelled.

  “He’s on his own, lad,” Larko replied.

  Master Tuppin leapt to the ground and pulled a chest from beneath his seat. Flipping open the lid, he pulled out two scrolls. One he tossed toward the flames while speaking the activation word. It burst into a large body of water to engulf the right half of the flames. The second scroll flew toward the other half and coated it with a sheet of ice.

  Two more scrolls were pulled and activated.

  The first produced six skeleton warriors that raced and leapt over the smoldering tree. They took positions around Midden’s wagon. Midden hid beneath with his crossbow. Through the smoke coming off the tree, they saw him get off a bolt followed by a cry of pain as it found its mark.

  “How many?” Rojer hollered.

  “Ten,” Midden said. “Was thirteen.”

  From up the road came the sound of riders. Six horsemen raced toward Master Tuppin.

  The caravan master reached into his chest and pulled out four silver disks. He threw them toward the approaching horsemen. They landed on the road in an arc some fifty feet from the wagons. Master Tuppin then pulled forth another scroll and waited for the riders to draw near the disks; then he activated the scroll.

  Bolts of lightning shot forth and exploded with fierce lethality upon striking the disks. When the blinding light cleared, the horses and their riders were but charred remains.

  Reneeke moved to help Midden, but Larko held him back. “Stay with the wagon.”

  “What about Midden?”

  “He can handle himself.”

  Jaikus champed at the bit to get into the action but was likewise restrained by Peter.

  Then it was over. The hills were quiet and their attackers vanished back into the trees.

  Master Tuppin stood with a wand in one hand and another scroll in the other.

  “Anyone hurt?” he hollered. “Midden?”

  “Got a bolt in the leg,” he replied. “But will live.”

  “Somak, take the wagon. Reneeke, you and your friend get Midden on this side of the tree.”

  “You got it,” Reneeke replied.

  Hopping down, he hurried through the charred limbs and scorched trunk with Jaikus on his heels. They eyed the skeleton warriors warily but the magical undead ignored them.

  “Midden?” Reneeke asked.

  The old teamster pulled himself from beneath the wagon and the Guildsmen rushed to his aid. A bolt protruded from his upper left thigh. “I’m okay, boys.”

  “Come on,” Jaikus said. “We’ll help you get to Master Tuppin.”

  Despite his assurances that he was alright, his pant leg was soaked with blood and he looked a little pale. Once on the other side Master Tuppin placed a scroll upon his leg and when activated, it sent healing magic into the wound. The bolt drew itself out and fell to the ground as the flesh knitted together. When the healing glow faded, the wound looked practically healed.

  “He got three of them,” Somak hollere
d from the rear. “One’s still alive.”

  “Rojer, check Midden’s load.” Then to Jaikus and Reneeke, he said, “Bring that thief up here.”

  About the time they crossed over the tree again, the skeleton warriors had vanished as the spell ran its course. When they reached Somak, the guard pointed to a man lying on the ground with a bolt through his chest. Though blood was everywhere and the wound mortal, somehow he managed to cling to life.

  Jaikus grabbed the injured man and he cried out.

  “Easy, Jaik,” Reneeke advised. “We don’t want to him to die before Master Tuppin has a chance to question him.”

  Very carefully, they brought him to the still-smoldering tree and helped him over. Then brought him to Master Tuppin’s wagon.

  “Thanks, boys,” he said.

  Larko took charge of the thief while Peter handed them two axes. “Need to clear the tree off the road so we can get Midden’s wagon through.”

  Reneeke took an axe and nodded while Jaikus balked.

  “Come on, Jaik,” Reneeke said. “We’ll have that cleared in no time.”

  “It’s not our job,” Jaikus said in a quiet aside.

  “Neither is it Larko’s to help us with improving our swordsmanship. We all do what we can.”

  Grudgingly, Jaikus took the axe and he and Reneeke began the job of clearing away a wide enough section of tree through which the wagon could pass. While they chopped, they listened to Master Tuppin’s interrogation of the thief.

  “How many men do you have?”

  The man just groaned.

  Larko reached out and twisted the bolt ever so slightly. But even such a minor movement caused the man to spasm with pain and cry out for them to stop.

  “Then tell us what we want to know,” Master Tuppin said. “How many are there?”

  “Twenty-two.”

  “Make that thirteen,” Larko said. “You took out six, and Midden another three including this guy.”

  “Still too many to take on,” Master Tuppin said.

  “Where is your base?”

  The man groaned. When Larko reached for the bolt again, he cried out, “The old fort!”

  “Fort Spindlewynne?”

  He nodded.

  “But that place was locked up tight last I heard,” Peter said.