14 Arrival

It's been almost half an hour since his underlings have left, with hands behind his back, gripping each other, he stood still in front of the 'cave' opening, yes, it's been almost half hour of standing still. The others looked at him with disbelief on their eyes, but they did not bother asking, it's the look on the leader's face, the focus is incomparable, they must not distract the man, what's the leader thinking about, they wondered but did not dare to find out.

The Leader's conscious about his peers', grown to have a face of a severe man, he understood, he also had a question, "Why is it still on the flame?"

If his trolls had arrived with no problem no fire would be left, the flames did not get stronger, but it's going out way too slow, no interception done, that means that the trolls did not try putting it out, he knows there's a well just a few steps from the outpost, what is happening?

Few others were gathering nearby, sitting, standing, on the centre a cooking pot with a small flame beneath, the pot, not covered, so the smell of stewed beef, onion and vinegar stenches the air, the pot was full even though it's already cooked. They did not dare took when they saw their Leader's expression; hunger kept secret.

The base was considered to be the main base of the Troll Bandits, surrounded with wooden walls; there's only one gate. Also wooden, beside it were two watchtowers, manned with two archers each. The security can't be considered good, but since it's been a long time someone dares attack, not other bandits, not one farmer and warriors of the kingdom, the Trolls did not put much that much thought.

There were a total of thirty trolls in the camp, some sex slaves, some old, young servants kidnapped. The small cave is where the leader lived, a workroom, a guest bedroom for his brother, his private room with door no one can knock. There were buildings in the camp, sleeping quarters for the trolls, a restroom, prison cells for the unfortunate and other structures for their needs.

The leader knew the others view them as evil creatures, demons that crawled from the deep of the realm but he thought different.

"You can eat," he spoke softly.

"Yes, Leader," one of the man replied, seeing his comrades did not have the courage, " We'll save the best for you Leader," he spoke seconds after but regretted it, he looked at the Leader's face expecting it to wear disappointment but instead it just nodded and sighed shortly.

The trolls overjoyed, they celebrate not as loud, some inwardly. The Leader was still looking at the same position, the wind felt, something is keeping him from standing still in the same spot, but he did not treat it as a curse but fate.

Then his face changed, a dim light seen, got brighter and brighter, not only him saw the approaching but also the four archers in the watchtower. They prepared their bow, gripped with comfort, arrows on the quiver of their back.

There was light then the noise came, the trolls, some started eating, rest preparing to with delight got distracted.

" Someone's coming."

" Sounds like a wagon."

"Not the rest then, maybe them brothers."

Everyone was aware of the coming but did not care enough, after confirming that it's a wagon some even continued eating, continued the servants shouting.

Few seconds had passed in an instant; it is a wagon, no doubt, but the men on it was the concern.

"Halt!"

Two men were in front; one stopped the brown stallion while the giant man beside him sat still.

The wooden gate made a sound after being opened, one of the watchmen decided to take a closer look, with a torch on his left hand.

He started to relax after seeing the men on the wagon not making strange movements then he began to approach it, the stallion's snort was clear, hesitated on touching it he took a closer look at the two men wearing hoods.

The rider removed the hood from his head, a young man, the rare look, someone from the black spotted bear, the warm smile displayed with no concern.

He was about to take a closer look at the man beside him when the rider made a sound, " Is the Leader here?".

"You don't give questions stranger, now give me names," the watchman spoke with serious intent.

"I'm Hanzo, a merchant," the rider replied, unhesitant.

"That's funny, what about the boulder beside you? given by his mother I hope", the watchman asked after chuckling a little bit.

"Ask him yourself," the man named Hanzo requested.

"No questions and Orders petty merchant," the man then approached the giant man he was about to order him to take his hood off, but then he wore a surprised look.

He shakingly steps back then took time preparing his weapon, smiled after seeing the men in front of him did not even move, waiting for him to shoot, "Call the Leader, the attackers are here!", He shouted with all he can. The relayed message heard, and one of the watchmen climbed down the ladder and approached the leader.

"They dare," knew the wagon has stopped in front of the gate, the Leader has already taken a closer look, a boy from black spotted bear and Zorin, one of the farmers.

It's been a minute since all of the farmers stopped eating and started approaching the gate, few of them saw the Leader walked to the entrance, knowing something significant will happen. Bringing with them their personal weapon, broadswords, battle axes, bow and arrows, spears, daggers, hatchets, clubs, hammers, and all kinds of weaponry, most with adequate quality.

Few of them did not know the reason for their gathering when they saw the rest picking up their own weapons even from their far tent they followed.

The gathered trolls have cleared their confusion after looking at the wagon, someone they already knew and from the description of Abgner's.

" Zorin you dare come here!"

"You should have run away stupid, we're going to kill all of you dirt diggers!"

"I hope you bring that merchant as surrender, you're lucky the Leader's in a good mood!"

They all shouted, different words but mostly the same meaning, the shouting lasted for a minute when the few of the trolls nearby the leader silenced the noise.

"Zorin, it seems the intel is true", The leader approach the wagon, about ten steps front, there was no inconvenience since the wave of bandits split to two as he passes by.

He just smiled when he saw the face of the giant man did not change as if he expected it.

"What's I'm interested about is this merchant here, a young man from the black-spot bear, it's a miracle that the waves brought you here to the far end of Reindeer lands", The leader turned his attention to the other man.

"I hope you're here to surrender, I will leave your wife and children alone, We can talk with the other farmers involved later", he continued with a welcoming gesture.

"Evil Leader, don't kid around, you know it's too late for that", Zorin spoke with his usual expression.

" I change my mind from time to time", the leader spoke, turning his head above, the smoke from far away still lingers the sky.

"Leader", one of the bandits approach him, the troll came from the back of the wagon, he just checked the back of the wagon for any interesting things together with another one," Nothing's in the back", he whispered.

The Troll Leader has a puzzled expression, all the things that happened today was almost too much, he can't figure out what's the enemy's plan was although he knows there's something strange in the situation.

If they're not here to surrender then suicide then, he thought about it, it's good to be true, but it's the most probable one, what can a small group of farmers and a single merchant do to a feared group of bandits.

He doubts that the enemy will be honest in answering his question, but he was not able to stop himself," Where are the other farmers, don't tell me you came here alone?", did they passed by the others, these two can't possibly defeat them all, and also these two seems fine, The Troll Leader got pulled out from his deep thought when he heard a response from the other party.

" Who said it's just two of us who came here?", the man beside Zorin asked after chuckling a bit.