Are We There Yet?

Xavier Nightrider

"So, why are you guys going to the capital?"

The carriage had an uneasy and awkward silence before Solskin spoke up. I was content with leaving it at just that, staring out into the road ahead for any signs of danger, but Solskin obviously did not have the same mindset as me. He had been fidgeting and moving around as if staying still would kill him. I was surprised that he didn't try to start a conversation earlier.

"My duties as cleric. Didn't I say this before?"

"Yeah, but can you be a little more specific?"

Persephone looked down at her shoes as if she was thinking about something. "Honestly, I am not quite sure I can say. Why are you so suddenly so curious about it?"

"I don't know, I just wanted to talk about something," said Solskin meekly, as if he was a child that was just scolded.

"How about you, Solskin? Why do you want to go to the capital?"

He slung his arm over my shoulder, leaning his body against mine. "Well, never hurts to get some extra gold and this guy right here is going to help me get into the royal army. Isn't that right, Xavier?"

I pushed him off me. "No."

I was a little uncomfortable with him so close to me. I rarely said a word to him, but he seemed to be attached to me with some sort of child-like obsession. With that, I scooted further down the bench, trying to get some more room between us.

"Anyway, that is my reason. How about you, Xavier? Why go to the capital?"

I remained silent, but under the inquisitive gazes of the other two, I finally gave up. "Looking for someone."

"Who?"

"Epoch. A friend." I answered, cutting off any further questions Solskin may have had as he opened his mouth. I didn't want this to turn into an interrogation about me or my past. I didn't need to get close to these people. At best, they were temporary allies for the next few days.

"Oh. Back to you, Persephone. Are you sure you can't tell us? Come on, we are going to be on the road for a while now. We got to know at least something about each other."

Persephone was again deep in thought. "I mean, I am also looking for something. Something important to a prophecy."

"Prophecy?" Solskin asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Persephone just smiled in response, probably realising she said too much.

"Damn, none of you know how to hold a conversation.:

Almostly as quickly as the conversation started, it ended and the carriage was once again silent. Solskin went back to his fidgeting.

Suddenly, the caravan ground to a halt.

Solskin, confused, looked at me. "Are we there yet?"

Almost right after Solskin asked his question, we heard the cries of fear and alarm blared from the front of the caravan. Flashing a quick look at Solskin, I leapt up, grabbed my swords, and rushed outside, trying to assess the situation. Solskin followed suit, tightening the straps of his armor. He quickly followed me, his sword drawn and bow slung over his shoulder.

There was a man standing in the front of the leading carriage with more bandits scattered around the sides. His hand was resting confidently on the hilt of a sword as he shouted, "MORDRED LEPORUM, COME ON OUT, YOU COWARD! I WON'T BE ACCEPTING YOUR WORTHLESS MONEY THIS TIME!"

"I'll take that as a no," Solskin said quietly to himself.

Mordred Leporum

"Damn." I groaned to myself.

I was expecting Role and his ilk to have moved on to other roads by now and hoped that we would never run into him again, but apparently the gods had planned otherwise.

I doubted that I would be able to trick my way out of this one; Role wouldn't give me the opportunity. How would we fare in a fight? I had seven drivers. They were not trained, but they were strong. Using the simple tools that they kept, they might be able to take out some of the bandits. No, the price would be too heavy. I would almost certainly lose all my men just for a maybe. Maybe the appearance of guards would scare him off? But Role didn't seem like the standard run-of-the-mill bandit who would run away at the first sign of trouble. He seemed far too experienced to not have plans and contingencies. His men were likely trained as well. The more I thought about it, the more unlikely our chances seemed from getting out unscathed.

"How many?" I turned to Alistair frantically. I needed more information, something that I could use to plan. Xavier and Solskin were probably the bandits' betters in combat, so they would be able to take them on in a head-to-head fight without losing immediately, keeping their attention off the drivers. Then, with their support, we would outnumber and overpower the bandits easily. Yes, that could work.

"10. More than last time. They are armed to the teeth." The usually calm Alistair seemed off-put by the large number of people. I was as well, doubt sinking into my idea. Would it work? It would have to.

What could I do, personally? Give up my money, maybe? I would lose my profits for this trip. No, not even that. I would have a deficit because I had yet to pay Solskin and Xavier, and I would also be dead; I doubted Role's kindness.

Hm. Judging from where I heard his voice, Role was… right in front of the caravan? Still in thought, I quietly stepped out the door of my wagon, I needed to gather the drivers in the optimal position, but first I needed to--

Thwap!

An arrow dug its way deep into the ground next to me, landing a foot or so in the grass in front of me. Role had moved down the line of wagons and was now a good few dozen feet away from me, a crossbow in hand. "Good morning, Mordred! Let's go to the front of your caravan, we have things to discuss."

"Ahh…" My mouth was as dry as a desert.

"You better be quick about it. The next arrow goes through your chest."