7 Chapter 7

They started to move through the trees to their usual scavenging spots, but somehow Maximus couldn't stop thinking about the hooded man. "Come on, let's head to the taller trees first. Since Hedger is with us he'll be able to get any fruits that are on top of them," Rex said. Maximus nodded and they started to move towards the trees. Rex was still sore from being cramped up in the tunnels so he wasn't in any mood to talk, and Hedger began chasing the moths that were flying around in the forest. This gave Maximus some time to think.

They had reached the area of the outskirts where the trees grew really tall. Among these were some apricot trees. The apricots that grew here were really sweet and were considered a luxury in the trenches. They were sure to be able to sell them at a good price back in the city. Since Hedger could just fly around and pluck them it didn't really leave Maximus and Rex anything to do.

Maximus then started thinking about the time he was on transport duty. They were passing through the trail carrying a crate. The convoy just contained one armoured car with four soldiers inside, including Maximus. They were never told what was in the crate during the briefing. All they were told was that it was for the good of the country and for the glory of General Ares. Maximus was smart enough to know that this meant that if he asked more questions he would just attract trouble. The transport was going smoothly till it had reached the cliffs. That's when things started going bad. Their convoy was ambushed by a group of Orcs. There were around seven of them, but they weren't well trained enough to take them on though, they were easily dealt with. They managed to deliver the crate without trouble after that and they were asked to never speak of the mission to anyone. That's when it finally hit Maximus.

"Hey Rex I was just wondering about that hooded guy," Maximus said. Rex gave Maximus an annoyed look. "I already told you to let it go."

"I know, but listen," Maximus said impatiently "Didn't you think it was weird that he wanted to get to that trail. I mean, the only thing it gets used for is the shady transports which the army does."

"Yeah so?" Rex said.

"Also, he was asking about the cliffs right?" Maximus asked.

Rex's eye slowly began to widen "Are you trying to tell me that man is trying to ambush an army convoy?"

Maximus slowly nodded.

"But that would be suicide. A convoy will have at least three men all heavily armed." Maximus knew Rex had a point, but his instincts told him that the man they had just met wasn't exactly ordinary. "I know, but if he managed to pull it off it would be the perfect crime. Those transports never went into any records, if he got off with whatever they were carrying there's not much that could be done after."

"But even so..." Rex had begun to say when Hedger flew in and dropped some apricots on him. Rex managed to catch them just in time. "What are you ladies mumbling about?" Hedger asked. "Max thinks that the hooded guy's gonna try to knock off an illegal military convoy." Maximus had already told the story of those transports to Hedger before so he knew what they were talking about. "I thought you said those convoys were heavily guarded," Hedger said. "I mean unless Mr. Hood is packing a few explosives under his cloak what's he going to do?"

Maximus just stared at Hedger as if he had just told a horror story and he knew Rex was also thinking the same thing. Hedger had just told about the explosives as a joke, but both Maximus and Rex saw it as a very real possibility. "He was really keen about keeping his cloak on," Rex said nervously. It finally dawned on Hedger as well. "Wait, are you guys seriously considering the possibility that he might try to bomb the convoy?" The three of them just stood there silently for a while. Maybe they were just being paranoid, Maximus thought, but this was not something he could just ignore if people's lives were at stake.