29 More Bandits?

Mark looked on as the latest four entered the square arena, a look of boredom upon their faces compared to the previous competitors of these Gladiatorial games. They were all well built, with scars covering their bodies. The front two, whose hands were still tied looked like brothers. There large bodies and bald round heads reminded Mark of the twins from Alice in Wonderland.

The two twin brothers were called Ellac and Ernac, they were both hunnic warriors in a past life, and were still warriors now. Mark wondered how the two had been captured and expected his forces should have had more losses coming up against these two burly brothers.

"I don't recognise them." Carol offered.

Mark nodded in understanding, there was something wrong with the numbers of bandits that were here.

"Get Sakura, please!" Mark ordered Boudica. He would get some answers from the winners of the earlier rounds now, he decided.

The next two who walked out were also huge, a giant of a man called Dwayne, who stood taller than any member of the Red Ribbons team, his baring was intense and it made some of the released captives shiver. In a past life he was a sportsman who had a hobby of hunting.

The final bandit was called Wu Song. He had shiny eyes and thick eyebrows. He had a tall muscular body, which compared to the others was not as scarred, his main scarring was three deep claw marks on his back from a fight with a tiger.

The four of them stood at each corner, preparing to fight each other. As in previous rounds, some weapons were thrown in to the centre of the square arena. This time there were two swords and two axes thrown in. The four men looked at each other and nodded, a sign of respect to their competitors.

The four all ran in to the centre, grabbing a weapon each. The twins grabbed a sword each, whilst the other grabbed the axes.

"Fight!" Eduardo announced loudly, causing a loud clattering of sword against shield from the Red Ribbons.

Ellac and Ernac did not move, whilst Dwayne and Wu Song edged towards them slowly, axes raised high. Seemingly prepared to join forces to deal with the twins first.

Mark turned behind him to see Sakura approaching him. He smiled at her, and recieved a smile in return. Boudica was along side her and had a serious expression upon her face.

"They are huge." Boudica commented, "I don't understand why they would surrender."

"I agree." Sakura replied, "I have spoken to some of the freed prisoners and they agree that the numbers of bandits that attacked them was much smaller than the number we are seeing today, I suspect there is something larger at work!"

"Please can you speak with winners, Morgan, Logan and Hastu. Find out why the numbers have increased and the wider story, if they are honest they have a chance to join us, if they lie, you know what to do." Mark ordered seriously. Sakura agreed and turned towards the remaining tied up prisoners, there were five still sat, waiting their turn in the arena. Next to then were the four winners, sat in varying states of shock.

The first axe attack slammed down towards one of the twins, Ellac. Who raised his sword and pushed the axe wielding attacker back. There was little light behind his eyes and Mark really thought he was looking at a dim giant. The other axe wielded slashed his axe down, and met a similar response from the other twin.

It was expected that the twins would counter attack, but instead they maintained their earlier position, allowing time for their attackers to recover.

The second axe swings came down towards them both, this time their was a dual clash as both swords and axe heads hit at the same time.

"Why have these guys been grouped together?" Mark asked Eduardo.

"They came out of the same house and were surrounded together as the others surrendered, I think it was just easier that way." Eduardo replied.

"I just don't see any aggression" Mark replied, "They are much more relaxed than the other bandits."

On the third clash of weapons, there was finally a difference, as the twins both took a step forwards. Dwayne and Wu Song prepared to receive a counterattack, but it never came.

Once again they slashed their axes down, clashing together, and once again the twins stepped forward. Beads if swear started to appear on Dwayne's head. Wu Song was seemingly less tired from the clashed and was preparing for his next attack.

"What are the twins doing?" Mark asked Eduardo seriously, "Are they just going to keep doing nothing?"

"I don't know, Dwayne seems to be tiring, so maybe that is their plan?" Eduardo replied.

The axes clashed against the sword blades again, pushing Dwayne and Wu Song closer to the edge of the arena, near to the location where Mark and Eduardo were stood, Boudica and Carol beside them.

"Something is off!" Boudica explained as she grabbed the hilt of her sword.

The axes came down again, but this time the twins did not block. Instead the moved to the sides and parried the axe blows down, causing Dwayne and Wu Song to spin. The four of them were now facing Mark, their weapons raised.

"Shit!" Mark exclaimed, as Boudica's sword was released from her scabbard.

The Red Ribbons realised, much to their dismay, that this was a trap. Before they had chance the four weapons came crashing down towards Mark and the group.

Boudica's sword went to reach the incoming blades, but their was only so much she could block. Red Ribbons came charging over, Little Tai and Dian Wei leading the charge.

The four halted their attack, just as they were about to hit. Mark had completely frozen in place.

"A life for a life." Wu Song declared, staring in to Mark's eyes. The Red Ribbons charged in to the four, pushing them to the ground. They did not retaliate and allowed their weapons to fall to the ground.

Boudica angrily stepped forwards, the tip of her sword pointing at Wu Song's throat.

"You will wish you has taken your chance!" She declared angrily.

Mark placed his hand upon her shoulder, stopping her from pushing the tip in.

"A life for a life." Mark replied. "You are free, your followers are not."

"They are not bad men." Wu Song said from the floor, Dian Wei and Little Tai on his back holding him down.

"I do not know that." Mark replied, he understood that they probably weren't, but he was testing them. The twins were dumb and followers, Dwayne seemed to have a reasonable life previously with no crime, Wu Song was a leader of men and seemed honourable enough.

"Pilgrim, it's fine as long as you are free." Dwayne said weakly, his body being crushed by Lucan, Vlad and others. The twins nodded their heads in agreement, seemingly not bothered about their own fate.

"They could have killed you, but they didn't." Wu Song replied. "The life debt is theirs aswell."

"Pilgrim?" Mark asked. "They may have not struck, but they were with the Mount Tai Wood Bandits, and those must pay for their suffering."

Mark pointed towards the released captives as he said it, causing a sense of family with them. The captives felt relieved that this group had rescued them, and more planned to join the town upon their return. Some of the ex-guards had already planned to try and join the Ribbons upon the arrival at Raven's Peak.

"We are not members of the Mount Tai Wood Bandits." Wu Song replied. "We came here as we were requested by Little John, a war is coming and he needed more men."

"A war you say?" Mark asked. The nearby people looked on, listening to the conversation deeply.

"An attack they mentioned, on the local town. The start of a change in the area he said." Wu Song replied. "We are the Mount Tai Cave Bandits, honourable men who never take a life without a reason. The time for bandits is ending and we wanted to he part of something more."

"How many of you are there?" Eduardo asked, joining the conversation.

"Including us four, there are fifteen. I am the leader." Wu Song replied.

"If i let you live, will the fifteen of you come back for revenge?" Mark asked.

"No, you have great warriors and a cause." Wu Song replied. "This banditry life is becoming tedious, we'd probably just join you."

"Pilgrim, you can't be serious!" Dwayne yelled from the ground shocked.

"Are you serious?" Mark asked.

"Why not." Wu Song replied, "I'm willing to make a blood oath."

Mark looked at Eduardo confused.

"A blood oath is when one spills their own blood and makes a promise. If one breaks the promise it is said they will be cursed by their own blood." Eduardo replied all knowingly.

Eduardo needed a pay rise, Mark decided, or just some actual pay.

"Very well, welcome to the Red Ribbons." Mark announced loudly. This caused a cheer from the crows as the four were helped to stand.

Wu Song grabbed the tip of Boudica's still drawn sword and cut his wrist.

"I Wu Song pledge to give my all to the Red Ribbons. The Mount Tai Cave Bandits are no more."

The four stepped in to the crowd of Red Ribbons and were greeted enthusiastically. Mark had noticed that acceptance was easy from the group and they were friendly, regardless of prior conflict. Hopefully this would be beneficial in the long run.

"With your permission, I would like to head to my camp and retrieve my other member." Wu Song asked.

"Very well, after business here, you can go. Please take two of my men with you as escorts. The twins and Dwayne can stay with us." Mark replied, showing Wu Song a level of trust, but also keeping some cards for himself.

Eduardo set of the prepare for the final five gladiators, this had to be a good fight to end the event on a high. After this they would pack up their loot and escorts the survivors and captives back to Raven's Peak whilst it was still daylight. They had probably spent around 6 hours here so far, and there should only be a few hours of sunlight left. Mark pondered if he should create a time system that would reflect his previous life.

As he pondered, Sakura appeared at his side.

"It was a gathering." She stated, "The four nearest bandit groups were meeting to discuss the upcoming changes to the area and a temporary alliance against Runetown."

"That explains the extra numbers then!" Mark replied.

"Only three groups came, The Mount Tai Wood, Cave and Sea bandits were here." Sakura continued. "We killed most of the Wood and Sea, with those final five being a mixture of both. The Cave only brought the four and the Mount Tai Hunter Bandits refused attendance."

"The Mount Tai Cave Bandits are joining us." Mark replied, "The Hunters are already on our hire list."

As Mark and Sakura were talking, the final five entered the square. The time for the final Gladiator fight was upon them, then they needed to plan for the upcoming battle with the Wolfheads.