79. The Manor House 15

They caravan stopped a little bit earlier than it normally would have since Novum wanted to make sure that they had time to set up and prepare for the bandits. Plus if they stopped somewhere that the bandits were not prepared for them they would have to relocate before they could launch an attack. That would be another small advantage and he would take any advantage that he could get.

Novum set everyone where he wanted them and got ready to move around to where could keep most of the camp under his view. Once everyone was set he went to grab some sleep since he figured that the fight would not be until the middle of the night closer to morning since that is when his people would be the most tired. He left orders for his guys to sleep as soon as possible so that they would be rested by the time that the bandits attacked.

Crystal worked with a few of the guards that the church sent with the kids and got something cooked up and the guards quickly ate and went to bed. They were all thinking the same thing as Novum and got mentally ready for a fight. The guards that helped with the cooking were the ones that went back to guard shift since they would take the first shift and then sleep close to the kids when they came off the shift.

Novum had no trouble falling asleep and in what seemed like no time at all he felt a hand on his shoulder. He came wide awake and Topaz was right beside him. "They are here. There are not as many of them as I expected but based on position they are going to come after the kids and hold them hostage."

"Thanks, Topaz. Lurk back out of the way and if talking fails make sure and remove any threat to the kids that gets by the guards." Novum got to his feet and willed both his armor and equipment onto his body. He did not call out his sword yet as he was trying to avoid a fight. "Topaz, wait. Did you see the leader and if so where is he positioned?"

"He is behind the guys that will be trying to take the kids hostage. He will want to be close so that he can be the mouthpiece."

"Should have figured that out on my own. Thanks again."

Novum started towards the carriages that held the kids and kicked a few guards as we went along. They all knew what it meant and went on full guard against whatever threat may be coming towards them. Most of them had slept in mismatched pieces of armor so that had some protection immediately when they got up but it would still not be to hard on their sleep. This was actually a class that all of them had when they joined this was to teach them what they could and should wear when they slept based on the threat level of the area.

A few of them quickly threw on a few more pieces of armor to get most of a complete set but a few grabbed their weapon that was right beside them and followed along behind Novum with no questions asked.

The leader of the bandits saw the Novum was up and getting his guards ready and realized they had been spotted. Without any more hesitation he quickly sent the first wave of bandits at the camp.

Novum saw the first group come tearing out of the woods and realized that most of them were barely old enough to shave. "I will handle this group just restrain them before they can get back up." Without waiting for a response Novum moved forward and did not even pull out his sword.

The first young man looked like he attacking more out of fear than out of any sense of greed or malice. But given the way that he was charging in it appeared that he not afraid of dying himself but he was fighting for something different. This appeared to be a more complex situation that he had originally thought.

He caught the boy's sword and slapped him across the face with an open hand trying to minimize the damage that he did to the kid. Even though it was open handed the boy still went completely limp. Novum passed the boy behind him with a casual move and let him fall in a way that he would not fall on his sword. By the time that he turned back around the second and third guy were right on top of him, but there still not a threat.

He treated all of them about the same way, a block here and a slap or punch there and soon all eight of the first wave were unconscious around him. Before the leader could send out more fodder and he was forced to kill a few of them he called out into the woods.

"How about we settle this one on one and be done with it? You win and we will hand over all the goods and you are free to go. If I win only you will go to jail and the rest of your guys will be free to go after answering a few questions, but they get nothing for their efforts?"

A voice came out of the woods. "Me and you to the death. That way I can do what I want anyways."

"If you want to fight to the death then we will need to change the stakes."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Well since I was only really fighting for some gold I would not mind surrendering it to you if you won but I can't tell the guards and my people to not fight for themselves in he unlikelihood that I die. So if you win our fight you can take the gold and goods without a fight but if you touch one of my people everyone is permitted to fight back. But then if I win then the only difference will be that you will be dead and after they answer my questions and then they can go."

"Well once you are gone the rest of the group is nothing to take under my control so I agree to those terms."

Novum started laughing and laughing hard. So hard that he doubled over a few times to try and get his breath.

"And what in the name of the abyss is so funny?"

"You think that I am the strongest one here." Novum laughed again before he could get it in check. "I have the biggest pocket book and hired these people to escort me." The laughing stopped in an instant and he glared at the man. "I just do not feel that you are a threat to me or any of them and I want to settle this as quickly as possible."

"You son of a bitch. I will show you."

The bandit leader darted forward faster than the average person would have expected but Novum was not the average person and saw all of the movements clearly. He had also spotted the boots of haste on the man's feet and knew that he was trying to use them for a surprise attack.

Novum started moving before the man was close but after the man made his move so that he would have a hard time adjusting with the sudden speed boost. He spun around out of the line of attack and willed his sword to his hand as he spun and as the bandit leader moved past him Novum's sword made contact with the back of his neck and took his head from his shoulders before he could even make a real attack.

"Okay you guys heard the terms. Gather up over here an talk to me for a few minutes, grab something to eat and then you can go on your way, if you choose."

Most of the bandits that were still in the woods and almost all of them thought that it would be best to run while they had a chance. Suddenly the second in command that was all the way in the back was sent forward unconscious with a small form behind him. Topaz was standing there with a small mage a short distance behind her with a small ball of fire floating above her hand. "You heard the boss. It is best not to keep him waiting."

The bandits did not hear anything and the second was taken out and to top that off a mage with a fireball ready was waiting on them. They quickly put their hands up and headed for the area around the caravan that Novum had indicated. They assumed that as soon as they entered the clearing they would be tied up and tortured until they told the man in charge everything that he wanted to know. They were all surprised that not only were they not attacked or restrained in any way they got to keep their weapons.

"Okay boys we are going to have a nice conversation after you have eaten. I can barely hear myself talking over the sound of your stomachs."