CHAPTER 2: ONE STEP AHEAD

 " Little one the carriage is close enough, when do we attack?" Ryles' had to ask,as he seemed to have noticed Raven spacing out. Frustration and anger brewed inside him. 'This isn't the place to be spacing out, get your shit together! ' He thought to himself, wondering why their Master ever bothered with the little one.

Ryles' question seemed to have brought Raven back from his train of thoughts. Cold sweat dotted his forehead. 

'did he just have a vision?' confusing and disbelief, etched on his face. 

He couldn't believe he just saw something that would happen few minutes from now. Just to be sure he peeked from behind the bushes to see the exact carriage from his vision, With oddly few soldiers just like he saw in his visions.

"Everyone remain hidden, do not attack"He informed the rest who started at him like he was crazy 

"Are you out of your mind?, the Carriages are right where we want it. We can't loose our chance" Sard another member hurramphed, a bit irked at the sudden change of plans.

Raven didn't know how to explain it to them, he just stared at Ryles' for help who sighed reluctantly.

"Everyone just do as he says" He commanded his teeth clenched in controlled anger, after all he couldn't go against his master. 

 Everyone resigned back to their hidden positions, whilst the little one thought of a plan.

" Ryles' it's a trap, the carriage has been split into two" Raven whispered knowing his senior was listening. Ryles' head snapped to look at him, Wondering how Raven must have figured it out. Of course the boy knew this as he had seen it in his visions, the merchant wasn't even in the carriage which clearly meant that it had been split into two.....smart move, it almost had them.

"Then what's the plan now?" Ryles' wanted to see what the boy's got. He was now more than curious as to why exactly master had chosen him tonight.

"We fake an attack, but nobody leaves their spot" He commanded with firmness, his eyes swirling with untold power and danger even he was unaware of, as he looked everyone in the eye. Tonight, Raven look a little different to them as he went on to explain the new plan in the fastest way possible. Everyone nodded in unision and just like that, They were now one step ahead 

*

 Radolph, was one of the soldiers taking the first four carriage, he was the head of their squad and therefore couldn't let his guard down. Everyone in the carriage were at alert, and the lookout. Making sure nothing slipped past them. He looked out the window and saw a shadow swiftly moving admist the trees, like a phantom. It was even a bit faster than the carriage. Radolph couldn't quite tell if it was a wild animal or human being, as he hadn't ever come across Leo's men, He had only heard of them. He signaled to his men to aim at the moving shadow and immediately they all began firing arrow towards the shadow, not knowing it was only a form of distraction.

Another shadow came running with a big ball of burning hay and the soldiers were a second late to react as the burning hay came flying towards the path they were riding on. It was too late to stop and everything quickly spiralled out of control with the horses panicked and misbehaving, The carriages crashed into each other and the one at the front caught fire, as it had halted too close to the burning hay.

"FIRE ! FIRE ! "Some of the soldiers began shouting and quickly everyone scrambled out of the damaged carriage despite the serious injuries, as the fire was spreading quick . Radolph immediately scanned the surroundings for any sign of the shadows, but they were gone with no trace, except for the burning hay that had now lit some of the carriages on fire which the squad were trying to put out. 

"Everyone stay in position now and fire your arrows" Radolph commanded his squad, as he immediately realized that the attackers were still around somewhere. He had Heard a lot of stories to understand that they were under attack by Leo's men.

 They began firing their arrow in every direction, knowing that they could be hiding anywhere around. At the same time knives came flying out of the forest, striking down some of the soldiers precisely where it could get them paralyzed. And with immediate effect the soldiers began dropping like flies as the knives were coated in effective drugs. 

 They were already fighting a loosing battle in the first place as they couldn't even see their opponents, but were just impulsively firing arrows to deter or kill them. Unfortunately for them Leo's men were one step ahead. Radolph looked around him and saw his men dropping one after the other, frustrated he took cover behind a huge tree before reaching for his pouch and bringing out the jade bomb. This is a magical explosives that's dangerously effective . Radolph patiently waited behind the tree for them to come out of their hiding place which they did. He must admit they were extremely good at hiding. 

 Jumping out of the forest and landing swiftly like a cat, Leo's men took out the remaining standing soldiers, knocking them out for a few hours. Radolph took the opportunity to launch the glowing ball at them, but just immediately he felt a cold metal pressed against his neck.

"Your life, or the ball?, captain" Raven whispered From behind him. His voice dangerously low and compelling, Radolph's blood ran cold. Slowly he raised his hands in surrender, handing the ball over. Raven grabbed it before knocking him out.

"There's only six bags of gold, little one". Ryles' scoffed before glancing at Raven who was dragging a soldier by the leg.

"I told you, it was a trap" Raven eyes darted towards his senior, his green eyes glowing in the dark.

Everyone exchanged glances wondering how Raven had known it was a trap. It had been quite hard to believe at first but now they were convinced 

"Round up the soldiers and go back into hiding" Raven instructed " Nobody touch the golds yet". They all did as told and laid low.

"What now?" Ryles' glanced at him 

" We wait" came Raven's crisp response 

"Are you sure they are coming?" Ryles' asked once more even though Raven had already explained again. The little one just nodded, his expression was of someone who was confident