Big City Darkened Nights
#8 - the cavalry

The horsemen split into three groups, fourteen riders circle to Carr’s right. Fourteen go left and coming straight at him three, unmistakable officers, who are flanked by two banner toting pages.

The two main groups draw weapons surrounding Carr and horses. They leave room for the three officers to confront Carr. Many of the men have an air of vengeance about them.

The horsemen definitely note the weighted saddlebags, along with Carr’s appearance and wounds.

The best suited of the officers addresses Carr. “I’m Captain Avilo, Paladin of King Halford.”

Carr studies the cleanly shaved, strong, forty-year-old man. Oh great, a virtuous by the King’s law, man. I’m done for. I should’ve run.

Avilo continues. “We’re hunting five thieves. Four of your horses look like the ones they were riding. The one you’re on belongs to a local barkeep.”

Carr feels the need to resolve one point, “I’m Carr. Yes, this is Bolt, Elija’s horse. He knows I have him.”

Untrusting expressions cause Carr to nervously continue, “I don’t know what happened to the men you seek. Except one, I killed him, I think. Pretty sure.” He points west to the forest, “They were deep in there last night when I encountered them.” Still having a problem with the next part Carr knows they will for sure. “This morning… ah, um… just their horses, clothes and gear were left, abandoned.”

“Ah-hum,” suspicious and following protocol the Captain gestures to the two other officers, “Dell. Junior. Check his horses.”

The two men riding on either side of Captain Avilo immediately get down handing their reins to adjacent banner riders. All keep a watchful eye on Carr as they pass.

Avilo ponders aloud, “you say you encountered them last night? And this morning they were gone? Leaving their possessions behind?”

“Naked,” snickers one of the riders.

Motioning to the man to be quiet, Avilo turns to Carr. “I think you should tell me more.”

“Ahh, okay,” glimpsing the officers inspecting the saddlebags, Carr decides to go with partial truth. “I saw their campfire in the woods and snuck up on them to see what they were up to.”

Dell cuts in, “These are definitely the horses. They are heaping with the King’s treasure.”

“Okay.” The Captain speaks in firm voice, “Relinquish your weapons to my men. We’ll discuss your story on the way back to the city.” Sarcastically he states with a raised brow, “I take it you were just on your way there to return the King’s treasure.”

Reluctantly Carr unbuckles his long-sword, “Well I did have to return Bolt.” He hands Dell the sheathed blade. Easing out the daggers sighs as he hands them over.

Dell hands Carr’s weapons to the pages to deal with, before remounting.

Junior quickly inspects Carr’s boots before returning to his horse.

The Captain barks out orders while pointing out men, “Two riders head south replace Paul’s group. Tell them to round up the others and return to the castle.”

Two men sheath their swords and ride off.

Avilo goes on, “Three, take to the woods. Find any evidence of his story.”

Carr lets them know, “At least six leagues in, off the main path, on the north side. An Orc body and treasure.”

Three men, at the back, gallop off.

Avilo points to one of the banner toting men, “Three of you get back to the river and set up camp for the night. After that one return to the castle and report in.”

One of the pages and two riders set out.

Finishing the orders, the Captain commands, “Two columns. Six men upfront. Myself, Junior, Dell and the page ride alongside the thief. The rest bring up the rear.”

If it weren’t for the circumstances Carr might enjoy being part of a military column riding beside the Captain.

Getting under way Avilo inquires. “What are you, all of sixteen?”

Insulted Carr acts like one year is equal to ten, “Seventeen, actually.”

Avilo Points back to the forest, “You were all alone? You didn’t have any friends with you?”

Proudly Carr states, “I travel alone.”

“I see.” Avilo studies the young rogue, “Where’d you get that tattered scale armor from?”

“It didn’t use to be this bad.” Smiling Carr looks down at it, “It’s a family heirloom.” The page chuckles to the idea.

Junior points to the bundle of weapons on the third horse. Dell moves out of the row to get a better look.

Avilo catches site of the two officers, “What is it?”

Dell studies the bouncing weapons, “Sir, there’s a finely crafted bastard-sword here, with the mark of Kapigorn on it. And I think this mace is enchanted.”

Carr looks back, “Yeah, I killed the Orc wielder of that sword. The cleric had the mace. I think a dart killed him.”

Amazed Carr casually admitted to killing the Orc Avilo queries, “What did this Orc look like?”

Not sure how to reply Carr tilts his head recalling the male, “It was dark. He was a good solid size. For an Orc he wasn’t ugly. I think he was in charge.”

Hearing that Dell slows up to check the armor tied to the horse.

Studying Carr and his eyes, Avilo is having trouble believing it, “I see from your wounds you have battled very recently. You’ve still un-dried mud in spots. How did you, a young man, take on Lord Kapigorn with three known thugs and a cleric? And you came out the victor?”

“Lord Kapigorn?” I killed King Kapigorn’s son? Real panic sets in, bad enough getting caught with Halford’s treasure, Carr realizes parts of this booty are still Kapigorn’s and killed their prince.

The page and Junior are in awe.

Dell rides back up informing their Captain, “Sir. There’s a marked suit of enchanted leather. We’ve both seen the Lord wearing it.”

“I’ll have a better look later.” Avilo is now personally curious about Carr, “You say you killed him. Are you from a berserker clan? Or did you use magic?”

“No sir.” Piecing the night together Carr isn’t sure of what happened after but is sure he killed the Lord, “I accidentally got into a heated fight with them. At one point I wasn’t sure if I was going to get away. My intention was to ambush them while they slept.”

Avilo inquires. “How did you know what they were up to and where to replace them?”

Carr keeps it simple, “I overheard them in the bar. I did run my long-sword through that Orc. He didn’t expect me to have any skills. I deeked him out.”

“That’s one dead. What about the others?” The Captain’s unsure the young rogue is telling the full truth, “You have all their things. Yet can’t tell us where they are?”

Junior suggests. “Maybe he blacks out at night.”

Dell replaces the idea crazy but jests while giving Carr a look of suspicion, “Nightfall will be in a few hours.”

“I’m no Lycanthrope.” Carr’s thankful Dell is not in charge, “although some people think so.”

A cautious man Avilo has to ask, “What do you mean?”

“Carr, Orc for rat,” the rogue informs them, “merely a name. But because I live in the wild, some people think I was raised by swamprats. Some even think I can turn into a were-rat.”

Understanding how people make up things Avilo grins, “Strange reputation to have. Where do you come from? I’ve never heard of you?”

Not clearly thinking Carr points north, “Across the swamp and deep in the woods.” Realizing he’s saying too much, “Hey your King isn’t thinking about expanding his territory past the Great Swamp?”

Finding the end comment strange Avilo recalls the area, “I know a couple of skilled thieves that live in those woods.” He eyes Carr, “Do you know them?”

He knows, “No sir.”

Finally caught the boy in a definite lie the Captain notes the tell playing along, “Maybe not. They lived very dangerous lives. Most likely dead by now.” In the young rogue’s eyes, he sees a connection, “So Carr must be a nick name. What is your rightful title?”

Not liking his full name Carr doesn’t want to say. Something about Avilo’s presence causes him to blurt it out, “Ralston Neotoma Purina.”

Junior, Dell and the page start laughing at his full title.

“Easy men.” Avilo knows it rare for commoners to have a middle name, “Tell me how you ended up with all the King’s treasure?”

Feeling the need to pose a scenario Dell implies, “He could be the cleric. And dispatched his cohorts in order to keep the treasure for himself.”

Carr glances back at Dell like he’s crazy.

Setting Dell straight Avilo says. “He’s too young to be an accomplished spell user. He favors the sharp-edged weapons. His armor is desirable to a thief. And his wounds are poorly dressed.”

“I prefer the title rogue,” Carr proudly announces, “but I’m sure none of you approve either way.”

“There are better things to do in life,” comments Avilo, “but tell us how you did it.”

Happy to tell Carr starts with the basics. “I over heard them in the bar. Borrowed Elija’s horse. Headed for the Ironwood forest and hid waiting for them to pass. When they did, I followed. Spotted their campfire I crept up on them while they slept. That’s when I dropped in the bag of giant centipedes.”

“Centipedes? What?” Avilo and the others wonder.

The rogue informs them. “While I was waiting, I found a nest of the critters and bagged them. Hoping that their bite would paralyze at least a couple of the party.”

Learning something new Captain Avilo queries. “I see. Did it work?”

“Sure did,” Carr explains the events as best to his recollection from dropping the bag of big bugs and how he forgot to feel the ground with his foot before snapping the twig that started the fight.

Avilo replaces his statement useful for the men to hear, “You try to feel the ground?”

Informing them of having a ranger for a tutor, Carr explains the belief behind being barefoot, “But as my feet prefer to be covered, I replace with the soft leather you can feel even an ant before crushing it. I can tell in the dark if I’m about to step on crisp dry leaves or flattened ones. But if you’re not paying attention.”

Avilo nods to the insight. He and the others are thinking about getting a set of soft, soled boots. Though they know not the best for wet conditions.

Continuing in detail Carr entertains the riders within earshot of the night fight. The men that can’t hear are retold by ones that can.

Dell thinks the thief had help and only replaces the story amusing. Getting to the red light and cloud the men all start questioning.

Carr explains the theory of holes torn into magical bags showing the ones behind him in the saddlebags.

The Captain and Junior believe him, Dell’s sure the thief is making it up.

Allowed to ramble on Carr does, “I saw that ugly Orc punch into that red mist then collapse. It looked like the cloud thing turned towards me. I wanted to run but ended up waking to see the body of Lord Kapigorn. Everything of value was there and everywhere like a tornado hit. I still don’t know what happened in between. I gathered up what I could and got out of there to cross paths with you. Destiny perhaps?”