Almost but Not Quite

The majority of the bandits looked uncertain, and worried, but the leader smiled and held up a hand. "Peace, friends," he said calmly. "Do not be troubled by this clever lady's words. They have no infectious disease. They have instead awoken the ire of Lord Reaibn." at this there was muttering and the faces grew even more scared.

One of the bandits spoke up, "If they are out of favor with his lordship, shouldn't we capture them and turn them in?"

"Ha!" said the leader. "Nothing doing. We are not Lord Reaibn's lapdogs. If anything, we would speed these people on their way. Unfortunately, we must take their belongings." he turned his face towards Fred and Astra again. "Now, before we abscond with all your stuff, leaving you mercifully unharmed much to the chagrin of Lord Reaibn, we can only hope, have you any last words?"

"The ointment," said Astra, "we need it for our sores. Reaibn would be very pleased if you took it from us."

"Then we shall not," said the leader, and at his prompting one of the bandits found it in their stuff and tossed it to Astra, along with one waterskin. "I wish you well. If anyone asks where we found your stuff, I will say you were dead. That is the biggest other favor I can do for you," as he stood up. "Let us away!" he said with a flourish, and the bandits were gone within moments, the last one with a crossbow on Astra and Fred disappearing in the trees.

"Confound it!" swears Lord Fred, "at least they left the ointment."

"At the very least," muttered Astra, sighing. Losing their things was sure to make the remainder of their travel to the border much more painful and slow. "Let's apply the ointment so we can travel again," and so they did.

1. After all the ointment has been applied, they continue on foot, hoping to find fresh water soon (for the waterskin is scarcely half full).
2. as above, but is only after Fred and Astra have drank from the waterskin several times that they discover it was drugged.
3. Meanwhile, Walter and Bartholomew...
4. Meanwhile, Reaibn draws ever closer to the town of Redstone...
5. Meanwhile, in Aqualaria, a decision is made...
6. Meanwhile, in Vjorica, another meeting is held...

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree