* Another episode of Ulric and his party of sexy adventurers is here, and the intrigue is showing a first sign.
I wish I could write faster because I really want to introduce some of the characters that are coming. It'll make for plenty more episodes though.
Enjoy the tale, and a big thank you to all who support me!
*
19 - Ambush
'Oh great, it's going to be cold when I wake up.' said one bandit to another while he watched thick strands of fog roll into the clearing. 'I hate fog.'
The other took a swig from the wine in his mug. 'Drink more then. That'll keep you warm.'
The first one laughed. 'Who needs that as an excuse to drink more?' he said and drank.
When the fog became thicker the bandits stoked up the two fires they had burning and a few of them wrapped themselves up in their blankets expecting the cold.
'It's as thick as soup.' grumbled one. 'As if it's cursed.'
Another one glanced around and held his dagger tight. 'Did anyone see something move in there?'
'What are you talking about, Remo?' grumbled Kels, the burliest one of the group and their leader. 'You're just seeing shadows.'
'Fog or not, I still gotta go.' said another bandit and headed for the edge of the trees.
Kels kept watch on the spot where the other faded from sight, then jumped at a crack of a branch and a muffled cry. 'Fedra! What happened!?'
'Tripped, damned! Hurt my face!' was the answer from a covered mouth.
'Damned idiot.' muttered Kels and drank. It seemed to him that every time they were stuck in fog every sound became louder. Rustling of leaves, creaking of branches, birds flapping their wings, creatures scurrying around. And he hated the cold damp.
He stopped drinking. Something wasn't right with this fog. The cold damp was missing. And the weather hadn't turned cold enough as usual to get fog. He looked around and counted the men he saw, and realised there were less than before. A short chocking sound at the edge of his sight raised his suspicion to alert level. 'Alarm! We might be ambushed!' he shouted and took out his sword as he stood up quickly.
The others around him became livelier and armed themselves. 'Took! Where are you?' one asked.
'Has anyone seen Horm?' asked another.
'Hey! Who goes the-' said another before the sound of wood hitting something hard cut him off.
'Attack!' yelled Kels and the next moment an arrow pierced the side of his arm and he cried out loud.
Trivian appeared from the fog with drawn bow while fighting erupted around them, and fired another arrow at Kels, but he stepped aside faster than expected and the arrow struck the ground.
Kels grimaced in anger as he lunged at and swung his sword at Trivian. Trivian held out his bow in protection, blocking the cut but the force of the hit cut his bow and tumbled him to the side. Kels held up his sword to deal another blow on Trivian but cried out at the stabs in his back and fell forward.
Bea hurried towards Trivian. 'Are you okay!?'
Trivian held up one half of his bow. 'Only mostly.'
Bea held out her hand to help him up when Trivian's eyes went wide, and grabbed her wrist and jerked her towards him before Kels could slash her with his sword.
He pulled one of her daggers from his back and threw it to the ground. 'You didn't think this was the first time I've been stabbed in a fight, did you now?' he grumbled and swung his sword back, and Trivian pulled Bea against him with his broken bow still in hand. 'That bow isn't going to help you any longer!'
Kels lunged forward to stab but Trivian pushed up on his knees, pulled Bea aside and thrust out an arrow with his other hand into Kels's throat.
Kels gurgled a cry as he clutched his throat, stumbled, and fell to his knees.
'The bow is only half of the weapon.' said Trivian and kicked against the back of the arrow to send it straight through Kels's thick neck.
Kels fell forward on his face and Elzbieta appeared out of the fog. She looked down at the body, then at the two young adventurers. 'Nice.' she said and gestured with her head to the side. 'But don't dawdle, we have a few more to take out.'
Bea nodded, retrieved her daggers, and disappeared into the fog again while Trivian grabbed a bow from the bandit's packs and followed her.
Not much later the fog had lifted from the clearing and the surviving and wounded bandits had been tied together in the middle while the group of adventurers looked around in satisfaction. 'Well done.' Elzbieta said. 'This was just like the missions I had before.'
Iphigenia wiped her sword thoroughly clean. 'I'm just happy we suffered no damage.'
Bea smiled at Ulric. 'I don't think I'd ever come up with creating fog by combining my water magic with Trivian's fire magic.'
Ulric washed his paws with water from a sack. 'I just thought of it in the spur of the moment.'
'Still, smart.' she said and turned to Trivian. 'You know, that was kind of awesome, stabbing that guy with just an arrow.'
Trivian blushed lightly and wagged his tail. 'A little trick I learned during early hunting, when predators came too close.' he said. 'But thanks for saving me before.'
Bea wagged her tail. 'Thanks for saving me after.'
Iphigenia watched the two and chuckled. 'Let's go drop this rabble off at the guards and see Rufert about closing the quest.'
***
Rufert read the note from the guard stating how many bandits were locked up and how many were killed, and looked up at Bea, who had handed it to him. 'Good work.' he said and looked at the others. 'I'm glad we didn't have to deal with those bandits for too long a time.' He took the guild cards from Bea and Trivian. 'You certainly deserve your points.'
Ulric growled in Kaui's ear and she handed Rufert their card. 'My master requests you give half of the points to Bea and Trivian. They were the ones who took out the leader.'
Bea and Trivian turned their heads towards him at once. 'Really!?' she asked and Ulric nodded. She jumped forward and hugged him tight. 'Thank you!'
Trivial smiled. 'Indeed, thank you. You didn't have to.'
Ulric dismissed it with a wave of his hand. 'My master says it's only natural to reward you for what you've done.' said Kaui.
Bea looked up at Ulric. 'You know, if you have a need for another fighter in your group, or for other uses besides fighting..'
Ulric coughed and blushed while Iphigenia giggled and Elzbieta stared blankly at him. Kaui cleared her throat. 'My master is very flattered but thinks you're too young and inexperienced to go adventuring far from your home already.'
Trivian huffed. 'Bea, stop teasing others.'
Bea giggled, let go of Ulric and hopped back to Trivian. 'Jealous?'
He poked her nose. 'And stop teasing me.'
She stuck her tongue out at him and grabbed his arm while she winked at the others.
Rufert handed the cards back and they all were satisfied with their status. 'A few more quests under their guidance, and I think you've gained enough experience to work on your own.' he said to Bea and Trivian.
Trivian looked at Ulric and his group. 'Is that okay?'
Kaui smiled. 'My master will be glad to help you when he can.' she said and looked at Iphigenia and Elzbieta. 'And so do we. But first we go celebrate our successful mission.'
***
The other patrons at Monna's inn congratulated the group when they heard about their success and drank to their health, and each time they recalled what was said about the fight, Ulric's cunning plan and the powers of Bea and Trivian grew and the fights became bloodier, but the group enjoyed the cheerful mood and let it be.
'So, the mighty fearful black canine is actually a sweet puppy.' said Monna with a wide grin when Ulric retrieved a tray of full mugs from her counter. He blinked at her and she laughed. 'I heard you gave Bea and Trivian half of all points. That's quite a high value for beginners.' He grinned and shrugged, and she laughed again. 'Let me treat you to a special drink as a thank you.' She reached down for a bottle and cursed, then picked up a tray covered with a cloth. 'I totally forgot to bring these to my sister. I baked sweet breads and wanted to give her some for after their meal.' She looked at Ulric. 'But now it's too busy to leave.'
Ulric held up his hand, pointed at the tray, and tapped on his chest.'
Mona smiled bright. 'Would you? I'd be grateful.' He nodded and took the tray from her. 'Thank you, these taste best when they're fresh from the oven and my sister really loves them.'
Ulric smiled at her and headed over to the group's table to drop off the tray with drinks. 'I'll just be out to bring these to Monna's sister.'
Iphigenia sniffed the scent. 'Yum. Don't go eating them yourself on the way.'
He smiled at her. 'I'll save my hunger for something else later.' he said and left while not only she, but Elzbieta and Kaui as well tuned a little hotter under the collar.
He took the quick route through the back streets and both Ameda and Roran were happy to see him with the treats. 'I'd give you points if I could.' chuckled Ameda and smiled at Ulric. 'So, how did the collaring of your girls go?' They were happy, right?'
Ulric blushed and grinned slightly in embarrassment and Ameda laughed just as heartily as Monna. She smiled at him. 'You better take very good care of them, or I'll be unhappy with you.' Ulric smiled back and gave her a resolute nod and short growl. 'Good, Tell Monna our thanks.'
