Ritter and the Bandits
Maybe the bandits thought he was dead. That was the only explanation Ritter could dream up as his vision swam from the three-on-one attack that left his head pounding and his nose bloody.
He got up slowly as the world spun around him. He blinked and spotted movement through the trees.
He saw the three bandits in a clearing an arrow shot away. They were standing over a body. Ritter blinked again. It looked like Ace.
Yes, his ringing brain remined him, Crow and Ace had also been with him when the bandit meeting had gone sideways.
Ace wasn't moving. Shit. They killed the kid. And it was only his first adventure.
Suddenly, a bandit fell, an arrow magically appearing in her left eye. Another cried out and fell, writhing on the ground, an arrow in his guts. It would take him a long time to die.
Another figure emerged from the woods, his quiver empty, his longsword drawn.
Crow!
"Back off or I'll finish him," the last bandit said, his sword poised above Ace's chest. It was that bastard Salazar.
Salazar. Why they had ever listened to him was a mystery. Maybe the lust for adventure had gotten in the way. Robbing a rich man's caravan to give the coins to the poor had sounded good at the time.
Only too late did the adventurers learn that the bandits were "the poor."
When the bandits had turned on them, Ace had gotten in a few licks, but he was new. Sensing the kid's peril, Crow and Ritter had jumped in front, swirling and snarling. Eventually, Ritter was alone, fighting all three.
Ace had vanished. Where was Crow? Then the lights had gone out.
Now, Ritter was careening from tree to tree like a drunkard, his addled brain barely keeping him upright. His only thought was to make some new holes in the bastard Salazar.
"Run now, and I'll let you live," Crow said to the bandit.
Salazar's greasy laugh turned to a cry of dismay as Ritter roared out of the tree line, his bloody face and scarred helm making him look more like a nightmare monster than a chewed-up fighting man.
"No, stay put you dog," Ritter roared, raising his sword.
Suddenly, a bandit fell, an arrow magically appearing in her left eye. Another cried out and fell, writhing on the ground, an arrow in his guts. It would take him a long time to die.
Another figure emerged from the woods, his quiver empty, his longsword drawn.
Crow!
"Back off or I'll finish him," the last bandit said, his sword poised above Ace's chest. It was that bastard Salazar.
Salazar. Why they had ever listened to him was a mystery. Maybe the lust for adventure had gotten in the way. Robbing a rich man's caravan to give the coins to the poor had sounded good at the time.
Only too late did the adventurers learn that the bandits were "the poor."
When the bandits had turned on them, Ace had gotten in a few licks, but he was new. Sensing the kid's peril, Crow and Ritter had jumped in front, swirling and snarling. Eventually, Ritter was alone, fighting all three.
Ace had vanished. Where was Crow? Then the lights had gone out.
Now, Ritter was careening from tree to tree like a drunkard, his addled brain barely keeping him upright. His only thought was to make some new holes in the bastard Salazar.
"Run now, and I'll let you live," Crow said to the bandit.
Salazar's greasy laugh turned to a cry of dismay as Ritter roared out of the tree line, his bloody face and scarred helm making him look more like a nightmare monster than a chewed-up fighting man.
"No, stay put you dog," Ritter roared, raising his sword.
Salazar's eyes flicked to both men. How had they lived through the battle? Lived and come back for more?
The calculation was clear. Salazar turned and ran.
Ritter tried to chase him, but the world swam again, and he fell.
"Let him go, mate," Crow called out. "Our work is done." Crow was kneeling over Ace, pouring some liquid down his throat. The kid sputtered and sat up, smiling through bloody teeth.
"That was fun," Ace said evenly. "I'm hungry."
The calculation was clear. Salazar turned and ran.
Ritter tried to chase him, but the world swam again, and he fell.
"Let him go, mate," Crow called out. "Our work is done." Crow was kneeling over Ace, pouring some liquid down his throat. The kid sputtered and sat up, smiling through bloody teeth.
"That was fun," Ace said evenly. "I'm hungry."
///
Images by Chrysander Mandragora (Instagram @mandragora_media).
For more, visit Alliance Atlanta LARP.
///
Comments
Post a Comment