Loffenten

A cart lazily rolled past a large overhanging tree. The donkey pulling the cart was leisurely striding forwards. An old man sat and watched, with utter boredom, the road ahead. He had a straw hat and wore tattered old clothes. His beige shirt was untucked, and his trousers were dark brown. It was clear that he did not live a life of luxury. But he chewed on some tobacco, feeling the coolness of the shade wash over him. Then, as he was enjoying the relief of the overhanging tree. Two figures dropped down. A third came rushing from the side. The figure bolted for the donkey and immediately tried to calm it. Meanwhile, the two masked men had the old man at knifepoint.

“Listen here,” said one of the bandits with a nasal voice. “We’re taking this cart and everything you got,” he informed the frightened old man and pressed his knife hard against his throat.

“If you’re a good boy,” began the other one with a smoker’s voice, “Then you might live.” They chuckled and ripped the reins from his hands.

“Please no,” pleaded the old man feebly, “I’ve got grandkids that depend on me.”

“Heart-breaking story, truly. But we be suffering too,” retorted the smoker.

“Take the food if that’s what you’re after,” cried the old man.

“I think he’s grovelled enough,” stated the nasal one. The old man began to struggle as they held him down and readied their knives. With a whoosh. An ice spike impaled the nasally one’s skull. The smoker froze and watched in horror as blood flowed over the ice.

“By the Goddess,” exclaimed the one holding the donkey steady. The smoker didn’t move or reply. He just stared at the ice spike.

“Clarence, where did it come from?” he shouted. Clarence remained still. 

“Clarence. Stop your gawking we need to act fast,” he ordered. Clarence began to lean back slowly. He continued to recline until he fell off the cart. When he struck the dirt, his head revealed an arrow. The final bandit paled and was gripped with fear. He turned tail and ran, but before he could get far. Eranor stepped out from behind a tree. The bandit’s face contorted from the shock. He tried his best to stop, legs frantically scrambling. He stumbled and lost his balance before Eranor capitalised. With one swift stroke of his sword, the bandit was slashed.

“Kal, check on the driver,” he ordered and sheathed his sword. The bandit crawled on the floor, gasping for air. His throat and hands covered in blood. Eranor stood over him and placed his boot firmly on his back. 

“Not your lucky day,” he said before kicking the corpse off the road. Eranor turned to the cart. He watched as Raione pilfered the pockets of the other two, while Kaltmund tended to the old man.

“Rai, we’re not common bandits. Don’t loot the dead,” he moaned as he walked closer.

“What good do possessions do if you’re dead?” she remarked and cut open their pockets.

“At least don’t ruin the clothes. People could really use them,” he sighed and got onto the cart.

 “Everything okay here Kal?” he asked and plopped himself down next to the two of them.

“He’s okay. We got here just in time,” he said and sat back, completing his inspection.

“That you did. I’m forever grateful to you, young adventures,” said the man in a worn voice.

“Don’t think much of it,” Eranor said and leaned back on the frame, “Oh and we’re not adventures.”

“Then what are you?” asked the old man.

“We’re heroes,” he said calmly and looked blankly at the old man.

“Oh my. Heroes as such a young age. Are you part of any Orders?” he asked with a hint of excitement behind his weary eyes.

“Not for you to know,” he cut the old man short. “We’ve been tasked with cutting down these bandits that have sprung up around Loffenten. So, we keep our Order name secret. Well, until the job is done that is,” he lied and stood up. He knew they were adventures as they haven’t been accepted into an Order. But people don’t trust adventures as they are freelancers and almost always become mercenaries.

“To think the Orders would finally send someone to deal with these hooligans. Guthrum and his horde have been plaguing these lands for months now,” said the old man.

“The Order couldn’t just sit and do nothing,” said Kaltmund before turning to the old man, “Do you know where this Guthrum hides?” Eranor looked over his shoulder to see Raione getting in on the back of the cart.

“No one knows brave heroes. We only know that his men creep out from the forest. Please, allow me to take you into town. It’s the least I could do,” he said and grabbed the reins of the donkey.

“It would be mighty kind,” said Eranor and sat back down. The cart slowly rolled forward and off they went.

They spoke a while longer with the old man. They wanted to get as much information out of the old man as they possibly could. Though he seemed more interested in telling them of his family. They knew he had three children and seven grandchildren. His wife had gone deaf in one ear. His eldest is yet to marry, which is strange since the other two already have children. The youngest grandchild recently began to talk and finally. One of his daughters-in-law is nine years younger than his son. They found out about all this, yet all they knew about Guthrum. Was that he was an adventurer turn bandit and his cohorts are also skilled.

When they were a short distance away from Loffenten, the trio decided they would walk the rest of the way.

“You can go back to your farm,” Eranor said and hopped off. Raione didn’t waste any time and vaulted over the side of the cart.

“Thank you for bringing us this far,” said Kaltmund before calmly disembarking. Eranor and Kaltmund waved goodbye to the old man and turned to the town.

“So, Eranor. I didn’t think we would lie to someone on our path to being heroes?” asked Kaltmund calmly as they walked.

“It’s all part of my master plan Kal. Trust me,” he replied and smiled, dropping his mysterious hero act.

“Glad to see you’re no longer acting like a fool,” she commented and cracked a smile. “It was actually kind of pathetic to see you try and be a tough guy,” she added before laughing.

“Hey, he bought it. Besides, it’s all part of my master plan, Rai. You’ll see. This will get us recruitment offers like never before,” he said and rubbed his hands together.

“If you say so. But we need to restock first. If I must hunt for food one more time, I’ll slit my wrists,” she moaned with fake intent.

“Rai, you can’t say things like that,” began Kaltmund. “What if some kids overhear you. Kids are impressionable you know. If we’re going to be heroes, we need be role models,” he lectured her.

“Kal, you idiot. I won’t actually slit my wrists,” she barked.

“Then why did you say?” he asked with confusion.

“You God damn,” she began winding up a barrage of curses. But before she could unleash them, she saw a faint smirk creep on his face. “Kal, did you just play dumb to upset me?” she asked with her fists clenched. Kaltmund, realising the situation played much differently in his head, decided to divert the conversation.

“No, I was smiling because I remembered how much I loved to travel,” he said and forced a stupid smile.

“Kal,” growled Raione before Eranor interrupted with a whistle.

“Loffenten sure is much bigger than what Blackbough was,” he remarked with genuine amazement. Raione let go of her anger and looked towards the town.

It was a busy day as traders rolled in and out with their carts. People were out and about. The white houses with their blue roof tiles carried on for ages. The town stretched on over the hill and was divided in two by a river. Smoke billowed out of the chimneys from the stonemasons that settled just outside the town. Charcoal burners peddled their goods with all these people. The townspeople would greet each other and talk loudly, almost shouting. The guards at the city gate merely glanced at the people coming and going. 

As they moved through the main street. It was apparent that they were out of their depth. They were besieged by peddlers trying to sell their wares. They offered everything from vegetables, to strange town unique baubles. The three heroes were overwhelmed by all of it. They each resorted to different techniques in deterring the hoard. Kaltmund threw up his hood and prayed as he walked. Raione unsheathed her axes and carried them out in the open. Finally, Eranor assumed an arrogant walk. Looking down on any approaching trader. Then turning away with disgust. Eranor’s tactic was the least efficient of them all. He lacked the regal look needed for his act. Yet, this helped to lighten the barrage of shouting traders. It, however, did soon become unbearable. They were looking at each off-branching alley as an escape. When they were deep enough into the town, they stepped off into one of these back alleys.

“Do you even know where we are heading Eranor,” complained Raione with her axe on her shoulder and other firmly in her grip.

“Not entirely. I was expecting to find some shops, not attacked by stall owners,” he said and stopped in the alleyway. His eyes scanned down both ends of the long backstreet.

“Great,” she sighed, “so we’re going to turn back into that crazy street?” she looked annoyed and her entire demeanour went sour.

“Yeah, sorry about that Rai. We should have been better prepared, but this town is more like a city,” he said and fell back against the wall and let out a deep sigh. He rested his head against the cold brick wall and looked up at the blue sky. Then it vanished. Something or someone ducked back over the roofline.

“It was rather foolish of us to assume we would simply be able to walk into Loffenten and know the way,” said Kaltmund as he lowered his hood. Eranor closed his eyes and felt the stonewall grow icy, the stench of the street becoming pungent. Then the chatter of the street erupting.

“Maybe if you asked one of the priests where some shops are, we could make quick time,” she said and rested her other axe on her shoulder. Eranor focused his hearing to the roof. He heard footsteps slowly creeping on roof tiles. Two children by the sound of it. He turned his head to face deeper into the alley.

“I could, but I doubt that any priest would know of shops that could help us. Besides, we need to keep our presence as minimal as possible,” he began lecturing Raione again.

Eranor’s ears perked up at the sound of faint chatter. Two groups stood out of sight after the bend in the road. They were huddled together by what he could tell from the whispering. He tried to focus harder but there were too many other elements he had to ignore.

“What do you think Eranor?” asked Kaltmund and Eranor snapped out of his focus, “Should we ask a priest just to find our bearings?”

“No,” he said and stared down the alley. He put his hand on the hilt of his sword. He gave a quick lookup to the rooftops. No one to be seen. The others saw his reaction and turned to face the same way. “We go deeper,” he said and nodded towards the bend. Raione took her axes from her shoulders, Kaltmund summoned his staff from beneath his cloak. Raione took the right with Eranor to her left. Kaltmund kept his distance and watched the rooftops. Slowly the trio crept forwards, prepared for the ambush.

Eranor made sure to step hard on the stone so that the attackers would reveal themselves. When they came close a whistle sounded. Two figures leapt from the rooftops, only to repulsed by Kaltmund’s magic. They were sent crashing down the corridor. Two groups rushed from the sides. Raione blocked the attack. Eranor was in disbelief at what he saw. They were children. Ranging from toddlers to teens. Eranor deflected the blow and grabbed Raione. He pulled her back from the assault.

“Kal, freeze them,” he shouted and darted towards him, dragging Raione. Kal began his chant and with the young assailants in tow, they raced down the alleyway. Kaltmund formed a snow sphere at the tip of his staff. With Eranor and Raione diving past, he speared his shaft forward.

“Burst,” he cried, and the sphere detonated. Unleashing a blizzard shock wave. It washed over the children. They became encrusted in ice and were knocked back by the snow explosion.

“Quickly Rai,” he cried and made haste back towards them, “I’ll disarm them, you grab the oldest one.” Raione smiled and shot past Kaltmund. Her axes coiled back to strike. The children moved lethargically. Their shivering hands struggling to hold their weapons. Eranor slashed hard at their weapons, sending it flying from their numb grip. The eldest boy charged forward. Raione jumped high and hammered down with her axes. The eldest boy’s rusty sword shattered under the blow. Sending shards of steel flying. He stumbled back and would have fallen over.

Raione, however, dug the beard of her axe through his shirt and yanked him towards her. She caught him and spun him around before he could react. A swift kick to the back of his legs made the boy fall to his knees. She gripped his shoulder and raised her other axe high. Her muscles tensed as she prepared a vicious blow.

“Alright, you little bastards. Unless you want to see how deep I can split him. Surrender,” she ordered. Everyone froze in place. The kids stared horrified at the scene. Without a single weapon in their hands, they had no choice but to comply