Chapter 11: Adventurers Fur Hire

Lappy is beside herself with grief. She’s crumpled on the floor, sobbing deeply into her hands. The young boy hugs her tightly, staining her dress with his own tears.

“W-w-what are w-we gonna do?” He asks her.

I get up from the table and kneel down beside the Bellua woman.

“Excuse me Miss? Was it bandits that took your daughter?”

“My little sister. Our parents died a long time ago. It's just been us three. I’ve been…” Her body shudders with her sobbing. “I was supposed to look after us.”

Lappy grabs her little brother and holds him tightly to her. An older gentleman gets up from his seat at the bar and comes over to comfort the woman, touching her arm lightly. He’s rail thin with wispy white hair. His voice sounds like he spent his younger days eating rocks.

“Now Lappy, you have to be strong for little Lenny. Come on, stand up. Those bandits aren't gonna get away with this! We’ll get Lilly back!”

She jerks her arm away. “What are we supposed to do?! We can't fight them! There’re no guards here. No one's gonna help us!”

The man seems undeterred. “I did my fair share of bounty hunting back in the day. I’ve got some fight in me yet. Those bastards won't know what hit ‘em!”

Kizzik chuckles softly as he gets up from his chair. “Old man, the only thing you’ll be hittin is the floor. Don't be dumb.”

Way too harsh Kizzik! But they’re not entirely wrong. This guy looks like a strong breeze could knock him over. Still… Someone has to do something.

“Bandits are desperate creatures. Dangerous and unpredictable. If you really were a bounty hunter, you’d know that much.” Rina says.

The old man starts to argue his credentials with her.

“Do you know where they might’ve taken her?” I ask quietly. They’re all talking now and don't hear me. I clear my throat and try again.

“Ahem! Do you know where they’re keeping her?”

The little boy, Lenny, looks up at me with big brown eyes, wiping tears and snot on his sleeve. He’s shaking like a leaf.

“I heard they got a camp! The bigger kids were sayin they saw em just north of here, a big wall around it!”

“Show me.” I pick the boy up so he can look at the map on our table. He studies it for a moment then picks one of the large red markings to the north. The symbol looks to be three mean looking wolf heads.

Kizzik sucks in a sharp breath. Rina curses loudly. “Kerberos.” She spits it out like something filthy. “Human garbage that works with demons. They have for decades now. They sell them slaves.”

“That’s terrible, but there’s a chance the little girl hasn't been sold yet right? We have to rescue her!” My heart’s pounding a mile a minute. The idea of heading into battle again so soon is terrifying but what’s the alternative? I’ve already made up my mind that I won’t let my fears get in the way of doing the right thing.

Kizzik and Rina look at each other with a surprising coolness. They seem less phased by the development.

“It wouldn't be my first run in with these guys. They’re about as ruthless and cutthroat as you can get even in the criminal underworld. Their boss, Black Dog Bisanu, is a real monster.” Kizzik says.

Rina examines the map again. “Maybe if we could find a pathway that slips by their sentries, we could be in and out before they knew what hit them?”

I’m amazed at how quickly and calmly they start strategizing. Kizzik and Rina converse for a bit as I watch in awe. I didn't realize it fully before but I’m truly grateful to have them as my companions. The old man stands beside me, arms crossed.

“Ya’ll must be adventurers then. Before you get all gungho, we should tell ya we aint got gold to pay ya for your service.” He says.

Kizzik turns to him with a smile. “What’d you say your name was?”

“I didn't. Its Bill. People round here call me Ole Bill… Cuz I’m old.”

“Right… Old Bill, I’ll tell ya what, we need a sturdy cart and a decent draft horse to get us to the capital quickly. If you all can get us that, we’ll take care of the bandit situation.”

Lappy and Lenny look at us with bleary eyes. Their sobs stop when they hear Kizzik’s offer.

Ole Bill nods, stroking his chin as he thinks. “Hmm… The cart won't be too much of an issue I reckon. The man who owns that barn down the road’s got one you could use. I’ll have to cash in a favor for the horse but I’ll just have to make it happen.”

Kizzik shakes the old man’s hand. “You sure you don't have gold too?” They ask.

Bill chuckles heartily. “Yeah okay. Once Lilly’s home, I’ll see what we can scrounge up.”

We set up a base of operations at the inn. Luckily we’re the only ones staying there so we can really spread out. Rina takes all the info she can get on the Kerberos gang and pins it to the walls in the foyer. The innkeeper isn't too pleased about it but one fiery death stare from Rina keeps him from complaining too much.

Kizzik recruits me to help him gather information around town. We’re looking for any safe ways we might approach the camp without being spotted. Old hunter trails, overgrown roadways, something that wouldn’t be on a map or that the bandits would know about. There are a few folks milling about still and we find a couple hunters on their way back in for supper. Kizzik takes the lead. They ask the hunters if they can help us.

One of them is a man with a big bushy beard and eyebrows. It’s hard to read his expression through all the hair but he sounds pissed off. “Aint no trails the bandits aint already watchin. We ran into the bastards this morning. They stole the game outta three of our traps! Lazy, good for nothin goat pissers!” He grumbles and curses some more. I don't blame him.

We talk to a few more people around the village, but no one knows of any covert paths. We do notice a trend though. They all have something bad to say about the bandits. Pretty much everyone in Mud has had a run in with them. Whether they’ve been threatened, extorted, or even assaulted. Everyone here is terrorized by Kerberos. The general store clerk, a deer Bellua, mentions a very disturbing story he overheard recently.

“I heard those bandits that came in here earlier, they said they saw their boss tear a stone bear in half with his bare hands!”

I’m not sure what a stone bear is but the imagery isn't lost on me. It makes sense though. You don't become the leader of a bunch of ruthless killers by being underwhelming. Still, it's not what we wanted to hear by a long shot.

“You said there were bandits in here earlier. Think they're still around?” Kizzik asks.

The shopkeeper shrugs. “I guess it’s possible. They come around every so often just to drink up all the booze and make us all miserable. Not to mention that they’ve started taking people. It might be time for me to move out of this damn town..”

Kizzik and I leave, making for the Tavern once again.

“I’m not going back to Rina with bad news without a little liquid courage. Think Lappy will let us drink for free?” Kizzik asks.

As we make it onto the front step, we hear Lappy scream from inside. We rush in to find two men holding Lenny up in the air by either arm. He’s thrashing around wildly trying to break free but the men just laugh. I recognize them as the two shady guys from earlier.

“Give me my sister back or I’ll punch your guts out!” Lenny yells. He’s trying to be tough but you can hear the fear in his voice.

“Oh dont worry little rabbit. We’re gonna take you to her right now!” One of the creeps laughs as they haul the child toward the door.

Lappy throws herself at one of them but he shrugs her off with ease, sending her slamming into the bar with a crash. The anger surging through me makes my body move on its own. I stalk towards the two bandits. They have the nerve to show up here after stealing this woman’s sister? As if there won't be consequences?! These bastards have no shame! I’m about to summon the armor when I feel Kizzik’s hand press against my chest.

“No worries kid. Save that for something worthwhile. I’ve got this.” Kizzik steps up, blocking the bandits’ path.