Chapter 13: Camp Kerberos

We wait in the silent dark forest, Kizzik, the bandit we captured and myself. Kiz and I have ropes tied around our arms, binding our hands behind our backs to sell the illusion. This is the designated meeting spot to hand off kidnapped people. Not much time passes before we hear the creaking wheels approaching. Its a small black cart with a cage in the back, pulled by two large horses. Sitting in the front is another bandit, this one with a face covering.

“Evening Sid. Where’s Charlie?”

“Uh.. Hey Gleb. Oh! He’s uhhh passed out! Drank too much.” Our bandit says. Not the best actor in the world, but he better treat this like the performance of a lifetime.

“Is this all for today?” The cart driver motions at us.

Our guy nods, pushing me forward. “Into the cage with you! No funny business!”

I proceed to get down to funny business as I fall on the ground.

“Argh! My stomach! Owwww!” I writhe around on the ground, really trying to sell it. Our bandit tries to get me on my feet but then slips and falls on top of me. Ow! That actually did hurt.

The cart driver hops down to help. He grabs Kizzik by the arm. The poor guy doesnt even see what hits him. Kizzik slips out of their restraints in one fluid motion, locking him in a choke hold. He’s out cold in no time. We get him undressed and I slip into his clothes. Ugh, they stink. I cover my face with his mask.

“Heyyy, I’m Gleb. I kick puppies for fun.” I try to imitate his accent as best as I can.

“It’ll have to do, I guess. You got Rina’s gift?” Kizzik asks.

I nod, patting my pocket, feeling the little charm. We use our ropes to tie the real Gleb and his friend to a nearby tree. Sid knows better than to protest.

I hop into the driver’s seat and Kizzik gets in the cage. I find a set of manacles and the key to them. Tossing both back to them. Alright now, to drive to the base…

“Uh, hey Kiz?”

“What is it?” They ask.

“How do you drive a cart?” I ask embarrassed. A little oversight on my part.

Kizzik gives me a crash course on basic maneuvers. It takes a little while and a modest amount of begging the horses to get them to finally start moving.

“See? Easy. Next stop, Camp Kerberos.”

We arrive on site with no issue. I’m a little disheartened to find that its less of a camp and more of a military compound. Tall imposing walls with spiked tops line the perimeter. As we cross the threshold, I see several squat stone buildings. There’s a long house, a building that looks like a barracks and a very large house in the center. That must be where the boss stays. With the prior knowledge of the layout, I do my best to steer the cart to the big cage. I only almost run over one person so I count it as a win. We come to a stop in front of a horrible sight. While it is a large cage, it’s definitely not large enough. The people inside are mashed together in tight quarters. They don't even have room to lay down. They’re all different races, ages, and they all look like they’ve accepted their fate. I quickly unload Kizzik, who is wearing the manacles now.

“Remember, wait for the signal.” I whisper as I lead him forward. One of the guards at the front of the cage opens it for me. It feels awful to push Kizzik in there but this is the only way.

I leave quickly, we don't have much time until the fireworks start. Strolling through the camp in the most inconspicuous way I know how, I notice some of the bandits are making their way into the longhouse. Just like Sid said, the party gets started around midnight. I slip into the building to find everyone getting drunk. It’s only about a third of the camp here but that’ll have to do. With as much stealth as I can muster, I slip along the wall to where the kegs are located. I take Rina’s gift out of my pocket. It’s a charred wooden stake with white runes carved in it. I stick it behind one of the kegs before scurrying out of the Longhouse. The preparations are made. Now all that’s left is the hard part. I make my way to the big house in the middle. There are a couple guards armed with spears stationed outside. One of them is an old stocky man with an eyepatch, the other is a woman with a hooked nose and short hair.

“What’s your business?” she asks.

I put on my world famous Gleb impression. “Got urgent business to discuss with Bisanu. Adventurers in town causing a muck. One of them’s strange. Got some kind of magic armor.”

She doesn't speak for a long time. Oh no, did she see through the disguise? Finally she says

“ Right, gimme a minute.”

She ducks into the building. A few excruciating minutes pass. I’m sweating right through the black bandit cloth. The best case scenario for this plan is putting myself in a confined space with a murderer and the worst case is me joining Kizzik in the cage. The woman guard comes back out and waves me in. I do my best to contain my nerves as I cross the threshold. Thank god for the mask. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust but when they do, I see a lavish space filled with color. There are red and blue silks hanging from the ceiling, tall candles lighting the space, throw pillows and rugs strewn across the floor. Thick tobacco smoke makes the air heavy. I guess I was expecting something a little more… Evil lair? This Bisanu guy is supposed to be a monster. Where are the skulls and spines he’s collected from his enemies? It's way too cozy in here. At the opposite end of the room is a man. He sits on a pile of very large pillows smoking a pipe with two gorgeous women on either side of him.

“Don’t just stand there like a statue. Come in.” The timbre of his voice makes my teeth set on edge.

I walk forward slowly. As I get closer I can make him out better. He’s a man carved of granite. Every inch of him is muscular. His forearms are the size of my head! Jet black curly locks cascade down his shoulders, framing a striking scarred face. The women at his side look a little too relaxed. They are laughing at something but I’m not sure what. Are they on something?

“You got something to report? Spit it out. I don’t have all night.”

The pressure he gives off is intense. I recognize immediately when I’m within his range. It's also at this time that I notice the massive greatsword resting next to him. It’s way too big to be called a sword really. Massive, thick, heavy, and way too rough. It’s more like a heap of raw iron. My palms get sweaty. Standing this close to the man feels like being locked in a cage with a starving beast, but I came here to do a job. This beast needs to be put down. At my command, the armor forms around me, locking into place. The visor lights up as all systems come online. The women, even in their stupor, recognize what's about to happen. They run out of the house squealing. Now it’s just me and him.

[Void Walker. Exceptionally high mana concentration detected. Target: Black Dog Bisanu, should be considered an extremely dangerous threat. Proceed with caution.]

“Wait a second. You’re not Gleb.” Bisanu says.

“No shit.”

I dash at him full speed and deliver an earth shattering punch.

KABOOM!

The back of the building explodes with the impact. I might’ve overdone it a little but I know instinctively that I have to go all out against this guy. The dust settles on the scene and I’m surprised to see he’s nowhere to be found! What the hell?!

“Pretty slow. Pretty sloppy.” He chides from behind me, his sword strapped to his back.

How did he?! I whirl around swiftly, throwing a spinning heel kick at his head. He catches it! The smug bastard is smiling!

“You’re going to pay for everything you’ve done.” I growl.

“Me? Pay? Hmm… No, that doesn't sound quite right. How about this?”

Before I know what's happening, I’m flying through the air. I crash through the back of the house and into the oaken wall behind it. Ouch. Everything hurts. I can't breathe either. He must’ve knocked the wind out of me. The sensors in the suit are blaring, alerting me of my injuries which I am well aware of. It takes a second but I’m finally able to force air back into my lungs. As I stand up, the bandit leader’s silhouette appears in the hole in the wall. His grin is even bigger now.

“Finally! Someone who can take a punch!”

He takes one step forward before all hell breaks loose. We both look up as a flaming meteor flies over us and collides with the long house. The thunderous blast completely destroys the building and everyone in it. Bisanu’s mouth hangs agape at the sight. I hope Kizzik saw that signal.