Things start looking good...

The morning light is peering through the trees, you can even see little woodland critters frolicking about like it's a normal day. All the while, me and the members of today’s raid are in front of Fort Lenora doing last minute prep. I had to wake up early today because of the raid, after the events from last night I didn’t get much sleep. I guess Chef noticed because he gave me his special wake up tonic. It’s basically ginger tea, but don’t tell him I said that. He also gave me a light bowl of porridge, something easy for my stomach. After finishing my light breakfast he gave me a small sack of jerky to share with the others and sent me on my way. Jasmine was nowhere to be seen, I guess she has work to do too. She was probably sent to tail Reginald to make sure he’s not a snitch, as for Rat I had a short chat with him too. He kept snickering about something, I got no idea what he’s planning though. All that led to me being here, and with that guy’s words still echoing in my mind.

“I told you you were my son!”

It pisses me off! Even now, when I’m a grown ass man, this bastard finds a way to haunt me. Maybe I can psych myself up before-

“ALRIGHT MEN! IT’S TIME TO HEAD OUT! IF YOU CAN’T KEEP UP YOU’RE GETTING LEFT BEHIND!”

…Why is karma having her way with me today? I thought she was on my side, I guess I spent my points screwing with Reggie the other day. Well I guess I have no choice but to stick it out. I sigh and then get moving along with my other nameless brethren.

****

We’ve been walking for thirty minutes now, if we keep this pace it’ll be another half hour before we break out of the forest. I still can’t get that guy's words out of my head, but just before I kept thinking about it I felt a sharp slap on my back. Surprised the s*** outta me, I turn to see Steve there smiling.

“Sup bud?”

“Oh nothing, I just have a lot on my mind.”

I don’t want to worry Steve about me, but I don’t really want to talk about my family life either. One of the nice things about being a lowlife is that no one questions your past. However, despite my curt reply, Steve still talks to me.

“Oh, last minute jitters right?”

“What?”

“This is your first big gig, so you probably feel a bit nervous. This is the red line after all, once you jump in there’s no going back.”

Steve has a point, after today I’m a bonafide crook. It makes sense why that guy showed up now, he doesn’t want me to do anything to tarnish my so-called heritage. What a crockpot of s***! Just as I thought that Steve continued speaking.

“You’ll be fine.”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been waiting for this right, if you’ve been pining for this day then you won’t mess it up. Besides, if anything happens, you got the muscle of the team right here!”

This guy, he might be dumb but he knows exactly how to lift my spirits. That’s right I’ve been waiting for this day, who gives a crap about the past. Right now, it’s all about me!

“Thanks muscle head, I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime beansprout!”

“You lot seem to be having a good conversation.”

Just when we finished, here comes Rich to see what we’re doing. I guess I should greet him.

“Oh, morning Sub-boss Rich! I’m all prepared for-”

“Shut it loser! I still don’t think you belong here, just stay out of our way you got that!”

Ouch! And here I thought we had something special. Well it should’ve been apparent days ago that Rich wasn’t on my team, I shouldn’t be surprised that nothing has changed. After giving me a verbal lashing, Rich turned to Steve and began praising him.

“How’s my special pupil doing! I hope this simpleton isn’t weighing you down.”

“No Rich, I was just having a discussion with my pal. The only nuisance here is you.”

“HOW DARE YOU!”

Oh Crap! Why did you have to say that bud, Rich is all red in the face now.

“SHOW SOME RESPECT WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR MASTER! ON TOP OF THAT WHO DO YOU THINK FOUGHT HARD TO GET YOU ON THIS ASSIGNMENT! DON’T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!”

“Uh? Sub-boss Rich?”

“What is it you little parasite!”

“Your voice might give away our position.”

Rich went silent after my comment, especially when he realized the whole group was watching him now. I had to save my friend somehow, still why does Rich have to hate me so much?

“GRRRR!!! This isn’t over, I swear Steve when we get back to base I’m gonna beat some manners into you. You got a discipline course coming for you to weasel!”

He said that and walked back to the front, why am I in trouble? Me and Steve both sighed after the confrontation.

“Thanks for having my ass back there.”

“No prob, you’re the team’s muscle right?”

“Heh, asshole.”

We had some small talk and continued our trek to the plains, my usual zeal finally renewed!

****

After picking up the pace, we made it ahead of schedule. Within forty five minutes we reached the Lenora plains, now we await the promised score. Can’t help but take in the beauty of these plains.

“Man I wish I had a blanket and a beer right now, the weather is too good today. Perfect weather to steal some-”

Before I could finish muttering to myself, I could’ve sworn I heard something move. I turned in the direction of the noise only to see some patches of green grass. Something is off with that grass, it doesn't look real. Rule #32 of being a thief is to remain vigilant at all times, that said let’s bring this up with Rich.

“Hey Sub-boss Rich-”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT!”

He still must be pissed about earlier, but I gotta try regardless.

“Don’t those patches of grass look unreal over there?”

“...Are you telling me you’ve been watching grass?”

“No, it’s just I heard a noise from over there. I think something’s up.”

“If you’re scared, then go back to base alone, you slime ball.”

“No, I’m not scared it’s just-”

“THEIR COMING!”

The lookout sounded the call, Rich shrugged off my concerns and told me to get into position like everyone else. As I did more things came into view that threw me off. Unfamiliar rock formations, more fake looking grass, surreal looking bushes and even a tree. Why the hell is a tree out here? That’s rare around these parts, mind you it has apples on it. Okay now I know something is wrong here, but Rich won’t believe me. I’ll just have to keep watching, just as I declared that to myself, the cargo began to come in.

There were four horse caravans and one burly man pulling a wagon with a barrel of booze. Leading the group in front was an old man who looked like a farmer, there was a young girl next to him wearing a Yellow dress. She was probably his granddaughter, this should go easier than expected. Rich sounded his whistle and did a hand gesture, this was the signal for our assault team. Immediately the team pulled out crossbows and slings, and incapacitated three of the horses that were there. The last one got rowdy so one of the archers had to pull a headshot to prevent it escaping, the travelers began to panic and we could hear the commotion from our hiding place near the rocks.

“OH NO, GERTRUDE! Grandpa, what’s happening!”

“I don’t know sweetheart, something hit our poor horse!”

I feel bad for the girl, with her innocent Olive eyes, but we got to make a living somehow. The assault team dropped their long range gear and left them to the supply team to pick up. They then grabbed their close range gear and emerged from the hiding spot. Time for phase two of the heist, the confrontation.

“Awww, sorry about that, it looks like we hurt your ponies. Don’t worry, we can give you a lift-”

“Ah! Who are you people!”

“-For the right price!”

Leave it to bandit G to start scaring the damsels, he has some good wordplay though. That poor girl is shivering like a rabbit now, surprisingly the other caravan drivers ran. One hid in his caravan carriage, one jumped for the shrubs, one hid behind that odd tree I mentioned, and the burly man ran over the hills. Wow, talk about disappointing and here I was expecting some action.

“-hehe…”

I heard some laughter coming from the bushes that guy jumped into, is he going hysterical? Also why does it look like the grass moved a bit? Before I could keep thinking, I heard the girl screaming. I turned to see bandit G and the fellas moving in on the duo.

“Grandpa, I’m scared!”

“OH NO! PLEASE TAKE ME, LEAVE MY PRECIOUS GRANDDAUGHTER ALONE!”

“Oh don’t worry sir, we’ll take excellent care of her. She’s the right age too, we can have some fun with this one. Right fellas!”

G and his cronies start laughing, however I can’t help but squeeze my hands watching them say that crap. I guess I haven’t given up my morals yet, well there’s no going back now. G and the others keep snickering as they walk over, the girl starts holding her grandfather and he tries to shield her with his body.

“It’s okay sweetie, I won’t let them hurt you.”

“Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD! WHERE ARE THE KNIGHTS!”

“Sorry you two, the knights are outta town right now. Meaning we can come out for business!”

The pair looks at each other and then G, realizing there’s no escape. Perhaps his heart couldn’t take it because grandpa fainted, leaving his poor granddaughter alone in this.

“Grandpa, please grandpa! DON’T LEAVE ME ALONE WITH THEM!”

“Oh, well that hurts dear. I even brushed my teeth.”

“GODS PLEASE! WHERE ARE THE KNIGHTS! WE ARE THEY!”

“Stupid girl I told you, the knights are-”

Before he could finish, G got shot in the shoulder by a cross bow bolt. His two compatriots got stunned by the sudden predicament, only for the once scared girl to start controlling the situation.

“Don’t move.”

The girl’s once scared voice and expression was now replaced by cold eyes, in her hands was a crossbow. There’s a box behind where her gramps is sitting, she was buying time so she could grab it. G winced in pain as he sat up.

“You little bitch, I’m gonna cut three of your fingers off for-”

“I said don’t move.”

She loaded another shot, G and the others went silent. It should be easy to rush the girl, but they can’t move. This girl has pressure, the same amount of pressure the boss gives out. Was what I thought until I heard a hearty chuckle come from beside her.

“Hahahaha! Your acting was good, but I guess you got annoyed playing the helpless damsel.”

“Bite me.”

The grandpa stood up, right after he supposedly fainted. What’s even more strange is that the moment he stood up, the short leg I thought he had came off. Revealing a much taller man, taller than he was supposed to be.

“What the hell is going on, why do you have false legs old man. Where did you even hide that crossbow!”

“Before I tell you scoundrels anything, let me answer this young ladies question. You want to know where the knights are-”

The old man began to grab his beard and hat, only to toss them aside. Beneath the wig and fake beard was a man with sky blue eyes and hazy black hair tied in a short pony tail. He removed his clothes to reveal knight armor underneath, sword and all. The girl did the same, she tore off her dress revealing her light plate armor underneath. As she put her gauntlets on the man continued.

“We received intel that some bandits took over an old fort, looks like that intel was right.”

Damn, it was a bust! Who gave these guys the intel, but before we could think about that Rich sounded the emergency call. That means we’re all going in. G heard the call and began to get snarky.

“Well it’s real neat that you guys came out to see us, too bad you don’t have enough buddies with you!”

Immediately we all came rushing out, weapons drawn and ready for a fight. It kinda feels like over kill, that short girl immediately went for her crossbow again but her boss began laughing.

“Captain?”

“Ha! Stand down squire, I think these hooligans can use some good theater."

The girl closed her eyes and sighed as she lowered her aim, the man smiled at Rich who was apparent as the leader and began addressing him.

“So apparently your men think I’m not enough.”

“Of course, jackass! What’re two guppies gonna do to a group of forty people!”

“You may have a point there, what do you guys think about this?”

“I already told you my though-”

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

Immediately the knight looked to the skies and yelled.

“MY MEN, SOUND OUT!!!!”

Immediately the plains were flooded with the noise of shields banging, footsteps, and rowdy cries. The knight simply started laughing and told his men the following.

“You can come out now.”

Immediately, the patches of weird grass I saw sprung up! Out came five knights from a small hole in the ground, the same with the other two patches. Not only that, but out from that fake tree came two hidden knights and three from the fake rock formation. To make matters worse, out from the barrels and caravans came out several other knights. In seconds both the playing fields were equal, I knew there was something wrong. Despite that Rich kept a strong face.

“So it looks like the playing field is equal.”

“Not quite.”

The man whistled aloud, and the same burly man that ran over the hills appeared wearing armor and holding a horn. Before anyone had time to process the situation, the burly knight blew the horn loud.

“That was the emergency horn, about fifty more troops will be here shortly. A hefty price, but considering the value of this operation it needs to be done.”

“How the hell did you get something like that!”

“Well it’s only natural for a squad captain to have his utilities.”

“WHAT!?!”

Crap we weren’t prepared for this, this isn’t just some detached platoon. These aren’t some run of the mill border troops, this is an organized squad ambush! Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, the leader of the do gooders revealed himself.

“By the way I’m Captain Goltas, that Theodore Goltas of the Kingdom of Soleil’s knight corps to you!”

Goltas...Did he just say Theodore Goltas, as in the GODDAMN WAR HERO! What’s a potential commander level knight doing out here for a cleaning operation. We’re in hot s*** now!

“Sorry crooks, you only have yourselves to blame for taking the bait. That said, there’s no getting out of this now. After all, you threatened us first! Knights prepare your weapons, IT’S BANDIT HUNTING SEASON!”

“””“HHHHUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!””””

All the knights began arming themselves, I can hear my compatriots groaning. However it’s alright, as long as we stand strong we can-

“OH S***! THEY HAVE RAPIERS, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!”

“...Huh?”