Checkpoint

"This should be far enough."

With my declaration, the wheezing mule slows to a walk and the wagon returns to its usual calm rocking. At this distance, we can't even hear the terrified screams anymore.

"We were fortunate. Incorrect timing would have potentially brought us into proper combat."

Bailey is silent as I remove all of the arrows that had become lodged in the black leather of my satchel. The contents inside are surprisingly unharmed. Similarly, wooden crates managed to protect all of the luggage being carried along.

"Must we have left them to die…"

Her voice is quiet as her teary eyes stare down the road ahead.

"Every time I left home, I made a stop in that village. They were all so kind and gave me whatever I needed for my trips to Melior…"

I can imagine that many of the faces that were found lifeless in the dirt belonged to people that she knew personally. However, that is all the reason to have left. There is no saving the dead.

"You saw it. Even if we fought, we were too late to have saved any lives. Those bandits were already basically plundering the remains."

"I know, but…"

We watch the trees slowly pass by around us. The road has finally reached the walls of rock, its pavement turning to walk beside it. The road up the mountain is just a little ways above. We're the only signs of life.

"Is this the only path down the mountain?"

"Hm?"

Bailey doesn't seem to hear me at first, but she manages to break from her listless thoughts and responds. The energy she's carried thus far is nowhere to be seen.

"Ah, there are others, but they are along other parts of the mountain range. There isn't another way up for another day of travel."

"Wouldn't that make this a point for your nation's knights to be stationed?"

"That's correct. There should be…a checkpoint?"

Something doesn't seem to be adding up inside her head. Considering the location, it would be foolish to not have at least some kind of surveillance in the area. Such an obvious attack on a village situated on the main road should not have gone unnoticed. Bailey seems to agree as she scratches her braided ginger hair.

"That's strange. We should have encountered at least a light patrol by now…"

"How far is the checkpoint?"

"We should reach it within the next few minutes."

My weapon, which had been removed at our previous moment of peace, has returned to my hand. I stand with one leg on the bench as I carefully observe our upcoming surroundings.

"How many knights are stationed there at once?"

"Uhh, maybe 20 or 30? There may be more during weekly shift changes."

"Where are the knights supplied from?"

"Most are from the city of Norwin. A large patrol travels from the capital and replaces the guards at the checkpoint."

My endless stream of questions has Bailey uneasy as the turn uphill slowly approaches. She must have made this journey many times to be this knowledgeable about the guard rotations. At the very least, she has told me that the checkpoint won't be receiving any reinforcements for at least a few days.

"How do they identify citizens such as yourself?"

"Every citizen of Norwin carries an emblem with our insignia. It usually isn't enough to gain immediate entry, but most of the knights should be familiar with me."

"Good to know."

Beyond the final turn through the forest is a stone structure. Despite being the first line of defense, there isn't a single individual present. Even the horse stables appear to be completely void of life.

"I have a bad feeling about this…"

In the best case scenario, the guards have been deployed to handle an external threat much like the bandit attack. This would mean that the road should be temporarily closed, which it is not. In the worst case, the checkpoint has been raided and lacks any living defenses.

"Keep moving forward."

"A-Are you sure?"

Bailey's hands have begun to tremble at the prospect of another set of bandits.

"There may be an ambush, but we have no options for any detours. At least, not without going back through that ruined village. If we're lucky, the bandits back there were responsible for this as well."

Her reluctance is almost audible, but we don't change our plan. The empty stone structure sits quietly as we pass by and turn to head up the mountain. I try to gaze through the lookouts placed throughout its walls, but I can't see anything. Trees form our view of the surface as our wagon slowly winds upward.

"C."

I feel a light tug against my mantle. Neither I nor the beast next to me take our eyes off the area around us.

"What can you hear?"

"Horses…behind."

"Behind?"

My eyes avert from the stones ahead and look back at the checkpoint. There is nobody visible inside or around. I check the patch through the trees and end up with the same result.

"Are you certain?"

Before I can look to check Peo's nod, I feel a small drop of sand land just in front of my face. A few moments later, some tiny bits of stone are also falling down the side of the curved stone cliff. I try to look up, but a series of conveniently placed boulders block my view of the road's continuation.

"It appears that we're out of luck…"

It isn't until I hear a loud whistle from above that the five horsemen appear from behind the structure. The black hoods covering their faces are all I need to see to see their allegiance.

"Bailey, we have to run!"

"Huh?"

"Go!"

The farm girl turns around and notices the figures charging uphill towards us. Blood rushes to her face and she immediately cracks the reins.

"Sorry, Apricot! We need your strength again!"

The mule snorts loudly before winding up for its sprint. Within a matter of seconds, the wagon becomes an unsteady mess of a vehicle as it travels as fast as its creaky wheels can take it.