Chapter 20

As we got closer, everyone was looking around. To our left was a ditch, about 15 feet of grass, then thick forest. On our right, was similar, but about 50 feet of grass before the trees. I was pretty sure we hadn't passed anyone walking the other way. Had they continued on foot to the next town?

I asked the question. "What happened?"

Sonia pulled Calvin closer to her. "Bandits!? Should we go back?"

Dugel pointed while talking. "No, Not bandits. Look. They left everything on the cart."

The cart had a broken wheel, and had tipped into the ditch, but it had similar sacks as the ones in this cart, a wood chopping axe, and 2 sealed glass jugs.

"Who would leave all that? Even if the wheel broke, wouldn't they just wait for someone?" Sonia asked.

Nobody had an answer, but there was a tension in the air. There was no blood or anything on the cart from what I could see.

Calvin said what I was thinking. "Can we take the stuff?"

Again, no immediate answer. I saw Dugel flinch when it was said, too. Was he thinking the same? Though, what if it was bandits and this was a trap to distract us? It would be safer to pick up the pace. At the same time, having almost nothing, it was extremely tempting.

I decided to be selfish. "Maybe we should stop and look around. They might have just wandered off the road and got lost or something. If we can't find anyone... if we don't take it, someone else will. And if we spot them on the way, we can hand it over to them."

Dugel stopped the cart about 50 feet away from it. "Ok. We'll look around for a bit. Sonia, stay with Calvin. William, hand me the pitchfork."

There was the chance that something bad might happen, but handing him the pitchfork made it feel more like we now expected it to.

"Can I take something too?" I asked Dugel.

There was still a shovel and a hammer. He nodded so I picked the shovel and hopped out with him.

We took opposite sides of the road, making sure to scan the edge of the trees and the ditch, but saw nothing. When we got closer to the cart, we both went to it on the right side of the road.

Dugel spoke as we got close. "Thanks. I wanted to say something, but didn't know if we should. We always pray to the Shadow monarch before going anywhere, so I didn't know if this was alright. But, maybe it's his blessing. Thanks for coming with me, too."

"Oh, um, no problem. I figured it was my suggestion, so I was going for sure."

He prays to the shadow monarch? The monarchs were one of the few things I was taught along with the other heroes. Due to their own rules, the gods took a very hands-off approach, and in their place they granted certain mortals great powers over certain aspects of the world. The monarchs. However, I thought the Shadow monarch was for thieves and assassins. What the hell was going on? I increased the distance between us without making too obvious.

Now I was nervous of Dugel AND whatever happened to these people. As we arrived at the cart, everything looked to be intact, aside from the broken wheel. Whatever happened, it looked like they hadn't even tried to take anything with them.

Dugel gestured next to the cart, where a wide trail led through the waist high grass. I nodded and he started towards it. I put my shovel onto the back of the cart, and took the axe instead, before following him from what I felt was a safe distance, but wouldn't seem suspicious. There were other trails alongside the big one.

We hadn't gotten very far when I almost ran into Dugel kneeling down over a spot of blood. He touched it. Still wet. I tightened my grip on the axe and we continued.

Dugel whispered as we continued more slowly.

"Someone might need help, but just stay quiet."

I nodded. I was still concerned with him, but now more concerned with whatever else was out there. Following the winding path eventually led us to the source. A dead horse ripped apart with a wide trail of blood heading further to the trees ahead.

I turned to Dugel. "What could've done this?"

"Lots of things. But, the worst would be-"

A deep whine that sounded like if a pig could roar ripped through the air and caused us both to flinch. It was followed by a few more quitter whines and squeals.

"What was that!?" I asked.

"The worst!" He said before immediately turning to run back to his cart.

I followed on his heels. The roars and squeals sounded like they were closing the distance. I felt heart pounding fear again for the first time since the start of my battle with Lawrence. I passed Dugel and kept running. What was the plan, though? If whatever it was had done that to the other cart, wouldn't they just do the same to ours?

I made it to the road. Sonia was clutching Calvin and ducking down in the cart. I turned back to look at Dugel. He was just getting to the road. Grass was moving in three places, heading towards us.

"Dugel, what the hell is that? Do we run?" I asked again.

He was a lot more out of breath than me when he spoke. "Mawhogs... common around here. And they ain't named after the mountain. Guards kept them away from the roads, back when they paroled more often. We should've just kept going. Sonia, keep your head down with Calvin no matter what you hear!"

He looked terrified. This was my fault. It was my fault, but... oddly? I didn't regret it yet. And I didn't want to regret it.

I ran back down the road toward the wrecked cart, yelling. "HEYYY! OVER HERE! COME GET ME!"

The things in the grass immediately turned my way. The first one broke through, and I saw what it was. Now I regretted it. The thing looked like a waist-high mix between a bulldog and a boar, with a body that was 74% fat and muscle, 1% neck, and 25% head, with half of that head being a mouth full of jagged teeth. It was surprisingly fast for its bulky size and awkward shape. They were a bit separated right now. I needed to get this one before they gathered.

I skidded to a stop on the dirt road and turned toward the thing. It didn't show even a hint of hesitation as it charged ahead, squealing and grunting. Compared to Lawrence, this thing was slow and predictable. I raised the axe high above my head and brought it down as hard as I could. It made a very brief, high-pitched squeal before going limp as the blade sank into its head.

I didn't have time to admire my work. The other 2 shot out of the grass and charged right at me, just as angry and ugly as the other. No chance to do the same thing. I turned to continue running towards the crashed cart, but Dugel called out.

"Come back! William!"

For a moment, I got scared he might've been under attack by more, but instead, he was just waving me over while holding up his pitchfork. Did he want to help? I didn't have time to think about it. I ran back towards him as the creatures ran up the ditch and gave chase down the road. They were closing in on me. I had to turn now, or they would take me down. I swung the axe as I turned and tried to roll out of the way. I managed to hit one in the side and stay standing as they charged past me. Both turned back to me and skidded to a halt, kicking up dirt as they tried to continue their charge, but briefly ran in place. I had never seen such bloodthirsty, hate-filled creatures. The one I hit didn't even seem to care.

Dugel charged in from the side and pierced the one on the left through the ribs. It cried out, but still tried to turn and charge him. Dugel kept a firm hold on the pitchfork, though, so it ended up running in a half circle while shoving the points in deeper. They were locked in a battle for now. The one I had hit ran at me, but I wasn't ready for it. I dove to the side. It didn't take it as long to turn this time, and came at me again before I was fully up. I put the axe up to block it. It rammed its big, round head into the handle and tried to push through it to bite me. I was pushed backwards along the road with my knees skidding through the dirt. If I removed the axe, it would get me for sure. How long could I hold it like this? Would Dugel kill his, or was he in trouble too?

I skidded slowly past him, and we looked at each other. Both of us were being pushed around by these things. He seemed terrified, but I almost laughed. Maybe I had been affected by my time in that hellhole more than I thought. I continued down the road with my new, angry, squealing driver. I had to get serious. People's lives were at stake. What would happen if they got me? They would probably eat me over and over and over. Now THAT would be a nightmare with nothing funny about it. It kept pushing me, and I figured eventually it would get tired and collapse or something. I had lost sight of Dugel behind the cart.

"Calvin! I'll hold this guy; you roast him. Ok?" Dugel called out.

I wondered what he was talking about. I watched from where I was. Calvin stood up on the cart and looked over the side towards where Dugel was. He drew a magic circle in the air with his finger, then stopped. He was going to rely on an, at most, 6-year-old to cast a spell? Sonia stood up next to him and held his hand while speaking to him.

She was clearly scared, but was trying really hard to speak calmly to him while guiding his hand.

"Remember? It's just like your uncle showed you. A big triangle in the middle, some small lines that end in a curl around it. Good. Now, put your mana in."

A blue orb appeared in the center.

"That's the one for a bonfire," Calvin said.

Sonia nodded. "Yup. The little flame won't be enough. Just aim at the piggy on the end of Daddy's pitchfork now, ok?"

It was a MUCH simpler version of a fire spell I had seen Sarah use in practice. In fact, I had never seen one that simple before. The shapes and lines were wobbly, as you would expect from a child. I was worried it might misfire. Calvin focused and aimed his hand forward and down. The entire circle stayed in front of his hand as he moved it. I couldn't see what he was aiming at, but he took a while to do anything with it. Finally, it all pulled together, turned into a small ball of fire, and shot forward. It was more like throwing a small cup of gasoline onto a fire. It puffed up before dying down into a steady burn.

The mawhog freaked out and tried to run in front of the cart, back into my view. It was on fire, but Dugel held it tight and pushed it hard. It didn't take long for the thing to fall over. Dugel pulled the pitchfork free and slammed it back down to finish it off. He pulled it out again and stared down at it. Was he just taking in the moment, or making sure it was really dead?

After a few seconds, he turned to me and started running over. I was about 30 feet behind the cart at this point, but the pushing had slowed dramatically. The boar was so tired, I was sure it was about to drop. It didn't matter, though. Dugel came and drove the pitchfork into its back. It reared up and spun around. That finally gave me my opening to hit it in the head and end it. We both stared at it, then each other.

Dugel looked like he was still in shock. I couldn't help it and started laughing. At first, it was just a chuckle, but it quickly became an uncontrollable fit. Dugel looked confused, maybe even scared, but he quickly started laughing with me. At first a little, then a lot. Calvin even ran out of the cart and jumped into his arms. Sonia stayed back and sat down, relieved. Once we all calmed down and our stomachs hurt from laughing, we walked back to join her.