Where Bandits Gather

Behind the waterfall, a tunnel snaked into the cliff. I expected it to go deeper, but it was rather shallow; we arrived at the hideout within a minute of walking. The main room, so to speak, contained a bizarre amalgamation of furniture. There were two tables, completely different from each other in shape and style, a dozen chairs where at most three chairs resembled each other, and a fire pit off to one side. A makeshift chimney had been carved into the cave which kept the smoke from accumulating. The air was damp and the constant dull roar of the waterfall pervaded everything.

Emi was sent off to get treatment for her wound and the rest dispersed down various tunnels until it was just the three of us, Kenji, and two bandits. One bandit positioned herself in front of the main entrance while the other was partway between us and Kenji.

Kenji dragged a chair away from a table and sat down with a groan, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Ahh. Now that we have a little more privacy, why don’t you tell me who you really are?”

I stiffened. I figured our fake names weren’t the best, but he was shrewder than I gave him credit for if he was able to clock us within minutes of meeting us for the first time.

“We’ve told you our names,” Mizuki said, all poise despite being called out.

Kenji laughed. “You told me some names, but I reckon they aren’t yours. I’m a little suspicious by nature, and none of you seem all that natural to me.” His mirth melted away. “You see, there’s been some rumours floatin’ around. Rumours that the new seer is making their way to the holy mountain.”

My blood turned to ice. How had he put it all together so quickly? Or had he? There was a chance he was just feeling us out, seeing what we knew and how we reacted. I tried to keep my face neutral, forcing myself to breathe evenly.

“I hadn’t heard that,” Mizuki said. This was true, we’d been keeping an ear out for anyone talking about a new seer while traveling and we hadn’t heard anything. Then again, we hadn’t been asking the local crime lords.

“Well, I understand. Being sheltered as you are, you must not talk to many people,” he said wryly. “But it’s true. The signs are there for anyone to see, the End of Days is coming. But that doesn't matter now.” He sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You three strike me as ransom-worthy. Maybe I’m right, maybe I’m wrong, but if I’m wrong then you die here since there’s no reason to keep you alive.”

My heart started to pound. I looked over at Mizuki, our impromptu leader. She was frowning, her displeasure evident in the tension of her shoulders.

“Very well. I am Princess Mizuki, Firstborn of Emperor Kenzo Imai, Twelfth of His Line, Beloved of the Gods. These women are my servants.” Mizuki spoke with all the pomp required of such a statement and didn’t stumble. I admired her tactic: a half-truth was easier to sell than a full lie.

Kenji burst out laughing, cackling so hard he hugged his gut. “Th-that’s the wildest claim my ears ever heard.” He sucked in a breath and regained his composure. He stared at Mizuki for a beat, then nodded. “I believe that you are the princess, burn me but I do.”

He stood and strode up to Vris, looming above her. “These two, however, I don’t know that they’re servants.”

Vris quailed at his words, head bowing. She gripped her tunic with both hands, knuckles white from the strain.

“Give her some space,” I snapped.

Kenji swaggered over to me, glaring down at me. “Oh? Do you want to talk to me instead?”

“Vris and I are servants, that is the truth,” I said, giving him an unblinking stare. There wasn’t much point in hiding our names now, but I would still try to avoid identifying myself as a seer if possible. Kenji didn’t strike me as the type to let us go on our merry way once he realized the entire fate of the world was in his hands.

He held my stare for long seconds. I refused to look away first. He took a step back and returned to sit in his chair.

“You’ve got guts, I’ll say that much,” he said. “I still feel like I’m being lied to, though. Like being handed a fake coin, it just doesn’t feel right.”

This man was relentless with a nose for the truth. I stared up at the ceiling and did something I had never done, and would have bet money I would never do. I prayed.

I can’t save your world if I’m held captive by bandits, now can 1? So help us out, here! Do something!

Would a little deference be too much to ask? Surely they have manners in your world.

The voice bloomed inside my skull without warning. The timbre and pitch was unmistakable: Tsu Den Ro. I swallowed hard, grinding my pride down. Please?

“I think what you gals need is a little encouragement,” Kenji said. He snapped his fingers and the bandit that wasn’t guarding the entrance grabbed Vris. He held a knife to her throat and dragged her to stand next to Kenji.

“Stop,” I shouted, reaching out my hand as if I could drag Vris to safety. Tears were welling up in Vris’s eyes.

“Let’s be fully honest with each other, shall we?” Kenji said, nonchalant. “I don’t see why the pair of you are so worked up. If she’s just some servant, this wouldn’t be a big deal.”

I followed his line of logic. Vris couldn’t have been a servant, because we cared too much about her? Which meant that he thought Vris was a seer.

“She’s not a seer,” I said with more conviction than I’ve ever felt. “I’m the seer, so you can let her go.”

Kenji shook his head. “No no, I think I’ll keep her. Seer or not, she’s an effective motivator. Now, how about you tell me the best way to send a ransom note to the royal palace, hm?”

Mizuki opened her mouth to answer. Howls rippled through the air. Wet, shaggy masses launched themselves into the hideout.