20: The Story of the Cave Troll of Bladestone Mines

Liran and her party stumbled out of the closing spatial portal and found themselves in a shallow cave within some forest.

Scot (in his human form) and Annoying Imp were waiting for them, standing guard at the entrance.

"You're okay!" Annoying Imp went to check on the kijen sisters.

"Pfft, mowing down human weaklings is nothing." Bosnia falsely boasted.

"It's nothing because you did nothing but flee." Aiden aloofly corrected her.

"Whatever," she brushed off, which stirred a chuckle from the party.

"Thank you." Liran warmly gave her gratitude to Scot. "If it weren't for your trap magic, we'd all be dead."

Scot waved aside her thanks. "You can pay me back when we get to somewhere safe. We're still within the duke's region. They'll have patrols on the road."

Beserk nodded. "Lucky for you we were bandits, so we know the ways around those weaklings."

"We can go by the bandit ways, but be warned that others could take it too." Scot scratched his head. "By the way, where were you headed anyway?"

Liran checked the sun's position. "Let's find another safe place to camp, and then I'll tell you."

The party trekked through a dense and wild-growing forest with the kijen sisters scouting ahead in their fox forms. The bandit paths, fortunately, were free of bandits when they walked them. They eventually arrived at a closed mine adit hidden among trees, where they were able to take shelter.

"This adit was once an opening for the Bladestone Mines, but it was sealed when the internal path collapsed due to a fight with a cave troll." Beserk noted as he and Aiden got a campfire started.

"Ooh, I hear a story coming on." Liran sat on one of the logs they had dragged before the fire to use as a seat.

"Well, you see, it's a story shared among bandits. Our old boss, the one you walloped with your lute, told it to us." Beserk started the story of how a new crew of kijen and heijin had gathered in the forest to find a stash point and came upon the mine. At the main entrance it had a barrier spell with the warning, 'Enter and dine.' The bandit leader thought the word 'dine' was a misspelling, so he convinced his crew to explore anyway.

"But they realized it was an open invitation for them to be the main course. They came upon the cave troll, and all but one got turned into jelly." He bellowed with laughter.

"Tell me the cave troll is no longer here," Aiden gulped.

"Oh, he's still in the mine but too deep underground and far from us." Scot reassured the warrior. "Anyway, you look tough enough to handle him."

"I'd rather not if I could help it."

Liran's eyes were sparkling as she memorized the new story she could retell. "I'm sure the locals will appreciate this retelling."

"Pfft. Remember I said it first. How about a finder's fee?" Beserk said.

She laughed and waved it off. "How much money do you think we bards earn? Anyway, I'd more than pay it back with a good tavern gig."

"Provided we have a tavern for you to play in," Scot grumbled.

A bead of sweat trailed her neck as she hastily added. "It's fine; I'll make sure to help you get a good one."

Scot stretched out his legs. "I was getting sick of the town life anyway. A roadside tavern near the river would be good."

Liran smiled, turning her head; she saw Annoying Imp bashfully offering Clover some choice pieces of bread and cheese. The girl was so oblivious to his blushes.

The night ended early for them as everyone decided to sleep while they could. Fortunately, they were able to rest without incident and packed up at first light.

"Ah, where are you headed anyway?" Scot asked as he checked the clasp of his travel cloak.

Aiden looked at him weirdly. "You've been with us this long and forgot to ask?"

"She said she'd tell us later,  broody knight."

"Andor," Liran soberly answered.

"Really?" Scot gave his attention to Liran. "I would've thought you'd skirt around that place after what Oliver did."

Her shoulders sagged as her expression became mopey. "Unfortunately, I have to see Grayman."

"Let's hope the old goat doesn't kill you on sight." Beserk laughed as he slapped her back.

"I know, right?" She sighed.

"I guess Beserk and I will tag along." Scot grumbled and hastily added. "Just to look for a good tavern at least. The Andor region doesn't have poncy nobles, I think, so it might be safer."

Bosnia yawned. "Sounds like there'd be better fights."

"If I recall, you ran scared after seeing 20-odd shield warriors marching down a street." Clover nonchalantly commented.

'Pfft. I'm not stupid. Fighting that many swords would be more of a joke... on me."

Aiden stifled a chuckle and patted her head. "Who said a child can't be taught?"

Clover got Bosnia walking before she made a ruckus with her comeback response.

They traveled nonstop through the dense Greenwood forests on the way into Andor, the Wizard Mountains.