Smelly and nasty...that's how it is...'Goran's rum' that is. But since it was a treat from a man who just save him from an unnecessary trouble, even so far as to help him selling his commodities to save him from more trouble geting scamed by the other merchants, Rouen couldn't refuse such gesture now could he? "Hrrugghh...gahh!"
"Hahaha...how's that now lad? Strong drinks isn't it?" Lougard said while gulping his share of rum.
"Well it IS strong sir." It taste like shit!
"Hahaha...told you so!" *glup glup* "ahh..drink more! Drink more! It's on me today...haha!"
What's up with this man, planing on geting drunk on the day light?
Crazy...
"Sir, i think we should hold a little, after all there's still much work to be done."
"Ha! What nonesense, works only for boring people...drinking is what real man needs! Hahaha..." *Blam! He fell to the floor, straight to the dream land.
The fuck? He's drunk already? How much he drank again? Crazy oldman...
"Umm, excuse me..." Rouen try to call the bar keeper.
"Oh, it's fine young man, trust me it happen a lot more than you know...he'll wake up in a couple of hours."
You got to be kidding me...what will i do then? Wait him wake up?
Sun's geting down, twilight is here...people come and go the tavern, drinking, chating, singing, even gambling at the table. The tavern here wasn't as crowded as the one at the capital ofcourse, but somehow it's more...lively. Seems like everyone almost know one another, the greetings they give to one another, such a warm town Rouen's thoughs. Even though the accident that happen in the gate this morning make him doubt the rest of the town's population, he thinks it's good to not be such a judgemental towards other people. After all he meet quite a decent man such as Lougard here, who somehow...hasn't yet to wake up? What the hell oldman, i've been waiting for hours and you still asleep, at this point he might as well sleep throught the night!
"Arrgghh...ahh my head..."
Finally, i almost give up. "You're fine sir? Seems that you drink too much."
"Ahh, ohh...you still here? Were you waiting for me to wake up? How nice of you young man." Lougard smiles
Well excuse me, sir, but my carriage is still in your care isn't it? How do you think i will get my money if it's not through you!?
"Oh...look at that...it's already sunset?"
That's right oldman, where's my money oldman?
"Well i think we should heah back to my place, i believe my men already take care of your cargo."
About time! "Right then sir." Rouen's relieved.
Lougard then hand some Karlings to the bar keeper, seems like he handing a lot more than he should be "for your trouble good sir."
"No trouble sir, Thank you sir." Bar keep reply.
"Out we go then lad." He turn to Rouen now.
"Yes sir."
They walk about five minutes from the tavern, and they arrived at a quite large building, they go through some kind gate pass instead of a door, inside there's an open place terrace where alot of carriage and many boxes and sacks can be found.
There's men walking, unpacking, discussing prices and so on. It seems that some of those men wearing a same clothes, a blue sky tunic with a logo of 'F', suppose they were Lougard's men right?
"Wellcome to the Fritz's company lad!" He said proudly. "The best and most fair of all company here in Goran's, ha!" He add.
"I must say sir, it's quite a sight indeed."
"Ha! You know what to say aren't you lad, haha!"
Yeah whatever oldman...
"And you are the Head of all this company sir?" This is good, having a powerfull alies is always good. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all to get into this man good side's...although he seems a bit crazy.
"Sure am lad, after my father's retired i took the office and run it eversince."
Now wait a seconds "your father sir?"
"Yes my father, the 6th master's of the company after his father, my grandpa, and his father's father."
My head hurts...so he's just lucky then i suppose, born into the right family.
"I see, then that makes you the 7th master now then right sir?"
"Atta boy!" He said...proudly? "Well then...Rico!" He shout.
"Yes boss!" one of the blue tunic men answer quickly. Lougard's give a gesture and the man ran towards him. "you called boss?"
"This young man's carriage that come this morning, have you take care of it?"
"Ah, so it was this man's carriage? Yes sir we've take care of it, a moment please." He ran a bit to get something, and he ran back. In his hand now, a pouch full of coins, and a paper, he hand it to Rouen.
Rouen then read the paper, it was a report of selling all his items, it was sum up rather nicely it easy to understand. Three thousand five hundreds fifty five Karlings in the pouch. Oh my...what's this? Isn't this just double the amount of what i invest last day? This much money only a day of working? Why didn't i do this from the begining? Welp! Stop it, just be gratefull for now...
"Hmm...not a bad profit i suppose?" Lougard said, he's been eyeing the report paper that Rouen held for some time.
"Actualy this is quite alot sir, i must say this is beyond what i expected."
"Ha! Good then!"..."guess this called for a little celebration then...how about we dri-"
No! "No!" Oopss...spilled eh? "No, i mean...i had to go back as fast as posible for now sir, to report for the quest, i'am afraid that i will be late." Rouen try to find a reasons.
"Ah, is that so? Shame then..."
"Maybe another time sir...haha" he laugh awkwardly.
"Well there's no helping it then i guess."
"Yes sir, i suppose i should prepare for my departure then sir, sun is already seting after all."
"You sure it's a good idea? Nightfall is just about a couple of hours to come, maybe stay the night here in the town's? Continue your journey in the morning?"
"No sir it's fine, i'am used to spend the night in camp side of the roads." He is. " it's better not to waste time since there's still work to be done."
"Ha! Such an energic lad aren't you? Fine then...i wish you the best, lad, safe travel."
"Thank you, sir."
Rouen then bid his last farewell then headed straight to the carriage. Pass the town's gate he could see the guards avoiding his glances. Ha! Cowards...every single one of you!
The carriages wasn't so heavy anymore, so he should be arrived faster right? Though in the end he should make camp again tonight side the roads. Those voices last night...what was it? He wonder. Now that he don't have heavy goods to protect, he can afford to be more mobile should a situation apear and demanding him to do so. After all compesating such an old carriage and an old mule like this shouldn't be so expensive. The only focus he must give is protecting his pouch of four thousands Karlings.
Nightfall come fast...the way back home is always faster, soon he need to set camp. There it is, the snori's woods, place where he heard voices last night. Should i make camp here before passing it? Or should i go further and pass it? Rouen stops his carriage and thinking which course of choice he will make for tonight. Those voices last night...i knew it was a human voices, screeming? I'am not quite sure.
Some minutes he stoped and doing nothing...finally "Fuck it! Let's go! Ha!" He snap his reins and tell the old mule to go foward. I don't fear any darkness nor voices...bring it on!
Slowly but surely Rouen's carriage starts to pass the snori'd woods...come to think about it, why they called it snori's forest again? Who's this snori person? The owner of the woods? Bah! What was they call it again? The stories about this woods. That there's this witch once upon a time that used to roam this woods a long time ago? The witch used to lure the kids into the woods and kidnaped them to make sacrifices to the old Gods? Or snori is just one of those poor kids that gets kidnaped by the witch, so the villagers name this woods after her name? I could not understand why people so easily making legends as such..."aiieee..." fuck! What the fuck is that!? A voice from afar, not so clear yet still be recognised. Rouen hold his swordstaff. "Aaaa...arrgghh" again it comes, more clear this time. What is it? Why it sounds like a fighting's going on?
"Hyaahh...hyaahh" he force the old mule to go faster. Wait...what i'am doing? Why am i rushing? Where do i rushing? To see the fight? Okay, if i see the fight...what then? Do i join the fight? Think! It's probably bandits right? Then if it's the bandits, they must be fighting the caravans group right? So i'am rushing to help those poor caravans that raided by the bandits right? RIGHT!?
While Rouen contemplating his life's choices again, he finally arrived into the scene...and his guess is right on the money, it's a bandit's band raiding a caravan's group. Luckly, because of the chaos in the fighting and the cover of tick darkness in the woods, no one yet to realise Rouen's existance. Rouen then tied his carriage reins to a tree that quite hiden from both of the party and then he start to analise the situation. This is quite a sight he seen...a band of bandits that numbered more than ten people raiding some caravans group that wasn't so weak either. The caravan's group put up a good fight, it was quite a big caravan after all, seems like these bandits hit a jackpot, if they succeed in this raiding, they'll get rich for sure...but hold that thoughs. *Trust! "Gaghh..." one of the bandits fell, a good trust from a spear right throught his heart, instant kill. "fuck! Carefull with that one!" Warned one of the bandits. The caravan's group was outnumbered, at this point they only had five warriors left that capable of fighting, and the bandits were nine or ten people, although quality wise, the caravan's guards surely had the better equipment, metal armour, large shield, spears and swords, all were good quality. On the other sides, the bandits were less equiped, fur and leather armour, axes and such. Bodies were scatered in the grounds, dead bodies, from each party. Knowing they where outnumbered, the caravan's guard regroup and form a defending stance, seems like determinded to fight to the last man, knowing fully there's no way the bandits will let then go alive tonight, a last stand, last moment of brotherhood in arms, dying together friends and brothers, that give them a little scarce of hope and tremendous will to fight! "Come now you dogs!" Scream one of them.
"Hyaaahhh..." *stab *trust "Hugghh..."
Another fall for the bandits. "Stupid fools! Don't go attacking on your own, do it together!" Said a bandit who's most far away from the fighting point, and seems to be the oldest and most uncapable of fighting, but surely loud. Is that their leader? That oldman?
Rouen held his weapon tightly. What i'am doing here? What a bloody fight, dead bodies is everywere, and soon it'll only increased. So what i'am doing here, hiding?
I mean i can't just go there bravado, attacking those bandits just like that? I could die! Fuck! If the caravan's group wasn't so hopeless like this, i already jump to help them! He tried to assuring himself.
Rouen know he wasn't such a bad fighter, but that doesn't mean he's the best fighter either, and surely facing nine bandits is out of question, his priority now? Stay alive!
"On my mark! Close the distance! On my mark!" The old dog said. "Go!"
"Ayyiieee...aghh!!"
"Gahh...fuc- aghh!!"
"Kill them! Kill them!"
"Stand strong brothers!"..."even if we die, we bring these fuckers with us!"
*stabs *trusts *hacks
"Godss...bruggh"
"Fuck! Give up already!"
It only take a few seconds until their numbers got halved. Three from the caravan's guard, although one of them heavily wounded, just refusing to die. And six from the bandits, now their numbers dwindled, it's easier to count them. Now? Is it a good time now? There's only six of them now! And that oldman? I don't think he's much of a fighter, so does it make five? And there still two or even three of the guards left to fight, should i go now!?
Or should i wait a bit more? Wait the bandits to dwindle more? Think! How much i can take anyway? One of them? Agains me, ofcourse i win! Now two of them at once! It will be harder! fighting two opponent at once far more harder than just one of them, but still! I'am sure, and since i'am superior in equipment wise, even it's a hassle i'll win! I know! Now then, how about three of them at once...? Fuck! Fuck!
I'll wait a little more then!
"Give it up you dogs! Can't you see the lives of your comrades that you lose already?" The one which most formidable fighter from the guards finally decided to try to parley. "It's not worth what you doing here! You only get death!"..."go, go and live...we never meet again."
First there's a moment of silence, and then..."pfftttt...hehehyahahaHAHAHAH"
The old dog laugh hysterically and his goons also starts to laugh.
"Hahaha...would you take a look at this bitch?"
"Hah! Right! He sure knows how to bark."
"Were you just preaching us now father?"
"Gyahahaha...father!?"..."hahaha"
"You think we care?" The oldman takes the centre of attention now. "Did you actualy think that we fucking care?"
"Of what?" The guard ask.
"About everyone who dies here tonight! We don't fucking CARE! Women, elderlies, children or even they who are among us bandits...they can go all the way to the hell for what we care!"he move closer " if anything...it's good!"
"What? Why!?"
"Why? Because that's mean more share for us who survive! HAHAHA!" And the other bandits start to laugh too.
"Gyahaha...smart old dog eh?"
"That's right! That's right!"
"More boothy! Haha!"
The guards tightening their grip. "Fucking honorless dogs! Would you do it even though it'll kill you in the end!? I swear even though i'll die, i'll fucking kill you all!"
"And what about it? We all die at some point anyway...all the matter, is that how much fun we can get as long as we live, isn't that right boys!?"
"Ha! Couldn't be more right old dog!"
"Yeahhh! Fucking right!"
"Wooohooo..."
*drop...Sudenly the most wounded guard is finally fell and succumb to it's wound.
"Well...i suppose that make you two left then ha!" The bandits moving closer to finish all this madness.
I need to make my move fast! I still have the element of suprise! I hope those two left can take as many bandits as posible with them...wait why this kind of thinking? Did i just wish they all here die? Bandits and the Caravan's group? No! It's not that, right!? I just wish the two guards left can at least kill three or even four of the left bandits. So that i have chance to kill the rest of them. That's right! That's what i've been thinking! That is the only way!
"Fine then you fucking dogs, come and get it then!" The big guy guard sudently throw his spear. *Trust
"Hurrhh...!" Straight to one of the bandits guts, not instantly killing him, probably five minutes latter after he taste the agony of painfull death.
"Come dogs! Come!" He then sheath his short sword and come charging, two bandits recieved him foward. The guard find a point and take it, his trust is powerfull it pierced the bandit's fur armour, straight to it's ends meet. But in his agony, the bandit held the guard's hand tied refusing to let go, his friend didn't waste his sacrifice. *Stab a good stab with a dagger right into the guard's neck, he choke blood. And that's how the brave caravan's guard's life come to end, on the ground waiting for his demise, the last thing he see is that his friend get his head split open by a war axe, but it seems he killed one of the bandits before he died. If only we had more...he thoughs even if just one more...
"Ha! Finally done eh?"
"Woohhh...so many death!"
"That's it? It's only three of us left?"
The old dog search the field. "Yep...that's right...more share for each one of us eh?"
"Hahaha...heartless old dog!"
"Ha, check this out, isn't this what the called 'spice'?" One of them waste no time and starts looting the caravan.
"Ha! Suprise to see people like you know what this shit's called."
"Don't you mock me old dog, i wasn't so stupi-" *crack sudently they all shocked to see... a spear, no, a sword? Pierced their friends from the back of his head, came throught his mouth and cracking some of it's teeth.
"The fuck!?"
"Who you!?"
That's one! Two left! Both of the bandits didn't wield any weapons right now, they were sure the fight is over and plan to start looting. Now they both move trying to grab one!
I can only go for one of them at a time, who do i kill first!?
*Trust "Harrgghh...!" Ofcourse the one who more capable at fighting...now it's only you and i...old dog!
"Well shit...who you boy? Were you've been hiding all this time?" He manage to get an axe in his hand. "Did you wait for all of us to die first then come finishing it off?"
Don't listen to him.
"I must say that is one genius move! Why don't we have a parley boy? You and me?"
You talks alot old dog! Rouen move closer steadily.
"Oww...wait a seconds...come on!"
You got nothing on me old man!
"Okay okay! You can have it all! Take it all alright!?...just...just let me live right!?"
What is he talking about?
"It's all yours boy! Just leave me alone!"
Rouen gets closer...he can reach him now!
This ends now!
"Fuck! Aaahhh!" The oldman knows he will get no quarter, in his last moment he charge desperately.
*Trust Straight to his heart, he died quickly. Such a good death for someone like him.
That's it...that's all of it right?
Rouen took his time, for a low rank adventurer like him not to count the fact that he still just a 'boy', killing three men at once was still a thing than can shake his guts. He's feeling like he want to puke, but try to hold it. I must get used to this...this wasn't my first kill too! *Blegghh Fuck!
Never the less, ten minutes at least he take his time to get his composure back. Now with it all over, he then start to think...what now? There's no survivor of this mess, only him, and all this...'things' now.
They all mine now right?
Wait what?
Ofcourse it is! I risk my life for it!
But that is not yours to begin with!
Then who's? That still alive owns it?
This is not right...
There is NOTHING that's right in this world!
Don't do this...you'll regret it!
It's done...i'am taking it all!
Wai-
First thing first, Rouen brought his carriage closer. Then he come and check all the content of the caravan's cargo. Damn, it's all good stuff...this will earn me alot of money! Most of the content is Spice, and it was indeed an expensive commodities, Rouen remmember how he can only purchase five boxes of spice back in Leonire because it was indeed quite expensive. Take a note that it was in 'Leonire' he bought the spice, which suppose to be the cheapest place to buy spice acourding to the merchant's advise. Meaning it would give even more money if he decided to sell it to other cities, and damn! Look at all of this boxes full of spices, how many of it? Enough to complete my first step! Rouen then proceed to move all the content from the wrecked caravan's carriage to his. He adjust all the items rather nicely leaving no useless free space in his carriage, seems to geting used to it. When all that finish, he look around and starts to gather all the weapons that scatered in the ground, a thoughts then came up. What about their armours? It can still earn some coins, specialy the guard's one. He had second thoughts about it, but then. Fuck it! Dead man needs no armour...dead man need no nothing! He proceeds striping them one by one and move their armours to the carriage, while at it, he collect all kind of jewelry he can found. Maximum profit...that's the focus today! All that done, he sees the caravan's horse that died probably during the fight. Shame...it might be good if i can change that damn mule.
Now there's nothing more left, Rouen loot everything from both of the party, leaving only their bodies lying on the grounds. He put a thick carriage's cloth to cover all the items he just loot, no body will know what's he got there. Then, he waste no more time. "Of we go mule! Hyaahh!"