NOVEL NEXT 9. Ambush at Raven's Rock
That something soon revealed itself to be a bird of midnight black, its dark form cutting through the sunlight before alighting on Eldrin's shoulder. Its black feathers shimmered with hues of dark blue and purple, giving it an almost mystical appearance.
Both Justin and Lila watched the magnificent animal with awe, which looked at them both with its intelligent eyes.
"Shadowflight," Eldrin introduced, stroking the falcon's head tenderly. The bird nuzzled him. The bond between the two was obvious.
"You have a falcon?" Justin asked.
"Just as he has me," Eldrin said with pride, as they continued their way up the road. "Shadowflight is my bonded animal. Most Rangers get the privilege of choosing to bond with a wild creature. That creature becomes an extension of ourselves, sharing in our senses and even our emotions."
"I knew that about animal bonds," Lila said, "though I've never seen it in action."
Justin couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy, looking at the bird, equal parts beauty and deadliness. He doubted he'd ever have a cool ability like that.
He set his mind on Eldrin's character, and some basic information popped up.
Eldrin Thornwood
Class: Ranger
Level: 10
Justin wondered if there was a way to see his boons and abilities, but despite trying, it didn't seem like it was possible.
"So, what kind of skills do you have?" Justin asked.
Eldrin looked at him matter-of-factly. "I have a mix of skills related to archery, pathfinding, trap detection, and potion-making. The Ranger is something of an eclectic mix, but it is useful for making a life in the wilds."
"I see," Justin said, impressed. "And will it be enough to deal with these bandits?"
"Of that, I have no doubt. I think it might be a good idea, at least temporarily, for us to form a party pact with one another."
"A party pact?" Justin asked. "What's that?"
"It's a formal agreement forged through the interface. It will allow us to better see each other's abilities and attributes. That way, we know what everyone in the party is fully capable of."
"Sounds like a good idea," Lila said. "Although Justin and I each have only one skill and boon."
"No matter," Eldrin said. "It will still be useful. And at any point, you can retract the agreement if you want to go your own way."
"I see," Justin said. "Let's do it then."
[Eldrin would like to form a party pact with you. Do you accept?]
Justin accepted with a mental push.
[Party pact formed with Eldrin Thornwood. You may now inspect Eldrin in greater detail.]
Justin did so immediately.
Eldrin Thornwood
Class: Ranger
Level: 10
Attributes:
Power: 10
Coordination: 15
Endurance: 12
Intellect: 13
Spirit: 10
Charisma: 10
Skills: Ranger's Insight (0), Eagle Eye (2), Nature's Cloak (3), Hunter's Mark (7)
Boons: Ranger's Intuition (1), Animal Bond (4), Nature's Bounty (6), Botanical Insight (9), Survival Instinct (10)
Party Tactic: Pathfinder's Pace
Justin thought the information over. It seemed that even with the pact, he could not get specific information about each ability he had.
Still, it was easy to imagine Eldrin's uses simply based on the ability names. It seemed he got a mix of ranged combat bonuses, a stealth ability, plus things that helped him and his party survive in the wild. In short, it only reaffirmed Justin's decision to join him. The number beside each ability had to indicate the level at which it was acquired.
Eldrin continued leading the group northwest as morning passed into early afternoon. Once well past the hills, Eldrin veered eastward, entering the thick of the forest. Now things felt less like a game and more like reality. Those bandits had melted into these woods just yesterday.
As they moved, Justin felt a lightness in his step, realizing that despite the thick underbrush and uneven terrain, they were traversing the wilds as easily as they would a well-trodden path.
"You have a knack for picking the best way forward," Justin mused.
Eldrin chuckled. "That's my Pathfinder's Pace for you."
"You said that, but now I'm really believing it. Even my pack feels lighter."
Eldrin lapsed into silence. It probably wasn't wise to speak so loudly when danger was getting closer. Lila seemed more alert, always having a hand on the hilt of one of her throwing knives.
Without warning, by a stand of pines, Eldrin stopped in his tracks, raising a hand to halt the others. He bent down, brushing aside some reeds to reveal a large pit, its floor lined with wickedly sharp spikes.
"A common bandit trap," he whispered. "A single misstep, and one could find oneself impaled."
Justin shivered, thankful for Eldrin's sharp senses. With a gentle whistle, Shadowflight took to the skies, disappearing from sight.
"We'll let him scout ahead," Eldrin said.
"Now what?" Lila asked.
Eldrin held up a hand. Lila's voice had carried farther than she had probably intended.
He nodded toward some underbrush just a few steps away. "Over there."
They followed the Ranger, waiting in the gathering darkness without saying a word.
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Minutes later, Shadowflight returned, landing deftly on Eldrin's arm without a single sound. Eldrin closed his eyes for a moment, his face a mask of concentration. Justin could tell he was communing with the animal.
"Four of them," he murmured. "Just as you said, Justin. They're camped out by Raven's Rock, cooking their evening meal."
Justin and Lila exchanged glances. The sun was descending, casting a golden hue over the landscape. Nightfall wasn't far off.
"They're half a mile from here. We can speak a bit more freely, though you would be shocked at how far sound carries in the Wildwood. It's a quiet forest, and the outcrops of rock can produce echoes that only amplify sound."
"What's the plan?" Justin asked quietly.
"We'll use the cover of night to our advantage. Shadowflight can distract them from above while I use my Nature's Cloak skill to approach undetected. I'll then set up a good ambush point and ensure my first hit lands true on their leader." He looked at Justin. "That's part of the reason I wanted you here. I need you to tell me what he looks like. The bill has a basic description, but I want to be sure."
Justin hesitated for a moment, the image of the bandit leader forming clearly in his mind. "He's tall and broad-shouldered. He has a long, unkempt beard that's streaked with gray. A scar runs from his temple to his jaw."
Both Eldrin and Lila watched him, impressed. Even Justin was surprised that he could recall the face so easily. He had always struggled with remembering faces and even names. He wondered if it was a passive gift of his class, something not exactly mentioned by the Voice to him upon adopting it.
"Good recall," the Ranger said. "He won't stand a chance."
Lila gripped the haft of the throwing knife in her belt. "And if things go south?"
"That's what you're there for, Lila," Eldrin stated simply, meeting both their gazes. "You too, Justin. They'll do one of two things when their leader falls. They'll split, or they'll fight. I imagine the former is the most likely. You're there for backup in case they decide to charge me. You two can hold them off while I take more shots with my bow. With luck, neither of you will have to lift a finger. But battle plans never go off without a hitch; that's the reason I wanted backup. And of course, the bandit leader might have a class. We must be ready for any surprises."
"What surprises?" Lila asked nervously.
"That, we will have to see. Hope for the best; plan for the worst."
They ate a light meal as they waited for the full cover of darkness.
The moon hung high in the night sky, its silver light filtering through the trees of the Wildwood. They stood at the edge of the tree line, watching the meadow where the four highwaymen lay on their backs, all but one clearly asleep below a high, pointed cliff that could be none other than Raven's Rock. In the nighttime darkness, its shape was reminiscent of the dark bird, the cliff's point as sharp as a beak.
As planned, Eldrin activated his Nature's Cloak skill and melted into the shadowy dark grass like a wraith. Justin was shocked at how quickly he was lost to sight.
Justin and Lila remained in the shadows of the trees; there was no chance either of them would be spotted. Up above, Shadowflight circled, waiting for the Ranger's signal.
Justin waited, having long lost sight of Eldrin. His heart pounded in his chest while sweat ran cold down his neck. At any moment, Shadowflight would—
The falcon's high shriek sounded out of place in the night. Immediately, all four bandits roused, including the leader, who stood head and shoulders above the rest. He was perfectly open to Eldrin's shot.
Eldrin's bow twanged from somewhere in the distance, and then something quite unexpected happened. As the missile made its approach, it didn't land true in the bandit's chest. It only pierced his right arm.
"Ambush!" the leader roared, clutching the arrow.
The three other bandits drew their swords and charged into the darkness toward Eldrin.
"Come on!" Justin said, drawing Eldrin's dagger and heading out of the trees. "We can't let him fight alone."
Justin's voice was louder than he intended. Thinking he was the source of the arrow, the bandits immediately turned and sprinted his way. They would be upon him all too soon.
But that was when Shadowflight swooped down, his talons gripping the shoulder of the most laggardly bandit and digging in. The bandit screamed, flailing, but Eldrin took advantage of the distraction, rising from the underbrush and advancing like a shadow, bow drawn. This arrow shot true, directly into the man's heart. He crumpled, lifeless.
That left two more bandits. The first was charging toward Lila.
Not knowing what else to do, Justin willed himself to perform his Poison Barb skill, unsure of its efficacy in this situation. He got a lock on the bandit's face, and at that moment, gained insight into the perfect insult that would emotionally damage his opponent.
Justin cleared his throat. "Isn't it tragic that you'll never amount to anything more than a failed pawn, forever overshadowed by your more talented and handsome brother?"
Even Justin was startled by the scornful insult. There was something about his voice that wasn't exactly his. Without having to be told, he knew he had assumed the mannerisms and inflections of the bandit's shrewish mother.
The bandit froze for a heartbeat, his face blanching as if memories of childhood rivalries and endless comparisons were surging to the forefront of his mind. It was a wound, deep and painful, and Justin had just poured salt into it.
The comment didn't stun the bandit exactly, but it at least made him falter, giving Lila the second she needed to gather her courage. With a cry, she lunged forward and launched her throwing knives. They twirled through the air, one landing true right in his throat. The man's scream became a bloody gurgle as he went down.
Eldrin dispatched the last bandit with a clean, lethal shot.
[You have gained 20 experience points. Your experience stands at 54/200.]
Eldrin lit a torch and inspected each bandit to ensure they were truly dead. Justin watched, wide-eyed, his heart feeling as if it would beat out of his chest. It had all happened in less than thirty seconds.
Eldrin nodded toward the leader, who was still lying injured by the campfire.
"Come on," Eldrin said. "This isn't quite over yet."
They approached the bandit leader, whose eyes were closed. At first, Justin thought he was dead, too, but he was shocked to see that the man was still breathing.
Without a word, Eldrin quickly secured him with some rope, expertly tying his hands behind his back while attaching another rope around his waist, fashioning a makeshift leash. He finished by tearing up some old fabric and placing a blindfold over his eyes. The arrow that had pierced his arm was more like a dart, hardly lethal.
"You meant to shoot him in the arm," Lila said in realization. "You poisoned that dart, didn't you?"
"Aye. Duskbell flowers and the venom of the blue-spotted tree frog. He'll sleep all night and well into the morning. The poison will also stop infection in its tracks. Even dragging him along with a leash, we'll reach the Mercenary Guild in a couple of days and get double the experience for our troubles."
"Nicely done," Justin said, impressed.
"Yes," Eldrin said. "Even if they weren't supposed to come after you both like that, it all worked out in the end."
"Thanks for helping," Lila said to Justin. "But no thanks for drawing their attention."
Justin shrugged. "Win some, lose some."
"Let's see what we've got here," Eldrin said, looking around the camp. "Once we're done having a look around, it might behoove us to head back to the road rather than pass the night here. I don't think there are any more of them, but one can't be too careful."
"What about him?" Lila asked, nodding toward the bandit leader.
"It's but a mile to the road from here. And with my Pathfinder's Pace, we can bear him with ease." Eldrin paused thoughtfully. "One more thing. This bandit is a Level 5 Thief."
"Is Level 5 bad?" Justin asked.
"It's a bit higher than I expected, so we'll need to be careful toting him to Silverton. Sometimes, Thieves get skills that can help them escape a tight spot. Just something we need to be wary of. I'm confident that with Shadowflight keeping watch, he won't get far, even if he manages to escape."
As in agreement, the noble bird gave a dignified squawk.
They rummaged through the bandits' possessions. Most were worthless trinkets, and the weapons Eldrin judged too worn to be worth the weight. But among the valuable loot, they discovered a gold chain, an ornate silver dagger with a ruby-encrusted hilt, and a velvet pouch filled with twenty-four silver coins and seventy coppers.
"Not bad," Eldrin said, pleased. "But that knife is worth far more than the coins, especially if it's enchanted. From the size of that gem alone, it'll easily sell for eighty silvers or even more to the right buyer. If it's a nice enchantment, it could sell for a crown or even more. The chain will sell for about five silvers. Whatever the proceeds, I'll take half, and you two can split the rest."
Justin and Lila nodded in agreement. After seeing how tonight went down, Eldrin was right to say he required most of the compensation, especially if they got the bandit leader back in one piece. If anything, he was being quite generous in his dispersal of the loot.
The trio hoisted their unconscious captive, making their way back to the road. Justin felt a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. The rewards hadn't been settled yet, but if his calculations were correct, anywhere from forty to fifty silver marks was coming his way: twenty for the completion of the job, and an additional twenty-five or more from the sale of the loot and distribution of the coin. So new to this world, he couldn't even guess how he'd spend the money. The Baron's parcel seemed so inconsequential in comparison.
From Lila's smile, however, it seemed she knew exactly what to do with her reward.
Setting up a makeshift camp just out of sight of the roadside, they prepared to rest. Shadowflight perched on a nearby branch, on the very tree Eldrin was binding their captive. The bird's sharp eyes watched from above, ensuring he made no moves.
Eldrin nodded, satisfied, before starting a fire and settling down to sleep.
Justin watched him concernedly. "Are you sure your falcon will let us know if he wakes up?"
"That bandit isn't waking up till the sun has gone up a fair way," Eldrin said. "But if he wakes before that, you have nothing to fear. Shadowflight will do a far better job than any of us with those eyes of his. As you've seen, he's very capable."
Justin nodded, satisfied with that answer. "Good enough for me. Good night, all."
He slept with his back to the fire. When morning came, they would finish things up and start their journey to the Mercenary Guild in Silverton.