Chapter 4

The farewells in the morning were short and tearful. These men have become my overnight friends and they realize they can not leave their post. I sigh deeply and walk on through the swamp stepping in knee deep water.

'Ah damn it all.' I curse as my socks get wet. I take my boots and socks off because I am well aware of the dangers of wet socks. Blisters and nasty infections could mean loss of your toes and your feet. The swamp water isn't exactly the cleanest water. I stuff my boots and socks in my bag. Luckily I packed extra socks so I wont have to walk barefoot. As much as I like to though, I would rather save that for the sand. I was pretty sure I was getting close to the monorail. Ah, the monorail. Reaver Industries greatest wonder. Yes. I pay attention to the flyers around the cities. Kinda hard not to since they are all over. I was never keen on hanging in a death box. So, I took the cave entrance. I was met by some Hobbes guarding the cave for some reason. They seem to be getting more clever as I noticed they had their own version of flanking. Never would have imagined that from Hobbes. A stab here and a well placed bullet there and I had a mini Hobbe graveyard at my feet. The cave is now open for me to head through.

As soon as I enter, the smell of stink is everywhere. Almost lost my lunch...more times than I care to admit. The cave was relatively dark this time which made me a little nervous so I reached for the nearest torch. Descending down into the pit I found several gems and a couple of gold pieces from an adventurer that didn't make it out. I say a quick farewell and a thank you for the poor man and head through a rather large arena that had no business down in a cave. I have passed it many times before but I couldn't help getting awestruck of the ancient structure. I slide my fingers around the concrete and wonder what sort of civilization was down here. An old species of human? Or some half breed turtle-people? Who knows.

I look ahead to the ramp that rests over a very steep drop. I wonder how deep it was as I cross. I don't have a fear of heights but the look down made me a little shaken. Just a little. On the other side of the ramp there was a few more Hobbes. The smelly little shits were just waiting for me when they ambushed me. They erupted from small barrels that I now notice they were in a circular shape. Bloody clever. However, they were still no match for my blade. As I swung it, it seemed to sing through the air with a certain righteousness. I bring my blade down on a Hobbe that got too close and I spilled his guts on the ground. Too graphic? Sorry.

It was one Hobbe after another as I showed signs of fatigue, you know the ones, body trembling, irritability, sweat dripping from my body (if Sharon was here, she'd enjoy that)

but I hack and slash on.

"Where do you little turds come from!" I shout.

That must have spooked them because the last three turned about throwing their weapons away and high tailed it out of reach.

"Oh no you don't!" I growl.

I withdrawal my pistol and with deadly accuracy I shoot the three remaining Hobbes dead. My arm throws down my fathers pistol and my knees gave out. I collapsed on the ground too tired to even breathe. My head finds the ground and I rest it on the dirt. Right now, I could care less that my face is in the dirt. There must have been thirty or forty Hobbes tucked away. I let myself recover, aches flaring here and there all over my body. I let my vision fade for a few minutes and I get back up and sit on my rump. I dust the dirt off my cheek and take deep breaths to recover my stamina.

'I must be getting out of shape! I have to stop eating Sharon's apple pies.' I laugh to myself. Thinking of her always seems to make my mood change. I stand myself up and pick up my fathers pistol.

"Sorry Dad." I say as I dust off the pistol.

I turn my head back on the path and I pressed on, leaving a pile of dead Hobbes behind. A few more yards later and I was staring at the afternoon sun.

'It took me five hours to get out of that hell hole? I must be losing my touch.'

Must have been the Hobbes, yeah. That's what I will tell them. Shh...

I found Mistpeak Valley easy enough. It only took three or four days to do. I seem to be ahead of schedule. I take the time to wash my socks in the rather large lake in the middle of the valley. The place really is something to behold. Fresh mountain air, birds chirping, a gentle breeze and the occasional bandit attack. Sorry, mercenary attack. Gotta be PC here. Mistpeak is home to the ban-damn it-mercenary *underline* camp and home to the craziest sons of bitches Albion has to offer. They are lead by a man called 'Saker'. Not sure if that is short for the word 'forsaker' because he was in the military at one time. My father would always have stories of the man when he was home from duty. The man is freakishly tall, and that is coming from another freakishly tall man. I stand six foot four inches! He makes me look like a dwarf! Uhg! Little people, sorry.

I get distracted so easily, back to Saker. The man is rumored to be able to use Will, the hero's version of magic. He can toss fireballs around provided he has a lighter. Crazy mofo. Bit of cheating too if you ask me. Mental note added to stay the crap away from that camp.

I finish washing my socks and set them on a nearby stone and sit on the grass. I take a good look around the area sampling the many shades of greens of the trees and grass, the many shades of reds and blues of the nearby flowers and the sparkling water of the lake. I take the chance to fill up my water canteen too. Can't really get fresh spring water anywhere else.

With my socks dry, my water filled and my body rejuvenated I get down to business in looking for Chillbreath Caverns. Then I remember there is more than one entrance to the cave. It is split into several levels and i cant waste time doing trial and error. I have been to Mistpeak before but all of my targets have been out in the open surrounded by their bodyguards or hidden somewhere in shrubs. I also realize there are no wandering traders on this route. A red flag that bandits are attacking them around here and have stopped all trades to Brightwall. I have no other choice but to go to Brightwall and ask for a map of the valley. The trek across the forest was pretty quiet. I heard growling but I guess after downing the first pack word spread in the pack to stay away from me. I passed a few landmarks of the old kingdom on my way up the hill. I wasn't paying attention where I put my feel and I step in wolf crap. I scrape my boot on a rock as I curse. Rather colorfully too. Once I got the mess off my boot, I see the border of Brightwall. It is a quiet town, full of its own sort of way. Kinda like me...if I were a town. It has about forty or fifty people in it so asking for help shouldn't be a chore. I make my way up to the tavern and I see it is relatively quiet. I hear a small conversation upstairs between two men, one with a rather deep voice, and an older man. I could tell between the...geezer-ish tone. That's a word now.

"Ah! Here he is! We were just talking about you." The one man said.

"Indeed. We have made a toast to your stupendous feat of ridding Mistpeak of Saker and his men. They have been a source of great stress for a long time." That sounded like Samuel the librarian. I wonder what he is doing at the pub...wait, someone got rid of Saker!?

There was another voice...

"Uh huh…" This one seemed to be younger.

"Nobody will be more pleased than Sabine. His Dwellers might find some peace now."

What the heck is a Dweller?

"Of course, no one has suffered more than they." The old voice chimed in. That has to be Samuel. I tune out all the bar noise and focus on the conversation upstairs.

"Walter, have you been drinking this whole time?" The young voice asked. Okay, there is Samuel, Walter and some other man up there.

"I've been telling Samuel here about the terrible situation they're in."

I was right. It's Samuel.

"He thinks he may be able to help." The man I guess to be Walter finished.

"Yes. Well, perhaps. I mean of course. The thing is, as I was just explaining to Sir Walter, Brightwall has no overabundance of resources itself. The king's levies are rather steep, and we face shortages more often than is comfortable."

"But…"

"But, were you to improve things around Brightwall, the people would be most grateful. And when people are grateful, they're also charitable. I'm sure they would find it in their hearts to send aid to those poor people."

"There you have it. The way I see it, you will need all the followers you can get if you're going to lead a successful rebellion. What better time to start?"

Hmm...I smell mischief afoot. Someone is planning a rebellion against the king I assume.

I decide I should stop eavesdropping and get the map need.

"Excuse me," I say as I step up to the bar. "Do you have a map of Mistpeak Valley around here I could use?"

"What would you need it for?"

"I need it to locate Chillbreath Caverns."

"Oh! You are on your way to kill Slash, huh?"

"How'd you know?"

"You are Jake the bounty hunter, right? They said they would send you out here months ago. He has been a pain in out necks lately. Last week his toaties robbed me blind, taking five hundred gold and several barrels of beer. I guessed he stole about a thousand gold worth of beer."

"Where were the guards?"

"They killed them all. His gang is about twenty strong and young thugs. They didn't kill any villagers thankfully. About a month ago, a mercenary by the name of 'Jimmy' came through and kidnapped two young women. We never saw them again. We never know when he will return. King Logan really needs to send more guards to Brightwall. Things are getting out of hand." The barkeep was a little shaken up as he finished his story.

"Well, I am here for Slash only. Can't kill this 'Jimmy' guy without a bounty."

"Couldn't you do it as a freelance?"

"I can't, I could get arrested myself. They need to properly charge him first."

"Oh. Well, let me get you that map." He hunched below the counter and I lean over it to watch him.

"Is that a rifle?" I whisper.

"Yes, I bought it yesterday for my own protection." He whispered back, not making eye contact.

"It's tough out here."

To that, he says nothing but he finds the map I asked for.

"Here. It is outdated by a few months but it should point you in the right direction."

I take the rolled up map and salute him with it.

"Thanks a lot." I tossed him a few gold for his trouble and I walked out of the tavern. From there, I walked out to the bridge outside Brightwall and unroll the map placing two decent sized stones on both corners to keep it from blowing away. I study it hard looking for familiar landmarks. The legend wasn't very helpful. It had caves marked everywhere and a few x'ed out like the maps author had no idea what he was doing.

"This isn't going to help at all." I huff. I look around and sigh. "I think Logan meant looking for the cavern will give me a challenge, not the criminal." I say to myself. I gotta quit doing that...

I roll the map back up and stuff it in my bag.

'I need a drink.'

I head back into the tavern and look at the grandfather clock. It was after six in the evening. My stomach growled as it pretty much yelled at me it was hungry. I have a seat in the corner of the pub and the waitress walks up to me with pen and paper in hand.

"What'll it be, handsome?" She says with a deep accent.

"Uh, let me have a beer to start."

"You want a pint?"

"Sure." I hold the menu up to see what they have as a special.

"Comin' up." She turns and orders my beer from the barkeep.

I look out the window as she gives me my drink and I swear I saw a grown man in a chicken suit clucking around a group of chickens. I didn't even take a sip of my beer and I am already seeing things!

I call the barmaid over again.

"There was a man out there with a chicken suit on. What the heck was he doing?" I point to the man that now walked away from the tavern. I took a few sips of my beer before it got warm.

"Oh, he is Prince Erick. King Logan's brother."

I spit back out my beer in shock and look at her wide eyed.

"Are you serious? What is he doing out here? Forget that! How did he even make it out here! The poor boy has been locked up in the castle all his life!"

"He came out here with another man..." She took a breath as if to say something else. "I am not at liberty to tell you more."

"You have told me more than enough. He might be able to help me get to Chillbreath Caverns."

"I doubt it. Poor kid is doing quests. He will be stuck here for a while."

"Damn." I lightly swear.

"Did you make a choice on what you want to eat? We have a few new appetizers on our menu." She said and pointed out the items.

I look at the menu for a few seconds and my eyes fall on the steak section. My stomach growls as if it made the decision for me. I hope I have enough gold.

"Oh heck with it. Just get me a steak."

"You got it, love." She closes the menu and places my order.

I sit and wait. I watch the bar patrons come in and one man even challenged me to a few card games. I beat him good and proper and collect two hundred gold in winnings. Guess I have enough for my steak now. Yes!

I take a look outside again and I notice that boy running around the town. Erick was it? He had crazy blue hair. I wondered if it was his actual hair color or if it is dyed. It is kinda strange either way.

My diner arrives about an hour later and I ate like I haven't eaten in days. It was so good. The worst part of it is I won't get this on the road once I head back out in the morning. I finish and she takes my plate and tosses the bill on my table.

"Anything else I can get'cha?"

"Uh, yeah. How much are rooms for the night?"

"Ten gold gets you a room. Check out is at eight. Any company you have will be charged a full night, so don't think you can smuggle anyone in." She lowers herself by my ear.

"And if you want a different kind of company, I would be happy to oblige." She purred.

"No. It is just me." I ignore her advances.

"Fine. Whatever."

She seemed kinda mad. Oh well.

I drag myself up the staircase and into my room. I assume they charge in the morning. I shuck off my clothes and get under the covers. The sheets were nice and clean and I drifted off to sleep.