Chapter 29

Vigilant One, watch over this caravan and all who travel in it. Guide us through these lands to safety, and-

"I understand using a decoy carriage, but I still don't see why we couldn't ride with the merchants."

Suppressing a sigh, Ajantis Ilvarstarr opened his eyes and lifted his head to look at the man seated next to him.

"You are concerned about the people with us, milord?"

"And you are not?" Bartholomew Witton retorted, tucking in his sleeves as best he could underneath the arms of his newly-acquired and thoroughly uncomfortable leather gambeson. "Look at them! Any one of them could be a spy or, or, an assassin!"

Ajantis blinked wearily at him, then obediently looked around the wagon.

It was filled nearly to its full capacity of eight people, including himself and Witton. Two men were seated directly across from them, one of whom Ajantis recognized as the minstrel Garrick. The other one, sitting across from Witton in the opposite corner, was a tall, muscular man with ruggedly handsome features who paused in the tuning of his longbow to lift an eyebrow at Witton's nervous outburst.

Next to Garrick were Khalid and Dorean, of whom the latter appeared to be asleep with his head leaning against the former's right bicep.

Finally, seated directly across from Dorean and next to the wagon's door was the halfling named Montaron, the space between him and Ajantis occupied by the former's pack. Aside from the sleeping dwarf, he was the only one who did not react to Witton's accusation, and continued to whet a thinly-bladed dagger.

Ajantis hesitated and then smiled at the three upturned faces. "Pardon me, but would any of you happen to be currently conspiring against my lord?"

Khalid, Garrick and the stranger all exchanged looks with each other.

"Not today, I'm afraid," said the stranger. "For now, I am merely a caravan guard. I might dabble in spying or assassination if it pays more, however."

This elicited a collective chuckle from Garrick and Khalid, the latter quickly collecting himself lest he wake up the slumbering dwarf leaning against him.

"I do not believe I have your name, sir," said Ajantis.

"It is Kron, my good man, but you may call me Eldoth," he replied, bowing his head and smiling. "And what of you gentlemen here?" he added, looking at Garrick and Khalid.

Introductions were passed around (excluding Montaron), and soon Ajantis' frustration at Witton's constant complaining ebbed away as he listened to Garrick's dramatic retelling of what he apparently now referred to as the Silke Dilemma; the same incident, Ajantis realized, that landed him in trouble earlier with the mercenary leader Kagain.

"...and so I pledged my sword-arm to this caravan, for no pay of course, in repentance for the crimes of my mistress," Garrick concluded. "And if in the course of this quest should I lose my life, then I hope, it would be a fitting end." He closed his eyes and lowered his head.

"Very noble of you," drawled Eldoth, breaking the silence. Garrick smiled and then frowned at him. "Well, since we are now apparently sharing our life stories, I may as well throw in mine."

Ajantis' still-soured mood at the interruption of his prayer was soon improved by Eldoth's tale of his island homeland of Ruathym. He perked up when Eldoth spoke of moving to Waterdeep as a teenager and training in New Olamn.

"I am from Waterdeep," he said without thinking. Garrick, Eldoth and Khalid blinked at him.

"Yet you wear the colours of the Amn-based Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart," Eldoth replied with a raised eyebrow. "I sense a story there."

Ajantis hesitated. "It's a long story."

"We've got time," said Garrick.

"Not as interesting as yours, I'm afraid," replied Ajantis. "What about you, Khalid?" he asked, hoping to shift the group's focus onto someone else. "Where are you from?"

Khalid blinked rapidly, and to Ajantis' surprise, his cheeks appeared to turn a slight pink.

"Urm...I...I-I am f-from C-C-Calimshan."

Eldoth's eyebrow rose again. Montaron neither stopped nor slowed his dagger-whetting, though he did raise his eyes to look at Khalid, who nervously looked away from all of them to the sleeping dwarf leaning against him.

"...what about him?" asked Garrick, gesturing to Dorean and immediately earning Ajantis' gratitude for the obviously shy half-elf.

Unfortunately, Khalid only appeared to become even more nervous at the inquiry; his head darted back and forth between Dorean and Garrick before stopping at the latter. His mouth opened and closed, struggling to find the right words to say.
"None'a yer business," Montaron said without looking up, giving the blade of his dagger a particular loud scrap against the whetting stone. Ajantis, Garrick, Eldoth and Khalid all stared at him. Witton made a noise and leaned further into his corner.

After a moment, Garrick turned away from the unfriendly halfling and started up a new conversation about the caravan and the troubles plaguing the region.

As he, Eldoth and even Witton joined in with their thoughts and opinions and in the case of Witton complaints, Ajantis could not help but glance at the slumbering dwarf, recalling the moment hours earlier when Dorean had climbed into the wagon under the insistence of his...foster sister?...and spoke to all of the other passengers before falling asleep next to Khalid. He had been polite and courteous as always, like the few times Ajantis had previously spoken with him.

Ajantis remembered recognizing him as the same face on the bounty notice he had seen outside the Song of the Morning Temple, and wondered to himself if such an unassuming and seemingly harmless person truly could have been involved in the disappearance of a skilled swordsman like Gunnhallur Silvershield.

He's not like Kagain. Shorter, lighter, darker skin...

Ajantis recalled the years of study under his perpetually strict and skinny former governess.

A gold dwarf, perhaps?

Another memory came to him; one of a gold dwarven smith in Athkatla whom Keldorn had introduced him to. His mailed fingers moved to his polished steel breastplate, gently brushing over the metal, and Ajantis felt a pang of guilt upon realizing that he had never bothered to learn the man's name.

The wagon suddenly lurched to a stop, causing Witton to make an 'eep' sound and grasp the edges of his seat.

Dorean's eyes flicked open and he leaned forward with a jerk before relaxing with a loud exhale, breathing heavily. Khalid and Montaron both immediately looked at him, the latter pausing in his dagger-whetting.

"Are you okay?" Khalid asked gently. Dorean hesitated, then nodded without looking at him.

"Why have we stopped?" Witton said aloud, standing up and thumping his fist on the wall behind the driver. "I demand to know why we stopped!"

Before Ajantis could attempt to calm him yet again, the door at the rear of the wagon swung open and Imoen stuck her head inside.

"Heya, little brother. Sorry for waking ya." Her cheery mood faded slightly. "Kagain wants to see you."

Ajantis expected Dorean to grumble loudly or mutter under his breath and was surprised when the dwarf quietly shouldered his pack and followed her out.

He then blinked when Montaron, Khalid, Garrick and Eldoth all rose from their seats and began to exit the passenger wagon one-by-one.

He hesitated a moment, then, his curiosity piqued, he too left his seat and moved behind Eldoth, bending low to avoid scraping his head on the ceiling.

He heard Witton sputtering behind him and then making an inarticulate sound of frustration, and fought to hide a smile as the noble-born diplomat reluctantly followed him out.

..


Ajantis stepped outside, blinked up at the high noon sun and then looked around. He grimaced as he surveyed his surroundings and stood aside to let Witton exit the wagon.

Khalid was not exaggerating. There is barely any cover for miles.

Numerous faces turned towards him, their eyes narrowing upon seeing the symbol of the stylized heart on his cloak. He ignored the glares and whispers, keeping his gaze fixed on Imoen leading the group to the head of the caravan.

He exchanged polite nods with Lene as he passed, feeling her eyes and those of her fellow mercenaries on his back.

I've heard enough rumours about the Dented Shields to guess they do more than escort caravans.

He shook his head slightly, then brushed his dark hair out of his face, silently reminding himself that protecting Witton is his mission.

If there is evil in them, I can deal with it after he is delivered to the city.

A few minutes later, they reached the leading caravan wagon, in front of which stood Kagain, Officer Vai, Jaheira, and Xzar, the last of whom gave a friendly wave and smile to Ajantis, causing Witton to shrink back behind his bodyguard.

"I said bring the nugget, not the whole bloody crew!" Kagain exclaimed to Imoen. "Ya mother ever taught ya ta follow simple instructions?"

"No she didn't, on account of being dead since I was a wee lass," she replied, neither faltering in her step nor her speech. Kagain blinked at her, nonplussed, then gave a growl and a snort before pointing at Dorean.

"You," he said, tossing an unremarkable-looking girdle into his arms. "Are gonna take this to Thog, or Bog, or whatever the hell he's called."

"I think it was Og," said Xzar.

"Did I ask ya ta talk?" Kagain growled, rounding angrily on the wizard. Ajantis frowned as he watched Xzar return the mercenary's glower with a malevolent smile, remembering the altercation in Kelddath's office.

"What if he refuses to let us pass?" Jaheira asked, causing both older dwarf and wizard to look at him.

"Then we sodding kill him," Kagain answered. "What the hells do ya think we'll do, offer him a drink?"

"Do ogres even drink the same beverages as we do?" Garrick wondered aloud.

"I once saw an ogre in a tavern in Waterdeep," said Eldoth. "Placed bets with everyone to try to drink him under the table."

"Anyone manage to?" Imoen asked.

"No," Eldoth replied with a smirk. "He put half the tavern into a stupor." He paused. "Though I suspect he cheated."

Kagain stared for a full three seconds before turning to Vai. "This is what ya mustered up for me?"

"It would have helped if you chipped in on paying them," she replied. Ajantis watched as the two mercenaries exchanged glares.

"I should've stayed in Beregost and summoned a contingent from Athkatla," muttered Witton behind him. Ajantis glanced at him for a moment and then quietly turned away, deciding not to voice what an unwise idea that would have been.

Nevertheless, as he watched Khalid argue with Kagain on behalf of Dorean who was quietly examining the belt, Ajantis breathed in deeply and exhaled in a sigh.

The men whom I rode out of Athkatla with were ordered and disciplined. And they still fell to our attackers. Could these people succeed where they failed? He paused, lowering his head. Could I?

"Squire," he heard, and lifted his gaze to Officer Vai. "What are you doing out here with him?" She gestured to Witton. "You both need to stay in the wagon, out of sight."

Ajantis hesitated. He glanced again at Witton, then at the thin, passive dwarf nodding to Khalid, Jaheira and Kagain in turn and then moving quietly to the front of the group with Imoen close on his heels.

"I'm going with him."

Vai blinked and frowned at him. Dorean and Imoen stopped and looked at him as well.

"The sun got to ya head or something?" said Kagain.

"I said I'm going," Ajantis replied, his voice more firm and confident this time. "I have faced ogres before, Master Kagain, and not always in battle."

As Kagain and Vai looked at each other, Ajantis noticed Garrick and Eldoth raising their eyebrows at him.

"You're supposed to protect me, Ilvarstarr, not go monster-hunting!" Witton protested.

"I will neither be far away nor gone long, milord, and there should be adequate protection for you here," Ajantis calmly replied. "Unless you would prefer to accompany me?"

Witton descended once again into protesting sputters before turning on his heel and marching back towards the column. Ajantis watched him go, his feelings a conflicting mix of satisfaction and guilt as he recalled Witton's words at the Song of the Morning.

This journey has made him a nervous wreck.

Without another word, he marched over to Dorean, gave him a reassuring smile, and said, "Let's go and meet this ogre."

Dorean looked up at him and then at Imoen before nodding. "Thank you, Ajantis." He then turned to Kagain. "Will you be coming with us?"

Everyone looked at the older dwarf, who for some reason glanced at Montaron with narrowed eyes before adjusting his winged helmet and stepping forward.

"Of course I am. If that thing starts swinging, ya will need a real dwarf ta deal with it."

Ajantis winced and prepared for a vicious exchange of insults. To his surprise, Dorean merely nodded and said "Thank you," to which Kagain gave another rude snort.

"I will remain with the caravan," said Vai, gazing coldly at the friendly dwarf. "Do not forget what I told you yesterday."

For a moment so fleeting that he could have sworn it was his imagination, Ajantis noticed the light fade from Dorean's eyes. He blinked once, and in the next half second, the empty, emotionless expression was gone, replaced by him nodding silently to Vai before addressing the entire group.

"Alright, same as before; all in a straight line with me at the front. Khalid, could you help Ajantis? He wasn't with us the last time."

As he found himself wedged between Khalid and Xzar, Ajantis could not help but blink at Dorean.

"Odd little fellow, is he?"

He turned his head to see Xzar smiling at him, then quietly faced forward again, deciding not to answer. Xzar pouted.

"It's rude not to answer a question," he said reproachfully. Ajantis glanced to his left and stiffened upon seeing Khalid glaring daggers at Xzar.

He began to wonder if he had made a mistake.

..


"Now remember," said Khalid. "Unless it's attention is elsewhere, there is little chance that we could take it by surprise. So let's just-"

He stopped speaking as the party came to a halt.

The ogre was where they had seen it last, in the shade of two coniferous trees.

The flies buzzing around its unmoving, supine form was the first sign that something was amiss.

Montaron immediately moved forward, seemingly walking casually yet making no sound. Everyone else remained where they stood, Dorean gently elbowing Imoen without looking at her when she began to speak.

The halfling returned a few minutes later, silently beckoning them to come forward, which Ajantis regretted as he drew closer.

"Ah, Clangeddin's rottin', soddin' teeth," Kagain swore, pinching his nose.

"...what happened to him?" said Imoen, her voice shaking.

"Lost his head," Montaron answered unhelpfully. Jaheira glared at him as she waved the flies off and kneeled down to examine the numerous wounds on the naked corpse.

"His finger and toenails have been cut out," she said grimly. "He was alive when it happened." She looked up at her partner. "Khalid, what do you make of this?"

Ajantis looked at the man now standing next to him. There was a slight greenish tinge to Khalid's face. However, his composure and expression were calm and collected, which was more than Ajantis could say for himself; he was surprised at his own ability to keep it together. The urge to turn away and vomit was growing stronger by the second.

"A poleaxe or a halberd," Khalid answered, pointing at one of a dozen wounds on the corpse's torso. "Not an axe."

"He was kept alive for as long as possible," Xzar said quietly. Everyone looked at him. "The torturer observed his reactions."

They all looked down at the corpse, Ajantis fighting the urge to retch.

After a moment, he noticed that Dorean appeared to be searching their surroundings; his eyes were scanning the ground around the ogre's makeshift campsite.

"Already checked, kid," said Montaron. "It ain't here. Whoever did this must've taken it with the head."

Dorean quietly lowered his gaze to the ground. Imoen placed a hand on his shoulder, keeping her face turned away from the ghastly display before them. Ajantis wanted to ask what they were speaking of, but he dared not open his mouth lest the urge to vomit become overwhelming.

"You claim to know all that is worth knowing about this region, did you not?" said Jaheira, standing up and turning to Kagain who, Ajantis realized, had been uncharacteristically quiet.

"...yeah, I did," he answered, his left hand still pinching his nose. "What about it?"

"Do you know who might have done this?"

Kagain hesitated for a moment, his eyes moving from Jaheira to Khalid, Montaron and Xzar, who for some reason was staring at Dorean and Imoen, both of whom had turned to look at Kagain.

"...someone ya don't wanna know," he eventually answered. When Jaheira did not budge, he then added, "An elf. Not like your kind of elves, he's one'a them wild elves. Arrived in Beregost about three months ago, asking about some half-ogre called Tazok." He paused. "Then he started killing. Mostly bandits, but also travellers, merchants, peddlers, an' anyone else he took a fancy to. Even killed three of my guys." He paused again. "He hates ogres. And I really mean hates 'em. Don't know what he wants with this Tazok fellow, but from this," he gestured with his free hand to the mangled body. "I'm guessing it ain't to sit down an' talk business."

Khalid and Jaheira looked at each other.

"What's his name?" asked Dorean.

"How in the hells should I know?" Kagain retorted. From the corner of his eye, Ajantis noticed Montaron and Xzar both raise their eyebrows and glance at each other.

"He killed your men and you never tried to learn his name?" said Jaheira. Kagain bristled.

"I never said I didn't-"

A war horn sounded far behind them, causing them all to look south. Cursing in dwarvish, Kagain turned and started to run, his chainmail clinking loudly in his wake.

As the rest of the group followed him, despite the sinking feeling in his bell, Ajantis felt almost grateful for being given a reason to leave the area as quickly as possible; the stench permeating from it was not only physically retching, but also carried something that he could only describe as, for lack of a better word, evil.

He made a quick but fervent prayer to Helm to watch over those who may be unfortunate enough to meet this elvin mass murderer.

..


There was a large cloud of dust approaching from the east. As the party raced back to the caravan, Ajantis grimaced as a line of horsemen appeared on the horizon, heading straight for the column of wagons.

We'll never outrun them on the plains.

"Lene!" Ajantis heard Kagain shout, and faced forward to see the half-orc running up to meet them. The dwarven leader did not stop or slow down, and Lene deftly changed course to run alongside him. "Who an' how many?"

"Fist scout counted over fifty, heading right this way!"

"I know that, I can see the sodding smoke! How many horses?!"

"Twenty, maybe twenty-five!" she answered, panting. "They've got archers too!"

"Of course they do, they'd be bloody stupid not to! Line up our boys! An' the rest'a ya, find that stinkin' noble an' make sure he doesn't soddin' die!"

Sweat pouring down his forehead, Ajantis ran to the passenger wagon where he found Witton hammering on the door and demanding to be let back in. Armed with the experience of having travelled with him for the last several weeks, the squire opted for action instead of words, bodily pulling the diplomat away from the wagon and dragging him over to the rallying Dented Shield, Flaming Fist and freelance mercenaries, where Dorean's party had also gathered.

Witton's curses and threats died down as he and Ajantis gazed out across the plains at the company assembling before them.

Wooden lances, Ajantis noted, grimacing. My shield and armour may not be enough here.

Almost simultaneously, Kagain and Vai shouted, "Shields out!"

Ajantis looked at Khalid standing next to him, and the Calishite gave a calm, reassuring smile as he and Jaheira brought up their tower shields in unison with the mercenaries, most of whom were carrying tower shields as well.

"Stay close to me, milord," Ajantis said firmly but gently to Witton.

"It's them, isn't it?" said Witton, his voice trembling. "They've come for me again. I knew they would."

Ajantis paused, then put his right arm around the thin man's shoulders, drawing him closer to his side. "Calm yourself, sir. We will get through this."

He looked on sympathetically as the man started to whimper, reminding himself that Witton's recent behaviour was a result of his growing fear and anxiety.

"You're a cowardly one, aren't you?" said Xzar. Ajantis frowned at him, then blinked as the wizard lifted a haughty chin. "I will make a far better master than this one, young man. I suggest you let him catch an arrow or three, and join me in my mission to Nashkel."

Ajantis stared at him. Then Imoen reached over and smacked Xzar on the arm, causing the latter to jump.

"Xzar," she said, pointing a threatening finger at him. "If you say that to him again, I will touch you."

The madman recoiled from her, and when the bandit leader at the front of the assembled company started to address them, Ajantis actually felt relieved.

"Good day to you, travellers!" he shouted, trotting forward several steps on his horse. "My name is Deke. Not my real one, of course, but I'm sure you understand why I don't want to share it." There was a chorus of laughter from his men. "Let me assure you good folk that we intend no ill will towards you, and will allow you all to resume your journey after you have bequeathed us three wishes."

Despite the distance separating them, Ajantis could feel the smirk on the bandit leader's face. He slowly lifted his right hand to the grip of the bastard sword behind his right shoulder, drawing the weapon from its scabbard.

"First; all of the iron that you're carrying. And I mean all of it," Deke added. "Second; the nobleman from Athkatla. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter. Feel free to kill him yourselves if you like."

As another round of laughter rose from the bandits, Ajantis silently placed his sword-hand on Witton's left shoulder, keeping the blade pointed sky-ward. He felt rather than saw the diplomat's trembling body, and gave the shoulder a few firm pats in the hope of steadying him.

"Do not despair, milord," he said in a low voice. "We will beat back these brigands."

Witton did not answer, though he gave a loud sniff from beside the squire.

"Thirdly," and here Deke's tone and demeanour suddenly became more serious. "A gold dwarf, travelling with several freelance mercenaries. We want him alive and we want him unharmed."

The anxious and nervous murmuring among the caravan travellers intensified, and numerous heads began turning and looking around them, most at naval-level.

Tearing his eyes away from the assembled bandits (there definitely are more than fifty...), Ajantis looked to his right at the strange duo of dwarf and pink-clad girl.

The latter had moved closer to the former, and her left arm, whose hand was clutching her short-bow, was now firmly resting on Dorean's shoulder. Khalid had also moved past Ajantis and Witton, placing himself on Dorean's other side with sword and shield already drawn. Jaheira, however, was now standing very still and lightly gripping her quarterstaff, the only movement from her being the swaying of her hair in the breeze. Xzar too was staring straight ahead, his arms hanging loose at his sides.

It suddenly occurred to Ajantis that Montaron was nowhere to be seen, and he was about to look around for the halfling when Deke spoke up again.

"In exchange for these paltry gifts, we will allow you to go on your way. With your food, water, gold and everything else. Including your lives."

Despite the heat, Ajantis felt a chill run down his spine. He kept his gaze fixed straight ahead rather than glance at the faces of the mercenaries around him.

For a moment, the mercenaries were all silent, in contrast to the murmurs and shouts of the caravan travellers.

Then Officer Vai stepped forward, eyes cold and chin high.

"I have a counter-offer; lay down your arms and leave this land, right now, and the Flaming Fist will not have you all hunted down and hanged!"

She was answered by a cacophony of mocking laughter, though her gaze and stance did not falter.

"Your offer is most unrealistic, my good lady!" Deke shouted mirthfully. "For we have you outnumbered! Come now, do you really wish to sacrifice all of these good folk for the sake of two people and some iron?"

"'e's right!" yelled a peasant. "Are you really gonna let us all get killed just for that?!"

"Dat dwarf's a bad'un anyway, 'e killed Gun-heller! I say hand 'im over to 'em!" a middle-aged woman hollered.

"Wait, wait, what about the iron?!" a merchant piped up. "Surely we don't have to give up all of it? Maybe we could-"

"SHUT UP! ALL OF YA! ONE MORE WORD FROM ANY'A YA AN' I'LL COME BACK THERE AN' KILL YA MYSELF!"

In the silence that followed, Kagain paused a moment to let his words echo across the plain. Then, adjusting his winged helmet, he stepped up beside Vai and placed his hands on his belt.

"So!" He hollered. "Dick, was it?"

The bandit leader scowled. "It's Deke!" He shouted back.

"Oh, Sorry! Pardon me! My hearing ain't so good, must be on account'a my age!"

There was a round of laughter from the Dented Shields, and even some of the Flaming Fist mercenaries smiled and chuckled.

"Alright, Dick, lemme say so's I got it straight in my head! This deal ya offerin' us, it's the iron, the nobleman, an' the dwarf! That's it, right, that's all ya askin' for?"

"That is correct, yes!" Deke answered.

"Okay, okay!" said Kagain raising his hands. "An' that is all ya want? Ya won't ask for anything else?"

"No, we will not!"

Kagain nodded, keeping both of his hands raised. "Okay, okay, okay! So, just to make it absolutely clear; if we give ya those three things, ya will leave us alone? Ya will go away an' won't bother us again?"

"Yes!" Deke shouted back, now clearly impatient. "The iron, the noble and the dwarf! That's all we want! And we will let you all go!"

Kagain fell silent, still nodding. He then lowered his hands and looked behind him at the caravan, taking his time and casting a slow, sweeping eye over the sea of faces before facing the bandits again.

"An' ya give me your word, that if we meet these conditions, ya will honour your end of the deal?"

Deke paused, then turned his head to look at his fellow bandits. In that moment, Ajantis looked around at the party. Imoen and Khalid have drawn even closer to Dorean, Khalid on his left and Imoen on his right. Jaheira and Xzar remained unmoving, though Xzar's eyes were now closed and he appeared to be humming something softly to himself. There was still no sign of Montaron.

"You have my word, dwarf!" Deke finally answered. "Give us what we want, and we will leave the rest of you in peace, with everything else you carry!"

Kagain nodded and then stood quietly with his hands on his belt, looking over at the assembled bandits, and to Ajantis, it seemed as though every other living soul on the plains, travellers, mercenaries and bandits alike, was holding its breath.

After a long moment, Kagain turned to Officer Vai.

"That's a pretty good deal, don't ya think, Vai?"

Vai simply looked down at the dwarf, her expression unreadable. Kagain snorted.

"Well, it's a damn good deal to me! What about you, boys?" He turned to the other mercenaries. "A bit'a cargo an' two people in exchange for the lives of forty! Now THAT'S a deal! Probably the best deal I've gotten all year!"

Numerous words of agreement rose from the crowd of peasants and travellers. Ajantis saw Deke's face twist into a smile. He felt Dorean's party tense beside him, and the eyes of several mercenaries on them.

"Hey, how about this, Dick?" Kagain yelled, turning back to face the bandits. "How about ya come over here an'-"

What Kagain said next was almost immediately drowned out by a loud chorus of laughter and mocking cat-calls from his men to the bandits, though Ajantis could tell from the gesturing and body language of the dwarven leader that it was, to put it lightly, not very polite.

Despite the distance separating them, he saw Deke's face turn red. The man whirled around on his horse when some of his own men failed to hide their chuckles and smiling faces, then turned back to face Kagain.

"You will pay for this! All of you!" He then looked over his shoulder and screamed, "No prisoners except the dwarves! I want them both alive!"

Vai and Kagain both drew and raised their mace and axe, shouting to their men.

"To arms!"

"Time to earn our pay, boys!"

As nearly a hundred voices roared in anticipation of battle, Ajantis quietly lowered his head and closed his eyes.

Helm, grant me the strength to see this through. And if not, give not your mercy to my soul, but to these people.

..


As nearly twenty bandit archers marched through the line of enemy horsemen, Vai shouted to her men without turning around.
"Team one, with me! Team two, protect the caravan! Get those people behind the wagons now!"

"Freelancers, leave the front-line stuff to us!" Kagain bellowed. "Stay with the caravan!"

The bandit archers raised their bows, and Ajantis hastily drew Witton closer to him. "Get down, milord!" He ordered, forcing him into a crouch and bending down himself with his shield over the cowering diplomat.

"Shields up!" Vai and Kagain yelled together.

A volley of arrows coursed high into the air, arcing down towards them. Screams and cries echoed through the plain as they landed, and when Ajantis turned his head to look, his heart sank upon seeing that most of the casualties were among the civilians, many of whom had failed to take cover behind the wagons in time. Armed with their tower shields, none of the mercenaries appeared to have suffered a single wound.

He turned back at the shouted order of "Loose!" from the bandit army, and another hail of feathered shafts flew up towards the caravan.

More screams. Ajantis momentarily closed his eyes to shut out the memory that rushed unbidden to his mind, forcing himself to stay in the present.

"Come on, boys!" Kagain roared.

With his axe raised high and the sunlight gleaming off his helmet, the dwarf rushed headlong at the bandits. For a single second that seemed to linger agonizingly for Ajantis, none of the other mercenaries moved. Then Lene sped forward and the remaining fourteen Dented Shield mercs followed, waving their shields and weapons and screaming their battle-cries.

Ajantis suddenly felt the urge to join them; to race head-long at the bandit cavalry who have the advantage in numbers and in being on horseback.

Death might find me out in that field. It would be a good end.

He hesitated for a moment, then tore his eyes away from the two screaming, charging lines of men, placed a hand on the small of Witton's back, and forced him to his feet.

"This way, milord!"he yelled, pushing and guiding him back towards the caravan wagons.

The passenger wagon they were in earlier was now peppered with arrows, and there was a scrum at the rear door with a small crowd of people trying to force their way inside.

Several of them spotted Ajantis and Witton approaching, and the squire felt a chill run down his spine at their hostile glares.

"That's the noble they were talking about!" a peasant shouted, pointing at Witton who shrank back closer to Ajantis.

"Get away from us, you Amnian scum!" another ordered.

"It's their fault we're in this!" a third peasant snarled. Several of them stepped forward threateningly.

"Get back!" yelled Witton, scrambling behind his sole bodyguard. "Ilvarstarr! Do something!"

Ajantis turned to him. "Milord, don't- get down!"

Witton obeyed instantly with a squeal, his knees slamming into the grass, and Ajantis again bent over him with shield raised as a third volley of arrows descended on the caravan.

He lifted his head several seconds later and looked around; the hostile peasants had scrambled behind the wagon, though several of them now lay either wounded or dead. Several Flaming Fist mercenaries were running up and down the column of wagons, herding people behind them and shouting to each other.

Ajantis hesitated, looking down at the peasants writhing on the ground and clutching their arrow wounds, when a deafening clash of metal made him look over his shoulder once again.

The Dented Shields and bandit horsemen have met on the battlefield. Ajantis spotted a winged helmet amongst them, and the leg of a passing horseman sailing high up into the air above it.

He then looked down at Witton, then grabbed the cowering diplomat by his collar and moved between the two wagons in front of them, dragging him along.

He was about to push Witton behind one of the wagons when he saw that the area behind both of them was crowded with peasants, many of whom looked at the Amnian duo.

"Ilvarstarr!" Witton screamed, his glasses askew. "Don't put me with these people!"

Ajantis looked at the travellers, who stared back with varying expressions of fear, hostility and hatred.

He hesitated, then made his decision.

"This way, milord!" He shouted, pushing Witton away towards the west.

"W-where are you taking me?!"
"Away from here!"

His thoughts raced in his head as he kept his sword-hand on Witton's shoulder, guiding him in the opposite direction away from the caravan and the bandits.

..


After nearly a full minute of running flat-out across the plain, Ajantis stopped, and the panting diplomat spun around to face him.

"What did you stop for?! We must get away from here!"

"We cannot leave these people, milord!"

Witton sputtered incoherently for a few seconds, adjusting his glasses. "You're not leaving me here, are you?!"

"I'm not-"

At the sound of hoof-beats, Ajantis turned to his left and spotted a group of five bandit horsemen riding straight towards them. He whirled around and saw five more approaching from the opposite direction, further away from him and Witton than the first group.

Ajantis then looked back to the caravan where bandit arrows were still falling and cursed under his breath as he gauged the distance back to it.

Then, with a calmness that surprised himself, he moved a few steps away from Witton and faced the closer group of bandits, his shield raised high and his broad sword gripped firmly in his hand.

The world seemed to slow down, every sound echoing in Ajantis' ears; the thundering of the horses' hoofbeats, the hooting battle-cries of the bandits, Witton's screams of terror, and his own, steady breathing.

So this is it.

He planted his feet in the dirt, lifted his chin, and calmly waited to receive the charging quintet.

Suddenly, thick, brown tendrils burst forth from the earth, entangling the legs of the first group of horses. The air was filled with shouts, cries and whinnying as the bandits either fell from their steeds or were thrown by them to be engulfed by the writhing plants.

Jaheira appeared, her tower shield strapped to her back, running straight into the plants. Unimpeded by them, she raised her quarterstaff and brought it down in a two-handed overhead strike onto the nearest bandit. There was a sickening crunch as the end of the staff smashed into the helpless man's skull, but she did not falter, moving straight to the next.

Ajantis hesitated, watching her, then spun around to face the second group of horsemen; they were forty paces away now and rapidly gaining.

"Ajantis!"

He looked to his right and saw Khalid standing about twenty paces away and waving to him, Dorean and Imoen running up to join the half-elf.

"Move, milord!"

Grabbing Witton by his collar yet again, Ajantis made straight for the trio, keeping his gaze straight ahead as, off to his right, a bandit's pleas for mercy were cut off with another crunching sound.

He could hear the five remaining horsemen rapidly approaching, screaming oaths and curses at the deaths of their comrades, and silently urged his plate-laden body to make it to the freelance mercenaries in time.

"Shoot him!" he heard Dorean shout, and he looked up to see that Imoen had her bow out and aimed at the leading bandit; the dwarf appeared to have lost his crossbow. "Imoen, shoot him!" he ordered again.

Imoen's arms were trembling, and when Ajantis saw her face he immediately understood.

She has never shot at a living being before.

Khalid suddenly whirled around, pressed his sword and shield into Dorean's arms, grabbed the short-bow and arrow from Imoen's hands, then turned and loosed.

Ajantis' eyes followed the arrow from Imoen's bow into the leading horseman's chest. The bandit reeled back with a cry, clutching at the arrow shaft sticking out of his gambeson, then keeled forward, dropping his lance and falling from the saddle to be inadvertently trampled by the horsemen behind him.

He then glanced back to see that Khalid had already handed Imoen her bow, retrieved his sword and shield from Dorean, and was now darting forward to put himself some distance in front of the duo and between them and the bandits.

"You'll pay for that, scum!" the new leading bandit screamed. The other three followed behind him, all heading straight for Khalid.

Ajantis gave Witton a rough shove towards Dorean and Imoen, causing the poor man to stumble and nearly fall face-down into the dirt, then raced as fast as his plate armour would allow to Khalid, who now stood alone against four enemy horsemen.

"Jaheira!" the squire called. He did not dare tear his eyes away from the enemy, and thus he saw the horse in the rear suddenly pitch forward, throwing its rider. The bandit had not even stopped rolling after he had hit the ground before a green-robed figure appeared out of thin air over him and drove a dagger down into his neck.

Xzar rose and pointed with his free hand at the three remaining bandits, none of whom appeared to have noticed the death of one more of their number. Glowing pink lights appeared and sped from his hand, slamming into the back of the rearmost bandit. The man's head snapped back and a brief geyser of blood issued forth from his mouth before he toppled backwards from his horse.

The remaining two horsemen had just began to realize what had happened behind them when Khalid darted forward between their horses. His sword sliced through the first bandit's stomach and then into the second's back on the follow-through. Khalid pivoted as the horses sped past him, one rider tumbling to the ground and the other dragged by his horse with his foot ensnared in the stirrup. Ajantis stared and then gave a sigh of relief upon seeing that the man appeared to be unhurt; one of the bandit lances had come within inches of his head.

He then felt Jaheira's hand on his shoulder, and turned around to see her waving impatiently at Witton.

"Hurry! There might be more of them!"

As the party rallied and then made their way back to the caravan, Ajantis reminded himself to thank each and every one of them later (even Xzar), and sent a silent prayer to Helm as well.

I suppose it is not yet my time to die.

..


"The arrows have stopped," said Khalid, lowering his shield. Ajantis hesitated, looking at the caravan where many of the civilians were leaving the cover of the wagons to look out at the battling mercenaries and bandits, before lowering his own.

"Stay vigilant," Jaheira ordered, glancing behind them to check for any more horsemen from the rear.

A Flaming Fist mercenary beckoned them over, lifting the visor of her helmet as they approached. "Saw your work out there," she said. "Not bad, but don't go so far out next time."

"The peasants kept us away from the wagons," said Ajantis. The mercenary frowned and then nodded.

"Then stay close to me. They give you any trouble again and they'll regret it."

Ajantis felt himself turn slightly cold at the statement, but ignored it and nodded back. He and Witton followed the party in between two of the wagons and looked out once more to the east.

"They're fleeing," he said, hardly daring to believe the sight before him; the horsemen were indeed in full retreat, galloping away from their dead comrades and the Dented Shield mercenaries, who hounded and hurled insults after them.

He heard Kagain's voice above all of the din, shouting and cursing in dwarvish, and looked at the Flaming Fist mercenary standing beside him.

"They're scum, but the Shields are at least good for something," she said with a smile, which faded as she looked around at the fallen travellers around them.

Noticing a peasant lying on the ground with an arrow in his thigh, Ajantis left Witton's side and went over to him.

The man recoiled at his approach, and the squire recognized him as the one who had referred to him and Witton as 'Amnian scum.' He blinked down at the peasant's anxious, fearful face, then quietly kneeled down and began examining the wound.

"It's alright," he said reassuringly, breathing in relief upon seeing that the arrow had not severed any arteries.

The peasant watched him in silence as Ajantis removed the arrow and then mended the wound with a whispered prayer to Helm.

The squire then looked up to see Dorean watching him, and blinked at his unreadable expression; the dwarf's beard made it difficult to gauge his emotions.

After a moment, Dorean moved away, prompting Imoen, Khalid, Jaheira and Xzar to follow him, and began seeing to some of the wounded travellers himself.

Ajantis stood up and watched the dwarf hand a suspicious woman a healing potion for her wounded brother.

"...I saw some of the others driving him away from the wagons," the peasant at his feet muttered. Ajantis looked down at the man; he seemed morose now. "He's the other one them bandits wanted, isn't he? The one who killed Gunnhallur Silvershield." He paused, then lifted his head to look up at Ajantis. "Why's he helping us after what we did to him? And why are you?"

Ajantis gazed down at him for a moment.

"Because it's the right thing to do."

The peasant blinked quietly up at him.

"Stay here," Ajantis said gently. "Try not to move the leg."

He turned and moved back to join Witton and the party, ignoring the victory cries of Kagain's mercenaries and averting his gaze as some of them began to loot the bandits' bodies.

He frowned upon seeing Montaron standing in the party's midst, remembering that the halfling had disappeared before the bandits had even started their attack on the caravan.

When he got closer, however, he saw that Montaron was wounded; there were deep gashes on his shoulder and the side of his head just above his ear, and his shirt was bloodied. The halfling was stoically pouring the contents of a healing potion over the wound in his head, not bothering to close his eyes.

Ajantis hesitated upon looking at the other party members and seeing that none of them appeared to be upset or even displeased with him.

He felt an urge to ask what had happened to the halfling when Dorean spoke up.

"Did you kill the archers, Montaron?"

Montaron grunted.

"By yourself?"

Montaron's eyes moved up to Dorean's, and he grunted again.

Ajantis looked out beyond the battlefield and squinted, spotting and counting the bodies of nearly twenty bandit archers lying motionless on the Coastway plain. He blinked once, then silently turned back to the bored-looking halfling.

"Why did you go out there all by yourself?" asked Imoen. Montaron paused, glancing at her, before replacing the stopper on the healing potion and tossing it to her.

"I work better alone," he answered. His black, seemingly empty eyes briefly met Ajantis, and the latter found himself looking away from the man's face.

He quietly detached himself from the party, his mind now filled with questions about this party of freelancers who were allowed into Kagain's war-room.

...they could come later. For now, there are many who require aid.

He began moving down the column of wagons towards a group of wounded peasants, ignoring the sound of Witton's feet shuffling along behind him. The diplomat had finally ceased his complaining, for which Ajantis was grateful.

As he was treating a particularly serious arrow-wound in a merchant's stomach, Ajantis looked up at the sound of shouting and grimaced upon seeing Kagain and his men violently shoving and kicking a group of kneeling bandit prisoners.

He then glanced over at where Dorean was helping Jaheira hold a struggling and squirming traveller while she examined his wounds. Dorean had his hands pressed down on the man's shoulders and was speaking to him firmly yet gently.

At least there is one dwarf here who has compassion and decency.