Chapter 16-The Mask of Nobility

While Shibu and the constable were occupied at the Bank,Count Maxim and his canine retainer slipped easily away from the small village. Nothing that they did and nowhere that they went would be questioned by the local authorities. They didn't dare.

Rather than take the cumbersome wagon, and the ever hungry gobballs, the nobleman and his retainer simply slid through the trees and into the deeper forest.

Both of them knew how to walk silently, and as the forest grew so thick that daylight itself began to dim, both of them were grateful for the skill.

The two of them weaved their way through the forest for the better part of an hour, before they came to a small clearing whose only trace of human passage was an old drowned out campfire.

Maxim turned and looked at Fel. The nobleman gave a short nod. Both of them settled down, seated none to comfortably on the log that seem to be situated near the old fire.

Now it was just a question of waiting.

Maxim knew better than anyone if the bandits were not here, sleeping by day so they could work by night, they might have hit upon some easy prey on the way home.

About twenty more minutes passed, and as the sun crept up a bit more toward noonday, there was the distant sound of a twig snapping followed by some very soft footfalls. A group of a half dozen similarly dressed man slipped silently into the clearing. To Maxim's ears, they were making more noise than all of the musicians in Bonta.

"It's about time you fools got yourselves back here." The count said with annoyance. "Who gave you permission to work in the daylight?"

"The road is just over that hill. It has traffic on it practically all day long. We just needed a little more money for food and drink." One of the thieves took to explaining quickly. "I just thought-"

Maxim cut them off with a growl worthy of Fel. "You idiots, I don't pay you to think. And after last night's pathetic performance, I wonder why I should pay you any longer." Maxim snarled at the group.

The bandits were instantly cowed, and dropping the small amount of loot they had on the log beside Maxim, all of them seem to shrink away into nothing, as they prepared to bed down for the day.

After a few minutes, the bandit who had spoken up before returned, their hands and eyes lowered before the nobleman.

"Please excuse us, your Excellency. We tried our best, but the truth is that no one in the entire thieves guild would have been prepared for that boy." The bandit leader told the nobleman.

The highwayman's observation made the noble smile. That probably saved both their jobs, and their lives.

"Yes indeed, the boy is quite unique." Maxim answered. "I didn't hire you imbeciles for any simple kidnapping. My plans go much farther than that, especially with that boy counted into the mix." Maxim replied.

As the nobleman spoke, he fished around a bit in one of the pockets of his cloak, and toss the leader of the bandits a small leather purse heavy with coins.

"Here, take this. I suppose you have earned it one way or another. There's also enough extra there to get your friends out of jail, providing that overstuffed Sheriff doesn't require too much of a bribe."

This made the bandit leader smile. The sorry truth was that Shibu had managed to take down better than half their number, with nothing more than a simple wooden pole. Both the bandit and the nobleman knew that the criminals were still crammed into a small cell in the nearby village. But as the nobleman had observed, a bribe had worked before, as had giving the local sheriff a share of the loot appropriated by himself and his associates.

"It'll be good to be back at full strength again." The bandit leader observed casually. "And what are your wishes, your Excellency?"

"The next part of this little drama will require a certain number of strong and loyal men. Loyal to me, that is. I will need them very soon now. It will take another day for events to unfold." Maxim replied, looking down his nose at the bandit chieftain.

"Must be a big job." The bandit chief observed. "How many men will you need?"

"How many men are there in the Royal Guard?" Maxim paused, carefully watching the eyes of the bandit as he thought over the question without understanding its implication.

"Not that a simpleton like you would know." Maxim said to him at last. "Start with fifty. With that many, we may be able to hold the castle until we can invite more of our friends to join the new administration."

The dim light of the bandit leaders reasoning finally flickered in his dull eyes.

"You mean you're going to try for the throne?" The bandit leader asked.

This time, rather than answering, Maxim reached out his gloved hand and clamped it around the throat of the talkative bandit leader. "If you ever mention that again in my presence, or mention it to anyone so long as you live, I will take great pleasure in throwing you into the deepest hole in all of Bonta, and forgetting where you are forever, understand?"

The sheer terror reflected in the bandit's slightly bulging eyes as Maxim spoke was answer enough for the nobleman. "Fifty men, in armor, and with weapons of good quality. I shall arrange for their expenses, but my name is not to be mentioned. Once I have ascended the throne, I will take care of my friends, just as I will take care of my enemies, and those who did me wrong so many years ago." The Count explained. "Just you be certain of whose side you're on once Bonta has a new leader."

Maxim dropped the bandit leader to the ground, right at the edge of the old fire where the ground was still wet. The bandit leader immediately genuflected to the ambitious nobleman. "As you order, your most high majesty."

"That is more like it." Maxim replied coldly. "You and these other idiots get some sleep. I will call you again when and if I need you. When I do, see to it that you are ready." Maxim growled at the bandit chief.

"As you will, noble sire." The bandit chief replied, still down on his knees before Maxim. "Fifty men of quality may require a few days more time, and almost certainly more gold than this." The bandit replied.

"Do your job as ordered." Maxim snapped again. "When you need it, the money shall present itself. We have recently discovered a new source of revenue in a village not far from here. It is the village where the boy lives."

"I know the one, noble highness. It is protected by the Cra." The bandit leader explained.

"From now on, it is also protected by me." Maxim replied. Absolutely no harm whatsoever shall be done to the inhabitants of Amikina village." Maxim ordered sharply.

"As you wish, sire." The bandit chief replied.

"If the boy discovered there was trouble at home, he will certainly wish to return immediately. I require his services for my new plan to succeed. Therefore, you will see to it that no one from the guild harms anyone from the village, and nothing is to be taken from there

without my express permission. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly Sire." The bandit leader replied as Maxim rose from his seat on the log, forgetting entirely about the pathetic silver coins which represented his share of the loot.

"For now, we return to Emelka. We shall be in Bonta tomorrow. See to it that you have the men I require by then."

"Yes sire, as you order. All will be in readiness." The bandit chief replied.

"If you succeed, you will be the captain of my guards. If you fail, you will be as dead as the old King, remember that."

This time, the bandit leader bowed rather than make any reply which might cost him his tongue, or his head.

"Come along, Fel." Maxim said simply to the dark canine figure sitting opposite him on the other log. "We're due back in Emelka, for an adequate lunch before we push on to Bonta."

Fel spoke not a word as he stood up, and both retainer and his Master walked silently out of the forest clearing as if the pair of them had been nothing but shadows of the Woodland.

The bandit chief paused after they were gone, to weigh a again the leather pouch of gold which was the share for the bandits.

For a moment, the bandit chief considered becoming a turncoat. There was always a rich reward to be had in Bonta for turning in traitors. But then, the bandit chief thought of something he hadn't before. Betraying Count Maxim meant that sooner or later the bandit chief and his minions would have to answer not only to the count, but also to Fel.

That thought put a cold shiver down his spine, and at full noontime, the leader of the bandits found himself wishing for a good fire.

Count Maxim had always told them that loyalty was a virtue to live by. Perhaps for now, it was better to live, and be loyal rather than face the grisly alternative.