(12) Bandits in Goldshire
"Today's lesson is learning to turn it on," Farron spoke flatly. "You're a woman, use what you have to win; it's your life or theirs."
It was a tactic her father had told her many times since puberty; but if the battles were getting more challenging, she'd have to keep up somehow. All Morgana could do was shoot or run. With no magical abilities it left her vulnerable in many situations. Her hand to hand combat was average at best and was nothing to rely on in a pinch.
Morgana stood next to her father on the edge of Goldshire looking out to the small area where bandits were gathering. Every year they rallied together in an attempt to overthrow Goldshire; and every year it was Morgana's task to dismantle them. It seemed like a miniscule task at first but rumor had it once they overtook Goldshire, Stormwind would be next. Shutting them down was interesting at best with their odd warfare tactics but it was the learning curve Morgana needed for future creative opponents.
"Find your perch," Farron said. "And start picking them off."
She nodded as he left her.
Today Morgana was strictly working with a mid range shotgun or her bow and arrows. Mercy was mainly for distance and there were far too many trees in Elwynn Forest for her to be effective.
Morgana moved towards the creek, specifically the small waterfall closer to the bandit's meet up. They always held the smaller house close to the short maintains containing Stormwind. A few crops were grown Morgana assumed for the house to be less suspicious as well as a cow or two roaming nearby.
She crouched low to blend in slightly with the rocks watching a few bandits come in and out of the house with weapons or other warfare material. Morgana slowly brought her shotgun up and watched for a moment studying any odd movements or queues that they knew she was near. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and she poised herself slightly off angle to the door.
"Heads or ankles first?" Morgana asked herself expressionless.
We can be merciful and do ankles.
Morgana fired once hitting the ankle of one outlaw before she ducked behind the rocks. She heard them cry out and scream for help. She assumed others gathered around them asking where it came from. If they were smart, they'd find the bullet and maybe figure out what kind of weapon was being used.
Morgana heard more screams a moment later. Farron must've been on the opposite angle as her doing the same; picking them off until they moved as one. She sighed, suspecting that it was "her turn" now to shoot. She turned over pulling the gun up seeing a few more pillagers scurrying around. Ankles were a bit harder to hit now that they were moving.
Morgana took a shot blindly. She hit the knees this time as her target fell to the ground.
"I can not believe I hit something," she spoke, blinking back in astonishment. "I wasn't even aiming at anything."
A rock nearly hit Morgana on the back of the head then. She spun around noticing the angle of the rock's momentum seeing a burly bandit on a thick branch of a tree.
"Oh, you hang out in trees now," she called up to him. "That's adorable."
The outlaw bounced down from the tree keeping his eyes locked on Morgana.
"Aren't you a morsel," he spoke approaching her.
Morgana rose to her feet then accepting his challenge, "I am indeed."
"That is," Morgana continued lowering her voice slightly for a more sultry tone. "If you can catch me."
With her shotgun still in hand Morgana turned with a smirk on her face heading back to the main path. She could hear him behind her already breathing heavily. Morgana turned back to look occasionally making sure she wasn't too fast or her predator would lose interest. She hoisted herself over the small fence and onto the main road.
Morgana turned back once seeing him still behind her. She smirked as she ran straight up a nearby tree before flipping over and coming down behind him. Using the momentum she gained she quickly spun her shotgun into an uppercut knocking out her chaser.
She knelt down to him seeing a shattered jaw and more than likely many broken teeth.
"Sorry big guy," she said with an unimpressed tug on her lips.
"Ew," she heard from behind.
Morgana quickly stood and whorled around expecting to see another bandit. Instead she saw the complete opposite.
Lady Amalia B'nargin and the Crown Prince of Stormwind sat on separate horses. Amalia's face was in disgust from the recent act of war she just witnessed, Prince Anduin's was more confused.
Morgana bowed but looked up again more to Amalia, "You sure picked a hell of a time for a forest stroll."
Morgana glanced over her shoulder hearing the wolves growl nearby.
"The bandits are rallying to pillage Goldshire and it's wolves are about to give birth to their pups for the season," explained Morgana, kicking the bandit she just knocked out closer to the side of the road. "And the wolves in the forest are much more aggressive during their birthing season especially towards unwanted visitors."
"Wolves are passive," Amalia argued, still looking down at Morgana in disgust.
Somewhat impressive she's aware of that.
"Not the ones in this forest," Morgana replied with a large fake smile. "They're used to seeing humans and will follow you home if you're not careful."
This time, the rock came from behind Amalia spooking her horse. Morgana quickly raised her gun waiting for the horse to bolt before seeing a clear shot at the attacker. She had a clean shot between the horses as Amalia bolted and took it hitting her target straight in the throat.
Morgana sighed as she playfully flipped her hair hearing a few more bandits approach her, "I hope you're going to be a bit more entertaining than the others."
She turned, realizing the Prince was still near. Morgana glanced from him to Amalia's bolting horse back to him; she blinked.
"She's not my responsibility right now," Morgana said plainly, loading in a few bullets into the shotgun.
Morgana casually laid the gun to rest over her shoulder as the Prince rode off.
"When you're ready," she spoke to the outlaws in front of her. "Come and get it."
With a crinkle in her nose and a light chuckle, Morgana took off in the direction of the small pond nearby. Her run was more of a light jog making sure her predators were still interested in the chase. She glanced behind her once seeing the small group still running after her. Morgana smirked looking forward to her destination.
High ground was always the best option for sniping, even though today all she had was Stormwind shotgun. Using the momentum she built up, Morgan sprung upwards on the small hillside that sat next to a pond. She glanced down at her chasers seeing them immediately frustrated at her actions.
"Don't tell me you all thought it would be that easy?" she teased positioning her weapon accordingly.
They started running then. Morgana smirked looking through the scope. Most of Morgana's targets ran in straight lines making her job, sniping, very easy. All she really had to do was flick to the position she knew they'd be in for a near perfect shot. These bandits were no different. She picked them off easily, barely having to do any movement herself.
"Morgana!" he called up to her.
She glanced down at him with one thing on her mind, "What are you doing here?"
You are getting far too comfortable with this boy.
Prince Anduin chuckled seeing her facial expression change drastically, "Your father was rather insistent I offer my assistance for the experience."
Morgana's eyebrows cracked for a moment as she tilted her head to the side, "What?"
He waited for her fully knowing she understood his statement.
Morgana looked him over then, "I haven't done trick riding in years and you nor your horse have protective armor on."
Shouting came from the road as both Morgan and Anduin turned to see.
Now it is my duty as a servant of Stormwind to protect it's royalty.
Morgana quickly jumped down and made her way to the Prince and his giant white steed. He offered her his hand to mount when she was close enough. She stared at it for a moment, quickly giving herself a refresher course in her mind. Her father was never able to own a horse so mounted rifle work wasn't done regularly. From the quick moment Morgana had to recall anything, it was that she had a hard time steering her mount and shooting at the same time. Something about leg pressure on the sides of the mount she didn't quite grasp. With the Prince leading the mount, now all she had to do was hit her targets.
"If I fall off," she started taking his hand. "Just leave me."
"I don't think you will," he answered urging his mount forward.
Morgana glanced at the back of his head questioning if she heard him correctly or not.
"At least one of us is confident," she replied mostly to herself