Foiling An Ambush

Foiling An Ambush

Passing through the gates, the trio trudged back toward Geordo's wagon. As they started up the path, Skrie saw the fresh footprints of a group heading toward the old man's campsite. Alerting Malusk and Theren, they examined the prints. There were three distinct sets of tracks, maybe more, and at least one of the owners was wearing heavy boots. They discussed a plan, and the halfling scouted ahead to check the situation.

The cleric found three men watching Geordo's camp from the brush. Two carried unsheathed weapons. One held a crossbow, quarrel in the tiller, and pointed toward the clearing.

Taking the information back to her companions, Skrie outlined a quick idea to keep the old man and his niece alive.

"I'll sneak up behind the crossbowman," she said, "He's here," marking an 'x' in the dirt, the halfling continued. "The other two are here," two more 'x's joined the first a few inches closer to the river.

"I'll act like a hunter and ask 'em how the huntin's been," said Malusk, with a grin, trying to look harmless. It didn't help.

"I'll stick with Malusk," said the mage, looking from the half-orc to the halfling. "Nothing personal, Skrie."

The halfling chuckled.

"I'll give a count of fifty, then ask about huntin'," said Malusk. "That be enough time fer ya's ta get into place?" he asked Skrie.

"More than enough," she replied. "I'm ready."

Malusk and Theren disappeared into the trees a few minutes later, and the halfling melted into the brush. She was waiting to hear her friends distract the watchers when the fellow she was watching raised his weapon in the direction of the other two. At that moment, she heard Malusk ask, "how's the ..." she heard the crossbow fire. It was followed a moment later by an "eep!" and the sound of a body falling.

Lifting her weapon, she shot the man before her, hitting him in the back of his leg. He pivoted as he loaded another bolt and aimed in her direction. She ducked to the side as she reloaded her own crossbow and fired one more time. This quarrel hit the man in the chest, and he fell, the only sound being the thud as he hit the ground.

Skrie checked on the man she had hit. He was dead. She moved toward the commotion. Then she heard frantic arcane words followed by a blast of fire that hit one of the men in the chest, knocking him back in her direction. The cleric stopped long enough to keep him from dying, then continued toward her friends. The third man had dropped his sword with a muttered, "Jabe ain't payin' me enough ta die," before disappearing into the trees.

"Come on," said Skrie, "if these three were watching from the shadows, I can image what the other two are up to in Geordo's camp." She turned to a deer track that led toward the wagon.

Skrie whispered a few divine words when the trio neared the clearing and sent the sounds of men whispering from the bushes nearby. As hard as she tried to make it sound like his men, the halfling didn't think he fell for the ruse.

"Whoever is out there," Jabe shouted, shoving Geordo to the ground, "you better show yourself."

"Hold still, you," snarled Karl as he grabbed Aquila, putting his knife to her throat. "I will slice your throat."

The cleric appealed to her goddess, and a bolt of holy light slammed into the man, knocking him prone. Aquila scrambled to safety. Aiming one last kick at Geordo, Jabe strode to Karl and picked him up out of the crater left by the Sacred Flame.

"This ain't over, old man," growled Jabe as he and Karl disappeared into the forest.



Next: "Ambush"