Leaves crunched under the weight of the bandit’s boots as the group of four marched forwards. Their weapons were drawn, postures hunched and primed, jumping at the even the slightest hint of movement. The leader of the group, a dwarf, licked his lips and adjusted his grip on his battleaxe as he eyes scanned the surrounding forest.

“Are ye sure you ‘eard somethin’?” he asked in a hushed voice.

“I’m telling ya, there was somethin’ movin through the trees…” one of the men said, finger tensed on the trigger of his crossbow.

“What are you even afraid of? They didn’t even have the stones to kill any of the others,” another man said.

“Oh no, instead they just broke their legs and then let them crawl back to camp as naked as a babe. Having that many injured men… it’s embarrassin’,” the dwarf said.

“The commander is getting right pissed too,” the last of their group said with a tremble in his voice, “If we keep messing up he might start offing any lot that come crawling back. I saw him practically shaking with rage before we left.”

The dwarf scoffed, “The commander? Come off it. If the man was shaking about anything it was the promise of good prey.”

The man with the crossbow laughed, “Poor bastards, the moment the commander gets his ‘ands on them… remember the last one who tried somethin’?”

“You’ve got to give him a hand, I’d never seen someone’s arms so cleanly lopped off before.”

Laughter washed over them, banishing the tension that gripped their breaths as they lowered their weapons, only to be broken by a scream as an arrow struck one of the men in the leg. Helbram emerged from the brush soon after, shield raised as he barreled forwards. The crossbow-wielding bandit raised his weapon to fire a shot, but by the time the weapon was readied Helbram had already collided with him. The armored man caught the bandit at his center of gravity, knocking him off of his feet. Before the bandit hit the ground another arrow flew past Helbram and hit the other leg of the bandit before. Both hit the forest floor around the same time.

Helbram continued the assault and stomped on his target’s leg. The resulting crack was smothered by another scream and that too was silenced as Helbram drove the edge of his shield into the bandit’s jaw. The remaining henchman lunged for the armored man, but before he could make any distance he was knocked off of his feet by a bolt of Aether striking him at his side. It carried him with enough force to collide into a tree, knocking him limp as he hit the ground after. The leader of the patrol raised his ax, but faltered as Helbram turned to him, sword at the ready. The steady draw of a bowstring sounded from behind the dwarf as Leaf emerged from the trees and the air began to hum from the Aether that radiated off of Jahora’s small frame as she walked into view. The group slowly closed in around the dwarf, who’s eyes darted between them. When they drew close, he dropped his ax and raised his hands.

Helbram lowered his weapon at that, “Good man,” he said.

Then he struck the dwarf in the jaw with his shield.

___

The dwarf woke, finding himself strapped to a tree, arms bound behind him. Helbram and Leaf loomed over him, with the armored man knelt down, his helmet only showing cold steel to the bandit’s eyes. Leaf covered his face with a mask of cloth, letting the shadow of his hood hide the rest of his features from the dwarf’s glances.

“Now then, I’m going to keep this simple,” Helbram said, “I’m going to ask you questions, you’re going to answer them. You don’t, and my friend here will force them out of you, understand?”

The dwarf spat, “Torture is it? As if any of you soft belly louts could-”

His words turned to a scream as a dagger was thrown into his shoulder.

Helbram cut a glare to Leaf, who regarded him impassively. He bit back a sigh and regarded the dwarf one again.

“Like I said, simple. Answer me and you won’t have to deal with my friend here twisting the knife, understand?”

The bandit groaned, but nodded.

“How many men are in your band?”

“A-aroun’ 200 I’d say, the Commander’s been snatchin’ up talent left an’ right lately for this score. You lot have made a right mess of that though, cowardly bastards…”

Leaf stepped forwards, but Helbram held a hand up to stop him. The half elf stepped back, but his gaze remained fixed on the bandit.

“Right well we’re not the ones that decided to be caged in with your merry band. You must pardon my skepticism, however, for as unusual as your group is, the operation of a Ruhian artifact lies a bit beyond the scope of brigands. The halfling with you, Marlin, is he the one that hired you all for this?”

“Aye, that’s all I know I swear.”

“That sates that curiosity… tell me, where are you keeping the ones you captured a few nights ago?”

The bandit scoffed, “What? You lot plannin’ a rescue?” he started to laugh, “What a bunch of foo-”

Helbram gripped the knife, forcing the bandit quiet, “I assume you take my tone as patience,” he said quietly, “but I guarantee you that you are sorely mistaken. Tell me what I want to know, now.”

He allowed silence to linger around them, looking into the bandit’s eyes as the dwarf stared back at him with an uncertain expression. Then, he turned the knife.

At half a twitch the dwarf spoke, “Ok! Ok! Bloody hells that bleedin’ hurts!”

Helbram stopped, but kept his hand on the knife, “Well then, speak.”

“They’re being kept in the mine’s warehouse.”

Helbram let go of the knife, “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

He gripped his shield and held it with both hands. The bandit could barely react before Helbram drove it across the dwarf’s face, knocking him unconscious.

Leaf winced, “I felt that one,” he nudged the dwarf with his boot, “Are we just going to leave him tied up here? The man’s fairly loud, if anyone finds him he’s sure to slip word of our plans.”

“We’ll gag him,” Helbram said, “Jahora do you think you could cast an illusion over him for the time being?”

“I think so,” the gnome said from behind a tree, “it is going to take some time and I’m going to be honest, I’m a bit spent from all the fighting we did today.”

Helbram nodded, “Right…”

“You know, the easiest way to cover our tracks would be to silence him permanently,” Leaf said, “I can understand crippling them and making them lame. This time? There be nothing driving this other than a bleeding heart.”

“I am aware of that,” Helbram said in a tired tone, “It is foolish to try and keep our hands as clean as possible, and I would not blame you for cursing my decision.”

“So you’ve already decided then, eh?”

“I have.”

Leaf looked at him for a moment, then nodded, “I’ll follow your lead, but anything that happens because of this is on your head, understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good,” the half elf walked up to the dwarf and tore off a long piece of the bandit’s shirt. “Hells this is rancid, gonna leave quite a taste in the bastard’s mouth.”

Jahora walked up to Helbram, Aether already gathered around her, “Just so you know, while I admire your decision, Leaf does have a point.” she said in a cold tone, one that did little to hide the tremble in her small hands, “I don’t want to die here, Helbram.”

“I know, Jahora, I know,” Helbram said in a soft tone, “You and Leaf are free to speak your mind, and if you both wish to override me, then I understand.”

The gnome looked up at him, her eyes searching for the expression hidden behind his visor. Seemingly satisfied, she gave him a slight smile.

“I suppose I wish to be naive as well,” she said.

Leaf snorted, “Just a trio of fools we are then. Now, if I tie it like this…”