Chapter 6 - The Bandits (1/2)

Mordred

Khoron

As we approached the sprawling mess that was the outskirts of Khoron I noticed two banners flying above the city gates. The banner of the Galian Empire and the banner of the Commonwealth of Skandia, a testament to the city's unique status. As I recalled, Khoron was a trading city that had representatives controlling it from both the Galian Empire and the Commonwealth of Skanadia. Because of the city's unusual political situation, it was possible for Galians and Skanadians to mingle freely and live in peace among each other, creating a mixture of both cultures that I found fascinating when I visited previously. I also remembered everything being ridiculously overpriced. I still held an ill-founded but optimistic hope that it was no longer the case.

After passing through the city gates, we made our way to the nearest inn. Unfortunately, upon reaching the Dancing Hog inn, I learned not only that they had atrocious naming skills, but that their prices were even higher than before! I was forced to pay for rooms with prices as high as one gold per person a night. Despite this, our stay was largely uneventful. Xavier and Solskin went scouting for jobs on the way to the Capital. Persephone spent her time at the local temple praying and preaching the joys serving Thanatos. I spent my time in the local library purchasing books on dimensional travel. They had a surprisingly large collection. I met with a few scholar mages and researchers, who all told me that sustained extra-dimensional travel was only experimental, and would likely remain so due to power limitations. It was explained to me that only the most powerful of wizards were able to break into other dimensions for any longer than a few minutes. It was not much, but it remained a source of hope.

Three nights later, Solskin and Xavier had found us a job. 300 gold split four ways, to guard a group of caravans going to the port city of Westeria, a route that festered with bandits from the Three Kings gang. Although a slight detour, it would put us on route to the Capital. We gladly accepted the offer and prepared to head out.

Xavier

My arm began to ache. It was a persistent, cold feeling that sent pins and needles up my arm. The winter solstice was approaching and I wasn't any closer to finding Epoch. I felt the desperation rising within me, causing daggers of fear to stab my back every waking hour. I calmed myself with a few deep breaths and headed out the door to meet with Solskin.

Wearing a full suit of armour, his golden features were covered head to toe with chain, leaving only a pair of blue eyes exposed. The brėȧstplate gleamed brightly from polishing, giving him an aura of confidence. He looked nothing like the young and immature boy I met before. He had the makings of a young soldier eager for the front lines. Outside the tavern, we met up with Persephone and Mordred. Their day to day wear hadn't changed much; Persephone was still in her clerical robes, but she was wielding a large iron scythe, and Mordred was in some new elegant robes stylized with runes and symbols. As Mordred dejectedly leaned against the wall, mumbling how dangerous this job was and why we shouldn't be going, the three of us unanimously decided to ignore him, dragging him along with us to the main gate of the city.

Persephone

I was sitting on top of the lead carriage, starting out toward the horizon. Xavier and I were the first to notice the smoke.

”Can you tell Mordred?” Xavier asked, his mouth set in a grim line. He was preparing to kill.

”Fine.” I replied curtly. We were alike in some respects, Xavier and I. We both knew what we had to do and were prepared to do it. Mordred and Solskin were both not as hardrened, not as jaded as us.

I jumped off the lead carriage and started going down the procession, checking each one to see if Mordred was in it. Around the middle of the caravan line, I found Solskin. I asked him if he wanted to come with me to tell Mordred about the possibility of bandits. He jumped to it, going down the line quickly as soon as I told him that Xavier asked for us to do it. I fell behind Solkin, thinking. He was such a child. I smiled at the thought, but my smile faded when I realized that he might have to kill soon enough. Sighing, I started to make my way to the back carriage, muttering a quick prayer to Thanatos to have mercy on any incoming souls. I was on the small platform for the driver when I heard muted voices from inside the caravan. Mordred and Solskin.