156 Travelers (1/2)

They had already known that the forest would be the most dangerous part of their journey. However, the fake bandits still stopped them much sooner than they had expected.

”Halt!”

One of them marched ahead, supposedly their leader. Unlike what one would expect from a merchant, his posture was straight and his gait was filled with power. Even his equipment looked shiny and new. Though of course, the leader looked far less exceptional among his men of equal dress. With their subdued colors, the 'robbers' had blended into the treeline all this time, but as soon as the plains behind the group of pilgrims had been covered by trees, the bandits had revealed themselves. Not even the border river to Lord Nasica's territory was in sight yet. This was brazen, a true lock down.

”What do you want?” One of the men in their group pushed up his green hood and looked at the fake bandits with a frown.

”What do you think we want? It's your money, your money,” the bandit leader grinned in response. Of course, they knew that this was a lie as much as anyone.

Still with a frown, but without fear, the pilgrim looked over his group of travel companions, all hidden under their green robes.

”You would dare rob faithful on a pilgrimage?” he asked at last, his voice terse and with the hint of threat within.

”You are 'faithful', are you?” the bandit leader sneered. ”Check them!” he said, and the other bandits began to walk up to the group. Each held up several portrait drawings, their purpose obvious. Not something to be expected from real bandits.

”We have been on the road for days, in hopes we might see the Caverns of Waterstone within the great lands of Lord Nasica. Only there might we be able to cure my aunt's ailments.” The pilgrim looked over to one of the figures in the group, a smaller stature who was hunched over, almost folded into itself. With no regard for the pilgrims, the lead robber marched over and pulled down the robe of the hunched figure. Reveled beneath was an old woman, her arms twisted in unnatural directions and her spine distorted, a dull look of agony on her face. As the bandit touched her arms, she groaned in pain and tears pooled in the crow's feet around her eyes. She still held herself back, out of fear for the gangster's retaliation.

”Hmm... we can't let you through.” Although the bandit couldn't find a problem with the pilgrims, his face still hardened and his teeth clenched.

”What does this mean? Does a robber now dare stop pilgrims on their divine journey? Wait until the good lord Nasica hears from this, you heathen!”

”Who will know if you just disappear in these woods?” the bandit said, but failed to hide the slight hesitation in his speech. With narrowed eyes, the pilgrim pounced on the presented weakness.

”You believe Lord Nasica does not know what happens right across his borders? I've served a scout in the past, I know how they do their work. Are you sure you wish to detain us?”

This wasn't an empty threat, and everyone within the small woods knew it. For now, the 'bandits' still operated outside of Nasica's lands. Thus, they were safe from the lord's warriors. However, if they began to detain pilgrims, Lord Nasica would have sufficient reason to invade another lord's lands. After all, the pilgrims provided a good portion of his territory's income. Even worse, some other lords might become annoyed by the actions of the 'bandits' and their secret master.

”Who would!?” the bandit barked back, an uncomfortable look on his face. ”Anything?” he asked his fake warrior friends who still went through the crowd and their supplies.

”This one's a real beauty,” one of them shouted back.

”Is she on the drawings then?”

”No luck. None of them are. Their story could be real.”

”Who would believe that?” the bandit leader grumbled under his breath. After a while, he composed himself and turned back to the pilgrim. ”You can leave, but all your goods stay with us. You can't blame us for being robbers, can you?”

”But what about our offerings?” The pilgrim got loud, his eyes desperate. ”How will we give offers the great seer without any wealth? Who will help my aunt?”

”The kingdoms are at war, times are harsh.” the bandit sneered, his arrogant attitude returned. ”You should have considered this before you traveled here, right through the forest. You should have known better, really. Boys, take their stuff!”

Minutes later, the bandits disappeared behind the trees again. Robbed of everything but the clothes on their backs, the pilgrims continued their journey. However, a long time later, once they had long entered Lord Nasica's territory and saw the walls of the capital in the distance, these travelers changed their stances, as if they were different people. Quite unlike humble pilgrims, they straightened their backs and lengthened their strides. Even the old woman plagued with arthritis walked straight as an arrow, as she rocked her stiff back to and fro.

”That was close,” the leader spoke.

”But also as we expected. Not even King Pacha would dare detain pilgrims, not yet. If he did, he would make all religious lords of the center his sworn enemies. Since he already has so many foes all around him, even he cannot afford any more.” Tama smiled as she brushed the hood out of her face.

”But we have lost all of our materials. How will we free our people?”