Hot Grub [Flashback Solo]

[Lyner]

The rest of the trip to Nyka was with little incident. It seemed that their thick ranks were enough to frighten those bandits that were surely spying at them from afar. Things wouldn't be that easy for this caravan however. Two days short of getting to Nyka around sunset they found another merchant caravan travelling back from Nyka going in their direction. It was a smaller caravan than theirs, only three covered wagons, each drawn by two horses guarded by a crew of five modestly armed men not counting the drivers and the merchants who were probably inside of the wagon itself. They waved at Lyner's caravan, the woman sitting next to the driver giving theirs hand signals. She seemed to want to stop and talk for awhile. Karim was hesitant but the merchant funding this caravan and riding on the lead wagon was interested in the woman. She was pretty, shapely in her surprisingly flattering clothes. "Something about that caravan bothers me..." Kalim told the three boys behind him. Ron didn't think there was anything wrong but Lyner voiced out his suspicions. "She's got a great rack... but isn't it too cold to wear something like that during autumn?" Kalim agreed. He marched ahead to discuss something with his fellow veterans and word was quickly passed among down the ranks. They were all going to have to stay on their guard and do their best job trying to look intimidating. When both caravans crossed, the merchants were only just getting out of their wagons when a cry from the other caravan forced them to get back in. The wagons of other 'merchant' caravan was empty behind the cloth. They were packed with bandits, these wore no armor but were armed with swords and axes. Not small daggers. They charged the ill prepared guard and a few of the Sylirans died in the first moments of combat. But Kalim's words of caution had helped, many of the fighters on their side both the experienced and fresh ones were on the edge and had managed to mount a defense. Ron didn't wait for any instructions, he started shooting anyone who was close enough and had landed a lucky shot, his bolt had pierced through a bandit's windpipe. Todd himself was keeping three bandits at bay by skillfully sweeping his polearm in front of their way. Lyner joined Todd's side and together, they were fending off twice more than their numbers by advancing in back to back like a rotating fan of spear and blade. The rest of the boys weren't faring so well and their experienced superiors had their hands full ordering them to form some kind of defensive line around the lead wagon. The acrobat was using a strange weapon in conjunction with a long dagger, a chain with a weighted blade. It could wrap itself around swords and could inflict wounds The lady who's beauty had allowed the merchant caravan to be placed off guard got on a horse and she started shooting on mount. Lyner didn't like that, nobody who could shoot mounted and on the move was poor with the bow. Lyner told Todd that he was going to try to slip into the wilderness and shoot her down. He replied with only two words. "Two minutes." Todd advanced, screaming and winding his weapon fiercely to put pressure on the bandits trying to get near him. Lyner understood. The boy would try to hold out that long alone. Lyner retreated in the confusion, trying to go back into the bushes without looking like he was retreating and inspiring fear in his allies. Sneaking past people wasn't an easy task though. Not when one was as big as Lyner, he had to take advantage of the shadows, of the environment, he had to crouch when other people could simply run with their heads held low. When he got behind a tall tree he planted his sword on the soil so he wouldn't have to draw it if he was surprised and he knocked his arrow while he hadn't aimed yet. He would have to aim and hope for the best here. He counted from one to three and when the time was up he stepped out from the shadow of the tree, aiming at the woman on horeseback - then he adjusted his aim to an easier target. The horse. He straightened his bow arm, flexed his elbow back and released some pressure off his left hand. Then he drew the bowstring with his right hand, three fingers pinching the knocked arrow and drawing it in full. He released the arrow, it sang as if became airborne and it struck the horse's leg making it difficult to control in it's panic. The rider of the horse screamed something to the bandits near her and they helped her get off before the horse galloped off riderless. Lyner knew that he had been spotted but they were still far enough that he released two more arrows their way, one only glanced a bandit's helmet. The other found it's mark in the axe-bearing arm of a brigand. Lyner abandoned his bow in favor of his sword and he ran hard, using the foliage for cover. The Syliran moved around the wagon behind the trees and was making deep impressions in the ground. The tracks he was leaving were part of his plan, he rolled to the side to suddenly leave the footprints that ended nowhere. Then he was quickly on his feet again, racing to join Todd who with Ron's cover fire was keeping back five fighters now. When Lyner joined the battle without even muttering a battlecry his sudden and fierce appearance forced them to hesitated. Todd took the initiative, stabbing a brigand's belly and dragging them into their companions before twisting his polearm away from the bandit's body to cut innards and turn a deep wound into a fatal injury. He then retreated, Lyner could noticed his friend's heavy breathing. He took Todd's place buying the Zeltivan to catch up with his breath and he intercepted advances with wide sweeping movements with his sword. He used an especially wide stance, his sword creating glowing orange strokes the gleamed in the dying sunlight. Lyner saw Kalim at the corner of his eye cutting down a man, sliding his curved blade into a brigand's neck and blocking the spear of that man's aide with a wooden shield. Somehow the battle was turning into the favor of the merchant caravan and the lady who was starting to seem like their leader blew into a horn trumpet. The signal for retreat brought much relief to the fighter force of guards. While there was blood, both sides had only lost a few men. The opening pages of this battle was enough for the leaders on either side to know that winning would be costly. There was more to lose than to gain here. When all of the bandits were gone Lyner and Todd fell side by side, panting as they allowed sore arms to rest upon the ground. Todd was the first to sit up and when he did he laughed before kicking Lyner playfully. "Two minutes huh? Lyner yelped but he did return a smirk. "Wasn't that two minutes?" Ronn was hovering over them, he had in his hands at least twelve crossbow bolts most of them bloodied. "I don't think it was. But I probably killed more than you two today." The three boys were nevertheless happy. They were still alive, they'd been bruised and Todd had shallow cuts that needed attending but they were still whole. "I think I'm going to need all of those neem leaves you were hoarding Ron." Lyner joined his friend and sat up. Around them, there a few dead men adn many young lads were cradling their injuries. Kalim was busy bandaging someone in the distance and the merchants, they were huddled up nervously in their wagons. "Who said this was an easy job again?"

[Liar]

EXPERIENCE AWARD Lyner Skill Points Longsword 5 Cooking 4 Hunting 4 Wilderness Survival 3 Observation 3 Botany 2 Archery 2 Body Building 1 Leadership 1 Stealth 1 Lore Finding Drinking Water Cleaning Water Identifying Neem Trees Cornering a Hare Cooking Rabbit The Taste of Snake The Psychology of Relative Strength Friendship, Above All Else The Importance of Stretching Longsword Guard Tactics Notes Another good story, though it might have been better split into two. At least, I’m curious to see how Lyner would explain his thoughts through teaching, like Kalim requested. Botany for what Todd taught you, Leadership for coordinating the hunt, Body Building for your description of the stretches. The rest should be self-explanatory. Also, be sure to mark your Flashbacks as Flashbacks. Feel free to PM me if I missed anything, or if you have any questions.