Peering over the low stone fence while keeping herself well-hidden, Xanderian of Belfalas noted two men, each heavily armed. The larger of the two was loading supplies onto a wagon, his face brutish and rough, two ill-kept horses pulling nervously at their bridles. The smaller man, with a cruel gleam in his eye, leaned back against the wall of the ramshackle cottage, observing the labor as well as keeping a sharp eye on the road beyond. A naked sword was already in his hand. Even from this distance the Elleth could see from the nicks in the blade and the stains along the steel that it had seen a good deal of recent use. She sighed to herself, whispering..."A Cottage near some ruins, indeed..."
Focusing her attention, the sound of men and arms being prepared for departure carried faintly to her from within the cottage. Counting the different footfalls amd hushed voices there were more than 5, perhaps 10, waiting inside. Difficult odds. As she cleared her mind and focused deeper, Xandarian could detect the faint sound of a woman's pained moans from within as well. No...TWO women.
She gritted her teeth and returned to her companions. "They are within, but they will soon be moved. If we are to act, it must be now."
----
How did Xanderian come to this place, and why? Answering that requires tracing our story back six hours, to the main hall of the Prancing Pony.
Xanderian had been standing with Finchley and Maddoct, Son of Haddoct, relating the latest dubious news of her sister when she had been interrupted by a familiar and regal figure. The Lady Ahmo, an Elleth of great age and even greater lineage, approached her with grave news. Addiela, known to all as Addie, had been missing nearly four days along with her comrade Nethrida, and their friends had searched to no avail. Now, the Lady Ahmo in her wisdom was becoming afraid something truly grave had befallen them both. Her fear led her to approach Xanderian, who she knew was a squire of her comrade the Lady Arahen as well as a friend to young Addie.
Just as she related this fell news, a man rushed up that Xanderian had met before in the company of friend Addie, who introduced himself as Masin. He said he had overheard Addie's name and also was seeking her in great distress and wished to know if there was any news.
That both the wisdom of the Lady Ahmo and the affection of her paramour Masin should be alarmed at her absence terrified Xanderian and caused her to give apologies to her friends so that she may focus on the matter at hand. She hurriedly told the two of the strange story of the evil Ray (see Journal 27) and took the noble Lady Ahmo to inspect the Mess where they had encountered the child Leontina, but no knowledge was gained.
As the trio stood in the chill Bree air, wondering if there was a path forward, Taphreille of the East ran up, seeking Ahmo with news of a possible location of the vanished pair and gratified to find Xanderian in her company. She eyed the man curiously however. "A friend?"
Masin nodded, 'I am a friend of Miss Addie, yes.' Xan smiled, and patted Taphreille's shoulder. 'This is Friend Addie's paramour'"
'Her who?". Taphreille looked at him, confused. Masin shrugged a little, not knowing what it meant either.
The Huntress continued her introductions, 'Paramour, this is Taphreille, brave warrior of the distant East and a trusted ally against shadow'.
Masin bowed his head to her, "Well met friend. I am Masin"
Taphreille returned the nod and turned to Xanderian. "Paramour...Is that like a knight or a reeve? We don't speak elvish.'
Xan shook her head. If the moment were not so tense she would have laughed, 'Nay...it is a lover'
The woman nodded, 'Oh. Why didn't you say that?'
Masin turned bright red in the face and stammered his words, "I..umm." He then looked to Taphreille, "Please tell me you indeed have some lead we can follow."
Taphreille nodded. "Sharley of the Bounders led me near a Cottage near some ruins where she said some bandits had hold up some nights past. They had had a fracas with some Bounders on the road near Coomb before hand, but the Bounders had stayed out of sight of the stronger party. One of the bandits at least was wounded and they appeared to have prisoners. She couldn't stay however. Something about a goblin incursion in the Greenfields, but bid me to bring help. I thought to find Ahmo, but four is better than two"
Xanderian nodded firmly, a bit suspicious of the sudden pressing need to face goblins. No doubt some coin had passed hands, but whose coin and why? At least this Bounder of Taphreille's acquaintance had enough courage to send for help. "Very well, lest the hoards of Nargroth itself be before us, we will lay waste...Our only true foe is time"
"And it's wasting". Added Taphreille.
Masin pulled his shield onto his arm, "Then let us get going, we must find them both."
A rapid journey into the wilds outside Bree, and they came to the ruin the Bounder had intended. Surrounded by a stone wall, the cottage was old and dilapidated, it's roof partially burnt and on the verge of collapse at the front of the house. At the rear, a low cliff dropped to sharp rocks in a dry riverbed. All the windows had long since been shattered. If not for the wagon at the front, most would assume it abandoned.
Returning to her comrades after observing what was ahead, Xanderian whispered..." "They are within, but they will soon be moved. If we are to act, it must be now. There is blood in the air like a haze...this may not end well, we may be too late." She looked to the Lady Ahmo."I bow to the wisdom of the most esteemed...lest you wish me to act in your service in this matter."
Ahmo looked to Xan and whispered, "What do you propose Huntress, do you wish to get behind them and surprise them?"
Xanderian considered for a moment, 'We cannot hope for perfect surprise...therefore I propose we opt instead for chaos"
She was met by confused stares but continued. 'My plan is this...the Lady Ahmo and Masin circle to the rear...Taphreille remains with me..when she is in position...I will attempt to slay the two in front and spook the horses, causing them to bolt and draw the men within out to the front. Once the distraction begins, the Lady Ahmo deals with any rear sentries or stragglers and finds a way inside. Hopefully our assault will bring the bandits to face us, and away from their captives, leaving them to the Lady Ahmo to rescue safely."
The Lady Ahmo nodded once. "Sound plan", and slipped away to position herself near the side wall.
Xanderian continued. "Taphreille and Masin, you charge from both directions into the house, while I give what cover you may need"
Taphreille shook her head. "I think it unwise to have someone in the rear due to the cliff. I say we both hit from the front. Hit them fast and hard.'
Masin nodded grimly and pulled his shield out in front of him, "I agree. I will be at that door in moments."
The Huntress sighed, knowing they had precious little time. 'I am worried that if their resistance is fierce you will be stopped at the door, leaving their compatriots freedom to do as they will within'
Masin shook his head, "That is what your arrows are for, hit who you can and I will take the hits to make it inside and free them. I can charge them."
As they spoke, the burly man stepped out from securing things on the inside of the wagon. A sword at his side, he held heavy loading chains in his hands. He sniffed at the air for a moment, then slowly looked towards the wall which hid our heroes.
Xanderian cursed under her breath in Sindarin, 'We have no more time, Ahmo is ready, the front it is then for both of you...prepare yourselves. Elbereth guard you both, remember your goal."
Taphreille hefted her shield and a javelin as Masin prepared to charge in, awaiting the signal.
Xanderian nocked an odd arrow carefully..after driving six more willowbladed shafts into the soft earth beside her, then loosened Lovelorn in its scabbard at her hip. As she raised the bow, Heartbreaker began to croon softly, a mix of excitement and rage in its unearthly song. Visions filled the edges of the minds of the two standing with her as the bow worked its strange magic, visions of Addie and Nethrida bound and broken, of the clash of arms, a cruel voice hissing "I always wanted ta see elf blood" as a bandit blade stabbed downward into Lady Ahmo, screams of pain and rage and hatred, and in a hazy mist, a stone port on a foggy coastline.
The smaller man, clearly the man in charge, stood by the door and observed the loading of the caravan. "An make sure ye don' let -anyone- git the drop on ye! Whoever shot at us tha other night could be back any day!" he shouted.
The burly man nodded once, his steel gaze still looking toward the wall. He raised one hand to point. "I think...."
Xanderian rose and fired, the heavy arrow screaming like a somewhat ill-mannered orc due to a whistle set in the shaft..as it neared the horses it burst in a shower of colored firework sparks. The horses reared, screaming, and bolted towards the open gate..
The Huntress smoothly nocked a second shaft from those waiting and aimed at the man with the chains as the horses rampaged.
The burly man's eyes widened as the explosions went off right in front of him. He tried to calm the horses with no effect, but the effort pulled him forward so that Xanderian's arrow whizzed past him through his hair, slicing along his ear. Wincing, he dived for cover, the horses be damned.
The leader saw the horses go wild and bellowed out "Form up! To th'front! 'n make sure y'gut every last one o' them! No survivors!" as the group of thugs began to gather up in front of the house.
Taphreille rose to her feet and threw her javelin at the gruff fellow giving orders, then charged, pulling her sword. Masin charged ahead of her trying to bash past anyone in his way to reach the door and the man giving orders but made much better time, hurling himself up onto the porch before the men came tumbling out at the bosses command.
He turned to face Masin, but suddenly the javelin struck the leader hard in the thigh, nearly bringing him down, but just causing him to howl in defiance and point his blade at Taphreille, his men swarming towards her.
Xanderian tilted her head softly. This was not going well, all their foes were still standing and both Mason and Taphreille were exposed. She nocked an arrow from her quiver and shot it upward, sending it arcing down into the group as they formed up. Striking the porch it exploded in a haze of shrapnel and smoke. The thugs dispersed howling. A few suffering minor injuries from the shrapnel but their order was broken and confused by the smoke. "There! Behind the wall you idiots! Flush 'em out!" The man bellowed ineffectually from in front of the door before turning his attention to Masin.
True to his word, Masin had rushed straight at the leader heedless of danger, but due to Taphreille being slowed by the others, he found himself for the moment, alone. He set his shield, and roared his battle cry. Xanderian watched Masin stand his ground, whispering to herself..."Brave but foolish, noble paramour.
As the battle raged, the side and rear were indeed left unguarded as the plan had hoped. Silently, Lady Ahmo slipped along the thin ledge above the cliff, deftly slipping through a window and inside the stinking, filthy hovel. Scraps of cloth, blood and various tools of torture laid in disarray. To her disgust a branding iron lay in a now cold brazier. Clearly the captives had been here, but were gone. Drawing her blade as she heard the clash outside, the Elleth moved deeper into the house, steeling herself.
Fearing for Masin but having no clear shot at the leader in the confusion, Xanderian unleashed a quick hail of arrows towards the officer, intending to distract him. Striking like thunderclaps, they splintered the wood around him. The leader cursed and covered his face with his hand against the splinters, leaving him wide open to attack and forcing him to limp back a few steps, unable to walk properly because of the spear. He grit his teeth and pointed. "The archer! Get the damn archer!"" He called out as two more of the thugs rushed towards Xan.
The burly man swung the chains around in the air, roaring, his guttural voice and great strength betraying a half-orc origin. He then launched the chains at Masin to protect his boss, wrapping them around Masin's legs in a cruel arc, taking his feet out from under him and pulling him toward the edge of the stairs. The leader smiled, and stepped forward, suddenly confidant again.
Taphreille leapt up the steps shield first, enraged by that cocky smile, attempting to hurl herself into the boss over the trapped Masin, her spear ready for a killing thrust, but behind her three more thugs regrouped, eyes stinging from the smoke and shrapnel that had allowed her past them, attacked her from behind, forcing her to guard herself too late.
Meanwhile the Lady Ahmo, still undiscovered, spared a quick glance through a shattered window from inside the house. What she saw filled her with dismay. Taphreille faced three desperate, wounded foes, Masin stood alone against the leader and his half orc henchman and two more rushed viciously towards Xanderian, cutting her off from the other two.
Shaking off her concerns, she continued on her mission, but nothing could have prepared her for what she discovered in the next room.
End Part 1
