"So, the bounty hunters are coming with us?!" Marigold asked, her annoyance evident in her voice.
The group had reunited at the inn; both parties having accomplished their goals. Maximus had successfully bought a horse and some supplies for the journey.
"What exactly do the two of you plan to even do at the Library? Don't tell me you plan on pilfering things."
"We were tasked to retrieve a holy relic for the Draconic Temple," Gabriel responded to the fairy's accusations.
"So, you do plan on stealing! And do not get me started on those worthless Draconites. The dragons died and won't be returning to bring salvation or anything!" The fairy was now fuming. "Those good for nothing tomb raiders are almost as bad as the Spiritists."
"What else is wrong with the Spiritists?" Gwen asked perplexed at the second mention of this religion in such a short time.
"Oh, they are horrible, destroying any dragon tech they can get their hands on simply because they do not understand it. They call it 'Devil magic'."
"Calm down Mari, we cannot control what people believe." Maximus tried to comfort the fairy. "And much of the technology they destroy is going to degrade anyway."
"So, then they won't take anything important," Gwen said trying to assuage the fairy's emotions.
"Definitely," Tristan added.
"We can figure that out once we have gotten there," Gabriel responded.
It was becoming late. With the fairy calming down, the group decided they would need to find something to eat.
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The next morning Gwen awoke to a knock on her door. She got out of bed and walked over to the door. Opening the door a crack, she saw that it was Maximus standing in the doorway.
"Good morning," he greeted. "It is time for us to begin our journey."
The group gathered their belongings and headed to the stables to retrieve their horses. They then headed in the direction of what Gwen assumed was the southern gate.
In time the group led their horses over a bridge toward where the gate was in view. At the gate, the guards looked over the travelers and ushered them through the gate. Once outside the gate the group mounted their horses with Gwen still riding Gypsum behind Gabriel and Maximus atop his newly purchased horse named Opal. The group headed down the road that led south from the city.
After the group had made it about a mile away from the city, Marigold turned visible again.
The group rode forward, the patchwork of farmland on either side of the road giving way to a deciduous forest. They rode through the day, taking short stops to let the horses rest and to let themselves stretch their legs.
As the group traveled around a bend in the road, they heard the jingling of iron. As they rounded the corner what came into view shocked Gwen. A man was on a horse leading a line of chained men and women, the majority of whom had dark skin. Some were even wearing relatively modern clothing. The group passed the entourage in silence. Gwen was unable to look away.
"Are those prisoners?" Gwen whispered, hopeful that her inkling was wrong.
"No, those are slaves," Gabriel replied resolutely.
The group had now gotten past the slave line and Gwen picked up her voice.
"Why didn't you do something? Those are people!"
"And what would you like us to do?" Gabriel asked.
"Free them. Aren't you against slavery?"
"And you want us to kill the slaver to free the slaves? That is the only way we could free them all. We do not have enough money to buy all of them. Even if we release them, they would just be hunted down and captured again. This is a cruel world, and we have no power to change anything!" Gabriel was starting to get frustrated.
"I think we have come far enough for today, let us set up camp," Tristan tried to change the topic.
Gabriel helped Gwen off Gypsum without a word and stormed off to gather firewood.
"Don't worry about Gabriel, he will calm down. He simply becomes like this when he starts to think about the past, Tristan told Gwen.
"What happened in your past?"
"I do not think now is the opportune time to speak about it."
"I have tents that we can sleep in," Max commented, pulling two collapsed tents from his bag. "I think tha-"
"No Max, do not encourage her," Marigold told the magician as he was about to speak up. "We all know slavery is wrong, but we do not have the power to end the practice overnight."
With the discussion ended Maximus went to work setting up the two tents which appeared to be made out of a plastic or rubber. Tristan stared at the material, slightly confused.
"What is this fabric?"
"It is a synthetic hydrocarbon weave."
"Max, you are just going to confuse him more," Marigold said.
"It is dragon-age material," Maximus simplified.
"Well, it is interesting," Gabriel said, returning with a collection of sticks and wood.
Gabriel prepared the wood for the campfire.
"I'll handle starting the fire," Maximus said pointing at the dry grass lying beneath the pile of wood. Maximus spoke a command in Draconic, and the grass started to burn. Quickly the fire grew and started licking at the wood.
"There," Maximus said, satisfied with the blaze.
The group eventually headed to sleep, Gwen in a tent by herself, and the brothers in the other tent. Maximus and Marigold took the first watch.
As Gwen faded into sleep, she remembered everyone who would be waiting for her at home. She thought how her older brother Eric would be worrying about her. Her mother had likely frantically contacted the police. Never would they have guessed that she was stuck in another world. Gwen closed her eyes and despite her worry, drifted to sleep.
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The next morning the gang packed up their encampment and continued on their journey. Maximus neatly folded up the tents and slipped them into his bag.
After traveling for several hours, off of a side trail that joined the road, the group heard a cry for help. Tristan immediately turned Obsidian and headed to the source of the commotion. Gabriel and Maximus quickly follow, Gabriel sighing under his breath.
Tristan was the first to arrive on the scene. A teenage girl was crying for help in a clearing just off the road. Tristan approached her confused when an arrow came flying from the trees behind him. The arrow lodged itself in the back of Tristan's left shoulder. He grunted in pain. Gabriel pulled out his short sword and buckler and dismounted, yelling for Maximus to protect Gwen.
Six armed men emerged from the underbrush. Gritting his teeth, Tristan raised his sword in his uninjured right hand. Tristan stood ready to defend the girl from the vagabonds. Gabriel rushed to his brother's side, buckler and sword in front of him. Four of the men advance on the boys. Two of the men had arming swords while one carried a falchion and the fourth wielded twin axes.
"Drop your weapons and supplies and we might let you leave alive," one of the bandits demanded.
"How about you leave us and this girl alone, and you all can get out of this unscathed," Tristan countered.
The man on the far left raised his sword and charged Tristan. Expecting the downward swing, Tristan deflected the blow with his sword and followed with a swing at the man's neck from inside his guard. The man stepped back. It was too late Tristan's blade sliced the man's neck. The man crumpled to the ground gurgling blood. Three of the remaining men rushed at the brothers; weapons raised. Gabriel brought up his buckler to deflect the first axe, pivoting to dodge the second. The melee continued with Tristan fighting the sword-wielding bandit and Gabriel holding out against the other two.
As Gabriel stabbed his assailant with his short sword, Gwen noticed that the two bandits who had stayed back were running at her.
Maximus stepped in front of her; his saber held in front of him. Blocking the first swing of a sword with his own, he batted away the blade and sliced into the man from shoulder to abdomen. The second bandit kept his distance, wielding a spear. Maximus deftly batted the spear to the side and charged inside the spearman's range running him through.
As Maximus dispatched his two opponents, the brothers had gotten the bandits down to one man.
Gwen stood motionless, unable to look away from the bodies of the men bleeding out a few feet in front of her. Her stomach was tying itself in knots and she felt the need to retch. She had never before seen someone die. Gwen's body was rejecting the experience, her mind rushing through endless justifications for the men's deaths.
The brothers killed the last of the bandits.
The fighting completed, Maximus and Gwen walked over to the brothers with Marigold flying next to them.
"Thank you for saving me," the unknown girl said. "I don't have anything to give you."
"What are you doing out here alone?" Gabriel asked, not completely lowering his guard.
"I was traveling with my family, and we were attacked by bandits. I ran to get away, but they followed me," the girl responded.
Gabriel remained unconvinced.
"Why were the bandits lying in wait and not attacking you when we arrived?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking so many questions? If you want money for saving me, you will have to wait until you get me back to the capital," the girl answered, becoming apprehensive.
"Gabriel, stop it. She is probably still shaken from the bandit attack," Tristan stated.
"It seems very convenient to me," Gabriel responded. "Magician, you and the fairy keep an eye on this girl while I tend to Tristan."