Michael and Arvonia made good progress for their first day’s hike. They had gotten well past the castle and into a nice clearing by a stream. After a dinner of hard bread, hard cheese and some wild berries that Arvonia had collected. Their meal of dry and sour left them wanting a drink and their long hike left them wanting a bath, so they disrobed to their undergarments and descended the bank of the stream for a drink and a dip in the cool flowing water.As soon as they entered the water, they heard a voice call out to them, “You shouldn’t let your guard down like that in these parts. There are gangs of thieves and murderers that roam around these parts.†The sound seemed to come from somewhere above them in the trees.
Confused and panicked at the realization that they were not alone, Michael grabbed Arvonia and started back to the bank. “That’s far enough.†said the voice, as half a dozen men with knives and axes stepped out from behind the trees of the clearing.
As Michael was assessing the situation for a means of safe escape, the owner of the voice swung down from the trees into the shallow edge of the stream. “Allow me to introduce myself. The name is Tarrington. People call me Bob.†said the man.
Now that Michael could see him, ‘Bob’ looked much more refined than his cohorts. While his gang looked like beggars or thieves, Bob looked like he could be a shopkeeper back in the village, although he was quite a bit dirtier than any shopkeeper Michael had ever seen. Michael glanced around, looking for a way out of this situation. Their clothes and food were up on the edge of the bank with the gang. The only way out was back across the stream, but he was sure they wouldn’t make it far. Almost as if Bob was reading Michael’s mind, he said, “If you were thinking of going back across the stream, you will find that there is much worse than us over there.â€
Bob continued, “Why don’t you just come up here slowly. You can dry off and put your clothes on too.â€
They did as they were told, but Michael made sure that Arvonia was well behind him. As they dressed, Bob said, “I will, of course, be needing your money.†Michael handed over his coin pouch to the nearest gang member’s outstretched hand. “Also, I will be needing one other thing from you.†said Bob. As he said this, the same thug that took the purse, grabbed Arvonia.
She squealed with terror. Michael lunged at him, but another gang member grabbed him by his neck and hoisted him in the air. “Put me down!†Arvonia shrieked. She struggled and kicked. Another thug moved to help restrain her. This was enough of a distraction for Michael to break free of his subduer. Fists blazing, he sprang forward at the man holding his sister. His assault was that of a teenage boy who has never truly fought before. It was fast, but scattered with very little power behind each of the rapid punches, but it was enough to cause him to drop Arvonia. Michael said, “Run!†to his sister as the rest of the gang approached.
Michael saw his sister start to run away, looking back as she did. One of the gang picked up a small club-like stick and raised it over his head. Michael saw Arvonia turn around and yell, “Nooooo!†as he felt a sharp pain impact with the back of his head and everything went black.
Confused and panicked at the realization that they were not alone, Michael grabbed Arvonia and started back to the bank. “That’s far enough.†said the voice, as half a dozen men with knives and axes stepped out from behind the trees of the clearing.
As Michael was assessing the situation for a means of safe escape, the owner of the voice swung down from the trees into the shallow edge of the stream. “Allow me to introduce myself. The name is Tarrington. People call me Bob.†said the man.
Now that Michael could see him, ‘Bob’ looked much more refined than his cohorts. While his gang looked like beggars or thieves, Bob looked like he could be a shopkeeper back in the village, although he was quite a bit dirtier than any shopkeeper Michael had ever seen. Michael glanced around, looking for a way out of this situation. Their clothes and food were up on the edge of the bank with the gang. The only way out was back across the stream, but he was sure they wouldn’t make it far. Almost as if Bob was reading Michael’s mind, he said, “If you were thinking of going back across the stream, you will find that there is much worse than us over there.â€
Bob continued, “Why don’t you just come up here slowly. You can dry off and put your clothes on too.â€
They did as they were told, but Michael made sure that Arvonia was well behind him. As they dressed, Bob said, “I will, of course, be needing your money.†Michael handed over his coin pouch to the nearest gang member’s outstretched hand. “Also, I will be needing one other thing from you.†said Bob. As he said this, the same thug that took the purse, grabbed Arvonia.
She squealed with terror. Michael lunged at him, but another gang member grabbed him by his neck and hoisted him in the air. “Put me down!†Arvonia shrieked. She struggled and kicked. Another thug moved to help restrain her. This was enough of a distraction for Michael to break free of his subduer. Fists blazing, he sprang forward at the man holding his sister. His assault was that of a teenage boy who has never truly fought before. It was fast, but scattered with very little power behind each of the rapid punches, but it was enough to cause him to drop Arvonia. Michael said, “Run!†to his sister as the rest of the gang approached.
Michael saw his sister start to run away, looking back as she did. One of the gang picked up a small club-like stick and raised it over his head. Michael saw Arvonia turn around and yell, “Nooooo!†as he felt a sharp pain impact with the back of his head and everything went black.
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