Part 12
Hidden behind a fallen part of the wall surrounding the camp, two cloaked figures peered in through the darkness, studying the coming and goings of the Blackwolds who made their home there. A pair who had barely known each other before dusk, save for a mug or two shared in the Pony a night or so ago, yet they had worked as well as a partnership that had endured many a thing together, it was uncanny that in such short time, a mutual trust and dependence on the prowess of the other had formed.
The camp, Blackwold's Roost was set within some ruins near Archet. They noted there was one door in with two men guarding it, several others milling about the main area, which was open but dark. The central area was well guarded but the useful shadows were dispelled by a number of brightly lit fires. It was likely to be where the prisoners were held. They needed a distraction to enable them to take a closer look and find out if Brammy was there.
Sheep!...there were many sheep. Eroforth soon came up with a plan. The crept through the gap in the outer wall and over to the sheep pen where the majority of the sheep were held. Eroforth threw a butchered wolf pelt into the pen causing the sheep to fuss and move to one side. The pretense at being lovers had worked in the Combe & Wattle earlier, and it worked again. The Blackwold's who looked up at the fretful sheep dismissed any suspicious act as a disturbance from just two of their number engaging in lewd conduct against the pen.
During the feigned tussel, they managed to cut the binding to the pen and scatter the sheep and causing a welcome distraction. Eroforth dipped back into the safety of some fallen masonry, keeping a watchful eye over Taala as she made her way to the central area where a number of cages containing prisoners were kept.
Only one guard remained with the prisoners; the others had left to help round up the sheep or satisfy their curiosity as to what had occurred at the front of the camp. The guard who remained was vigilent and suspicious of Taala, not buying her story for being there. He was soon sent to ground by Eroforth's javelin, then finished off with one of Taala's arrows to his eye socket.
Time was against them, they dragged the corpse to the corner whilst her eyes darted about the clutter of cages, searching for Brammy. Her heart leapt when she saw him, her joy short lived, he lay as still as death within the largest of the cages. Leaving Eroforth to search the stricken guard for keys, she loped over to Brammy.
He struggled to lift his head towards her when she approached. Reaching to him through the bars she held a water skin taken from nearby, clearly left there to torment him, to his lips encouraging him to drink.
Brammy had been beaten about the body and face, but clamoured after the water offered. She looked over at Eroforth; she knew she had to leave Brammy, but she was damned if she would go before letting him know she'd be back for him.
“We have to go Bram...but I'll be back for y'darlin and I'll have the whole of the Dawn with me if I have to, stay alive, do whatever you have to, we'll have you out of here afore you know it and each and every one of these bastards will pay for this”
“Tal?” Brammy answered weakly...his head rolled to one side. She pulled his face back towards her, “Bram...stay strong, have you learned what is to become of you...think, Bram, it is important”.
Brammy's voice was barely audible, but he managed to relay their intent to hand him over to his old gang, now led by the son of their former leader, Jasper Mudbottom, whom Taala had killed some time ago because he had served a death warrant on Foxwin. Brammy had been estranged from his brother, but had come good for him, betraying Mudbottom and leaving his life as a Blackwold behind. As soon as he was handed over to them he was a dead man for his betrayal.
Brammy took her hand, little strength in his grip “Dun go worryin' that brother of mine lass, y'know, how soft he is...” His voice trailed off giving way to a quiet cough, pain etched on his face from the efforts and strain the cough placed on his ribs. She rubbed his hand gently offering a brief moment of comfort. Her eyes misted over, she had little love for Brammy nor him her, he had made every attempt to rid her out of his brothers life, but despite his plight he had confirmed his love for his brother by his words and that was enough for her. Whether it cost her, her life she would come back for him and beg Hyrien, her Captain to let her bring as many of the Dawn as could be spared. She knew Foxwin loved his brother and felt such joy having him back in his life, and she would reunite them if it was the last thing she did. She had no family to speak of, but Foxwin did.
Eroforth looked up as he finished searching the bandit; he could tell from Taala's expression that she'd had no luck opening the cage. He stood looking down at the bandit. "Too suspicious," he muttered before bending down; plucking Taala's arrow from the eye socket. Grabbing the dagger from the man's belt, with a slight curl of his lip, he then thrust it hilt-deep into the man's empty eye. Next he drove the short sword into the man just above his groin, leaving it there, quivering. He turned to Taala, offering no explanation and pulled up his hood to shade his face. "Run!" he says, giving her a nudge, back toward the way they came. With one last look towards Bram, she replaced the water skin to the place she found it and they left him.
"Oi!" came a cry from behind them. "Where d'ya think you're goin'? We need help w' these damn animals!"
Eroforth pushed Taala forward slightly, to urge her onwards; slowing, he turned and called forth to the bandit, "an' you can tell that bastard tha's what happens when he cheats a fellow at dice!"
The fellow hesitated, uncertain, suspicion dawning, he fired his crossbow; but the shot fell wide of it's mark, missing Eroforth as he joined Taala at the gap in the wall, and the cunning pair tore off into the darkness, putting distance between themselves and the confusion behind them to plan their next move...
