Kings Bane

They left the forge drenched in sweat. As they cooled themselves off, they saw the two bandits from the tavern pressing up against a frail old man. Immediately Col went to investigate but they had grown a full brain from last they spoke as the scurried of in his presence.

"Don't think this is over old man"

Col stood in front of the shaken old man trembling in fear. He was the man put in charge of this small village for over thirty years. He was also one of the few men who knew of Col's identity choosing not to reveal it in memory of his father.

"What was that old man Herr, what did they want?" asked Col putting his hand on his shoulder.

"It's none of your business, you're a bandit yourself" said Herr pushing Col's hand away, "Do you think this is what your father wanted for you, for you to live this life of crime and depravity"

Col looked back to see if his friends could hear and grabbed the old man forcefully further away from them.

"What my father wanted is none of your concern" Col gritted, "without criminals like us guys from before would have picked this village clean years ago"

Herr looked down in shame remembering all they had done for him and the village. He took a deep breath in to calm down relaxing his whole body for but a moment. A small giggle left his mouth as he thought of Colden's father a renegade in his own right and the only person to make him that upset.

"What are you laughing at old man?" asked Col.

"Nothing boy just dreaming", said Herr, "Those men wanted me to pay them for protection"

"Protection from what?"

"They did say but I assume it's a threat to take money from the village or have it destroyed"

"They have no fear for the royal army then?"

"The royal army is out fighting the war against those Draug invaders, they can't be at two places at ones"

Col thought for a moment. This 'Bandit King' might be some low level nobody trying to make a name for himself plundering poor villages. This sickened him to his stomach, Col hated nothing more than cowards especially those who went after the weak.

"I'll take care of this old man" said Col as he walked away at a brisk pace.

"So brother what are we doing today?" asked Ark.

"..."

Ark's question was met with silence as Col walked of ahead of them. He understood immediately that he was having his heat spills. Colden was a good leader but quick tempered. Ark shrugged it off and headed to his side-hustle playing the dice.

Col walked into the forest as he always does before a job. The morning quickly turned to evening as they all excitedly ran back to the tavern to talk. 

They sat on a table with a single light candle in the middle. Colden walked in to see the entire group already seated excluding Ark and Elenor. Across the room Col spotted Ark surrounded by people. 

"Still playing his games, boy doesn't to stop when he's ahead." Col thought as he looked over at his brother's wide smile.

"Captain over here!" shouted Knox waving his arms in excitement.

"So what are we having today" asked Col having sat down. He would always return hungry from spending the day in the forest doing God knows what. 

A hot pie was placed in front of him answering his question. He thanked his friends and devoured the food in one sitting. He called for the tavern hostess indicating he was thirsty. 

The girl brought a large mug for Col which he drank with haste.

"So when are we getting to business or are we just going to watch this idiot eat?"

Col startled by the voice spat his drink out coughing heavily.

It was Elenor the black-haired beauty of the gang. Her eyes were the first thing Col noticed, dark purple with a hint of blue.

"Don't sneak up on me like that you're going to kill me one of these days." coughed Col

"I spoke to our informant in the castle." said Elenor," He told me they have lax security only thing we should worry about is the guard captain.

"Why is he some kind of master bandit sniffer" said Col cheekily, "If not I think we'll be fine"

Elenor shrugged off Col's obvious bravado, but she knew when to trust him this mission felt different to her. They were headed to heist on one of the wealthiest men in the Kingdom. This was their biggest job, enough money to buy a small island.

"We have other things to talk about, Ark" Elenor sighed, " This is a big mission, and you've never let him do anything other than petty robberies."

"And?"

"Are you going to let him join or is he get-away with Hendry?" 

"..."

Interrupted by yelling followed by a crash Col looked at the table behind him full of people now dispersed. In the middle were the bandits from earlier. 

"You cheated, you little white rat" yelled one of them.

"I think maybe you're a poor sport, mate" said Ark, "You lost fair and square"

The man lifted him up by his shirt holding him up in the air. Everyone around seemed concerned for the boy but none of them were brave enough to interfere.

Col's group all immediately stood up to intervene but were stopped by him.

"Wait a minute let's see how this ends" whispered Col. He looked intently at Ark squirming in the air trying to break free from the bandits grasp. The entire room turned quite as everyone watched the men threaten a child.

"Just admit you cheated and I'll let you go", scolded the bandit, "If you don't I'll break both your arms, keep you from getting into troubles"

The two bandits laughed as they tried their best to scare Ark. Out of the corner the black cat from the morning ran up on the table frightening the tavern hostess once again. Just like before she spilled her food drawing everyone's attention.

Ark saw an opportunity and pull out a dagger from his back. Swiftly he cut the man's arms making him drop the boy on his back.

Before he could get up he dug the heel of his shoe into Arks chest. He wheezed in pain as all the air left his body.

"You shouldn't have done that" he said unsheathing his sword. The blade was chipped and stained. It was obvious he knew nothing about maintaining a sword.

He raised the sword up over his head about to bring it down on Ark's head.

"When you meet your god tell him Hugh the Terrible sent you" he said as he swung the sword with all his strength.

Ark closed his eyes bracing himself for the pain. He heard metal clinking near his face forcing to him quickly open his eyes. Col had stopped the sword swing with his own sword 'Gnaw'. The blades clashed spreading small sparks into the air.

"I think you should leave my brother alone before you do something you're going to regret" said Col.

The bandit took several steps back gripping his sword in front of him. There was hesitation in his eyes as he looked on at his yellow toothed friend for backup.

Col took full advantage and closed the distance between them slicing. He calmly swung the sword across his torso narrowly missing but left him with a flesh wound. The bandits hesitation was replaced with adrenaline as he wildly swung at Col.

Feeling no threat Col leapt around the room using tables as footing. Ark looked over at his brother making short work of the man tiring him out as he effortlessly dodged his attacks. The bandit threw a final exhausted swing sticking his sword to a table. Col used this leverage to hit him in the face with the swords pummel.

Blood spilled everywhere as Hugh the bandit covered his face with his hand. Teeth were mixed in with the blood, making for a disgusting soup. Anguish. His yellow toothed friend deciding to strike from behind Col. He brandished a crooked dagger trying to catch him off guard.

"Brother, look out behind!" shouted Ark.

[Mist Tome: Memory Mirage]

Col was too slow. He turned around to meet death but saw Yellow-teeth frozen, he then noticed that there was strange fog surrounding him. Hs eyes were dazed half asleep, half hallucinating.

'I'm glad we have a mancer on the group like Elenor' thought Col as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

"How many times do we have to tell you" said Elenor with her hands out. "Always watch your back"

Col promptly knocked him out with a punch. He then turned to the other man picking up his teeth and putting them in his pocket.

"Don't bother picking those up, you and your friend are done here" he said.

"Who the hell do you people think you are" asked Hugh with a lisp.

"Us, were just a small bandit group" answered Ark, "Were Kings Bane"

Ark came from behind with a bottle smashing it on the man's head.