Chapter 14: Barok’s Moment

The wind howled as Black Dust moved deeper into the barren landscape.

Their journey had taken them to places they never thought they'd see. Once simple outlaws on the fringes of society, they were now legends in the making, their reputation growing with every heist, every victory, and every bullet they fired.

And with that fame came more enemies—more threats to their existence. But despite the growing pressure, Barok felt a quiet determination stir within him. This was his moment.

While Bastian and Seraphina had shown their strengths in the field, Barok had remained mostly in the background, the silent strategist. But that would change.

He knew it.

The group had spent days on horseback, following the dusty trails through rough terrain, their sights set on an old mining town, Iron Hollow. Word had reached them that a major caravan carrying supplies and gold was passing through the area—a prime target for Black Dust.

But the caravan wasn't the only thing waiting in the town. Iron Hollow had a reputation of its own—one of corruption, deep ties to the government, and a deadly collection of mercenaries who would do anything for coin.

Barok had known the danger before they set out. He had calculated every move, planned every contingency.

But now, as the town came into view, he could feel the weight of the mission ahead pressing down on him.

—-~

Iron Hollow was a dead town in more ways than one. It sat on the edge of a ravine, its buildings like broken teeth jutting out of the earth.

Rusted rail tracks ran through the heart of the town, long since abandoned by the trains that used to stop there. What had once been a thriving mining community had turned into a lawless pit of corruption and decay.

As they approached the outskirts of Iron Hollow, Barok reined in his horse, eyes scanning the horizon. He was always the one who kept a level head, always the one who saw the angles, the out.

He knew the caravan would be heavily guarded. He knew the mercenaries in the town were loyal only to money, and would switch sides in an instant.

Bastian rode up beside him, always the one to break the tension with humor. "You look like you're calculating the weight of the world, Barok. Relax. It's just another robbery, right?"

Barok's gaze never left the town. His eyes were sharp, focused. "It's not just the caravan. The mercenaries in this town are tied to the government. They're here to stop us. We can't just barge in and expect to walk out."

Seraphina, who had been quietly observing, now spoke up. Her voice was steady, but her tone betrayed a flicker of concern.

"You're not thinking about splitting up, are you? We need to stick together."

Barok turned to her. There was a hardness in his eyes, a sense of resolve that hadn't been there before. "I'm thinking about how we take them all down, without walking into a trap."

The tension was thick, but Seraphina gave him a nod of approval. "Then let's hear it."

Barok took a deep breath, then slowly laid out his plan, voice low but certain. He'd been preparing for this moment, carefully laying the groundwork.

The caravan was coming from the east, but the mercenaries in the town wouldn't just wait for them to make a move. They'd be lying in wait, ready to spring a trap.

"If we go in through the north pass," Barok explained, pointing to a narrow, rocky trail that led into the heart of Iron Hollow, "we can take out the lookouts and create a diversion. While they're distracted, Bastian can use his card tricks to scatter the guards in the town square."

Bastian raised an eyebrow. "Scatter? You make it sound so easy. And I thought you didn't like me using my cards for anything other than gambling."

Barok's lips twisted in a ghost of a smile. "You're damn good at it, Bastian. Just don't take too long. Once we cause the distraction, Seraphina and I can sneak into the mining office and disable their security.

The caravan's goods will be in the back, guarded by the heaviest men. We'll need to make sure they don't see us coming."

"And then we'll make a clean getaway?" Seraphina asked, always the pragmatist.

Barok nodded. "We'll need a fast exit. We'll set charges in the tunnels beneath the town to make a path to the east, where we'll meet up. If we do it right, they'll be too busy trying to save their own skin to catch up with us."

There was a moment of silence as his words sank in. The plan was ambitious, and risky—but Barok had spent days planning it down to the last detail. Everything he said had a purpose. Every move was calculated.

—-~

Nightfall settled over Iron Hollow, and the town's lights flickered weakly in the distance. Black Dust rode toward their target, the town looming like a dark shadow against the horizon. The streets were eerily quiet, and the only sound was the crunch of their horses' hooves against the dust.

Barok led the way, his eyes sharp, his mind alert. He guided his horse toward the narrow pass he had identified earlier. As they moved through the dark, the town's mercenaries didn't seem to notice them at first.

They were too focused on the caravan, or perhaps on their own ill-

gotten wealth.

Barok gave a signal to Seraphina, who took her place behind him. She was always a step ahead, silent and deadly. Bastian, as always, followed closely behind, his guns ready but his smile never quite fading.

They reached the first lookout at the north end of town. Barok had expected this.

The lookout was a man who was more interested in drinking than in his duties, and Barok made quick work of him, silencing the guard with a shot to the leg that left him writhing in pain, but alive.

"Not our job to kill him," Barok murmured, before moving on.

Seraphina gave him a small nod, understanding his intent. They couldn't afford to draw too much attention, not yet. The plan relied on speed and precision.

They moved forward, silently picking off guards one by one as they approached the heart of the town. Barok's resolve was unshakable, his focus unbroken.

Every decision was calculated, every move deliberate. He led with the confidence of someone who had seen the battlefield enough times to know that hesitation meant death.

When they reached the mining office, Seraphina moved with quiet efficiency to disable the guards, her gunmancy—a cold, calculated force—taking down anyone who tried to resist.

Barok worked alongside her, his hands steady as he planted the explosives beneath the town's central structure. The charges were placed in just the right spots, rigged to create a distraction when the time came.

—-~

The caravan finally arrived, the heavy wagons rolling through the outskirts of town.

Barok watched from his position, his eyes never leaving the road. The guards didn't notice the trio in the shadows. They were too busy keeping an eye out for us.

They didn't know the storm was about to hit.

Barok nodded to Bastian. It was time. The gambler grinned widely, and with a flourish, he tossed a handful of cards into the air, watching them scatter like confetti.

They exploded in mid-air, their magic sending shockwaves through the town square.

The chaos was immediate.

Barok gave the signal, and the explosion at the center of the town erupted, tearing through the streets and forcing the mercenaries to scramble for cover. The caravan was stopped dead in its tracks as the sound of gunfire and explosions filled the air.

Barok and Seraphina moved quickly through the chaos, disarming the last few guards with precision. They reached the caravan and took control of the supplies, just as planned. Bastian's quick thinking and card tricks had caused just the right amount of confusion to give them the upper hand.

With the loot secured, they made their way to the east side of the town. The charges had done their work—creating a safe escape route. They mounted their horses and sped toward the hills, the sound of pursuing lawmen and mercenaries slowly fading behind them.

—-~

As they rode through the hills, the adrenaline slowly started to wear off.

The night sky stretched out above them, the cool air biting at their skin. Barok, though silent, couldn't help but feel a quiet satisfaction.

The plan had worked flawlessly.

Every detail had fallen into place. And for once, Barok had felt like more than just the quiet observer. He had been the one to lead them, the one to guide them through the storm.

Bastian gave him a playful jab in the shoulder.

"I'll admit, you're not just a thinker. You've got a knack for this leadingthing, Barok."

Barok didn't smile, but there was a glint in his eyes as he looked ahead. "We all have our roles to play," he said quietly.

Seraphina, riding beside him, nodded in agreement. "And tonight, you led us well. We couldn't have done it without you, Barok."

Barok didn't respond immediately, but for the first time in a long while, he felt the weight of their respect. It wasn't just the guns. It wasn't just the tactics. It was the trust they had placed in him. And that was something he wouldn't take for granted.

"Let's keep moving," Barok said, his voice steady as ever. "This was just the beginning.