Bonaventura! E3 "Griffons and Girls"

Tobias Flint squinted into the gloom of the wood. He held his hooded lantern out in front, but the tendrils of inky shadows repelled the light. There was no sound but the wind rustling branch and leaf.

"Still don't know why ya sent the boys out, boss." Lemon said as he stirred the small kettle sluggishly bubbling over the small fire. The outcropping of rock danced with shadows as the flames. They were almost completely concealed from prying eyes. The edge of the wood was not any safer than in its heart. But Tobias had insisted just in case someone came snooping that they make camp deep along the old trails that the bandits knew all too well.

"You saw it," Tobias said defiantly, "same as us. Foul things they are. Tales tell them to be half lion, half bird."

"Old wives' tales," Lemon scoffed. "Simple as mud." 

"Old wives know a thing or two when everyone else forgets." Tobias said quietly. Lemon studied Tobias for a few seconds as the boss fell into silence. Tobias never talked about the old crow. But he knew enough to know she was a religious woman, and not in the way most priests would approve. She kept the old ways. She knew things. Dark words and old runes. Tobias had gotten drunk once and talked about her. He had seen her work some strange magic. She had...talked to things. A particular being that Tobias called the Dark Man. But whatever he had done or said to his mum, Tobias would never talk about no matter how much liquor he had in him.

"Soups ready." Lemon said with an approving smack of his lips.

Tobias settled down on the log and quietly ate his food. It was almost an hour later when Big Alf and Doyle slipped into camp. They had exchanged the proper signals so as to not get shot. Lemon threw a few logs onto the fire as the boys sat down and warmed their hands. 

"Well, lads? Anything to report?" Tobias asked as he tried to conceal his excitement.

Big Alf deferred to Doyle who told the tale. "Nothing much. We was watching them seein' as they might come to close to the wood, just like you told us. They made camp and..." Doyle dropped off as his eyes flicked between Lemon and Tobias.

"Alfie will vouchsafe for me, we never touched a drop of the good stuff all day." Doyle said. Big Alf nodded.

"What did you see?" Tobias asked.

"They went down after dark, set up in a cop'o'trees with long guns. Little feller watched from the hill so as to see what came down to the river. They caught one of them Hooked Beaks and...it was very unnatural." Doyle licked his lips. Even Lemon was listening now. "One of 'em winged the beast. Then that short feller, some kind of weaver, and caught that thing with tentacles straight out of hell. Big Alf saw it too."

Big Alf nodded and the group fell into thoughtful silence. "Well." Tobias said after a few seconds. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained as the good books says. Then what happened?"

"There was a big commotion at the camp. Big Alf snuck in close to see what'd happened. Those dandies chased into the wood like a pack of coyotes. Most all the men set off on horse and going after one of their own. Is what Big Alf overheard, least ways."

"The pretty one gone and got pinched," Big Alf chimed in sheepishly.

Tobias rubbed his stubble. "I knew it in my bones, lads. Them is magic and you don't go about touching it." Tobias smiled as if he had suddenly thought of something. "What became of the beasty?"

"Let it go." Doyle said dryly. "They all got pretty lost I reckon. Tracks were easy enough to follow. But they is deep in the wood now."

Tobias rubbed his hands. "Well, we should make the most of this, my lads. As the good book says the 'heavens help those who lend a hand to those in need.' There is good coin, here lads and a chance to make good as gentlemen."

"We gonna raid the camp while the lords are away?" Lemon suggested hopefully.

Tobias looked a bit pained. "No such vulgar talk, Lemon. We is gonna take the secret ways right this moment and see if we cannot...help them lords out a little," he added with a grin.

The boys all exchanged a glance. Tobias stood. "Mount up. We ride right away. Where abouts did you say they were?"

"A sound pace from the river." Big Alf said as he grabbed some scraps of food and checked his gun.

"Then we have a good headstart. We'll take the upper ford. That's near the old tower, Lemon?" Tobias asked.

"Spooky old place. Bones thick as mud." Lemon said crossing himself and whispering a prayer.

The gang broke camp and mounted their horses in a few minutes. Climbing up a small hill, they pushed through a thick hedge of branches and vines onto a thin road, hidden between large boulders and ancient willows. Spurring their horses on, they road hard through the winding paths of the old world like fish up a stream. Soon they emerged behind a wall of stone. Dismounting they climbed up the broken stairs and onto the ramparts. Tobias peered down on the moonlit rocks of the ancient keep and saw as a processional of horses road up the main road towards the ruin.

Tobias gave a low chuckle. "I knew it! Grifs love old ruins. Well lads. Time to make us all rich."

Bonaventura! E2 "Thieves"

Tobias Flint was not a particularly educated man. He had never gotten "book learning" but knew his "good book." He did like to have a broad interpretation of those "Thou shalt not" bits. He was an otherwise good man despite these shortcomings. His men thought he was a virtuous person by comparison. Certainly not a saint, but he believed in loyalty, giving a man a fair shake and he was a man of peace. That was, until someone drew down on one of his boys, kinfolk or "was asking for it." The small gang asked about this point in particular since the caravan they had been following all day looked well-armed. Tobias told them, through a gob of chew that no, they would not shoot them in the back or slice any throats. 

"But doesn't the good book say we can defend ourselves?" Big Alf asked as he sharpened his knife against a stone.

Tobias snorted. "Of course, a man has a right to defend hisself. But shooting a man in the back ain't right."

"Not very sportsmanlike neither," Doyle added with a yawn.

"Dem straight," Tobias said firmly.

"So," Big Alf said with some consternation as he tried to connect the threads of his thoughts, "we can shoot'em if they shoot first?"

"Not unless we have to. This is going to be a quiet job." Tobias said with a save of his hands, as if he was about to perform a trick. "We is going to wait for them to stop for the night, sneak in and take what we need without anyone being the wiser."

Tobias produced a stick and began sketching in the dirt. "Big Alf is going to keep watch and give out a call if anyone goes snooping. Doyle will pinch a few of the horses while me and Lemon dig through the stock. Any questions?" As Big Alf raised a hand, Lemon cut him off with a sharp look. "Clear as mud, boss." He spit his mangled toothpick to the ground and stood.

Tobias pressed the field glasses to his eyes as he chewed on some salted ham. "They are sure in a tizzy, Lemon." 

His partner nodded, a sneer playing across his unshaven face. "They going to be chasing poor Doylie all the way into the wood. Smart as mud, boss."

Tobias nodded, allowing himself to enjoy the compliment. The plan had worked perfectly, though Doyle had almost blown the whole job by getting spotted by a gnomish man and a human. Fortunately, Doyle was just a slip of a shadow and had hidden from the keen eyes. It was a rum business not getting the fresh horses. But they had helped themselves to the stores and Lemon had found a brace of new pistols. Tobias stroked the hand of the beautiful weapon now tucked into his belt. It was an afterthought to have Big Alf trace a path away into the Wood and then double back along a used path so he couldn't be spotted. "It's going to keep them busy for sure."

They both watched the posse of horses rush off along the fake trail toward the wood. He frowned and shifted the lenses of his glasses. "Looks like a twofer are making their way off by their sweet selves."

"Should we kidnap them?" Lemon said with a gleeful smile. "Good coin in that, boss."

Tobias sniffed. "You know what the good book says about the pro-liferation of bodies."

Lemon frowned. "We pro-lifered plenty of bodies. Some even liked it."

Tobias scanned the horizon. "Your big bag of beans! No slaves."

Lemon rubbed his stubble. "But we picked up that kid last year. And those twin sisters the year before."

"They was not that fare. These are fare folk. Sure, they worth coin, but they tend to remember and hold grudges." Tobias said with sagely tone. "We are avoiding any additional law right now."

Lemon shrugged. "What are they doing?"

Tobias sniffed. "Not sure, mutton. They be talking for sure."

Lemon reached for the glasses. "I can't read them lips. Let me see." 

There was a few moments of silence as Tobias munched on a stock of grass. "Well?"

"He says he likes her forehead. She said she liked trees. He's saying something about being broke and tarry about her expedition. Something about tainted mermaids. She says she's a moved on past it." He squinted. "He seems surprised that she has not produced a party. Can't see her face...he says something about a wrong time and she's saying she's gonna live a long time."

"Looks like the boys gave up," Tobias said with a mocking click of his tongue. Horses pounded through the fields as the posse returned.

"They look like they racing down the hill now." Tobias said handing the glasses back to Tobias. "She's mighty fine. Fine as mud, boss."

"Probably a hundred years old. They live a long time, I hear." Tobias said authoritatively. "Lets get back to the boys, Lemon. I hear Big Alfi is making us a feast tonight."

"Feast as fine as mud, boss." Lemon concurred.