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."
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