Snippet #2233736

Outside Bloodfang Caves
Crimson Blade’s Encampment, Just Outside The Non-Regular‘s Section


The axe impacted the middle of the large round cut of wood, making embedding it’s only barely into the grain yet further this time than the one just below it. The one who had been wielding the axe for the past few hours pulled it out and once wished he had a wedge. Still the figure in black simply drove the axe back down into the wood. Apparently unfazed by the near futility of the task. Eight or nine other cuts were sitting near the chopping stump, and were all nearly the same size as the stump itself. It certainly was being stubborn.

A little further off different pile of wood sat a little further off, the fruit of the cutter’s constant labor since the dim of the early morning. Yet even through that time his pace had never slowed, a true feat to those paying attention. Considering he had done the same for the entirety of the previous day and most of the afternoon two nights ago. Many would call it down right strange if they had also known the figure to have been traveling constantly for nearly thirty six hours before that, on foot. However, precious few really paid attention to the goings on of a ragged looking mercenary who refused to remove his helmet even when splitting wood. A good thing, considering it was quite unhealthy for undead to draw attention when the were trying to pretend to be human.

Nestro, the undead in question, was lucky no one had been wise enough to notice his complete lack of fatigue while also being worldly enough to figure out what he was. He was far more engrossed in his task to bother acting tired. He even knew it was not good for the soft tissue on his hands to be working this raggedly. His mentor would have hounded him greatly for such an action, after all that time he put into embalming. Still the undead continued to sink the axe into the wood, each time getting deeper. Since the first few swings two days ago he had become addicted to the nostalgia. When he was alive it had always been his job to procure firewood for the hearth of the farmhouse, ever since he had first made a bet with his father on what the boy “could” and “could not” do.

“Oy, were taking this early today.” A familiar voice called. Nestro turned to see several large and burly men standing near the pile of cut firewood. The one who had called out was quite shorter than the rest, and appeared to be in charge of the small group. Nestro simple shrugged and continued chopping. He didn't care where the wood went.

“See, I told you it would be the same guy.” One of large men said to the other as they started loading the cut firewood into a small cart. “I passed by twice yesterday and he was the only one working at it both times.” The other man merely grunted in response to the statement.

-----

“Hey Rev? Didn't Captain tell you to cut this himself?” A large man who was new to the small group asked while he pulled the cart on the way back to the main camp.

“Paid workers don’t ask questions Dekard.” The smaller man had taken a very liberal “supervisory” role, answered snidely. Then he pulled some leaves out of a pouch at his waist and stuck them in his lower lip. The large man grumbled at the answer and about to respond but was cut off.

“Stiff up, here he comes.” The small “leader” of the group hushed in a sharp tone as he eyed the Crimson Blades’ Captain round the corner of a tent, men around him acknowledging his presence as he passed.

“Rev.” Kefir called out when he got close. “It sure doesn't look like your near tired enough to have been splitting wood for the past three days…” The rough looking man said in a condescending tone with an eyebrow raised.

“No problem, no problem. Just getting the last of it here.” The small man soothed, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb at the full cart.

“That so?” Kefir questioned as he eyed the cart and the large men. They averted their eyes downward at his strong gaze.

“Yep, I’ll just get this into place by the fires in the main camp then.” The small man said, starting to walk past the Captain.

“Hold on a minute Rev.” Kefir said, stopping the man as he stood in front of him. “You sure you gave me back all that extra coin you had from when you picked up that unwanted wood?” The Captain put his hand on the smaller man’s shoulder.

“Of course, of course” Rev waived his free hand in front of his face. “Like I told ya before, that was all they had, they gouged the shit outta me. The bastards…” He laughed a bit.

“All right then.” Kefir removed his hand, sounding unconvinced. “Just get that firewood into place. We’re moving out soon and nobody want’s to be fetching firewood when we just got back from a fight. Unless you want to be the one doing it.” He warned the small man.

“ Gotcha Captain” Rev responded and hurried passed, the big men and the cart in toe. Though he spit a brown mess out after the Captain passed.

---

Kefir had a big scowl on his face as he drew close to the non-regular’s camp. He knew that Rev was a liar and a cheat. Still, he was the Blades’ liar and cheat who was quite good in strategy, not to mention that he was a damn good shot with a bow. Especially when it came to aiming for the opposing force’s leader. Though when he had showed up with that wagon full of damn near stumps instead of real firewood, Kefir had wanted to ring his scrawny little neck.

As he entered the non-regular’s camp, he wasn't greeted with near the same enthusiasm as when he walked through the Blades’ camp. In fact, he wasn't greeted at all. Kefir cursed under his breath, if only that Drakryvon had wanted to lead the non-regulars. She had gained him some tactical knowledge, but her stubbornness had cost him this annoyance. He just couldn't have damn near fifteen men running around unsupervised in battle.

When he reached the center of the camp, he cursed under his breath and called out loudly.

“Alright! Which one of you lot is the leader here?!” The men sitting around the camp looked in his direction, but remained there was naught but occasional rapt of an axe hitting wood coming from just outside the camp. Kefir sighed at the lack of response.

“I guess you‘re the Captain then?” A raven haired man asked, who was sitting on a large piece of wood near the entrance to a tent.

“Alright! You lot just better figure it out! Cuz I’m paying the leader of the group for the work of ten men!” Kefir ignored the question. “Have the leader and his second come by the main camp as soon as it’s figured out! We‘re moving out soon and if nobody comes by, none of you are getting paid.” As the Captain finished he turned to walk back to the main camp, then stopped. If she’s going to make it hard for me… “Well, except for the Drakryvon.” He said just loud enough to hear over the silence, then left.

As he made his way back to the main camp, a man in black chopping wood caught his eye and made him think. I guess if no-one comes by I could ask Victor to head the group… also get him to scare some sense into Rev…

----

“Well? Who should go?” One of the non-regulars broke the silence.

“Not me. I’m just here for the treasure.” Another piped up. A few other men began to gather at the center of the camp.

“What treasure?” The another asked.

“Don’t you know? Orc’s and goblins guard treasure. There‘s supposed to be a lot of them around here, so there‘s gotta be a lot of treasure.” The second explained.

“I’m here to join the Crimson Blades.” One that looked no older than seventeen mentioned.

“Then why don’t you go by their camp?” The first one asked.

“Well, I tried but-” The young man was cut off.

“ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!” A deep voice called out. “He said only the two to come by their camp are getting paid! If there’s treasure the Blades’ are gonna take it for themselves you idiot!” A monster of a man made his way to the center of the recently formed crowd. “Let’s decide who’s gonna go by now! Before they move out and no-one gets paid!”

“Except for the Drakryvon.” One of the men nonchalantly parroted the man who had started the fiasco.

“You idiot!” The large man said. “Do you even know what a Drakryvon is?!” It’s that woman who’s been hanging around! Ain’t no way I’m going to be led around no damn woman! Tha hell is she the only one getting paid anyways?!” He yelled, getting in the man’s face.

“That woman would gut you alive.” A voice came from outside the group. It was the man who had identified the Captain earlier, still sitting on a round cut of wood. Though he was now sharpening a dagger.

“Did you just say what I think you did?” The big man pushed his way out of the small group and stomped over to the man sitting down.

The man put away his dagger, stood up and stared hard at the large man who had approached.

The large man swung his fist at the shorter man, “I’ll gut YOU alive you sonofa-!” He yelled, but was cut off as he took a knee to the crotch before the punch could connect. He groaned and crumpled on the ground.

Everyone else was silent as the roguish man calmly stepped over the other one crumpled on the ground. When he reached the center of the camp he looked around.

“I’m going to go by the main camp. Anyone opposed?” Everyone remained silent.

“Uh, I think the guy chopping wood would should go by.” The young kid from earlier broke the silence. The man at the center raised an eyebrow. A few in the crowd asked who he was talking about.

“I, uh, I mean. He’s been taking care of the camp right? Without him we would have been cold and wet for the past two nights. Also, he’s been doing it nonstop for two days now, but I haven’s seen him slow down at all and he works with all his gear on. So I figure he’s gotta be pretty strong.”

The roguish man eyed the kid, then thought for a moment. “All right, I’ll see him on my way there.” Then he left the camp.

----

Nestro brought the axe down as hard as he could, burying it’s head in the large, round, half split log of wood. He pulled a couple times, tried wiggling it out, the put his boot where the handle met the split and levered it out after quite a bit of work. He chuckled a bit when he finally got it out, Damn, that knot on the side. he thought to himself. He sat the axe down and stared at the stubborn log, trying to think of a way to get the job done without a wedge.

“This is a smart sword.” A voice surprised him from behind. He whirled around to look at the area where he had left his pack and sword. “Well made, light yet strong, simple and effective. I‘m sure it‘s owner is quite skilled.” He looked at the rough looking man with black hair who was holding Nestro’s unsheathed sword. The undead quickly panicked, hoping that the man hadn't looked inside the satchel that had been sitting by his sword.

“It’s… the one that killed my brother. I keep it as a trophy.” Nestro finally said in his coarse voice, referring to the wolf bones that were in his satchel.

“Ah, well, then I apologize. I didn't mean to offend.” The raven haired man asked, then held the sword out a little further and looked it over.

“What? Oh, the sword? No I was talking about the…. Never mind.” Nestro shook his helmet covered head.

“Very well then. I will not pry.” The roguish man sheathed the sword and held it out to Nestro. As Nestro reached for it the man eyed his hands and noting there wasn't a hint of shaking at all.

“Seems as though the kid was right.” The man said as he handed the sword off. Nestro had no clue at to what he meant. “You aren't tired one bit from all that work. Not to mention you can easily hit the same spot on a log multiple times with that helmet on…” The main trailed off more talking to himself than anything.

“I used to chop wood a lot when I was younger.” Nestro mentioned, but didn't explain why he wasn't tired or was wearing a helmet in the first place. Though the man didn't suspect what Nestro feared he might.

“And I never chopped wood as a child.” The man mumbled. “Alright then, get your things and follow me.” He spoke back up in a commanding tone. “I’ll fill you in on the way. We‘re going to the main camp to talk about the advance on the caverns.” When he finished he turned, and began walking off.

Nestro stood still for a moment, wondering if it was a trap. Then after thinking curiosity got the better of him, he quickly gathered his things and followed along. He desperately wanted to get a look at the caverns, if what the cartographer had told him was true, there was something ancient there.