Общий файл / Does Force Bind to Responsibility?: Глава 5

Chapter 6

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:02

***Daimon's party***

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:02

It wasn't easy for Daimon's group to get out of the Cursed Forests. For the third day, with little or no sleep or even normal rest, they had been trudging through drifts, ravines, and dense undergrowth. Three of the four members of the group were well aware that getting out of the dungeon was only half the battle. Even aside from the dungeons, death lurked in every shadow here, and no one wanted to give it a chance.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:27

Except for Lias.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:28

In less than two weeks of acquaintance, Era had managed to hate him. At first, she didn't understand why she disliked him so much, and she suppressed the feeling. Lias wasn't a bad guy, just a little naïve. He was so excited about adventure, glory, and wealth as if he'd learned his whole idea of the adventurous profession from the songs of bards and the tales of drunkards. He pictured himself as the protector of the common people and aspired to feats and glory.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:29

An idiot.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:29

Era exhaled loudly, keeping the rhythm of the marching Stems crunched and tangled beneath her feet, thin branches whipped at the remnants of her hood. After Daimon at the head of the group, the trail was quite bearable. With his strength and stamina, he was literally breaking through the thicket. Who knows how slowly they might have moved without him.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:31

Era heard a muffled scolding behind her and turned around. The sight was to be expected. Lias stumbled and fell. Era called out to Daimon, and when he turned around, she raised her hand to say, stop.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:36

"What's up?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:37

The indomitable leader and his old pal Bryce stopped moving. Both looked tired and pretty beat up. Era sat silently beside Lias and patted him on the shoulder. He tried to curl up into a ball and muttered in a trembling voice.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:37

"I can't. That's it. I can't do it anymore..."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:40

Era, barely able to contain her contemptuous rage, was about to give him a slap, but Daimon approached and intercepted her hand.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:41

"Era, don't need it. Please."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:52

They exchanged glances, and she averted her eyes first. Meanwhile, Bryce, who had approached, frowned at Lias and crouched at his leg.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:53

"Daimon, hold the kid."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:54

Lias only breathed heavily when the leader held him down with his knee and occasionally twitched when Bryce gently palpated his ankle.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:55

"Don't be so nervous, dummy. Daimon, it looks like we have a little fracture here."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:56

"How little?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 17:57

"So much so that he will ride. Kid, you know, you're so useless... Hold on tight."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:00

Bryce, grunting, took the healer on his back. Lias, hissing in pain, made himself comfortable. Era, looking at what was happening, began in an unnaturally calm tone.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:02

"Why are we..."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:03

But Daimon interrupted her.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:04

"Era, believe me, I don't like babysitting him myself. But it's our word and our responsibility."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:04

She only raised her hands in annoyance.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:05

"Ok."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:05

"Thank you." Damon patted her on the shoulder. "It's gonna be okay."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:06

They were on their way again. It was getting dark, and they still had a few miles to go before they reached the edge of the thicket.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:07

Era felt a burning shame. It was a good thing she hadn't been allowed to finish her cruel words. Looking at the boy dangling on Bryce's back, she knew she hadn't been entirely fair to him. It was just... He just wasn't adventurer material

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:09

This became clear in the first few days as they searched the path to the ruins, which was familiar. In Lias's mind, adventurers were engaged solely in the noble destruction of villains and monsters. He was totally unprepared for the exhausting marches, the austerity of drinking water, the lack of sleep, the filth, and the other pleasures of adventurer life. Even then, Era's deaf dislike began to transform into anger. She was used to reliable and terse fellows, but Lias... He commented sarcastically on the inconveniences, complaining about the mosquitoes and fatigue. When, on the approach to the ruins, their group was attacked by a pack of magic-altered wolves, real, hungry, and desperate monsters, he huddled in his tent and squealed hysterically while the others dealt with the problem. Then he demanded that they take him back to town immediately.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:14

Then the guys had a quiet and serious talk with him, and he shut up. It didn't get much easier; he still made the situation worse, expressing displeasure and indignation with every gesture. But the dungeon itself broke him completely. The suffocating dust, the stench that took your breath away, the perpetual darkness, the deadly traps, and the extremely dangerous undead. All the things silver-ranked adventurers live and die by. All the things they speak and write so beautifully about.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:16

He wasted all his strength in the first run, and only then did it become clear that, first, he had very little strength, and second, it was recovering much more slowly than they had all hoped. Disappointment and constant fear had turned the slightly spoiled but positive naive kid into a twitchy, jaded fatalist. But they took him with them and held him responsible for his life - these are the unbreakable dogmas of the adventurer. Those who broke the ground rules were quickly stripped of their badge, and at best they changed jobs. At worst, they disappeared without a trace, and their equipment sometimes appeared on the black market.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:19

After Lias was carried on Bryce's backs, their progress quickened considerably. Daimon's group was out of the Cursed Forest even before darkness had set in. The familiar gentle descent down the hill and the small valley by the river were pleasing to the eye. But the luck that had watched over them for three days in the thickets seemed to have run out.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:27

By the river, in the exact spot where they had camped the week before, someone else had already established themselves. In the gathering darkness, they could see several tents and a flickering fire between them. Daimon frowned.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:30

"Bryce, check out these guys."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:31

Bryce nodded, laid Lias down gently, and silently disappeared into the bushes.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:31

"Era, I hope to avoid a fight, but..."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:32

"I understand, Daimon. I'm ready, even without the staff. You know me."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:33

Magic could be used without aids at all, but the image of a powerful wizard has always been associated with staff for a reason. A good, properly made staff made it much easier to control mana and allowed you to cast spells much faster. But the specifics of training, which Era preferred to remember less often, allowed Era to cast spells equally quickly and efficiently with or without a staff. The price for that was a very high expenditure of energy, but enough for a short fight. Era kneaded her fingers with a crunch.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:34

A few minutes later, Bryce appeared out of the bushes.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:35

"Goblins. About a dozen. Looks like hunters, not trappers, and probably not local. A proper watch, but only within their camp."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:57

Daimon sighed.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 18:59

"Looks like we'll make it. Era, stay here and cover us if something happens."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:00

"Maybe just hit it from here?"

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:01

"And you guarantee you'll hit hard enough and accurately enough that no one escapes? Two or three vengeful freaks in the woods could give us a lot of trouble, you know."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:11

Era nodded silently. The goblins are not serious fighters, they fight mostly in numbers and pose no threat in the open countryside. But in the woods, vengeful, perfectly camouflaged partisans with their poison arrows and traps...

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:12

All she had to do was wait. Hidden in the bushes, she watched from afar.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:12

The green-skinned men spotted Daimon in tattered armor and Bryce with a full set of throwing knives between his fingers and scurried about. After a hoarse shriek from the sentinel, several small, wiry figures sprang from their tents, waving spears and axes, and lined up in front of the camp. Four, armed with bows, scattered in different directions and crouched in the tall grass. Era noted for herself where exactly.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:15

Daimon stepped forward, gesturing and growling menacingly. One of the goblins, the tougher of the bunch, stepped forward with his spear. Something of dialogue ensued. Era could hear nothing but the sound of hoarse swearing. For a moment the negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse, but then Bryce, in a smooth, beautiful, and swift movement, threw a knife into the grass where one of the bowmen sat, and Daimon lunged with his sword at the parliamentarian's throat and continued shouting. The green-skinned men hesitated and retreated. Within minutes they'd packed up their tents, and, looking around, they were marching in a single file along the river and into the woods. After making sure the competitors were gone, Bryce headed toward Era.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:18

"I wish it were always like this. It's good when the enemy wants to live too."

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:19

Bryce picked up the semi-conscious Lias and they headed toward the now vacant camp.

Camrad_RIP 09.06.21 в 19:20