Writing Adventures

Flash Friday: Highway Robbers

19th February, 2010 - No Comments

The forest was dark, fog blanketing the ground, clouds covered the sky. The fire flickered between the trees, far off, but growing ever closer as he stalked towards the drunken bandits. They had stolen wine today and their laughter echoed painfully in the night. The closer he crept, the fewer night creatures kept him company. These men were a blemish on the forest, and it was time to remove it.

He paused outside the firelight, letting his eyes adjust. They were falling asleep now, sprawling on the ground in a stupor. Four men, all armed with swords and crossbows, useless now. The last one fell to snoring and Jakob struck.

Silent footsteps as he moved through the campsite, slitting throats with a whisper. Too drunk to even open their eyes, they bled out on the ground. He made a quick inventory of their loot and gathered their bulging purses. The wine was nearly gone and their weapons old and unremarkable. Kicking dirt over the remains of the fire, he set off, leaving the bodies to the hungry forest.

Weighed down with the stolen gold, he walked all night. Reports of these thieves had brought him out of his comfortable home in the city, but it was worth it. The forest brought wealthy merchants to the city and Jakob depended upon them arriving with goods intact. Broke and robbed customers did him no good. Most highway men knew better than to stray close to Himisch, and now more would hear the tales.

Jakob reached the city at dawn, slipping in through the sewer grate at the river. A good dousing woke him up and washed off the mud and leaves. Once home, he would have business to take care of. His shirt would need burned, one of the men had spurted blood onto his sleeve. He had plenty more, but next time he would be more careful.