The Great Crestmaster

Aldrich handed the bandits to Cole and the others while he and Frank went over to the carriage. The carriage came back once all the commotion died down.

"Hey, Charlie, thanks for the help." Frank shook hands with the coachman and Aldrich handed him the rest of the pay that he was promised. All in all that was almost a silver.

"No problem, I'm getting paid so it's not much of a hassle. You say hi to your folks okay, Frank."

"You got it."

In fact, if he wasn't a contact introduced by Frank he probably wouldn't have agreed to help for less than three silvers. But Frank proved to be well connected and that saved them a bit of money.

But most importantly it meant that their little play on the rules by including a civilian in the quest was going to stay a secret between them.

In, the shade of the towering trees the party gathered around, resting, drinking water and cleaning their equipment. The two captured bandits were tied up in two different tree trunks.

The red bandanna bandit was tied up close by and he was guarded by Aldrich and Frank while the other one was much further away and he was guarded by the rest, they couldn't talk to each other unless they shouted.

****

Bodger had a rough day to say the least, he was just living life like usual, you know, drinking, raping, murder and preparing to steal a poor sods goods.

Of course he was also going to kill anyone who didn't comply.

He got lucky today and got an easy job today, just one carriage. It wasn't even protected by any armed guards. Bodger wished that they at least had some fresh women.

If they had a pretty woman then that was even better, they he could give her to the big brothers and get rewarded by being allowed to use the women pen.

The carriage and horses could be sold for a good sum, more drinks for everyone! More Dreamshade too. Not bad, not bad.

This is how life should be, just taking whatever he wanted and doing as he pleased, it was the definition of life! Back then when he was a garlic farmer he wasn't living at all.

He was just toiling day and night, whatever weather it was hot or cold, snow or rain it was just working and working and for what? For scraps!

Good thing he made it in the end, and he's been living the life ever since he decided to be a bandit.

But who could have imagined that on a seemingly normal day, he would find himself ambushed and his crew killed by a bunch of crazy kids.

Bodger was drunk but thanks in part to the pain and time to rest he managed to sober up. He was tied down and couldn't move, which meant that his predicament was not over.

But it wasn't over for Bodger just yet, he was alive and that meant that he still had a chance of making it out of here safe and sound like he always did.

****

"Alright, I think it's time we had a talk-" Aldrich was trying to start the talk when he was interrupted by Bodger.

"You want to know where our hideout is? Right? I will tell you!" Bodger exclaimed.

"Oh…" Aldrich put down the knife he had taken out, "are you sure? Are you really going to rat out your friends?"

"Friends?" Bodger scoffed and spat on the ground, "they're not my friends! I—I… you might not believe this but, I was just doing as I was told… I was afraid of what they might do to me.."

"How can you expect us to believe you?!" Frank raged, "we saw you with our own eyes when you wanted to ambush that carriage!"

"I know I can't say anything to convince you guys but that's fine. I can even take you guys to the hideout if you want me to." Bodger said with a resigned sigh.

"I—you!" Frank's hand that was shaking in anger as he pointed at Bodger was lowered as if Frank was depleted of his anger.

"You're going to take us to the hideout?" Aldrich repeated and smiled, "well, that's great! But first I want you to answer some questions, can you do that for me—what was your name again?"

"It's Bodger, and of course I will answer any questions you have, anything at all, I hate those bastards for ruining my life!" Bodger declared, righteous anger coating his every word.

"Right, Bondel."

"It's actually Bodger—"

"Whatever," Aldrich waved his hand to dismiss, "first question, how many of you are there?"

"Twenty four, there were more but due to certain raids and mishaps our numbers decreased."

"How may barricades do you guys have?"

"T-three."

"Did I hear you hesitate just now? Did you hear that, Frank."

"Yeah, it looks like he's not as honest as he wants us to think he is."

"N-no, I swear to god, I'm telling the truth! I was just thinking of saying two because you guys already took care of one. The one I was in charge of."

Aldrich nodded, "that makes sense. I didn't mean to doubt you, brother. Just one more question, you ready?"

"Yeah! T-then you're going to take me to a prison nearby? I don't mind, I made mistakes and I'm prepared to pay for my wrong doings."

"To a prison?" Aldrich repeated and them shook his head, "no, no, after you helped us out so much we will just let you go, how about that?"

"Really, oh thank you, oh thank you so much," Bodger started to cry tears of gratitude, "I can't ever repay you but I promise to be good, and do good, I'll help people from now on!"

"I always believed in second chances." Frank nodded.

"Ok, here we go, the last question. How did you know that the carriage would change direction suddenly?" Aldrich asked while keeping a close eye on Bodger's reaction.