Part 3: Bandit Killing
They found the tracks by noon and that afternoon finally caught up with them. Alkidikes ran fast, fueled by anger; and the bandits were burdened with wagons and slaves. Once they found the camp, the pulled back and hunted for food, resting so they could attack at night. Vollerei took advantage of the rest o recover from the last few days of relentless running. She ate enough food for two then collapsed until sunset. Then she ate another huge meal; feeling much recovered and ready for that night’s attack, she and the others got together to plot their movements.
“We should have at least two of us go for the wagon.” Vollerei said,
“The animals should be in there. And then another two head for the slaves to keep them safe.”“That leaves only ten of us to attack the rest.” One of them said.
“That’s enough.” Vollerei said with a grim smile. “
They won’t be on the Radaku mounts… and we’ll be attacking from the dark with surprise. If we can’t even the playing field with that we aren’t worthy of being Blades.”A low eager growl answered her. They were Blades. They knew how to kill.
They settled who would go where then headed out, silent shapes in the jungle night. Silent killers eager to destroy these lowlifes.
The moon had yet to rise when they were in position. The sentry’s were near the end of their shift and more eager to go to sleep then paying attention to the tree’s and silent jungle. Above them, perched in the trees, the Alkidikes waited. Vollerei waited till she saw the sign that everyone was in position. Pulling her spear out she prepared to jump down. The archers in the group loosed their arrows.
Silently the sentries nearest the wagons and slaves died. Silently the Blades leapt from the trees, spears and blades flashing as they fell upon the remaining sentries.
Silently they rushed in, four for the wagons and slaves, the rest for the tents and slumbering forms of the bandits. One woke up before they reached them and gave a cry. An arrow took him out ending his cry with a gurgle, but not before the others began to stir and try to reach for weapons.
The Alkidikes fell upon them like silent vengeful spirits of the jungle. There was no mercy now. For food thieves, there would be mercy. Anyone could go hungry and be driven to steal. But raiding and stealing companions, livestock, and children? They did not tolerate such.
“Leave one alive!” Vollerei called out as she finished off the half asleep Earthling male in front of her. They would need someone to tell them where the bandits had their hideout.
“This one’s alive.” A tall scarred Sister said as she hit her target over the head.
And that was it. The bandits died with barely a fight. Vollerei grinned.
“This was a well executed attack.” She congratulated her Sisters. “
Now we get these folks home then go after that Bandit King….”“Agreed. And gather more Sisters. Let’s clear out these Earthling scum.” One sister said as she kicked a dead body. Murmurs of agreement spread through out the group as they set about freeing the slaves and seeing to the animals.
“I’ll take word back of the bandits,” a young blade spoke up, she must have just gotten her title Vollerei thought. “And return the animals to their owners as well as escort the Earthlings back home. It looks like these are just from that one village you told us about.”
Vollerei nodded as she entered the wagon.
“Zweil!” She cried as she spotted her kinfa. He set up a loud racket upon seeing her. Breaking his cage, Vollerei cradled him and preened his feathers.
“Poor baby, you must have been scared in that cage and so far from mommy.” She crooned as she comforted her Kinfa.
She looked at the other Alkidikes,
"Let’s get going… and we’ve got these lovely Radaku mounts now… perhaps we can take them with us!”They headed back to Andile, keeping the one living bandit alive and bound. He was quite easy to …persuade to talk. They got from him the location of the Bandit Kings hideout.
Once the earthlings were returned to their village and the animals on their way back to the Isles, Vollerei and the Blades gathered to discuss just how they would attack the Bandit King.
“I say we burn them out.” The older scarred Sister from before spoke up. “Burn them out and shoot them as they come running.”
“It’s got merit. But what of the captives?” Vollerei asked. “
They are inside the jungle to, which means that fire won’t take so easily. I say we cut them off from the outside, attack all the bandit raiders as they come and go until we bleed them off. It’ll take a while, but we’ve got the whole jungle to hunt in while they will be stuck inside their hide out.”The scarred sister nodded. “Sounds better… I prefer quick action, but perhaps a slower plan would be best… safer too.”
“And we can always sneak in and steal all the captives a little at a time.” Another Sister piped up. “It’s not like we have to wait for them to leave.”
Vollerei grinned at this.
“True, plus we don’t want to drag it on too long. The captives will starve before the Bandits do.” She was worried about that. Starving was not something she wished on anyone.
Plans were set and the large group of Alkidikes headed out; more joined as they traveled towards the hideout. Word of the bandits had spread, and Vollrei had made sure to send word by messenger to al the min villages and cities in this area warning them of the bandits and to keep an eye out for them.
They ran into several raiding parties as they got closer, some were heading out and they killed mercilessly, others were headed back. These took more effort, as they didn’t want to kill the captives. They got away mostly with light wounds; the bandits were not expecting to be hunted. Plus the Alkidikes had numbers on their side; each raiding party was smaller then them.
The attack on the hideout went as planned. For a few days they attacked anything that showed it’s face and wasn’t a captive. Then at night the Alkidikes snuck inside and killed the Bandits as they slept, taking with them captives every time. Finally they attacked in force, charging into the hideout, knowing the weak points and layout from their forays earlier. They headed first to the captives, much as they wanted to kill the bandits, they needed to rescue everyone first. Vollerei made it quite clear that killing everything came second to rescuing. No one was going to be left behind for the bandits.
Finally Volelrei and a handful of Alkidkes managed to fight their way to the ‘throne room.’ Or what the bandit king claimed was his throne room. She sneered when she saw it. Filthy and disgusting is what she called it.
And, she had to give him props for courage, the Bandit King was there. With several large and very strong looking male Earthlings. But, she grinned, the Alkidikes matched them for height and reach. Her race was tall and strong, they were meant for fighting, for the jungle. These Leaf tribesmen were meant for the plains where size was not an advantage.
She charged, spear at ready.
“That scum king’s mine.” She growled. The others, following behind her spread out, heading for the body guards. This was going to be a mono-a-mono battle.
Vollerei out weighed, out reached, and was taller than this fake king. She was confident she could beat him, but still was cautious. He must have some skill if he had managed to gather about him so many people!
It was a good thing she was cautious, for he was a superb swordsman. She stayed out of his reach, mocking him with her longer spear and arms. He managed to get close a few times and she bleed from the few strikes he got in. But in the end, swirling her spear, she tripped him up. As he stumbled, Volelrei was on him like a Radaku on its prey. Fast and confident, her spear jabbed forward, sliding between his ribs.
She pulled the spear out and stabbed him through the head, just to be sure of course. Then she spat on his body.
“Filthy scum.” She growled. Looking over at her sisters she gave them a weary grin.
“Let’s burn this place down and then head home, sisters.” ((words: 1451 ))
OOC 
