Gun shots never sound great, rifle ones specifically are very scary, with each individual report in close proximity you can feel your life slowly coming to a close (because it is). For all their deadlyness arrows were very quiet in their murderous capacity (which was scary in a whole different way). So when all of a sudden while facing down a a group of angry thralls with rifles a roar of gunfire erupted, well I figured me and Prince Davan were screwed. I'll admit I hit the dirt like it could do a damn against a wave of bullets (thinking back that was a rather silly thing to do, if anything I should have fled). So there I was cowering like a proud man who didn't want to be executed by firing squad when a voice called out to me.
"You Trezlan?" It sounded a bit strange, like it took me a moment to realize I wasn't dead, and that the voice was asking if I was who I am. I opened my eyes (because I was not going to face a firing squad with them open) and I saw a shorty leading a group of very strangely dressed gunmen. I mean they all had rifles, but their clothing styles weren't uniform, they weren't even all the same time period (I should know having lived through several). It was one of several oddities, like the guy who spoke for the group was speaking in an accent of a people I'd thought died several centuries ago.
"I am Trezlan." I dusted myself off and surveyed the dead, all of the thralls were deceased, the shorties group had been pretty efficient with several of the dead thralls having been shot in the head many times.
"And I take it the young man is Prince Davan?"
"One and the same."
"Excellent. Mr. Hanlon sends his regards, we'll escort the Prince back to the lands of Ronerawth." He sent two of his oddly dressed men to collect Davan. He kind of whimpered a bit, but they had the look of not taking no for an answer and so he dutifully followed as could be expected of such a royal pain in my ass.
"Who are you guys?"
"Best not to think of who we are Mr. Lorentino, just think that we are here to help and leave it at that."
"But you aren't taking me with you."
"No, Mr. Hanlon was pretty specific that you come back seperately, don't worry there aren't any Red Hand between here and Ronerawthian border." He said that in a way that seemed to say he was pretty sure there was not a thing between me and them and I did not want to know how he came to that knowledge.
"Kruze has betrayed Hanlon, just thought you'd want to know."
"Oh he knows, don't worry he's in collections."
"I don't think he really has any money."
"We dont' accept any! But we will take what he has, don't worry about that Mr. Lorentino." It was at this point I resolved to never end up in "collections" with Toneron Hanlon. Not that I ever paid him for anything that I could ever think of, but I'm sure he was collecting something from me. Probably still is! All of this to say that I didn't get executed by firing squad, I made it back to Ronerawth to face charges of treason all on my own. Oh wait I didn't get to that part, well then you have something to read about next time!
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