09-30-2014, 09:36 AM
Ornstein didn't appear to have noticed his companion lagging behind on the road. After riding forward for mere seconds around a corner, one rendered blind by the proximity of the dense treeline on the inside, he had come across a figure shrouded in a purple cloak sitting by the wayside and approached, the spear lowered passively at his right. Kuzan came across this as the man was in the midst of answering Ornstein's inquiry for directions.
"Oh! And one more thing, gentlemen..."
"Hmm?" Ornstein leaned forward a little in his saddle.
"There is one rumor I do buy into around here. Thieves and bandits have been about lately, looking to take anything and everything they can from travellers in the area. Even on this road, knowing full well where it leads and who travels it from time to time." This, the knight might've expected. It would be too easy to travel such a long distance to that far city without any sort of highwaymen to be on the lookout for. "I'd advise being careful, if I were you... no telling what could happen around here lately."
"Duly noted, sir." If the prospect of banditry concerned Ornstein in the least, it didn't show in his cordial tone. "Thank you for your help. I pray your travels will be safe." He straightened up, spurred his horse, and he and Kuzan continued on their way. The cloaked figure disappeared behind them soon after, lost to the impenetrable foliage around that blind turn.
They gained a dozen or so yards down the road before Kuzan, who'd been maintaining a subtle frown all the while, spoke up.
"...Got a bad feeling about that man in the cloak. Think we can trust him?"
"Not in the slightest." Ornstein's answer was hushed and deadpan. "I know exactly what you mean. A shady character if ever I've seen one waiting at the roadside." And he'd dealt with a fair few. It was a common highwayman's tactic; lurk near a predetermined area, trawl for passing marks, pick a target who looked to be carrying things of value and strike. So either that cloaked fellow had friends nearby, bearing down on him and Kuzan, or...
CRASH!
Quite without warning, the ground gave way beneath them. With a unison of panicked whinnies, their horses toppled forward into a pit maybe ten feet deep, throwing their riders out of their saddles. The whole group hit the floor of the hole with a mess of nasty crunches. Kuzan's decision to freeze himself to his stirrups came back to bite him; while he floundered for a few moments, pinned beneath his horse and trying to pull his feet free, Ornstein coaxed his mount to limp up off its side just long enough for him to crawl free. Cursing their misfortune, he took hold of his spear and groggily straightened up.
"I did warn you, gentlemen," came a familiar, airy voice. Ornstein looked up to find that cloaked man standing at the edge of the pit, peering down at him and Kuzan. "Couldn't see the wood for the trees, eh? The forest is a bit dense 'round here, to be fair..." He looked around, as if scanning the road and the treelines. "You gents just stay there, get comfortable.You won't be needing those fancy garments or armour where you're going."
"Oh! And one more thing, gentlemen..."
"Hmm?" Ornstein leaned forward a little in his saddle.
"There is one rumor I do buy into around here. Thieves and bandits have been about lately, looking to take anything and everything they can from travellers in the area. Even on this road, knowing full well where it leads and who travels it from time to time." This, the knight might've expected. It would be too easy to travel such a long distance to that far city without any sort of highwaymen to be on the lookout for. "I'd advise being careful, if I were you... no telling what could happen around here lately."
"Duly noted, sir." If the prospect of banditry concerned Ornstein in the least, it didn't show in his cordial tone. "Thank you for your help. I pray your travels will be safe." He straightened up, spurred his horse, and he and Kuzan continued on their way. The cloaked figure disappeared behind them soon after, lost to the impenetrable foliage around that blind turn.
They gained a dozen or so yards down the road before Kuzan, who'd been maintaining a subtle frown all the while, spoke up.
"...Got a bad feeling about that man in the cloak. Think we can trust him?"
"Not in the slightest." Ornstein's answer was hushed and deadpan. "I know exactly what you mean. A shady character if ever I've seen one waiting at the roadside." And he'd dealt with a fair few. It was a common highwayman's tactic; lurk near a predetermined area, trawl for passing marks, pick a target who looked to be carrying things of value and strike. So either that cloaked fellow had friends nearby, bearing down on him and Kuzan, or...
CRASH!
Quite without warning, the ground gave way beneath them. With a unison of panicked whinnies, their horses toppled forward into a pit maybe ten feet deep, throwing their riders out of their saddles. The whole group hit the floor of the hole with a mess of nasty crunches. Kuzan's decision to freeze himself to his stirrups came back to bite him; while he floundered for a few moments, pinned beneath his horse and trying to pull his feet free, Ornstein coaxed his mount to limp up off its side just long enough for him to crawl free. Cursing their misfortune, he took hold of his spear and groggily straightened up.
"I did warn you, gentlemen," came a familiar, airy voice. Ornstein looked up to find that cloaked man standing at the edge of the pit, peering down at him and Kuzan. "Couldn't see the wood for the trees, eh? The forest is a bit dense 'round here, to be fair..." He looked around, as if scanning the road and the treelines. "You gents just stay there, get comfortable.You won't be needing those fancy garments or armour where you're going."