Chapter 194: Lying In Wait…

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—The Brieme Mountains at the Environs of Alvareen City—

"Ugh."

"Ack!"

"Ah!"

"Louis?" Henry called calmly with his hat casting a shadow onto his face.

"There was a rock that time," Louis said in a mumble and then he saw Andor glaring at him and cleared his throat, "Fine. I'll stop complaining."

Henry chuckled,

"You can complain," he said, "Just try not to let me hear it. Takes my attention away from where it should be."

The three were lying on rocks and hidden behind the rock formations at the top of the many mountains that bordered the Ridge they were looking down into. Into the path that their targets would soon be coming through.

"I just want to point out that the Horses aren't lying low," Louis said with a bit of a grumble and gesture behind him to where two horses were scratching their hooves against the ground.

"The horses are out of sight. I made sure of it. But if we stayed there, we wouldn't be able to…" Henry paused and then nodded,

"You know, what, you can stand close to the horses. Make sure you're about two steps behind them to remain completely out of sight."

"I'll sit on the floor beside them," Louis said as he stood and walked away bent low.

"Even better," Henry said with a nod.

There was a reason for all this precaution, of course. They had been like this for the past two days they had spent scouting but today of all days, it was almost too sure the Slave Caravan would come through. It would be a collection of Fighters and even Mages if the intel was correct, and carelessness would blow their cover before they could even start the ambush.

Against the potential large company of enemies, the element of surprise was essential.

"Sorry about him," Andor said in a low voice but in the otherwise silent location, Louis was sure to hear.

"Why are you apologizing for him? You're not responsible for him," Henry said.

Andor pursed his lips with his brows furrowed.

"Besides, he's in his right to complain. I hated my first stake out too and I was lying down on grass rather than rocks," Henry paused to chuckle and when he continued, his voice was more somber,

"I didn't complain that day though. I'll have gotten a whack across the side of my face if I did. It's not like that here. The last thing I want is to have you all too scared to share opinions or complaints.

Hell, I'm already feeling horrible to be subjecting this dangerous task."

"I'm not leaving you…" Andor said.

Henry sighed,

"So you said—" he started to say but Andor wasn't done,

"… and going after Ralph Gribbo is also important to me. You were only in that housing for a day, Henry. I was there for Months.

I was already used for odd jobs. Barely survived a few. Saw a bunch of slaves die and they'll just wheel more in at the end of the week. I saw everyone there give up thoughts of escape when the jolts became too much to bear. No one deserves to live like that.

It's why I appreciate what you did…"

"… I helped," Louis piped from behind.

"… And why I want to do the same for any others I can." Andor completed like he hadn't heard him.

"I'm glad to hear that," Henry said with a nod, "You should appreciate Louis more though. We'd not have gotten free without him. He came up with the plan and freed Echo. His plan could have killed us but it worked. Thankfully."

"I know," Andor said and when Louis was about to open his mouth to ask for his praises, Andor continued,

"But he mentions it so much that me talking about it would be redundant. If he's already praised himself, why should I?"

"I don't mention it that much," Louis said quietly and then added with a defeated sigh,

"But fair, I suppose. Next time I save your life, I won't mention it."

"If you hold out long enough, I just might throw a praise your way," Andor said with a nod.

"I don't want it," Louis said magnanimously, "A good deed is its own reward."

"Good, then shut up," Andor said out of the corner of his mouth.

Louis frowned but said nothing more.

Henry chuckled but then fell silent as well. Sёarᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

This was nice. It brought back memories. Most of them good.

It had been a slightly dull last few days.

While he wanted to keep Eloise out of the plans as much as he could, he needed her for information and she also kept checking in every day. Whenever she didn't meet them at the Inn, she'd mention it the next time she saw them, look disapproving of what she guessed they were planning but would still tell them whatever more she had learned.

Henry believed she liked being a bit of a spy because her information became more detailed. She learned that the Slave Caravan almost had an entourage of Knights from the Citadel but it was eventually decided unnecessary. Apparently, the company guarding it was large enough already.

Since they were so close to Alvareen already, any danger was believed to be past as they were now in a region where Ralph Gribbo and his fellow Slave-Owners held so much power that only a fool would try to attack the Caravan.

Henry was glad he was that fool.

The Citadel had been filled in on what exact route the Caravan would take while they were considering offering a squad of Knights and Eloise delivered the information even if she did do it in passing and during a conversation. Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e'-NovelFire.net

Next, both Andor and Louis went shopping.

Andor was unable to find a Spear that would serve him better than Echo's. When he had the weapon appraised, he was made to realize he had yet to discover the weapon's true potential as he was currently too weak for it. The appraiser tried to get it then and even offered a lot of Gold but Andor held on.

The Shield from the Dungeon proved the best to keep for the moment as well so he ended up getting himself a storage bracelet to keep the weapons in.

Considering they were in a City where people boldly walked around with their weapons strapped to them, Henry thought it might be a tad unnecessary.

"They're just doing it to intimidate or show off but it never really helps when you meet someone stronger than you," Andor said to argue his case, "I'll just prefer to keep my things hidden."

Of course, Henry had no real ground to stand and argue on with his Inventory keeping his weapons away from public view.

Louis discovered the Mage robe he had gotten in the Dungeon was the best he could get for the Gold he had so he stuck with it. However, he did get a better staff that could channel his magic better and serve better as a melee weapon than the one he had gotten at Gribbo's Estate. The thing crackled whenever he touched it.

He also purchased a magic scroll for a defensive Lightning spell he had spent hours practicing. Even now, as he sat beside the horses, he practiced the cast while trying not to eject enough lightning to cause them to skitter away.

Speaking of the Horses; Those had been the most major purchases they had made as a group.

Henry didn't need one of course but to constantly ferry the other two was bound to become a problem quickly. Especially in the case of coordination. Plus, everyone being capable of getting the hell away from trouble individually was very important.

Horses were an expensive purchase in Alvareen. Of all the tamed beasts that could be used for Transportation in the magic-embracing City, horses remained the go-to mode, and even the worst of them that boasted stats slightly better than the average non-improved horse still cost hundreds to a thousand Gold.

The ones they settled for were a breed that had been magically bred and improved for Generations. They couldn't ever get better and would never catch up to Nyx at her slowest running pace but at least were faster than if Andor or Louis tried to make it on foot.

Because the horses were one of the worst choices they could have picked, taming was warned to be potentially difficult. Henry settled that with his [Taming] Skill.

The horses were barely considered magical so they were easy. He didn't bond with them but he did nudge them telepathically to listen to Andor and Louis who were both looking at him with just a hint of awe. They had just learned something else Henry was good at.

"Oh wait, he has Nyx," Louis had pointed out, "If he got her, these two are nothing."

"Oh, yeah. You're right," Andor agreed with many nods.

Henry had ignored them.

In preparation, Henry had gotten himself a nice pair of pants and boots to match his new vest and Hat. He also got three Masks for the group. All non-magically of course.

His Inventory was relatively stocked with bullets for all his magical guns and with Healing and Mana Potions he had gotten from stores in Alvareen.

They were ready.

Now, to wait for that Damn Caravan and get the Sub-Quest started…