Chương 41: 29. Outpost

The caravan resumed its journey the next morning. Just as the carriage driver said, they reached an outpost before noon. There they stopped for a couple of hours to give the animals a chance to graze and rest. The outpost was highly militarized with wooden palisades and watchtowers. There were permanent buildings constructed on site to house the garrison, and a particularly sturdy stone structure where they stockpiled their food. Part of the purpose of the caravan was to resupply these outposts.

While the workers were unloading, the caravan manager spoke with the outpost commander. Lady Amberlin was invited to the meeting, and Havlo was able to convince her to bring him along.

"I can allocate six officers to escort you to the next outpost," the commander said.

"For a caravan of this size, we'd need at least twelve for full coverage," the manager replied.

"But we were going to ask for sixteen because of the increased bandit activity as of late."

"You already have plenty of coverage with your own hired guards."

"I don't see why we should be punished for spending more of our own money on guards. If anything, it should prove that we're sincerely concerned about the elevated level of danger."

"Six is all I can spare." The manager leaned in closer to the commander.

"A part of the shipment is spiced rum. I can spare a couple of barrels for your men if it can help get the rest through safely."

"The supplies aren't the problem. I'm not trying to do you dirty. I really can't spare the men. You're right about the bandits becoming more active. They've been probing the outpost, and there was a small attack last night. We think they were testing the waters in preparation for a major assault. I can't send too many officers away if it risks the outpost falling into their hands."

"We were also probed last night," the manager said.

"Isn't it possible that they were probing you not in preparation to attack the outpost, but to scare you into sending my caravan away without adequate protection?"

"I'm not prepared to risk the outpost on your hunch." The caravan manager sighed.

"It's terrible, isn't it? The more bandits there are, the more protection the caravan needs, but the less the highway patrol is willing to give." He then turned to Lady Amberlin.

"What do you say? Will we still be covered by the insurance if we proceed with only the additional protection of six officers?"

"Why are you asking me?" Lady Amberlin said. The manager frowned.

"Aren't you the insurance representative? I was told that coverage was contingent on you being present to supervise this caravan."

"The insurance guy said that because he likes me, not because I've got anything to do with this business," she replied.

"You can do whatever you want, it doesn't bother me." The caravan manager's mouth opened and closed. In his floundering, he turned to Havlo for help.

"And what about you? Wait, sorry, who are you again?" Havlo chose to answer the more convenient question.

"The fact that you're asking about insurance suggests that you aren't too concerned about getting injured in an attack."

"I would have been more worried if I hadn't seen our adventurers in action last night," the manager replied.

"We've got some real professionals working with us this time. And the commander is right, we do have more hired guards than a typical caravan."

"Isn't that because you've got a longer train?"

"That's right, but it's the total number of guards that matters when we come under heavy assault," the manager said.

"That's why the boss made this caravan twice as long as normal. Double the length, double the guards, double the security. At least in theory."

"Yet you're still worried?"

"I think that if we come under attack, we'd be able to beat them back. But it's better not to get attacked at all. That's the reason I want the extra patrol escort. I don't think we quite reach that level of deterrence with only six additional guards joining us."

"Why do you need extra guards now but not before?" Lady Amberlin asked.

"This next section of road goes through a particularly hilly area," the manager explained.

"There are many opportunities for an ambush. And that's not to mention the potential for monster spawns. That's why the outposts have been set up where they are."

"If it's too dangerous, you should turn back," she said.

"The three of us will go on without you."

"It isn't as easy as that," the manager said.

"A trader who can't get goods to market doesn't have a business. If the Seven Songs shuts down, we're all going to be out of work." She nodded sympathetically.

"I don't know your circumstances, so I can't help you decide. Why don't you talk to the other workers and see what they think?"

"I think I might do that," he agreed.

"I'll have the six officers on standby. Let me know once you've made your decision," the commander said. Havlo followed Lady Amberlin out into the yard. The outpost cooks had prepared a big cauldron that they were serving out to all the patrol officers, caravan workers, hired guards, and passengers. The two of them joined the queue and got their own bowls of hot soup. Looking about for a place to sit, Lady Amberlin suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Havlo, these are the adventurers I told you about!" she said excitedly, pulling him along toward a party who were passing the time watching the horses dozing in the sun. The adventurers waved to Amberlin when they saw her approaching. She pointed to them one by one by way of introduction.

"That's Jenny the genie, Bucko the shot, Two-Fist the warrior, and Keel the cleric." Bucko turned to Keel and said, "Why does she only get your name right?" Jenny stepped forward and shook his hand.

"I think we sort of met the other night at the inn when Amberlin was playing, though we never got a chance to talk. I would have liked to, but my team was signed on to guard the caravan and had to be ready for an early start." He recognized them from that night. He wouldn't have considered the time Jenny's party left to be early. It was more that Lady Amberlin had played on until far later than was reasonable.

By the time she was finally ready to pack it up, there had only been an old man left who'd spent the entire night crying about having to find a new home for his dinosaur. Stolen novel; please report.

"It's a pleasure to meet you properly," Jenny continued.

"I'm Jenny Hi-Genie. I'm actually half elf." Beside him, Havlo heard Lady Amberlin muttering to herself, "Half elf, half genie. I gotta remember that for next time." He didn't get a chance to say anything to her because the others also stepped forward to introduce themselves properly. It turned out that the archer was Buck the Shot and the warrior was Duo-Fist. And last was of course Keel the cleric. The team called themselves the Silverados. Once they'd all had their say, Jenny continued, "I'm the party's mage.

You look like you're pretty handy with magic yourself, Havlo."

"He's a fast learner," Lady Amberlin said proudly.

"He's currently reading the Amber Mage's textbook on Tier 3 for beginners."

"Really? That's what I'm working on too," Jenny said.

"How are you finding it?" he asked, interested in seeing if his old work was as poor as he believed it to be.

"It's rather challenging," she replied.

"But that's just the nature of the third tier, isn't it?" It was as he'd feared. The third tier shouldn't be challenging at all. Not to learn anyway. It should only come down to a matter of practice.

"I've been wondering if there may be a better guide out there," he said.

"Oh, you're struggling with it too?" This time the question came from Lady Amberlin. He realized that he may have said something inappropriate in her presence. She'd picked out the book for him as a gift. To criticize it so casually, even if he was secretly the author, was to disregard his master's thoughtfulness.

"My apologies, I was just pontificating," he said.

"It just seemed that in two hundred years, someone must have written a better book."

"Someone probably has," she said casually.

"This one was recommended by the guy at the counter, but now that I think about it, he's like a shopkeeper, isn't he? I bet he was working on commission and just recommended the book with the biggest mark-up. Maybe for your next tier, I'll ask the opinion of someone who's had to read a few of them." Havlo caught the Silverados exchanging some uncomfortable glances among themselves at such an offhand criticism of the Amber Mage's work.

Jenny changed the subject by saying to Lady Amberlin, "I didn't know you were a passenger on the caravan."

"They hired me as a guard," she replied.

"Oh! I hadn't realized. Though I suppose we're posted near the front, and the caravan is really long."

"Yeah, they stuck us toward the back because we got to the warehouse a bit late yesterday morning," Lady Amberlin explained.

"I guess last night you guys must have set up camp ahead of where we did."

"That bandit raid sure was something, huh?" Buck said.

"Though I'm sure you guys handled it fine." Lady Amberlin remained silent.

"I heard it was actually two separate groups striking at the same time," Jenny said.

"Their gear and tactics were way too different to be from the same crew."

"What are the chances of two separate criminal groups coordinating their activities by accident?" Buck said.

"You can suspend me by my feet and I still won't believe it."

"The ones that hit us at the front seemed pretty professional," Jenny continued.

"Great discipline, almost like they were ex-military. It felt more like they were testing us than trying to beat us. And then they retreated once they got what they came to learn."

"How did you judge their abilities?" Havlo asked.

"I'd say we were evenly matched," Jenny replied.

"But that's all we need to be, really—just tough enough not to be worth hitting. Plus we have the advantage in numbers."

"They ran the moment the party behind you caught up?" he asked.

"No, those guys were getting probed too. The way they tell it, they ran their attackers off pretty easy." While Lady Amberlin caught up with her friends, Havlo excused himself and went to speak with the outpost guards. He asked them about the probing attacks they'd been experiencing, and particularly the one the commander mentioned from last night. What they told him painted a worrying picture. He walked around the perimeter of the outpost and checked their defenses.

He also examined the damage to the palisades from the previous attacks. There was some light fire damage, most probably from [Firebolt], and some larger splotches that could have been a [Fireball]. That was up to Tier 3. There was no indication of anything like a [Force Bolt], which meant that the bandits didn't have someone at Tier 4. Or if they did, they'd been careful not to show their hand. As for the way the walls were constructed, they were vulnerable to being disturbed by [Earth Bind].

It seemed that the highway patrol didn't expect to come under attack by someone at Tier 5 or higher. The guards had also shared details about the bandits' activities. They seemed to operate exclusively as highwaymen, raiding merchant caravans and stealing their shipments. They were also diligent, and at one point, as travel along the road dwindled, they were hitting every single caravan that dared venture out beyond the outpost.

This caravan, assembled by the Seven Songs Trading Company, was the most ambitious attempt at getting goods through. Taken all together, he felt certain now that the caravan was going to be hit on the way to Ardark. But there wasn't going to be any way to convince the outpost commander without solid evidence. He found the caravan manager enjoying his soup bowl out by the carriages.

"I think your hunch is right," he said.

"The bandits are going to attack the caravan." The man lowered his bowl.

"You could have told me that before I went and spoke with everyone."

"You should turn around and head back to Lorelark."

"I've already made my decision. Everyone wants to continue, and that's what we'll do."

"You're making a big mistake," he said.

"Look, the caravan is insured. As long as your lady sticks around, everything is covered. If the bandits show up and the guards can't handle it, we'll hand over the goods. But with all the firepower we've got on our side, there's a good chance it won't come to that."

"You don't understand. The bandits aren't looking to rob you. They want to destroy you." The manager turned to look at him sidways.

"What would they have to gain from doing that?"

"Because their goal isn't the loot. It's to cut off travel through these hills."

"But why?"

"I don't know. There could be any number of motives. I've seen—" He hesitated. Bringing up his past experiences opened himself up to unwanted questions. Instead he tried to appeal to reason.

"What bandit group probes at both the caravan and the outpost on the same night? That's a lot of ground to cover. In the rain, no less. Bandits hate working in the rain as much as you do. They're well coordinated. And they're clever and well disciplined. A group like this, they'll see your caravan as a challenge, and they're going to want to send a message."

"The commander didn't want to risk his outpost over my hunch. Now you want me to put all these people's livelihoods at risk over your hunch?"

"What's worth more, your livelihoods or your lives?"

"You make it sound like we can have one without the other. Look, all of us took this job knowing it would involve a little risk. I don't think it will work out as badly as you think." Havlo left the man to his meal and sought out Lady Amberlin. He found her petting one of the horses that was happily munching away at some grass. He explained his deductions to her, and she listened along with a look of growing concern.

"You really think I can make them turn the caravan around?" she asked.

"They will if you threaten to leave the convoy. Losing their insurance will make them rethink their decision."

"But I won't be turning back because I need to get to Ardark. There are people there who need my help. For the caravan workers, my words won't make any sense when measured against my actions." She was right. If the caravan turned back, they would expect Lady Amberlin to be going with them. To be honest, that's what he thought she'd be doing too. He hadn't expected her to suggest that she would continue on her own through bandit territory after everything he'd just told her.

"Focus on saving the people you can," he said.

"Return with the caravan to Lorelark and spare these workers from walking into an ambush." After a moment's thought she said, "What if there's a way I can save everyone?" He didn't like the sound of this.

"They're going to strike the front of the caravan, right? I'll have the guy post me up there. When the bandits show up, I'll take the fight to them and keep everyone safe." It took him a moment to find his words.

"You know I have a lot of respect for your—""Spare me the false flattery, Havlo. I know how dangerous this can end up being. That's why you're staying in the back half with Boots." No, if she was going to attempt this, he had to be there to protect her.

"I've made great strides toward the third tier," he said.

"Please allow me to fight by your side."

"Have you really?" she asked skeptically.

"Really."

"There's still some time before we have to leave. Let's head out into the woods and you can show me your [Fireball]. If it's good enough, maybe I'll let you help out from inside the carriage." He followed her away from the outpost as she looked for a suitable spot to test his magic. Passing her test was going to be easy. The hard part was how he was going to maintain his cover if things spiraled out of control. Maybe they'd get lucky and the bandits wouldn't attack at all.