— 6 —
"Very well. To show you that a star lord can be merciful as well as powerful, I will give you gold. In return, you will swear to grant me safe passage, to hold me free from any further attacks by any of your people."
"A fair bargain. I swear. Now, show us the star lord's mercy," Critos said, sarcasm creeping into his voice.
Hope this works, Nelson thought, reaching his left hand around to dig in the coin purse hidden beneath his bedroll. At least gold is one thing I have enough of. Old Parsons made Sarakos pay through the nose, up front. About ten of the big coins from the Five Kingdoms should do the trick.
Nelson counted the coins carefully. All the while he never lowered the Colt and never took his eyes off Critos. He rode the few paces to where Critos stood.
"Here is sufficient gold to provide food and lodging for your people for half a ten-day; more, if you use it wisely."
"My thanks, star lord. Go in peace."
Nelson turned the horse sideways to Critos and the archers and walked it, sidestepping, until he was out of bow range. The Colt remained pointed at Critos the entire time. No point in taking foolish chances. As soon as he thought himself beyond accurate fire from the bandit's small bows, he turned the horse down the path and rode off as fast as he could with the mule in tow.
For three kilometers he didn't slow his pace, and this time he didn't stop. The horse will have to hold up a little longer, he thought. He kept the pace at a steady walk and constantly scanned the roadside for any signs of human activity.
He saw nothing, but that wasn't reassuring. Lots of hills around here, he observed. Horizon is pretty close. A small band of cavalry could flank a man on this path, staying behind those hills, and he'd never see or hear them.
He continued at a walk until the True Sun set. The Fire Stealer, too, inched toward the horizon, its strange, dusky light casting bizarre shadows as it set. Nelson looked more than once at every shadow that moved, at every piece of brush that rustled in the cold evening wind.
He was ready to think himself safe when he heard them coming.
They were directly behind him, on the path! He heard the hoofbeats of the galloping horses; possibly four, maybe more. He turned his horse around to look full behind him and cursed softly; the crest of the small hill he had just topped blocked his view.
Hurriedly, Nelson led the mule over to a small tree by the side of the road and tied it off. Making sure the M‑16 had a fresh clip, he spurred back to the hilltop.
They hit him at the crest. Four came full tilt toward him up the hill on their scrawny mounts, and at the last moment three more from each side of the trail sprang out on foot to grab him.
Time for one good burst, Nelson thought.
The ten bandits have a Melee value of 3 each and attack on Chart D.
Nelson uses his Ordnance value of 10 in the first round and fights on Chart A. He uses his Melee value of 6 in each following round, and fights on Chart C.
Continue the fight until Nelson is killed or six bandits are killed.
If Nelson is killed, go to section 29.
If six bandits are killed, go to section 10.