Pathetic ambush

The following day finds you in a small forest not far from the town you’re heading towards. Aisha assures you that you’ll arrive tomorrow. Naia, on the other hand, seems distracted. “Something is different here. It’s quieter than usual.”

Aisha stops and listens, her tail twitching. “You’re right. Greg, would you mind if we stayed out of sight? Sometimes there’s idiots who try to ambush people here, I’d like to get the jump on them.”

You nod. “That’s fine, but be careful.”

Naia giggles. “You should be worried about them!”

They disappear into the underbrush, making almost no sound. You understand now how they were so easily able to sneak up on you. Making sure your sword is handy, you move on. You pull the little cube of iron Gregor gave you out of your pocket, and reshape it with your mind repeatedly, something you’ve done as practice a lot lately.

Not five minutes later, a voice calls out from in front of you. “Hold up there a moment, friend!”

Out of the woods steps three men, grinning and blocking the road. One steps forward. “You look like a new face! Got that portal gear. Fresh from the new world, are you?”

You nod, eying the men. “Been here a little over a week. Why?”

The man grins, shrugging. “Well, it just looks like your poor horse is a bit overburdened! We could help lighten that load.”

You shake your head. “You mean to say you’re robbing me?”

He chuckles, as do the other two. “That’s harsher than I would put it, but yes! Hand it over and you can go on unharmed. There’s a town about a day up the road, you’ll be fine.”

You look at the man, slowly drawing your sword. “I don’t think that’s wise, ‘friend’. You see it’s not just my stuff.”

The man looks at you, confused. You get the idea that he’s not very bright. Before he can respond, a laughing Naia leaps from the tree line, planting both clawed feet into one of the other men’s chest. He falls heavily to his back, losing his weapon in the fall. The other man runs to help, only to be greeted with a similar fate from Aisha.

With his two accomplices down, the man in front of you is too distracted to notice you quickly step forward until you grab his sword hand. Before he can pull away, you use your power on his chain mail glove. The metal constricts around his wrist, and you feel bones break under your hand. His sword drops from useless fingers.

You smile. “That was impressive, girls. Now what?”

Aisha smiles. “As much as I would rather deal with them now, lets bind them and bring them to town. The magistrate can deal with them.”

Naia giggles. “Such bad boys. And not the fun way!”

After a moment of thought, you get an idea. Using your power, you turn their weapons into metal straps, binding their arms to their sides. After that, it’s simple to use a bit of rope to tie them to the horse.

Naia watches you work, fascinated. “That’s so cool! The dwarves are gonna love you, Greg!”

You chuckle. “I hope so, but for right now I’m happy with you two.”

Naia giggles, kissing your cheek. “You’re so sweet! Now, let’s get going. I wanna drop these three off so we can go from a threesome to a foursome!”

Aisha grins. “Phrasing, Naia.”

Naia winks. “I meant what I said!”