Despite getting into a groove and getting things lined up to run my various systems, it is taking far too much time to get everything firing on all cylinders. I want to thank all of my patrons for casting their votes in the genre poll, and while I never posted the results, I ignored my collection of characters and asked ChatGPT to give me some ideas for this month’s stories. While most of the nuggets were nonsensical, I was able to carve out one useful idea, and it has already sparked a much larger storyline. Armed with this new duo, I looked to a point other than their initial meeting to create an introductory story for my patrons.
A quiet road can make even the most familiar journey feel uneasy. Picture this, you’re traveling through an open grassland that stretches toward the horizon in every direction. Aside from the occasional traveler shattering nature’s silence, there isn’t much around to break the stillness. For someone traveling alone, a peaceful afternoon can change the moment one person decides to block the road, let alone a small group.
Edmund has spent enough time traveling to know that not every dangerous encounter deserves panic. When a group of armed brigands surrounds his cart and demands whatever coin he carries, he meets their threats with more irritation than fear. Their blades might make the situation look grim, but Edmund seems far more convinced that the men are the ones making a mistake.
The brigands see a lone traveler and an opportunity they would be foolish to ignore. Edmund sees the situation from a very different angle. As the threats continue and the men press closer, neither side seems willing to back down, though Edmund’s attention keeps drifting away from the danger directly in front of him.
Excerpt of Friendship's Cost
Edmund’s grasp tightened around the leather reins as a sigh escaped his lips. His eyes closed as he pulled on the reins, bringing his cart to a stop. With whitening fingers, his shoulders sagged over his knees. He rubbed his chin and shook his head. “Whatever you’re hoping for, I’d move along and forget that you ever saw me.”
The tallest brigand stepped forward, drawing a sword from his hip. His lips curled into a wicked smile as he walked past the horse, rubbing the flat of the blade down the beast’s back. When he reached the cart, the man thumped the weapon upon it and thrust his hand forward. “Give me whatever coin you’re carrying.”
Edmund stared at the blade dancing before him for several heartbeats. When his heart resumed its standard cadence, his gaze left the cold steel, and he leaned back, his tongue gliding across his drying lips. “Have you ever thought you might gain more by finding honest work or, I don’t know… by asking for kindness?”
“That’s what I did,” the brigand said, lowering the tip of his blade to Edmund’s chest. “Unless you want to contest the point.”
“We don’t have to do that.” Edmund pushed the sword away from his chest as his eyes flicked up to the clouds. After several seconds, he rubbed his neck, shaking his head. “Threatening me wasn’t the smartest move you could have ever made.”
A second thief stepped to the side of the first one, drawing another blade as he neared. “You don’t want to annoy us.”
Edmund’s hand slid to his shoulder, his eyes flicking once again to the clouds. The handful of brigands snickered as each of them inched forward. Edmund straightened his back and rolled his shoulders. “Each of you will face terrible consequences for your choices.”
“You’re not the smartest person I’ve dealt with.” A maniacal laugh tumbled out of the man closest to Edmund as he brought his blade back to the traveler’s chest. “There’s six of us and only one of you.”
“That’s true,” Edmund said, gripping his reins tighter. “However, that’s not why you’ll wish you hadn’t pursued this.”
The leader inched forward, the tip of his blade piercing Edmund’s clothes. “How do you expect to deal with the six of us? If you force us to search for your valuables, you won’t live to understand the folly of your choice.”
“This won’t be—”
A roar washed over the brigands and the road.
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