Road to Riverdale

Anger wells within Jajul's heart. They had families. All of them! Tears roll down his cheek. His wife, his daughter...Oh god, no. His daughter! Jajul fills his lungs with as much air as he can manage and cries, "WHAT DO YA WANT?! HUH?! WHAT?!......WHAT?!"

He waits.

Road to Riverdale

A rough voice calls from the trees.

"Come out in the open. Both of you. Put your hands on your head and wait."

Road to Riverdale

"Blast it!" Jajul stood up slowly and walked in front of the wagon, arms raised.

Road to Riverdale

The guard follows Jajul into the open, arms raised. He shakes visibly and sweats profusely.

Bolts stream from the trees, transforming the guard into a meaty pincushion. He crumples to lay down forever.

The same voice as before calls from the forest.

"You alone will answer our questions and your life will be spared. Do you understand?"

Road to Riverdale

Now, he was fuming. Mindless violence and senseless acts of cruelty. He wished the worst curses he could imagine on these bandits, whoever they were. Looked towards the forest with flared nostrils and his teeth bared.

He nodded once.

Road to Riverdale

There is silence.

"Do you know of a large man in a brown cloak, wearing a bird-like mask?"

Road to Riverdale

"No!"

Road to Riverdale

Another long pause.

"Perhaps a traveling muse by the name of Acron? Or a low elven noble by the name of Royus? A mysterious wanderer by name of Caed? We know you are related, somehow. Asmodeus can feel it."

Road to Riverdale

"I don't know any of them." As Jajul stood, he thought about why they might think he was related to them. Was it because he was a blacksmith?

"What do you mean he felt it?" he asked.

Road to Riverdale

His words fell upon the trees and nothing more. It's temporary inhabitants were already gone.