Bastion

The five cadets all had boarded onto the carriage that Rigil and Tavis had used this morning. As they raced from Endican back through the town of Fredriff and towards the gate on the outskirts of the area, Rigil could see the long bridge standing over the dark waters of the Sanges River. The sky thundered and roared as the clouds grew an ominous gray color. It seemed that the weather was not going to play in their favor today. Fighting on a slippery bridge with no guardrails was not Rigil’s ideal battleground of choice. Rigil stood out of his seat as the carriage approached the Huevren. He squinted his eyes. He could see multiple figures walking up and down the bridge at uneven paces. He found this odd. Many travelers found it dangerous to traverse the Huevren whenever stormy clouds appeared overhead. Ignoring the wind and rain would be like begging for the storm to sweep you into the river. Rigil turned behind him and called out to his teammate. “Wir!” he yelled. The elf stuck his head out one of the carriage doors, wind blowing his ponytail rapidly behind him. “See if you can get a closer look.” He said. Wir nodded. He closed his eyes and let off a small blue hue. He breathed in slowly and his lips threw into the air a mantra of quick, precise wording. “Let eyes like mine pierce through the dark, with hawk-like sights that hit the mark.” He opened his eyes and his pupils were glowing a sharp blue color as he stared towards the bridge slowly coming into view. Inside the carriage, Arina looked at him in wonder and she shook her head. “What… what is Wir doing?” “Hawk Foresight.” Davello whispered, “It’s a classic archer’s spell. It magnifies his field of vision and depth perception.” Wir’s eyes remained wide open, “They’re hooded figures. Mostly male humans and elves… several of them have concealed weapons.” “Must not be concealed too well if you can see them.” Tavis remarked, pulling on the reigns. Rigil nodded, “Just as I thought. Bandits disguised to look like travelers. But there’s a storm coming, why aren’t they retreating off the bridge?” “Maybe they’re looking for something.” Arina said. “Someone.” Davello corrected. “They could just be stupid.” Tavis remarked. Wir looked up at him, “Or that’s what they want us to think.” “Regardless of what they want, it’s what we want that matters. Our orders are to either take these bandits into custody or kill them without damaging the bridge. However if they prove too formidable then the bridge becomes expendable. I’d rather you fight with your all and destroy the bridge than hold back and lose.” Rigil said. “Are you sure?” Arina asked, “It’s the only way out of town. Trade will be cut off for months.” “It can be repaired. Our lives cannot.” Rigil said sternly. Tavis squinted his eyes. He saw several bandits stop walking along the bridge. “Oh sod.” “Leader, they’ve seen us!” Wir exclaimed. Rigil stood up out of his seat. “Tavis, hold the horses steady. Arina, Davello, stay inside the carriage!” The bandits on the bridge all started motioning at each other. Several of them began running towards the bridge entrance as they readied bows, swords, shields and pikes. The archers picked arrows from their quivers and began launching them towards the carriage.