The Road With No Return by Andrzej Sapkowski

Author:Andrzej Sapkowski
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2015-09-01T22:00:00+00:00

VI

The others did not let themselves be caught off-guard in the caves. They waited in the saddle, motionless, erect, their eyes directed at the rows of armed peasants coming from the forest. The wind tearing at their mantles made them look like haggard birds of prey with ruffled up plumage, threatening, inspiring awe and fear.

“Eighteen”, Korin counted standing in the stirrups. “All mounted. Six near horses. One cart. Nicholas!”

The smith rapidly changed his company’s formation. Those with pikes and spears kneeled at the edge of the brush, the ends of their weapons rammed into the ground. The archers took position behind the trees. The rest retreated into the thicket.

One of the riders came toward them. He stopped his horse, raise his hand above his head, called something.

“A feint”, Nicholas murmured. “I know them, those whoresons.”

“Let’s make sure”, Korin said and jumped from the saddle. “Come.”

Slowly, the two of them walked up to the mounted one. After a while Korin noticed Visenna following them.

The rider was a bobolak.

“I will be brief”, he called without dismounting. His small, sparkling eyes glinted, halfway hidden by the fur that covered his face. “I am the current leader of the group that you see over there. Nine bobolaks, five humans, three vrans, one elf. The rest is dead. There was a difference of opinion. Our former leader, whose plans led us here, lies in that cave over there, bound. Do with him as you please. We want to ride off.”

“That really was brief”, Nicholas snorted. “You want to ride off. And we want to tear out your guts. What do you say?”

The bobolak flashed his pointed teeth, stretched his small form in the saddle. “Do you believe we fear you enough to be willing to make concessions? You, a band of cowards in bast shoes? Please, if you insist, we will ride over your paunches. That is our trade, peasant. I know that we’re taking a risk. Even if some of us fall, the others will make it through. That’s life.”

“The cart won’t make it through”, Korin said forcefully. “That’s life.”

“We are prepared for that.”

“What’s on the cart?”

The bobolak spit over his right shoulder. “A twentieth of what has remained in the cave. And just to be clear: if you ask us to leave the cart behind, we won’t agree. If we’re supposed to get out of this thing without a profit, then at least not without a fight. So, what is it? If we are to fight, then I’d rather do it now, in the morning, before the dear sun begins to burn.”

“You’re brave”, said Nicholas.

“So are all of my family.”

“We will let you go if you lower your weapons.”

The bobolak spit again, this time over his left shoulder, for a change.

“Not a chance”, he growled curtly.

Korin laughed. “That’s what’s bothering you. Without your weapons, you’re garbage!”

“And what are you without weapons?” the small one asked without emotion. “A prince? I see what you are. Do you think I’m blind?”

“With weapons you could be back tomorrow”, Nicholas said.

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