"And that got me thinking, where do they even get the wood for this thing? I mean from what I can tell, it is like fifty percent metal max," Derik asked.

"I don't know for sure. I would assume they just import it from one of the various giant tribes. Quite study timber lies there to the west," said Montag.

"Don't get me started on that. Hated how people always insisted on using it. Expensive and all too heavy I say," Titus remarked.

The three of them then sat in awkward silence after the brief bout of conversation. The sound of the carriage wheels grinding on dirt and loose stones signified the passage of time as they sat.

"So..." Derik began, "you guys got anything to do while on a road trip? Maybe betting on racing water droplets or counting the color of horses passing by?"

"Can't say we do," Titus said. "I don't travel much. People usually come to me."

"I suppose inspecting the colors of horses passing by could provide some sort of entertainment. Provided there were any horses to count that is. We might be able to find some pack animals being dragged along, but horses are another matter. Not only are they expensively priced on their own you need to purchase barding as well, lest they be seized. People take advantage and charge disproportionately higher prices for barding as a result," Montag said. "Maybe if we manage to run into some knights of the hallowed torch we will be able to see a large group of them."

"I was just asking because there are quite a few of them behind us right now," Derik said, pointing to the slit situated at the back of the carriage.

"That doesn't look good." Titus strained his neck to see behind them. "Looks like the same people from that desert town."

"You ever think they get hot in those?" Derik commented. "Sorry, that was a bit off-topic."

Montag stood and opened the hatch to the front. He stuck his upper half through. "We have some uninvited company. Riders about 50 paces back."

Gonzalez took a quick glance back and casually responded, "Oh yeh, they have been there for a minute or so."

"Why didn't you say something? We have to get primed for conflict!" Montag replied.

"I figured they were fans. Perhaps nobles looking to give us a new job offer?"

"Why would you think that? Do they look like nobles to you?"

Gonzalez took another look backward and squinted his eyes. "I just see four people dressing in some fancy garments."

"Those are the people that tried to kill us, and there are five of them."

"Allow me a moment to ponder that..." Gonzalez did a second take. "That would seem to be a problem, yes."

"They're coming!" Titus shouted.

The riders that had been trailing them heightened their pace from a walk to a gallop. Gonzalez patted down his side. "This isn't good. I'm out of nets. I mean, what am I without my nets? Man with ax? On the bright side, at least I know we had a good run if I managed to run out."

Montag scratched his head before putting on his helmet. "Here just take one of these. I'm sure you are skilled enough to figure it out." Montag handed Gonzalez a bola from his belt and receded back into the carriage.

"Ooh, ooh. you got anything for me?" Derik asked. "What does the utility belt of secrets hold."

Montag fiddled with the belt slung around his shoulder and produced a greyish cylinder with a line of paper coming out the top. "Regretfully, I haven't been able to replace any of my other belongings, so I don't have anything for you to use. I did pick this up in the tunnels; they say it works as a replacement for that blasting powder. I suppose we will see how true that is."

Montag unlatched the door and stepped out onto the side of the carriage. He hung off the side, keeping a foothold using the step. Striking the paper fuse, he gently released it low to the ground in the path of their oncoming attackers.

A few seconds later, an explosion rocked the back carriage. One rider had been completely reduced to fine red mist, while another's horse caught shrapnel from the blast propelling its horseman forwards into the dirt.

"That was more powerful than expected," Montag remarked.

Montag was answered back by the remaining rider on his side of the carriage. The man unleashed a barrage of arrows with astonishingly good accuracy for a mounted combatant. The missiles ricocheting off his helmet and chest plate was enough incentive for Montag to shut the door.

"Can't you make those things go any faster?" Gonzalez asked Iris as he tried to rotate the bolas with his hand.

"Oh certainly, I wasn't already going at maximum speed. I love a leisurely pace to see the sites when people are firing arrows at me." Iris replied.

"Regardless, they are catching up!" Gonzalez said.

"You are welcome to run ahead," Iris said.

The riders had managed to close with the carriage. Now riding parallel, they used their bows to turn the walls of the carriage into a pincushion. Titus glared through the slit. Determined not to sit idly by, he took up one of his javelins which lay by the other equipment stripped from him. He took a deep breath and readied the weapon with his functioning arm. He led one of the remaining riders, hurling the weapon through the window slit. The spear sailed through the air driving its way into the stomach of the rider. The force of the impact ejected him off his horse and left him suspended to a nearby tree. With its rider impaled on the wood, his mount rode off into the nearby forest. The two remaining assailants exchanged looks and rode to the front of the carriage.

Derik stuck his head out the front hatch to see Gonzalez standing on top of the perch.

"How do you use one of these. Oh, whatever it's in the hands of the gods now." Gonzalez threw the bola. The stings of the armament got tangled, reducing the fine craft into a mass of ball and string. The wooden blob soared through the air, hitting a rider square in the chest and unhorsing him. The carriage lurched as his head impacted the wheels.

"Wow, these things are pretty effective, but they seem a bit impractical and showy for my tastes," Gonzalez said.

His partner was not deterred and loosed an arrow that sunk into Gonzalez's outstretched elbow. Gonzalez took quick action and raised his other arm, allowing the rest of the arrows to embed into his shield. He leaned over Iris to cover them both.

Derik thought for a moment about what he could do about the situation. Taking action, he unlatched the lamp that illuminated the front of the carriage. He weaved back and forth to get a bead on the rider from behind Iris and Gonzalez.

"I hope this works," he thought.

Derik lobbed the lantern over them onto the road. The unused oil oozed out and caused an eruption of flames and smoke. Iris halted the beetles, while the blast made the last rider's horse rear back. The rider's foot slipped out of his stirrups. Dragged along by his mount hanging by one foot, he eventually was deposited by the side of the road.

Iris halted the carriage and got off. Gonzalez took out the arrow from his elbow.

"Didn't that hurt?" Derik asked.

"Don't be ridiculous. I am completely fine." Gonzalez winced as he spun his arm a few times.

"Why did we stop?" Montag exited the carriage.

"I'm going to check out that last one. I think they could still be alive," Iris said.

Iris approached the downed man.

"He is still breathing," she said.

"Let's help him," Gonzalez said, "Stop breathing, of course."

"He is no threat now. It is dishonorable to assault a downed opponent. Though, we don't owe him anything either. Let's move on," Montag said.

"Fine with me." Montag and Gonzalez returned to the carriage.

Iris took the man by the arm and began to drag him into the forest. Derik came up from behind to lift up the man's legs. Together the duo managed to set him next to a tree.

"He should be ok there until he wakes up," Lina said.

"We should probably head back," Derik said.

Lina left a small package of rations next to the man, and the two of them returned to the carriage.

"We should be safer now that we have reached more favorable territory," Montag said.

"Onwards, to Palatine!" Titus proclaimed.