The Great Legend of Salem – Chapter 1 Act 5

Chapter 1
The Earth Cave


Act 5
Introduction of the Thieves

The Salem countryside was immensely beautiful and didn’t show any signs of war. The expansive fields were a lush green, broken up by patches of yellow, pink, and blue wildflowers. The trees were also in full bloom, as the flying insects merrily made their way from flower to flower.

Jargro and the children, however, weren’t able to enjoy the scenery as much as they would have liked. It had been four days since they had left Ray’s Ranch, but lately the group had the feeling that they were being followed.

“Are they still back there?” Asked Jargro. “They’re still there,” Answered Aaron, referring to the small group of men that were riding a few miles away, “but they didn’t stop this time.”

Jargro looked across the landscape, pointed at a well a short distance away, and said, “Go make camp over there. If these men have ill intentions, we’ll be ready.”

A short time later, after the children had started a fire and given water to their horses, Jargro noticed three men approaching on horseback, and recognized them to be from the group they had seen earlier. “Come, Aaron.” Commanded Jargro, “Get your sword, and we’ll go and meet these men. The rest of you stay here and be ready to protect the horses.”

Aaron and Jargro walked towards the men, on account that their horses were resting, and met the men a short distance away from the campsite. The man in the center spoke first, “Hello there, gentlemen, I have an offer that I doubt you could refuse.” “What kind of offer?” Questioned Jargro. “All of your goods and horses,” said the man quietly, as he leaned forward, “for your lives.” Aaron reached for his sword, but Jargro motioned for him to stop, “I think that we should be reasonable with these men.”

While Aaron and Jargro were talking, Sarah, Peter, and Mary were ambushed by three other thieves. Startled by the attack, the children looked over to Jargro, hoping to get some instruction. Jargro’s hand was up and turned to the side; Sarah and Peter watched it intently. Although Jargro’s right hand never moved, they noticed that his left was taking a reversed grip on his sword. Peter laid his hand onto the hilt of his sword and waited for Jargro to give a signal.

After a short time, Jargro dropped his hand and drew his sword at the same time, and in that same instant Peter attacked the thief in front of him, tossing his scabbard across the campsite. Sarah and Mary also drew their swords and attacked the nearest thief. The three children held up a strong defense against the three thieves, but lacked the skills necessary for a strong attack.

When Jargro dropped his right hand, he drew his sword, upside-down, with his left; attacking the thief in the center, cutting off one of the thieves hands and scaring his horse. Jargro tossed his sword from his left hand to the other, letting it flip right side up on the way.

The thief on the left turned his horse around to attack; Jargro swiftly grabbed the reins near the bit, and frightened the horse, which lost its balance and fell onto the thief. Jargro was tossed over the horse, rolled onto one knee, and knelt as he drove his sword deep into the thief’s thin leather armor, killing the thief, who instantly turned into sand.

“Retreat!” Shouted the center thief from his horse, as Aaron deftly blocked a blow from the rightmost of the three mounted thieves, “Retreat, I said!”

The others, who were fighting Sarah, Peter, and Mary, quickly left their battle, ran to the bushes where they had hidden their horses, and rode off with the leader of the group. Jargro allowed the rider-less horse of the left thief to follow the rest as they rode away.

“You okay, Aaron?” Asked Jargro. “Yeah.” Answered Aaron with a huff of exhaustion. “Then let’s pack our things, if those men come back, we need to be gone.” The five of them rode to the northeast until darkness fell, making camp, but not starting a fire.

“What was your wife like, Jargro?” Asked Aaron later that evening. Immediately, Sarah exclaimed, “Oh, Jargro, I didn’t know that you had a wife!” “Yeah,” added Mary, “is she pretty?” “Ahh,” started Jargro, “she was quite beautiful, but God saw fit to take her home over a year ago.”

“She died!” Said Sarah, “I thought that couldn’t happen here.” “It doesn’t happen very often,” Jargro said, “but when God decides that your time on Salem is done, nothing is going to stop Him. I like to believe that he took her to end her suffering because of the illness, and if that is so, He answered my prayers.”

<+>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<+>

“Tihrn,” said one of the thieves who had attacked Jargro and Aaron, “we have returned.” The five surviving thieves of the raiding party stood motionless before the tent of their leader as the light of several campfires danced across its door. “Excellent, Be-alund!” Shouted Tihrn, smiling as he stepped out of his tent, “What is the worth of the goods that you brought to me today?”

“Priceless, sir.” Stated the Be-alund, the group’s boss. Tihrn’s smile plummeted to a scowl, “I hope that means you’re carrying a king’s worth of treasure.” “No, sir.” Said the boss weakly, “We have brought you the information that a small posse has been sent to reclaim the gold. It is led by the renown knight of Lagath – um who is called, Jargro.”

“This information is useless for our cause!” Scolded Tihrn, “If they’re after the treasure, they’ll go through Karinia. We’ll deal with them then.” Tihrn took Be-alund’s sword and pointed off into the darkness, “The edge of camp is that way, and you better start moving before I make you leave.”

The now former thief mounted his horse and left immediately. Tihrn faced those that were still there, “One of you saddle your horse and prepare to take the letter I will write to the master. The rest of you can go get some rest; a new boss will be assigned to you in the morning.”


Act 6 is coming sometime soon.