There had been one slight modification to the group before they left. Several of them, pointing out that they were simply administrators, had convinced Ameila not to let them go. Ameila, too excited over the prospect of taking Jerrwell down a notch, had agreed.
"And that's the deal." Zelgadis said. It was perhaps two hours past sunrise and they were just entering the North Woods. "Understand?"
"I think so." Conrad replied. "My group and I stand or fall on our own. You and the Knights are merely here to keep us from running off."
"Exactly." Zelgadis said. "Now then. The northern woods are a direct route between here and the Gold mines in the artic. Recently, there's then been a rise in the amount of ambushes by bandits and monsters. What you will be doing over the next several days is patrolling the Queen's Highway between Sailoon and the City of Redlum which cuts directly through the woods."
"In other words, pest control." Put in the young lady in green and white armor who was riding next to Conrad.
"Never heard it put that way before." said one of Knights to another.
Zelgadis sighed. "I'm surrounded by Comedians."
It was midmorning before they encountered the first gang of bandits. Actually, trainees might be a more apt term. They were all shabbily dressed and their weapon handling was less then professional.
"I don't suppose I could persuade one of these Knights to drop an arrow into their midst?" Conrad asked. Zelgadis shook his head. "Didn't think so. Damon? If you would?"
"Soitenly." The one called Damon swung off his horse and approached the "bandits".
"You can have one shot gentlemen." He called. They responded by firing an arrow into his chest. "That's the one." Damon said as he pulled it out. "Sheesh! Mom's gonna kill me. This was an expensive shirt!"
Zelgadis looked at Conrad, who was no longer there. In fact, all of the young ladies in armor, and the orange skinned man were no longer on their horses.
It was then that Damon did something very strange.
Yes, stranger then surviving an arrow in the chest. He placed his hands together as though praying and bowed.
As he straightened, there was a flash of light and he was replaced by a seven foot tall reptilian creature.
The bandits looked at each other, then turned and fled into the woods. The creature turned, looked at Zelgadis and winked.
There was a bright flash of lightning and the sound of men screaming in fear.
Then there was only silence.
Conrad, followed by the ladies in armor, and the orange skinned man emerged from the woods moments later.
"Now what?" He said with a smile. Zelgadis glared.