The Whispering Pines forest fell quiet again as the Calamity Squad gathered the fallen bandits' longbows, hatchets, and broadhead quivers from the rocky ridge.
Down on the dirt road, Mataranas helped the three surviving peasant drivers wrap the dead driver's body in a clean canvas tarp, lifting the man onto the back of the second wagon. Mataranas then climbed onto the high wooden bench, taking the leather reins of the four mules.
Numerius limped down the slope, leaning on his heavy mace as he looked at the gash on his right calf. The blood had already stopped flowing, replaced by a warm, tingling sensation as their accelerated healing trait worked on the wound.
Numerius suddenly paused, looking back up the dark forest path and then over toward the high mountain ridge in the distance.
"Wait a second," Numerius said, squinting at Jade. "Why the hell are we hauling four heavy supply carts through a sketchy, pitch-black forest road while Captain Rodrik and three hundred heavy mercenaries get to march along the nice, scenic high road? Did Rodrik just use us as bandit bait?"
Yuzon adjusted his bow strap, shaking his head with a faint smirk. "It's basic wagon physics, Num. These heavy wooden carts are loaded with iron armor, grain sacks, and beer barrels. They weigh thousands of pounds. If Rodrik tried to drag four heavy supply wagons up that steep, rocky high road, the carts would tip over or snap their axles within twenty minutes."
"So heavy carts can't climb steep mountain paths," Nathaniel added, adjusting his crossbow. "They are forced to take the flat dirt road through the forest, even if it's prime ambush territory."
Numerius rubbed his leg, letting out a dry scoff. "So basically, the wagons are fat. And because the wagons are fat, I get shot in the leg."
Mataranas held the reins of the second wagon, looking down at them from his bench. "Mules like flat roads," he offered simply.
Jade chuckled despite his sore ear. "That is why Rodrik hired an independent skirmisher squad. To keep the fat wagons safe."
They spent twenty minutes burying the dead driver under a quiet oak tree beside the road, placing a simple wooden cross over his mound. The three surviving drivers offered quiet words of thanks to the squad, clearly grateful that the Calamity Squad had saved their lives and kept the remaining three carts intact.
"Mount up," Jade ordered, slinging his round shield across his back. "Let's get these wagons out of the forest before more green cloaks show up."
For the next four hours, the wagon train moved steadily along the flat dirt road. Mataranas drove the second cart with effortless patience, while Nathaniel walked beside the lead wagon, keeping his light crossbow loaded and resting against his shoulder.
By late afternoon, the dense pine canopy gave way to rolling hills and open fields. In the distance, the timber palisade and canvas tents of the Golden Boar's eastern outpost came into view.
Captain Rodrik's main company had already arrived via the high road, setting up camp near a stone well. Mercenaries were grooming horses, polishing armor, and roasting venison over open fire pits.
As the four supply wagons rolled through the outpost gates, Vice-Captain Kaelen rode over on his black warhorse. The grim cavalry officer took one look at Mataranas sitting on the second wagon's bench, the tarp-covered body in the back, and the blood on Jade's ear and Numerius's leg.
"You ran into trouble in the Whispering Pines?" Kaelen asked, pulling his horse to a stop.
"Forest bandits on the high ridge," Jade replied, leaning on his spear. "Six archers in green cloaks. We killed four and chased off two. All four wagons are intact, but we lost one driver in the first volley."
Kaelen nodded, a rare look of approval flickering across his scarred face. "Forest archers are nasty in dense cover. Most green squads would have abandoned the carts and fled. You did well to bring all four wagons through."
Kaelen turned his horse toward the quartermaster's tent. "Take the salvaged gear to Master Osric. He is handling the company ledger."
The five friends walked over to the quartermaster's area, where Master Osric was sitting at a heavy wooden table, writing in his ledger with a goose feather quill. Stacks of iron weapons, leather armors, and supply crates were piled around his tent.
Nathaniel stepped forward, pulling his small parchment ledger from his leather jack. "Quartermaster Osric, we are here to settle the Calamity Squad's ten percent loot share and daily pay for the Whispering Pines escort contract."
Osric looked up from his ledger, squinting through his thick eyebrows at Nathaniel's bandaged nose. He glanced at the bundle of yew longbows, iron hatchets, and leather vests Yuzon set onto the table.
"Four hatchets, two torn leather vests, and three bows," Osric grunted, tapping his quill against his chin. "Hatchets are chipped. The bows are second hand. I can credit your squad forty denars total value. Ten percent of forty is four denars. Here is four silver pieces."
Osric reached into his coin pouch, tossing four silver coins onto the wooden table.
Nathaniel did not touch the coins. Instead, a cold, sharp smile broke across his face as his Trade 35 skill and business background kicked in.
"Master Osric," Nathaniel said smoothly, leaning both hands on the edge of the table. "Do you take me for a fresh peasant who doesn't know wood quality?"
Osric narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about, boy?"
"These three longbows are made from seasoned Yew wood," Nathaniel said, picking up one of the bows and running his fingers along the grain. "Yew wood from the northern forests doesn't warp in damp weather. The string notches are reinforced with horn tips. At any town market in Ocs Hall or Pravend, a yew longbow in this condition sells for twenty-five denars minimum. That is seventy-five denars for the three bows alone."
Osric opened his mouth to interrupt, but Nathaniel kept going without missing a beat.
"Furthermore, these two quivers contain forty broadhead arrows with iron tips, worth ten denars total," Nathaniel continued, pointing at the bundle. "The four iron hatchets are solid Vlandian iron, worth twelve denars as scrap metal. The leather vests are heavy hide, worth eight denars. The true total loot value from that ridge is ninety-seven denars."
Numerius grinned from behind Nathaniel, leaning on his mace. "Nat is cooking again."
Yuzon chuckled softly under his breath.
Osric glared at Nathaniel, his thick beard twitching with annoyance. "This is a military camp, not a town market. I have to transport this gear to Ocs Hall to sell it. Transport costs money."
"Which is why our contract states ten percent of estimated salvage value at market rate, signed by Captain Rodrik this morning," Nathaniel replied instantly, pulling a copy of their thumbprinted subcontract from his pocket and placing it beside Osric's ledger. "Ten percent of ninety-seven denars is nine denars and seven coppers. Plus our contract daily pay of three denars per man, which is fifteen denars total for the squad. You owe us twenty-four denars and seven coppers, Master Osric."
Osric stared at the parchment contract, then looked up at Nathaniel's calm, unblinking eyes.
Vice-Captain Kaelen, who had walked over to listen to the exchange, let out a loud, booming laugh that drew looks from nearby mercenaries.
"Pay the boy, Osric," Kaelen chuckled, slapping his heavy gauntlet against his thigh. "He caught you fair and square. Captain Rodrik signed that clause himself."
Osric growled something under his breath about greedy guild boys, but he reached into his iron strongbox and counted out twenty-four silver denars and seven copper coins, slamming them onto the wooden table.
[+1 Trade]
Nathaniel saw the notification ping flicker in his vision. His smile grew even wider, stretching across his bruised, bandaged face in a way that visibly crept Osric out. The old quartermaster involuntarily leaned back a step, crossing his arms.
"Take your coin and get out of my tent," Osric grunted, sweeping his ledger shut.
Nathaniel smiled politely, gathering the silver and coppers into his pouch. "Pleasure doing business with you, Master Osric."
The squad walked back toward their camp spot near the supply wagons, Nathaniel dividing the coin equally among the five of them.
"That was incredible, Nate," Numerius said, tossing his newly earned silver coin in the air and catching it. "You turned four denars into twenty-four."
"Never let a military quartermaster do your accounting," Nathaniel said with a proud grin. "Trade 35 pays dividends."
Jade checked his UI, watching their updated party funds and stat progress flicker in his vision.
[Party Finances Updated]
Contract Pay Received: 15 Denars (3 Denars per man)
Loot Share Received: 9 Denars 7 Coppers
Current Individual Funds: 21 Denars 1 Copper per man
Jade looked at the notification window as his physical health restored to full. His nipped ear was completely healed, leaving only a tiny, barely visible mark along the rim, while Numerius's leg gash and Yuzon's arm cut were fully scabbed over.
As evening settled over the camp, Captain Rodrik walked over to their campfire, holding a mug of warm ale. He was accompanied by several senior officers of the Golden Boar.
Beside Rodrik walked Vice-Captain Kaelen, Sergeant Vane, and two other officers Jade had not met yet. One was Scout Officer Mara, a sharp-eyed Vlandian woman with a longbow slung across her back, and the other was Squad Leader Bram, a cynical, heavily scarred infantry veteran who commanded the third line company.
"Gather round, officers," Rodrik called out, gesturing toward the Calamity Squad. "I want you all to meet our newest independent skirmisher unit."
Rodrik gestured toward Jade first. "This is Jade, the squad commander. Holds a spear clean and keeps his team tight. Beside him is Mataranas, their main shield wall. Yuzon, their marksman. Numerius, their shock trooper. And Nathaniel, their quartermaster, who just squeezed Osric out of twenty-four denars."
Squad Leader Bram let out a rough laugh. "Squeezed Osric? I like this kid already. Osric has been shortchanging my third company for six months."
Scout Officer Mara stepped forward, her sharp eyes taking in Yuzon's new hunting bow and the broadhead quivers. "Kaelen tells me you held off six forest archers on a high ridge in Whispering Pines and brought all four wagons through intact."
"Four archers killed, two fled," Yuzon replied politely. "Their longbows were yew wood."
Mara offered a respectful nod. "Forest archers are fast in dense trees. Bringing four wagons through without losing a single cart is good scouting discipline."
Sergeant Vane grunted, taking a swig from his ale mug. "Told you they had backbone. Holding that inner keep for three days during the siege wasn't beginner's luck."
Rodrik raised his ale mug toward the five of them. "Officers, the Calamity Squad is officially registered on the Golden Boar company ledger. Treat them as a full skirmisher unit on the march."
The officers raised their mugs in a silent toast, offering brief nods of respect before dispersing back toward their respective tents.
Rodrik looked down at Jade and his crew around the campfire. "Tomorrow morning we march for the outskirts of Ocs Hall. It is a major trading hub near the Imperial border. If you boys have silver saved up, I suggest you buy yourselves some proper riding horses. A skirmisher squad on foot is good, but a skirmisher squad on horseback is deadly."
Jade looked at his four friends around the fire. They each had twenty-one denars in their pockets, improved gear, Level 4 stats nearly reaching Level 5, official recognition from the Golden Boar officers, and their first successful contract under their belt.
"Horses sound like a good investment," Jade said, a confident smile on his face.
"I just hope the horse doesn't bite me," Nathaniel muttered, making the whole squad laugh around the campfire as the sun set over the Vlandian hills.