“If you say so…” Damian sang. “But supposedly… he has a thing for nobility.”
“Ha ha, sure.” Catalin tried to look nonchalant, but jammed his cap down hard on his head. “If you’re trying to scare me, it’s not working. Where are these friends of yours?”
“Shouldn’t be too much further now!” Damian picked up his pace, and Catalin attempted to match it without tripping. This place was a complete death trap; someone could break their neck if they weren’t careful.
It was curious, though. There wasn’t much wildlife to be found. Catalin had read a book when he was younger about all the different animals that lived in the West Heideland range, and while he wasn’t expecting to see mountain lions or coyotes, there didn’t seem to be any rabbits or squirrels around, either.
Those cave bandits are probably eating them, he realized with a shudder. Disgusting.
“Ah, I think this is it!”
Catalin snapped to attention again, looking at where Damian was pointing. They were standing in front of a greasy, dirty piece of canvas that appeared to be nailed at the top to the entrance of one of the caves. It definitely wasn’t something done by animals; this was undoubtedly the entrance to one of the bandit hideouts Damian had mentioned.
“We’re going in there?” Catalin all but yelped, backing away.
“It’s okay,” Damian reassured. “This is where my friends are. Nothing’ll happen to us while we’re with them.”
“But what if they don’t know you’re coming?” Catalin objected.
“Victor and Saphie should already be here, so they’ll be keeping an eye out for us.” Damian walked right up to the curtain and yelled into the cave. “Hellooooooooooo? Anyone home?”
Almost instantly, the veil was lifted, and several dirty, unshaven faces peered out at them. As they exchanged glances, sniggering, Damian blinked. “What? What’s funny?”
***
“I hate you, Damian.”
“I’m sorry!” For once, Damian actually did sound sorry. “Victor must have gotten lost…”
“Well, what do you suggest we do now?” Catalin hissed, looking agitatedly at the twenty-odd bandits that surrounded them, still grinning. “They took your weapons, they’re blocking our exit, and they’re looking at us like pieces of meat.”
“Maybe they like us?” Damian suggested.
“Could you take this seriously, if it’s at all convenient for you?”
“All right… well…” Damian ‘hmmmed’ to himself. “We could wait for Victor and Saphie-”
“That is not happening,” Catalin interjected.
“Or, we could just talk to the boss!” Damian nodded. “That’ll get things all straightened out.”
“Yeah, sure,” Catalin snorted. “You think they’ll just escort us to their leader, just like that?”
“… they will if I do this.” Damian reached over and yanked the cap off Catalin’s head, announcing, “Look what I brought!”
Catalin froze as all eyes turned on him, wishing fervently that he could shrink back into the wall. Oh God. They recognized me. They’re probably going to sell me off somewhere… I’m sure the black market is offering more money than the Emperor… who knows what sort of disgusting things they’re going to do-
