On the Road

The long delay is confusing, but Rook finally hears battle start. Now that the initial clash, and the warriors are engaged, he creeps out from under the tarp and on top of the wagon, glancing over the battlefield. He is particularly annoyed to see Calum still on his feet. Staying hunkered low and, he tries to scan the battlefield looking for archers, or alternatively any vulnerable or unaware targets he can snipe.

Rook always has his eye on the main chance. He keeps low and scans the battle, looking for his best opportunity.

As Rook peers over the edge of the wagon, he sees a bandit sneaking around the side. It looks like he might be trying to sneak up towards the captain. He's still quite a ways off, to be honest, but he could be headed in that direction... Pulling his blade from his belt, Rook crept up over, then plunged down on the man from above, aiming his blade for something soft.

Rook swallowed and shook his hand, trying to return some feeling to it. The bandit had not seemed quite as big when he was looking down from above.... to the captain, he shouted, "Go! I have this one!" He whirled around with his blade and brought it in again, hoping that was true.

Rook glances down at where his dagger pokes uselessly against the man's chest, then glances back up. "Hmm... I suppose we can call it a draw." He dives backwards and tries to roll away under the wagon and get to the other side. He'd rather hoped to have that big blacksmith around for situations exactly like this one.

Great... Rook looks around, trying to figure out something that might be useful. "You know gentlemen, I am a lover of life in all things. I believe there is no need for me to injure you further today..." He slides his dagger back into his belt; it won't help him at the moment... "What if I were to show you the way to the paymaster's wagon? The two of you could carry the chest off while all are distracted by the fighting, and I could go my own way, and no more blood needs to be spilled? What say you?"

Hoping he had got their attention, Rook rolled back out from under the wagon, panting a bit more than strictly necessary. As he climbed to his knees, he palmed a handful of dust from the road. He slowly brought his hands up. "See? No blade here..." then took the moment of distraction to throw the dust in the eyes of the men, scrambling to run for his life...

Noticing how fighting gradually escalates, Leesha throws stern glance at the bandits clashing blades with guards and hurries towards the captain, drawing shield.
"Captain, madam..!-"
Movement on the side catches her attention for a moment as she and the other woman noticed bandit, than apparently one of the guards and member of assailants' forces. Shaking head she turns back to captain and salutes a bit awkwardly, clanking with armor, then nods for Callum to come close. "Ma'am, what shall be the orders? I would go to the vanguard, just give your command, and mister Callum here, I am sure he will be helpful here."

While lightly squinting eyes at the noise of cries, cursing, and fights ongoing, Leesha's eyes draw back to where Rook has his own "duel" ongoing, noticing that the bandit is still there. She is awaiting captain's command, then looks over to Callum and an idea springs in her mind: girl points at the wounded bandit and tells her companion to go there and see so that no one would flank them - there might be more attackers.

Rook continued running as the two thugs chased after him. He felt very out of his element, so far from the city and the familiar back alleys and escape routes. He silently thanked Mother Kagain, who'd berated him into purchasing this armor jack before he joined the caravan. It'd had cost a fortune, 30 silvers in all, but without the padding the bruises he'd accumulated thus far might be broken bones instead.

He tried to make his way towards Meht, the hunter, but wasn't exactly sure which direction to go. First, he needed to lose his pursuers. He darted towards the other wagons, finding a low draft one he could tumble under, then another. The bandits were larger and less nimble, hopefully he could shake them off among the forest of wagons.