“This place is picked over, same as the last.” A rock skipped across the sand and bounced against the remnants of the structure. Rodrick stared at it, expecting more to happen. The brick walls had crumbled with time and wear.
“Keep looking. There is bound to be something of value.” A female voice sounded back behind a matching pair of drab coverings. The color tone matched the ground for as far as the eye could see. The only thing that stood out was a set of faded black goggles.
“No point. We are just wasting water.” The rugged voice was raised. Cera imagined the frustration that was Rodrick’s face behind his coverings. She could not hold back a smile that he wouldn’t see. It would have angered him further, and she was tempted. The contract was not one of her favorites, but it would set her up for a while.
Cera picked over a few more of the ruins. Rodrick took up residency on one of the low walls. He balanced his body as he lay back in protest.
“You do realize that anything I find now will be coming from your cut?”
“That’s what you think. Without me, we won’t make it out of this bandit attack.”
Cera looked up from her spot and swiveled her head. A dust cloud approached from the north. She could see the horses leading a charge toward their spot.
“Think we were spotted?” Cera stayed crouched and moved close to the half wall nearby. She looked over to see their own horses picking at the ground. There were too many unknowns for her as she tried to calculate the best course of action.
“If we haven’t been, we will be when we run. Might as well fight this out.” Rodrick got down from the wall and approached his mount. Cera joined him, grabbing her polearm weapon. A curved blade was attached to the end of a staff. Blood stained both sides of the weapon as she inspected it. Her hand went to her hips, noting that both daggers were there. Rodrick slid his long blade into his belt. He took the bow and arrows as well, holding three in his notching hand.
“Get ready for a fight, girlie.”
“You worry about yourself.” An arrow left Rodrick’s bow before Cera could finish. She clenched her weapon tighter, imagining it was his throat. A second arrow was loosed as the first hit its mark. The lead horse strayed off its course and tumbled, tripping others behind it. The cloud still masked a great deal, but it grew smaller in size. The second arrow had no effect as another was shot.
Rodrick grabbed three more and fired them off. Cera moved forward in the ruins using low walls and corners as cover. A few more riders fell, but the assault pushed forward. She was not sure if it was desperation or stupidity that kept them coming forward. Most likely, it was the former, as it motivated her as well.
She held her weapon at the ready as she waited at a choke point. Cera decided she would let the first rider pass and stab at the second. Her grip loosened as she readied. The first passed as expected. With her back arm, she thrust out, letting go with her forward grip—the scythe bit into the shoulder of a passing raider. The horse circled toward her as the victim pulled in her direction and fell off.
Cera grabbed the reins as the beast slowed and used the fallen body as a jumping point. She was up and on it in a moment. Her feet kicked as she commanded it forward. The horse followed orders and ran. She looked back, checking for pursuers. The group, which was smaller than anticipated, fell on Rodrick, not giving her a second glance in their tunnel vision. She could almost feel the heat of his rage as she abandoned him.
“May we meet again in another life.” The old adage was reserved for friends, which they had not been. Cera rode hard, knowing that someone should have spotted her and would be following. The setting of the sun was approaching as her speed decreased to a trot. It was another full day of travel to the next town.
The pace allowed her to examine her new belongings. There was more food and water than she had left with her former partner. Cera partook and dismounted for a moment to share the wealth with her new steed. She buried her hand into a pocket and was met with the clank of coins. The contents of it were emptied along with the rest of the bag. This was more than enough to fill the quota she was given.
She smiled with a giddiness no one else could see through her coverings.
“The gods treat me well this day.” Cera mounted up. She rode off into the approaching darkness to her temporary home. It had been a while since she had sorted through treasure.