We were going to the capitol to look for a house to rent. Figuring that out was just beyond them as a small barony so far from the capitol. It was a month by carriage. The trip would be very long and we would stop at several inns along the way to resupply when low on food or needing rest. The baron gave Fabien a coffer full of gold coins to use. Apparently, one of the emeralds fetched a great price from a traveling merchant. Hopefully, this would be enough for what we needed, Fabien and Anthony were in the carriage. We were to guard them and make sure they got there safely. Because of our new station, we were given leather armor and clothes in the colors of the house crest. That was red and white. Petras and Jeran were not too keen on it at first. I had to convince them. Eventually, they caved in and they found they enjoyed how soft the fabric was. There were also some thicker clothes for colder weather for them. It was known to snow in the capitol. Once we got there, we would send a letter to the baron. It was a new adventure in a whole new world for me. That was pretty cool.
Yawning, I climbed on Petras's back early in the morning we were leaving at first light. We were on a mission and things needed to go well. We had precious cargo with us. These were 2 sons of the noble Swiftheart house. That alone made the trip important. Even if things did not go through, the pair of them could get placed somewhere or married in advantageous matches. We made our way through the kingdom and we were stopped multiple times. I guess they were unused to centaurs that were not up to no good. Luckily, we had our paperwork on us. Both of them were from the same tribe so they were both known as "Sir Brownflank". I was still semi anonymous. I was going the name of Sir Collin Rhombus. Collins was surname. I was also Real Rhombus. We stopped at multiple inns and spent 2 days each. They had no recourse when confronted with knights of the realm and nobles. That let us do what we wanted. When we ran into bandits we slaughtered them. Petras and Jeran were very vindictive. They killed everyone except one which was crucified on the nearest tree.
It gave us a fearsome reputation. When we came to an inn, we were already known as the "Cutpurse Cutters". As the name proceeded us, some bands wanted to block us. People came to challenge us even more to fights. The bandits got cut down even more brutally. The centaurs disemboweled them and made a path with the entrails on the path. I did not have a weak stomach, but they were going all out. The last man was hung from a tree with the intestines of the man's best friend. Other knights that we met on the way began to derisively call all of us "Blood Knights". All knights in the kingdom were expected to fight bandits and kill those that resisted arrest. Unlike most chivalrous knights who would capture those that surrendered, we had no time or desire to take a detour to the nearest settlement with a dungeon or prison. There was a mission and we needed to complete it. After getting called out, one of the knights insulted Jeran. Jeran challenged him to a fight. They had a duel and Jeran killed the man. His son was there and demanded a fight. Petras killed him. We moved on.
Zooming on by was not something that could be done after killing knights of the realm. We actually had to bring them to a place where they could be buried. Both Antony and Fabien agreed with me. "I don't see why. In our tribe, you were buried where you fell." Jeran said. Petras agreed. "It was an honor to die in combat." he added. "It's the same way for knights. However, these men probably have families and loved ones that want to honor them and say their final goodbyes." They did not seem to agree but after we followed their servants to their land, we brought them to where they could be buried. I convinced the brothers to give them a generous amount of coins to let them have a grand funeral ceremony. Then we raced out of there before any authorities could come and attack us. We were almost halfway there. We made our way to the nearest inn and stayed there for a week to let things die down a bit. It also let the legend spread since it was near the area. In fact, the funeral procession passed by the inn on the way to the church they were going to be interred in. We stayed inside.
