Awaking in a daze, Geoffrey took a moment to adjust himself to his surroundings. For a second or two, he thought that he had just awoken from a sleep – and would find is wife beside him. But then it dawned on him. A growing feeling of pain came over his came, his eyes felt as though they had been pushed further back into his head. His hands were bound by an itchy rope, which was attached to the ceiling. His feet barely touched the ground. As his eyes began to adjust, he noticed a faint light in front of him – the light of a candle. He was in a small dim room, with no windows. A low table was before him with several chairs around it Now he began to remember what happened before he came to. Of Kim, Ivybrand and Goodroot and their meeting. Their plan to steal from the town’s vault. And he enormous man who delivered that punch. More pain came over him after thinking about that. Then he found that his mouth was extremely dry.
‘Water…’ he muttered, half-consciously.
‘What d’ya say?’ a dumb voice said from Geoffrey’s left. He turned around, as far round as the rope on his wrists would allow. There he sat, the enormous man with long greasy hair and a scruffy beard. His eyes were wide and dark, and looked almost innocent against the rest of his ugly and disproportionate appearance. Again, Geoffrey faintly requested water. The man rose to his feet and strutted over to Geoffrey. Now he expected another punch, on his already pained face. But he found that water was being poured into his mouth from a skin. The enormous man smiled kindly and dumbly at him before sitting back on the seat.
Nothing else happened for what seemed like hours. Geoffrey felt like sleeping, but kept himself awake. At long last, the sound of footsteps could be heard descending the stairs. He now realised that he must be in the cellar, the same one where the meeting took place.
‘Here he is, awake!’ cackled a gruff voice. A short man wearing a long brown cloak came through the door. His face was completely rounded with a light brown bowl cut. This was Goodroot, from the meeting. Another entered the room, a slender young woman with ginger hair that was put into a ponytail. She was pale, with red cheeks.
‘Aye, the dog awakes from his slumber.’ She said in a dull and sarcastic voice. Geoffrey guessed that this was Kim, also from the meeting. Somebody else came after her, a tall man with short jet black hair. Though he did not speak, he looked extremely smug. Geoffrey assumed that this was Ivybrand.
‘You’re probably wondering why we’ve got you here in this… restrained position.’ Kim said. Geoffrey gave no answer. ‘Most people don’t take too kindly to folk breaking into their home and listening to their private conversations.’
Geoffrey had by now regained his full consciousness. Yet his face was still pained. ‘You plan to burgle the Vault? It is a fool’s errand.’ He spoke, as if to counsel these thieves.
‘Perhaps it was, mate.’ Ivybrand replied, speaking for the first time. There was much arrogance in his. ‘But now, with you, maybe not. Honeybark assures us of your… reputation here. You might be of use for us.’
Then it finally came to Geoffrey. He now looked over towards Kim, the young ginger lass with rosy cheeks. ‘You are Orval’s daughter?’ he asked, though he already knew the answer.
‘That’s right, dog. Finally you’re getting it. Yes, I was his daughter before you took him from me, Geoffrey Redstem.’ She retorted with bitterness.
‘He was a traitor and a fiend. His death was a justice to all.’ Geoffrey announced in response.
‘Hush now, Kim.’ Goodroot butted in, stepping closer towards Geoffrey until he was right up to his face. ‘Redstem, eh? The Bringer of Justice and Slayer of Fiends? Hah-ah! You’ve heard much of our plans, and will aid us in executing it.’
Geoffrey raised his head slightly, frowning at the short man. ‘Aid you? I will have no part in this – and will be dead before you make me.’
The three laughed mockingly, in near-unison. ‘Of course, of course. A man of your… morals would have no part in such a nasty business, not on your own life.’ Said Goodroot. ‘But what about on the life of your dear wife and children? The word is that Edith has had twins!’
Geoffrey was lost for words. They knew all about his family; where they lived, the names of his children. With a heavy heart, he answered: ‘What would you have me do?’
Goodroot smiled a dreadful smile. ‘You will go with Benny here…’ he replied whilst pointing at the enormous man to his left. ‘… and enter the Vault first. When you know it is clear, Benny will give the signal. After that, we’ll leave you and your family well alone. Of course, if you’re implicated in this then you may join us in our new town.’
They all laughed again, except for Benny. Although he was obscenely large, he did not look cruel like the others. Geoffrey guessed that he was perhaps simple-minded, used by these thieves as their muscle. Benny was ordered to cut Geoffrey down, and he did so obligingly. Geoffrey almost fell straight to his feet, but the giant caught him. His hands were gentle and soft, as was his nature. He carefully put Geoffrey back onto his feet and gave him some more water.
The other three departed the cellar, leaving Geoffrey and Benny alone. They did not speak, though Benny sang a song or two. A very fair voice he had, which continued to amaze Geoffrey. In his mind he knew that, if he wanted to, he could kill Kim, Goodroot and Ivybrand now. Even Benny. But he would not risk it, in case there were more of them who might carry out their threat on his family. So he sat, and waited.
After some hours, the three descended down to the cellar again. Each of them was fully cloaked.
‘It is time. Benny, you know what to do.’ Goodroot announced.
Benny led Geoffrey up the stairs and out of the front door, onto the alleyway. It was dark now, and the rain poured hard on the town. The occasional thunder could be heard in the distance. The two were also cloaked and hooded. They ran along the alley and onto the street, where they then descended down towards the Vault. A few peasants wandered the street, drenched by the downpour. No guards could be seen. Then they reached the Vault, which stood next to the West Gate. It was a large building, with many stories and windows. The two now approached it slowly, as not to draw any attention to them.
‘Benny.’ Geoffrey whispered under his cloak. ‘You need not do this; you are a good man. Why do you follow these miscreants like an animal?’
Benny did not reply for some time. ‘Cos I have nowhere else to go, sir, no I don’t.’ he bumbled.
‘There is a place for you, among my men. You will be treated with dignity and respect. And do good work in the name of good people.’
They reached the small courtyard where one of the entrances to the vaults where. Normally four guards stood watch here, but just as the conspirators had predicted, there were none now. The wooden door was locked, which was also expected. But Benny, with all his might, bashed the door in. Geoffrey thought of a battering ram at the gates of a city when he saw this. Benny’s battering of the door was far from quiet, and Geoffrey was wary of anybody who might have heard it. They were in the Vault. The room was quite spacious, with four pillars before them and red woven carpets beneath their feet. Auctions often took place here as well as vault-keeping, so some odd chairs were placed around. In front of them was a wall of bars, where goods were handed over to vault-keepers and then locked away in the safes behind them. It was iron of good make, and Geoffrey knew that even Benny could not break them down. From under his cloak, Benny presented a large saw. Swiftly he got to work in creating a gap in the iron bars. Once again, Benny took no consideration to the noise he was making. Eventually a big enough gap was made, and the two slipped through it. Before them now were the safes built into the wall.
‘Good work, Benny!’ a mocking voice said from behind them. It was Kim, fully cloaked. Behind her was Goodroot and Ivybrand, also cloaked. They removed their hoods and climbed through the gap.
‘How did you know when to come?’ Geoffrey asked. ‘We made no signal.’
‘The signal was the noise that the oaf made.’ Ivybrand answered in a cruel tone.
Each of them presented crowbars from their cloaks almost simultaneously. Geoffrey thought that they might attack him with them. But they did not, and the three got to work on cracking open the safes and pouring their contents into sacks that Benny was made to hold. Gold coins, goblets and plates were among the booty. Gems and jewellery too. Geoffrey was quite surprised that such wealth could be found in Bree. Once they had cracked open enough safes to fill all their sacks, they were finished.
Kim, Goodroot and Ivybrand now made their way for the exit, back through the gap that Benny had cut. Ivybrand climbed through first, and the sacks were passed through to him and he placed them into a pile for Benny, who climbed through afterwards, to pick up again. Once they were all through, the treasure was divided up between the three.
‘What about Benny?’ Geoffrey wondered aloud.
‘The oaf wouldn’t know what to do with it even if we gave him any.’ Ivybrand mocked, sounding even more arrogant now that all this gold was in his possession.
Geoffrey now turned to Benny, with a sympathetic and understanding expression. ‘Benny, you deserve some of this. Be free of them now!’ he implored.
‘Be silent now, dog. If you’re quiet enough we might not pay your family a visit.’ Goodroot snapped. ‘He’s lucky we don’t run him through before we’re away, for all the trouble he’s caused us. Shame his stupid mother couldn’t take care of him.’
Benny, who had been calm throughout all the time Geoffrey had been held captive, finally snapped. He stormed over to Goodroot and grabbed his head with both arms. Grunting heavily now, he twisted the short man’s head and an awful crack could be heard. Goodroot fell to the ground. Kim and Ivybrand yelled loudly, brandishing their crowbars at Benny. They would surely beat him to death with them. Geoffrey, who had pitied the harsh treatment of Benny, decided to intervene. Rushing in front of the large man, he struck a blow with his fist as Ivybrand’s face, breaking his nose and causing him to fall to the ground crying.
‘You ought to treat those who serve you with better respect, for they are the ones who can do you the most harm.’ Geoffrey said, crunching his knuckles. A slight whimper could be heard behind him. Turning around, Benny had fallen to his knees. A dagger was stuck deep through his stomach and he was losing a lot of blood. Kim was gone, without taking any of the treasure. Geoffrey took Benny into his arms and laid him onto the ground. He knew that this wound was fatal, and that all he could now was comfort him.
‘Benny.’ He spoke softly. ‘You are free now! Free from all their mistreatment. Easy now! Do not speak. It will all be over soon.’
He held the man for a moment, smiling with reassurance. Benny, in a faint voice, uttered: “Thank you.” Before passing away in Geoffrey’s arms, peacefully and gently.
At this moment, four guards came rushing in. Geoffrey rose to his feet before them, after resting Benny on the ground.
‘Explain yourselves now!’ they yelled at Geoffrey and Ivybrand. Geoffrey gave a swiftly explained account of his capture and coercion into this theft. He explained what had happened to Goodroot and the disappearance of Kim Honeybark.
‘--it was this fellow, Benny, who is to be thanked for putting an end to this burglary. In the end he turned on his masters and did the right thing.’
The guards roughly restrained a still whimpering Ivybrand and took him into custody. The vault-keepers were summoned and they made quick work of returning the stolen items to their correct safes. The locks would of course need replacing. They tried to give their gratitude to Geoffrey by offering him some gold, but he assured them that it was not him who prevented the robbery, but Benny. He bid that they give the gold to his family instead.
By the time he left the Vault, it was approaching dawn. He longed to return home to his wife and new born twins, who he had not forgotten about during the whole ordeal. But first, he left West Gate of the town and picked some flowers there, as he had intended to when he left home the night before. Finally he was home, again, with a very worried wife awaiting him. That night he slept well, with his two new children resting in his arms. But in his mind he knew that Kim Honeybark was still out there, somewhere.
