Chapter 7: The Journey BeginsA Chapter by ewest1220 “Sundown,” he thought as he looked into the sky. “I didn't save any time at all.” Chapter 7: The Journey Begins
Issak leapt from the cliff with his blade held tightly in both hands. He turned in the air and let his sword fall straight through the spine of the first man. Splitting his spine in half and opening his body cavity from behind. Elenor screamed loudly as the man fell to the ground, coughing up blood.
Issak knew what he had to do. He needed to separate the two spearmen from the foot-soldier Until then a spearman could launch an offensive from a distance, while the foot-soldier defended against every strike.
They had formed a semi-circle around Issak. The two spearmen on the sides to prevent a flanking maneuver. The foot-soldier in the middle to defend against his blows.
As the two spearmen stabbed at Issak he turned and ran up the side of the cliff and pushed off with all his strength. He couldn't call on his powers here. For if he did that he'd have six enemies instead of three.
He had jumped towards the center of the semi-circle towards the foot-soldier who successfully guarded his surprise attack. Issak's feet planted firmly on the ground outside the semi-circle The foot-soldier, still recovering from the strength of the first attack, was powerless to stop Issak from hurling a dagger at his exposed throat.
Issak rushed forward and ripped the knife from the foot-soldiers throat, opening up his jugular and allowing blood to flow mercilessly onto the ground. One of the spearmen took a stab at him, but without the protection of the foot-soldier Issak was able to easily parry the attack. Slicing the spear in half and throwing the already blood soaked dagger into the man's right eye.
But Issak hadn't noticed another man enter the fray. The man dismounted just as Issak's longsword took the legs of the last spearman.
The man approached Issak cautiously. His blade bore a serpent that wrapped itself around the hilt; the mark of a Amas sword master Issak's tired body could not take an attack from a sword master and he knew it. He climbed up the cliff, fist taking his dagger from his former adversary’s eye. He turned around to see a woman sprinting toward them, knife in hand.
The effect was similar to the man being thrown bodily into a blender. Merade blocked the first swing of the man's blade and stabbed the man's chest. The man, taken aback with shock, could do nothing but stare in awe as Merade shredded the man's skin. Again and again she slashed, until the man moved no more.
Issak wiped off his blades in the nearby brush; convinced that the battle was finally over.
“You!” Tao yelled from the carriage.
“I?” Issak retorted, slowly turning around to face her. Tao had her bow drawn and an arrow ready to kill. Before he could register what was going on Merade had a cold bloody knife at his throat.
“State your name,” Tao yelled.
“And why would you help us?” Merade snarled cooly.
“My name is Issak,” he replied. “And I was going to ambush those men and steal one of their horses.”
This was mostly true he thought. Though, he would have been fine with stealing a horse from the carriage as well.
“I was on my way to Shenok Duhl. But there is an army behind us of thousands of Amas soldiers. They are less than 5 days marching distance from this point.”
“A likely story,” Merade said sarcastically. She pressed her blade slightly harder against Issak's neck. He felt a warm trickle of blood slide drown his throat.
“Stop!” Elenor yelled. “This man saved all of our lives and now you would seek to kill him? What kind of repayment is that?”
Tao lowered her bow and Merade lowered her knife glaring angrily at Issak as though the whole mess was his fault. Issak met their stares with cold indifference.
“I apologize,” Elenor said shyly. “They don't usually act like that.”
“It's fine,” Issak coughed as he massaged his throat.
“You must come to my father's castle!” Elenor said eagerly. “He would give you a royal welcome and...”
“A royal welcome?” Issak interrupted, confused.
“You have no idea who you rescued do you?” Merade chuckled, finally deciding that the man before her wasn't a threat.
“No not really,” Issak replied.
“She is the daughter of King Saigen.” Merade stated calmly. “To do anything less than attend at his daughter's request is an insult to the crown.”
“Don't listen to her,” Elenor said softly. “It's your choice whether or not you want to come along.”
Her blue eyes gazed into his with a deep, searching look. He noticed that she seemed nervous. His mouth opened slowly as he said softly. “Sure, I'll go.”
Relief filled Elenor's face as she walked back towards the carriage. Issak stared at her as her figure disappeared behind the door.
“If only she knew what I was,” Issak thought bitterly. “Then she wouldn't be so neighborly.”
“Shall we be off then?” Tao asked?
“You drive,” Merade said gesturing towards Issak.
Issak walked over to the carriage and took a hold of the reigns.
“Sundown,” he thought as he looked into the sky. “I didn't save any time at all.” © 2012 ewest1220Author's Note
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12 Reviews  Last Updated on August 5, 2012 Tags: Book, Dark, Reflective, Fantasy Author
ewest1220Columbia Falls, MTAboutI have been writing for as long as I can remember. I have been featured in about 4 books, have won several contests for my work and currently have a paperback edition of my works. (Titled "A Winter Wa.. more..Writing
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