Chapter 7: The Journey Begins

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.”

Author's Note

Alright this was copied straight from a written page so there may be typos. Please let me know where I can expand, what questions are unanswered or, really, any input you have on this book this has been a long time in the making. I have the entire book written I just need to translate it to text. Thank you guys so much for reading and for your support you guys are awesome!

Reviews

[The dark story]

i forgot to say that in the very first fight...it really seems that you have (once in your lifetime ).indulged yourself in the fray.the description of the tactis.it really made me think so..i can only imagine a blood bath fray but i'm never good at describing it(i new there a long way i have to go.i'm still a kid at it)...but i'm so impressed with your work!!!!!!!!

this chapter.i don't know but i feel like it's turning point in his life..going to attend the king and receiving such courtly courtesies...and i guess there's someone who'll actually behave with him like a "human"...not like a monster..
i think he's kind heart ......

[ewest1220]

Interesting perspective... I like it! And as far as the fighting goes I love describing every little detail of fights like that one :) I'm thrilled you're enjoying the story!

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. I like the conversation and the invite to the caste. Princess see a warrior. No weakness in the outstanding chapter.
Coyote

[ewest1220]

Thanks Coyote! I'm really thrilled you enjoyed this chapter and you're input is always valued! Thanks again my friend for reading!

[Yheela]

I think it would again benefit if you added all those little things, how the light shines from Elenor's hair, her smell, hat about the two bodyguards - what do they look like after this? How does the cliff looks after the massacre ... ?

[ewest1220]

So the general consensus is that I'm missing the little things... very good to know. What I'll probably do is get everything up and then go back and edit these to add the extra detail. If you're going for the general story are there any holes that you see so far?

[Yheela]

No, not that I can think of at the moment.
But then these are short chapters and it's hard to "get lost" in the story. If they are longer there is always the risk of the writer losing focus.
I only wish for ELizabeth's story to become more clear, with the "brothers" you know. ^_^

[ewest1220]

Now her story is an interesting one actually. She will hunt again is all I'll tell you for now ;)

[Yheela]

ò.Ó You tease! XD