"So…what exactly is going to happen when we get back?"
My question hangs in the air for a moment as Thorpe looks like he's considering how to answer it.
It's been a few hours since my leap test and it's starting to get dark. And thankfully it's definitely gotten a bit easier to communicate again. I really think that conversation earlier helped break down the wall that was forming.
I still feel a bit uneasy about everything but it's not tripping me up too much. Atleast not right now.
Old Guard takes a deep breath and sighs. "Well this is definitely going to have to be reported that's for sure. And if our communications are being intercepted than we need to send someone to Lanercost in person. Which isn't ideal either due to the sickness going around there." He admits, giving a sigh. "And because I'm worried about ambushes it'll have to be someone tough and with a high Resilience. Less likely to get sick."
I purse my lips at that. "Isn't that…just us?"
The old man sighs even louder. "Yeeeeeeep…which means it's going to be ME." He groans while kicking a loose rock out of the way.
My mouth curves down into a frown. "Why don't I just come with you. Especially if your worried about an ambush."
Old Guard is quiet for a moment, hopping over some breaches roots. "I did consider it…but I don't think you are ready to face off against other people." He says honestly, giving me an apologetic glance. "AND…I want to make sure we have as many capable people protecting the village as we can. And you are more than capable."
I have the urge to protest that but I can't say that he's wrong. I don't think I'm ready either.
I've done over a hundred spars with Thorpe over the past 2 years but those were just practice. My life was never on the line. And the highest stakes could get was possibly getting bruised up or losing out on lunch if anything. So I never really actually considered that I might have to fight other people…
Which seems silly given what I do now. But a little over 2 years ago I was just supposed to be a farmer. I wasn't meant to worry about things like this. And I guess Leo's hero complex kind of rubbed off on me. Always talking about saving people from monsters and not…from other people.
Taking a deep breath first. "Yeah that makes sense. And if their targeting the village then I definitely don't want mama left alone."
Thorpe gives me a light smile over his shoulder. "Good call." He compliments before looking back ahead. "Once we get back I'll have you mixed in with the Village Guard more officially. You'll take shifts with them while I'm gone alongside doing training. And you'll join their sparring sessions."
My face brightens up immediately. "Yes! Thank you thank you! I won't let you down."
I've been wanting to help more with the guards for awhile. I've helped a little bit with patriot here and there but I've always been with Thorpe. Being able to take it more seriously and do patrols with the others is exactly what I wanted.
Thorpe gave a wave of his hand dismissively with a chuckle. "I know you will." Giving another look over his shoulder at me to smile.
But that soon toward to shock as he spun around. Lunging his spear almost directly at me but it veered to my left side. A loud clang resounds from that side. The sharp prickling sensation finally activating and washing over my entire body. But not nearly fast enough to let me dodge as my eyes barely even have time to track over to see Thorpes spear trying to stop the flat side of a double bladed axe.
But not strong enough.
Pain erupting from my left and spreading out over my body. Bones snapping in my arm as it's smashed into my side. Sending me flying and tumbling, hitting the ground hard again and again. Kicking up dirt and rocks until finally rolling to a stop.
For a moment I can't even move. Everything feels numb. Gasping for breath. Body throbbing with pain. All I can hear is ringing. Can't even open my left eye and my right is blurry.
My body trembles as I try to lift myself up with my right arm. But every slight movement is unbearable and I just end up back into the dirt. But I atleast manage to sit up some. Just enough to look down at myself.
Even though my vision is blurry I can tell just by the shape that my left arm is ruined. Bent inward at the elbow and limp at my side.
I can feel a wetness dripping down the left side of my face. Lowering myself back down to my back so I can use my right hand to feel where the wetness is coming from. Just to see blood staining all over my palm.
I must be bleeding from my ear. That definitely isn't good.
A flash of light grabs my attention. Rolling myself over to see blurry distant smudges trading blows. Sparks and clangs from metal colliding against metal as the two parry attacks from each outer. One of them is obviously Thorpe, noted by gold flashes of light from some his thrusts.
The other I can't make out but he seems to be keeping up. But I can make an easy wild guess who it is.
I squint my right eye, trying to force it to focus. And it actually seems to work a bit. Gaining me an easier glimpse of the burly Druid trying to dodge and weave around Thorpes spear but it seems he's having trouble with that. The Druid being forced to parry instead. But even then it's not working as well.
Thorpe's attacks are too quick and each thrust turns into a slash that Tarfyr can barely handle. Blood splattering out of shallow cuts all over his arms and the sides of his face. And old man is not letting up. Keeping Tarfyr caged in an absurd volume of repeated stabs, slashes, and retracts as his spear flows through either hand like water in between each thrust.
Tarfyr is skilled enough it seems to redirect the very unyielding attacks. But it isn't much longer until the Druid gets annoyed enough as he deliberately lets a stab through. The spear plunging into his stomach. But as Thorpe tries to pull it out it sticks. The old man grimacing as Tarfyr tries to bury his axe into Old Guard with a devastating overhead.
Thorpe let's go and leaps back but only fast enough to skip the worst. The axe still manages to slash through the front of his gambeson and likely causing a pretty gnarly gash.
The Druid is bleeding from over a dozen cuts across his body and now has a spear through his gut. I would think that would slow him down or get him to retreat but instead he rushes right back in. But not towards Thorpe.
He rushes at ME.
Tarfyr looks like he's about to leap over at me when all of his cuts and the puncture through him catch fire with bright gold. The Druids eyes widening as he doubles over and rolls, screaming in agony.
A flash of gold in my peripheral before Thorpe suddenly appears next to Tarfyr. The old man's face twisted into an expression of pure fury. Delivering a swing kick straight into the Druids abdomen and sending him flying. Crating divets in the dirt before crashing into one of the emperor trees.
Thorpe backs up near to me and blocks Tarfyrs path. His spear reappearing in his right hand. The old man scoffs "Trying to attack a wounded child. I guess your 'Hascan Honor' died when you enslaved yourself to that Bandit Mage." He taunts. "To think I was concerned about fighting you. Your just a cub yourself aren't you…a real Hascan would be making me sweat right now."
Tarfyr gritted his fangs. His wounds extinguishing and reduced to a smolder. Lifting himself to a stand, growling through the pain as the hole where the spear used to be bleeds profusely. "You…you know NOTHING!"
Thorpe wrinkles his nose. "I know enough!" He barks back. "Let me guess…the clan he ran with slaughtered your family and destroyed your home… and Dreyfus valiantly begged his boss for your life…and now your his PET!"
Tarfyr flinches at that. Seethes and then snarls, his body bolstering in size. Nails lengthening into claws, teeth like razor points, and fur sprouting from his bare skin. His eyes turning a bright yellow. The Druid's axe emitting that red aura. "I WILL NOT BE REPLACED! I AM USEFUL!!!"
With a guttural roar Tarfyr bounds towards Thorpe. Each footstep crushing the earth beneath him. Wild vicious animalistic fury. Becoming more monster than man with each yard crossed.
And Thorpe stood firm. Bending his knees and turning his free left arm towards the raging Druid. Pulling his spear back. His eyes narrowed and his feet dug in. Waiting.
I want to yell at him to dodge but can't get the words out. I've seen what Tarfyr can do like this. There's no way Thorpe can take it.
Tarfyr leaps the rest of the distance. Another overhead primed to crack the earth in Twain with the sheer raw power of his strength in this form.
The old man raised his left arm up in front of him. "[STALWART DEFENDER]!"
And in a flash of gold light a silver tower shield materializes onto his left arm just as Tarfyr's strike hits. Clanging against the shield with a resounding GONG like the bell in a steeple.
The force of the attack strikes the trees like a gale. The sturdy emperor trees leaning and swaying. But anything behind Thorpe, including me, seems to be untouched by it. Old Guards feet dig into the ground, sliding back a few inches but he holds strong.
The Druid's axe was rebuffed, sending him stumbling back with his arms up high. An opening which Thorpe takes immediately.
The tip of his spear flashing before its immediately thrust forward straight through Tarfyr's chest and out of his back. Another flash of bright light from the spears blade, blasting a hole through the Druids body and sending him flying back. Crashing to the ground several yards away.
And for a moment everything is dead quiet.
Thorpe stands there holding his spear at the ready and his shield held up. Waiting and watching Tarfyr's body.
But it never moves again.
And I finally release the breath I forgot I was even holding in.
Thorpe relaxing his shoulders as he stands up straight.
Then that prickly sensation rolls over me. My eyes widen. A shadow passes by. I try to scream out but I still can't speak over a pained whisper.
The shadow casts over Old Guard. He notices and tries to spin around but he's grabbed by something I can't see before he yells out in pain. Blood suddenly trickling down his side.
I try to scream his name but can only manage a painful croak. Tears streaming down my face. My heart pounding like a drum.
A humanoid shape in a ragged black cloak and leather armor unfolds from the shadow. A dagger firmly stabbed into Thorpes lower left side.
Old Guard growls. "Should…have fucken known…" Before dropping his head forward and swinging it back to head butt the cloaked man. The assailant grunts, stumbling back but is quick enough to jump out of the way as Thorpe spins around to lunge his spear at him.
But the stab was not so fast either. Thorpe is suddenly looking very exhausted. His breaths heavy and labored. Sweat is beginning to drench his body.
The hooded man Thorpe hit holds his nose, blood dripping from it. Groaning and cursing loudly. "Old fuck broke my god damn nose!"
Another voice comes from someone else I can't see. "That's what you get for just standing there after you stuck him..."
The one with the bloody nose scowls at the empty space next to him. "Shut the fuck up! We should just gut the old man."
The other voice let's out a grunt. "Yeah suuuure. And then Drey turns us both inside out…Yeah not happening."
The bloody one seethes through gritted teeth but glances back at Thorpe just as the old man drops to his knees. His breaths heaving.
The hidden one whistles lowly. "Velkan wasn't kidding, this guys tough as shit. Usually their passed out by now."
Thorpe might be on his knees but his head is still up and his eyes are currently burning holes into the one he head butt. His spear and shield still held up. But only for a moment more until they too wilt to the ground. Still grasped but Thorpe is no longer able to keep them held up.
Broken nose blows blood from his nostril before approaching Old Guard again. "Should have just collapsed old man. Now I have to be rough with you." The man giving a wicked smirk with blood stained over his mouth and chin. Cracking his knuckles.
Another voice spoke out of the dark, a new one. "Hey maybe just wait til he passes out first…"
Broken nose scoffs. "Fuck off! He can't even stand up."
But just as he steps close, Thorpe narrows his eyes. A flash from the tip of his spear before it lifts off the ground in a swift swing and contacts the ground again as Thorpe finally collapses.
Broken nose walks a couple more steps before his feet stumble. His arms dropping to the ground where they were severed. Blood spilling from the clean stumps.
The 2 other hidden cloaked figures fold out of the shadows with grimaces. One of them groaning. "I told you to wait…now you really fucked up."
Broken nose's only response is a gurgle. Blood wells up out of his mouth and dribbling down his chest. He drops to his knees before leaning forward as the top half of his body from his chest up slides off into the grass. His legs toppling over to spill his innards.
Old Guard lays limply on the ground. Wheezing with each breath. His eyes look distant. "Fuck….you…."
I want to scream but I still can't get my voice out above a whisper. The left side of my body feels numb. Every inhale I take strains and causes a dull pain in my chest.
Rolling over onto my belly. Digging the fingers of my right hand into the dirt I try to drag myself towards Thorpe. But I'm barely even able to get so much as an inch forward.
The two cloaked have walked over to broken nose and are checking him over. "God damnit…fucken idiot. What the hell we gonna tell Drey?"
"What else? Idiot tested his luck and lost…not our problem he didn't listen."
"Ugh. I still feel like we're gonna get chewed out for this. But let's just get this over. I wanna be back at came an drink that brandy we got from the caravan."
"Hell yes. I've been eyeing that bottle for days…oh hey…looks like the kiddos on the move."
My drops drops. Footsteps pound in my one working ear before two faint shadows cast over me. A foot slides under my stomach and rolls me over onto my back. Now I'm looking up at the canopy above with moonlight spilling through the branches. Two grizzled faces beneath dark hoods loom over me with amused expressions.
"Hard to believe she survived. The mutt really wanted to kill her."
"Probably sensed that his job was suddenly up for grabs…he was slacking off anyway."
Fear wracks my mind. More fresh tears streaming from my eyes. My body trembling uncontrollably.
One of the bandits cracks a grin, locking eyes with me as he unsheathes a dagger from his belt. "Lucky you pipsqueak. You saved the bosses life." Lowering the dagger to my right arm and makes a shallow cut. But I don't even feel it.
My eyes start getting heavy. Vision swimming. The world seems to spin around.
Not again…
And everything goes dark.