The Sword Maiden

Coward

I nearly called out, but figured that would make him run.  So instead I silently made a bee line for him.  

The crowd's focus was all on Valeria and Redwar, no one noticed the thief slinking off but me.  He was glancing around, slowly shifting backward.  

When he spotted me I was already half way to him.  He had just enough time to draw his sword before I let out a war cry and crashed into him.  

He blocked and countered.  This caught me by surprise.  None of the other thieves had done something like that.  I instantly sensed he was more cunning than the rest, and wondered in the back of my mind why he wasn't the ringleader.  

I found myself in a match that I knew was over my head.  But I also knew that he probably wouldn't take the time to kill me.  He was just trying to get away, no doubt the Sheriff was in route and would soon be here.  

My job was just to keep him busy enough that he couldn't leave.  I was basically like an annoying little sibling tagging along for the ride.  

He was cleaver, constantly countering and forcing me to back off.  When I did, he would back up a few feet while watching me.  Slowly, he was edging his way back from the crowd and me. 

I grunted as he once again blocked.  He angled his sword up for a counter, but I pushed forward, hoping to disrupt his counter.  I did slightly, his stab was sloppy, but I still had to pull back.

However, my shove had changed his course of direction.  Without realizing it he was backing towards a tavern wall.  I worked to keep my elation off my face.  

We continued the pattern of attack, counter, back off.  I was backing him into a wall, and he knew it from his quick glances behind.  When he tried to change course though, I wouldn't let him, and I kept on the offensive.  

What I didn't understand though, was why he didn't try to ram me through and be done with it.  Unfortunately, I didn't have much confidence he wouldn't succeed.  My guess was was that he didn't want a murdering a woman charge put on his record of wrongs too. 

Now he was nearly up to the tavern, to try and run would be quite tricky now.  I struck, he countered as per usual, and I backed off.  He walked back a few steps, but before I could go on the offensive again, he pulled a very cowardly move.  

He dodged out of the line of my blade to the side, then reached out and grabbed a rather dirty looking girl who was nearby along with others, watching our fight with interest.  He stuck her in front of himself and put his sword point to her throat. 

His message was quite clear.   

The crowd gasped, and my eyes widened.  I stepped back, lowering my sword to my side.  I didn't have a choice.  

He grinned at me.  "That's right, you all just stay right there."  He glanced over at the crowd.  "All of you.  Otherwise, she dies."  

The poor girl looked utterly terrified, her lip was quivering.  

He walked out to the street, always keeping the girl in front of himself.  He leered at us.  "Someone git me a horse."  

Nobody moved.  

"Now!"  

Hesitantly one man started running towards the back of the tavern.  

"I'm takin' this girl with me.  And if any of you try to follow, you know what'll happen."  

The girl whimpered, and I grit my teeth, my fingers twitching along Bound's handle.  Oh, how I longed to take him on!  

"You're a coward,"  I spat out.  

He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, the man came back from around the tavern leading a horse saddled and bridled.

Just then Redwar and Valeria stepped up beside me.  Valeria had a bow, and an arrow was nocked.  The thief looked at the trio of us and glared.

 "Don't git any noble ideas.  You draw that bow, and it's over for her."  He jabbed his sword closer to the girl, making her whimper.  

Valeria's hands tightened, but she held her peace.  

The coward made the girl mount first, his sword always pointed close enough to do damage.  Before mounting himself, he switched to a dagger, but gave no chance for Valeria to draw her bow.  

He clambered on behind and grasped the reins of the horse, who was looking a little wild eyed.  He glanced behind him, then back to us.  It was clear he wanted to go the other way, but didn't want to turn and leave himself exposed.  

So, he pulled harshly on the horse's reins, trying to get the animal to back up.  The horse obliged him for a few steps, but made it clear he was not happy and stopped.  

The coward pulled on the reins even more, causing me to wince as the the horse opened it's mouth in pain.  He backed one or two more steps, and then stopped again.  

The coward muttered a few curse words and shouted, "Git on with you!" as he nearly tore the horse's face off.  

In response the animal promptly reared straight up.  I gasped.  It looked like he was going to topple over.  

But he scrambled for his footing and came down hard.  Finding the pressure on the reins released, he bolted forward.  With a heavy crash the coward and the girl tumbled to the ground.

Suddenly Redwar pushed us to the side, out of the way of the charging beast.  Both the coward and the girl lay on the ground.  

"Now Valeria!" Redwar cried. 

Valeria regained her footing.  She set herself and pulled back the string, then let go.  The arrow flew fast and true, sticking its target square in the leg.  

The coward cried out and clenched at the arrow as the girl he'd threatened scrambled away on hands and knees.  Redwar ran to her.

Meanwhile, I lifted my sword and swiftly strode over to the coward, kicking his dagger aside.  I reached down and plucked his sword out of it's scabbard.  

He looked up to find my sword point at his throat.  

"How does it feel to be on the other end of a blade?"  I growled out, still furious at his cowardly act.  In my eyes, he could not redeem himself. 

AN:  Phew, another intense chapter!  Originally I was going to have Valeria show off her amazing archer skills and stick that coward like Robin Hood right in the arm.  But I figured that was a little cliche' and predictable, so I opted for horse throwing rider instead :)