The Sword Maiden

King's Messenger

It was quickly clear that the crowd was surrounding someone, but who or what it was we couldn't see.  

I laid a hand on the hilt of Bound.  It was obvious the crowd was stupendously drunk and rowdy.  I felt the tension of anticipating a fight starting to creep over me and wipe away the rest of the sleepiness.  

"What ya come 'ere for, skilly?" 

"Stupid skilly!"  

"Let's kill 'im!"  

That last one caused me to start.  Whatever a 'skilly' was, I didn't think he deserved death without a trial.  And certainly, if punishment was deserving, it should not be given out by a bunch of drunks.

And I knew the others thought the same.  

"What's going on here?" bellowed Redwar in the loudest voice I'd ever heard him use.  It crashed into my ears and made me wince.  

At this, the crowd fell silent, except for one man who answered Redwar's question.  

"This skilly came in ta town and we's don't like skillys, so we're beatin' 'im up ya see?"

"No.  I don't."  

Another stumbled forward, the one who had made a swipe at Valeria the last time we were here.  "Say, who 'ade ya our leader?"  His words were distinctly slurred.  

Redwar didn't reply.  He just drew his blade and used the pommel to crack the guy on the head.  He slumped into a puddle at his feet.  

Redwar's face was grimly chilling.  I'd never seen him like this before, and for a moment, I realized I was getting a glimpse of what he must have been before as a Ravager.

Following Redwar's lead, me and Valeria unsheathed our blades.  Derrek drew the blade that used to be mine, before Redwar gave me Bound.  Seeing this, the crowd grew even more silent. 

"Move aside."  Redwar's command boomed out.  I tightened my grip on Bound.  Did Redwar really think we could take on this mob?  

For a moment, we stared at the crowd, and the crowd stared back at us.  

Then, reluctantly, the people began to part. 

Redwar didn't hesitate but strode forward though the gap.  The rest of us followed a bit more cautiously.  

The mob had been surrounding a man, who was struggling to stand up.  He had blood on him, and no doubt would be developing a few bruises.  There didn't seem to be anything remarkable about him, why had the people of Baradom attacked him?

Redwar knelt down and hooked his arm under the man's shoulder.  Pulling him up, with his sword in the other hand, he practically dragged the man towards the gap created by the mob.  His intention was clear.  

A few rumbles of resentment started up in the crowd.  I bristled at the feeling of being closed in on.  Okay, I'd had enough from this punk of town who would beat up on innocent men and drink themselves stone drunk every night.  

I growled and set my sword stance, then swung my blade outward in a wide  slow arc.  Most the people lurched backwards, narrowly avoiding my blade.  Two weren't quick enough and came away with shallow cuts.  

Valeria copied my example, slicing out at those who got too close.  "Help Redwar," I called to Derrek.  

The crowd was growing increasingly restless and angry.  I knew if we acted like we owned the place, it would delay their attack but we didn't have much time.  

Derrek grabbed the man's other shoulder and they proprelled him clear of the crowd.  Slowly, Valeria and I began to back away.  Both of us were thinking the same thing:  never turn your back and run when faced with a dangerous animal.