For Her

21. For Her

Midahas lunged first and Riftan leapt right for him, their swords cutting across harshly. Riftan swung across, the sound of steel catching hard as the steel screeched against the other as the men pushed against the other, sword hilts clutched in suspension. Riftan's gaze burned the other man, who sneered darkly and drew back swiftly, swinging his sword across and below on the offense and Riftan kept up, defending his every move easily. The man was a skilled fighter indeed but he was nothing compared to Riftan.

Maxi crawled to her knees, gasping heavily, as she rubbed her sore throat, grabbing the church pew chairs as her legs were still heavy and numb from the medicine. She could hear the rough, grating clang of swords drawn on each other and watched in stifled terror as Riftan battled against Midahas with burning fury.

Riftan cut across. Rob lunged backwards, and Maxi flinched as the men were drawing closer to her spot and she knew she needed to get out of their way lest Midahas try to use her as a shield again. Maxi stumbled away, clutching the pew chairs and the wall as she could the heavy grunts and snarls from the men behind her, glancing back fearfully even though she knew she didn't have to. Riftan slammed his shoulder against Midahas, knocking him against the chairs and Riftan swung his sword down but Rob blocked it.

Riftan was too powerful and-

"RIFTAN!" Maxi shrieked in terror, hands clapping over her face in petrified shock as Rob suddenly withdrew a dagger from his side, swiping across and just catching Riftan's cheek.

Riftan!

Riftan hissed, eyes blazing as he swiped the shallow cut on his cheek and slammed his sword forward but Rob quickly rolled out of the way. Rob kicked the candle holder, letting it fall on Riftan who just casually swiped it aside. Maxi hurried away, as Rob drew too close but was facing off against Riftan as they battled it out closer to candles lit up and Riftan slammed his foot against his chest, knocking him back against the wall with a thump. Maxi watched stunned as Riftan lunged at him but Rob rolled aside, grabbing a lamp and throwing it at Riftan, oil splashing out onto Riftan. Thankfully not hot oil but Riftan snapped furiously as it got in his eyes.

"RIFTAN! DUCK!" Maxi shrieked as Rob swung across to his head, grabbing a thick candle with hot wax still melting atop and threw it at Rob. Riftan ducked swiftly and Rob stumbled as the hot wax burned his shoulder and neck and he roared, turning to Maxi.

"DAMN YOU, WRETCH!" He ran at her and Maxi shrieked, trying to run away but he suddenly grabbed the back of her dress and some of her hair and yanking her back as she struggled to wrestle out of his grip.

"MAXI!" Maxi felt herself wrenched back and spun around and gasped in terror as Riftan who was charging straight at Rob, his sword aimed right for his back-

Only for Maxi to be in his way!

Riftan's eyes widened as his heart jolted fearfully, frozen as his heart was mere inches from her chest as she gasped for air, her eyes wide in shock and Rob clutched her shoulders, sneering from behind-

Then pushed Maxi straight to Riftan's sword.

Riftan had a brief second head start, his sword already swinging aside as Maxi was shoved forward, barely missing his sword as she was shoved against his chest and he quickly grasped her tightly to him, his sword that he swung aside to avoid stabbing Maxi was quickly slammed out of his hands and landing on the floor with a clang. Riftan spun them around, avoiding Midahas's sword as it swung straight at them, barely missing Maxi's back.