Of Blood And Royal Bones

Chapter 9: Uninvited Guest

Shadows appeared at the edge of the forest, four, five, six of them at least. They stepped out from the cover of the trees and revealed themselves– as much of them that showed, that is. They wore thick black leather from top to bottom and their faces were masked.

"Having a little stroll, are we?" Said the one closest to Ziam. His voice was rough and he signaled with a jerk of two fingers for the group to move closer.

Kassia played out scenario after scenario in quick succession in her head; they could flee the robbers easily since they had the advantage of being on horseback, though with a quick glance she discovered that their path had been blocked by a particularly bulky robber who held a dagger out in front of him; they could fight them off together, though she knew Ziam wouldn't succeed in getting more than two shots off before they were upon them and she would be far too outnumbered to stand a chance against them; the final scenario, their only option, was to await their impending attack or attempt to persuade them of a different course of action which seemed very unlikely.

"Well?" The first man growled at them. He also held a weapon out in front of him, though his was far more intimidating than the puny dagger that some of them carried.

"We wish to carry on in peace." Ziam declared clearly, though Kassia knew his words would be of little effectiveness in their situation.

"Ha!" The apparent leader mocked as he twisted his machete in the air as a threat. "We do not give a damn what your wishes are, boy!" The looters laughed and growled their approval. "We only care about the gold you're gonna give us."

"And if we refuse?" Kassia dared in a steady tone of defiance.

The thief cocked his head at her as if just noticing her presence for the first time. "I believe you misunderstand me, girl. You will give it to us," he glanced around at his mates, "or we will take it. Either way we will kill the archer and claim you." He growled.

She scoffed. "The tongue of a very ignorant man, I take it."

Ziam turned slightly towards her and whispered so low it was nearly inaudible, "While I applaud your fearlessness, I hardly think this the proper time for such bold words."

"Enough waiting! Our patience has grown thin. Holger, perhaps you could provide some motivation." He pointed to the bulky criminal that guarded their path and the man began walking toward them.

Just then came a startling cacophony of clanking metal and Kassia flinched and turned in her saddle at the noise and seven heads whipped around to the place where the sound had emanated behind them. Several of the brutes grunted in surprise as a tall, armored figure stood before a collapsed robber, his sword drawn and bloodied.

"Enough waiting." The soldier chaffed in a voice laced with malice. "My patience has grown thin."

The nearest robber lunged at him with his dagger and the soldier dodged it swiftly causing the robber to lose his balance at the anticipated strike that never came. The soldier drove his sword into the exposed back of the falling robber and quickly removed it, awaiting the next attack.

Ziam took advantage of this surprise attack and whirled in his seat to fire an arrow at the one they called Holger who crumpled in a heap as the arrow found its mark.

Kassia did not await her invitation as she jumped from her saddle and lunged at the nearest criminal. He turned to her in surprise at her speed and lack of hesitation in the fight, but wielded his dagger at her all the same.

She thrusted her sword at him in a flash of gleaming metal and he was a second too slow to dodge the blow and his dagger was flung from his hand. Kassia thrusted her sword at his abdomen, but hesitated for a brief portion of a second before it penetrated his flesh. Instead she whipped the flat part of her blade up and across his face with shocking speed leaving a long laceration there. He fell to the ground from the force of the hit and she knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her sword and turned to the next.