Moonstones and Madness

Forty-five

        Hae-sung squirmed in his saddle, frustrated as the trail they followed along the ravine ended in a wash-out and they were forced to double back. After joining one of the tracks to the camp they only managed to bag a couple of birds for all their time hunting. None of the signs of bigger game were fresh. 

       He was about to suggest they rejoin the main trail when a man sprang up from his left. Hae-sung had barely unsheathed his sword when another attacker dropped down from the trees on the right. He spun his horse, signaling the gelding to kick-out, while another member of the ambush stepped into the path. A knife few past Hae-sung's shoulder, hitting its mark before the man could finish raising his bow. Another attacker rushed in, grabbing onto Hae-sung's leg, trying to unseat him but Song-hee leapt into the fray, pulling the assailant over backwards and knocking him out with a series of rapid punches. Song-hee ducked under spear jab coming in from the left then flipped the momentum on the weapon against its original wielder. The man went down with a lethal strike on the nose. Without pause, Song-hee did a quick roll under Hae-sung's horse to take out a man with a long straight blade but took a hoof in the middle of his back on the way. A series of arrows from Manager Doak chased off the rest of the attackers.

     The woods seemed eerily quiet after the fray. Hae-sung tried to steady his breath and take a quick inventory. He had a cut across the back of his hand but was otherwise unscathed. His horse also had a cut along its shoulder but it did not seem deep. Song-hee was leaning against a tree taking short, shallow breaths, his face unusually pale. His horse was nowhere in sight. Manager Doak had an arrow sticking out of one leg, effectively pinning him into his saddle on his remarkably calm horse.

     Six attackers lay where they had fallen, two in the rear with arrows in their necks and faces and three Song-hee had dispatched while defending Hae-sung. The fact the other man Song-hee initially knocked out had been killed by one of the departing rogues confirmed these were no ordinary bandits.

     "You can't go far like that," Hae-sung said pointing to Manager Doak's leg.

     "We can't stay here. Just help me bandage around it to hold everything in place so my boy can take care of me," Manager Doak gave his horse a firm pat before turning to look at Song-hee. "What about you, can you double with Hae-sung?"

     "I better not," Song-hee wheezed then spit out some blood. "We need to find someplace a bit more defensible but it better not be too far."

     "How bad?" Hae-sung whispered.

     "Bad enough," Song-hee whispered back. He went to shrug but realized along with the likely broken ribs his shoulder was frozen. "Just give me a minute," he said as he tried to clear his mind enough to access a bit of crystal energy. He gratefully accepted a warm boost from Hae-sung as he got helped back to his feet.

     With bows drawn, they made their way to the main trail, seeking out a sheltering tree with clear sight-lines all around. Song-hee had just settled back against the trunk when his horse came trotting up the trail. Hae-sung stepped forward, caught one of the broken reins, and focused on trying to calm the animal.

     "At least now we still have our catch," he grinned over at Song-hee who flashed a thumbs up.

     "Do you think you're within flyer range of the camp?" Manager Doak asked Hae-sung.

     The young man responded by readying a short message to send through the air but then admitted, "My connection isn't very strong but it is still worth a try."

     Song-hee watched his teammate closely for several minutes, adding his will to the task and only relaxing once he sensed the message had made it through.