Garthalan: Mother of the Wood

The Capitol

Garen pov

"A hundred men isn't much, seeing as to how five hundred failed last time. Did you recognise any of them?" I threw another log in the fire and sat next to longstrider.

"I believe I knew a few of them. Two were General's, sir Jenalon an amazing strategist and very well connected to the criminal world. Sir farrett, the one who salted the sales. And sir menalite, hasn't seen much battle but is still trained better than most men. I believe I also saw the royal advisor, lady lerinicks carriage anyway. She is my contact in the capitol though I do not know if she supports your rebellion or not however. Other than that I seen a few men I had trained with. There were a hundred and fifty of them, but if they were all trained as I was.......you have a serious problem on your hands."

I turned to the wardens. It seems we have no need to go into the capitol. We must hurry back." Right as the last words escaped my mouth all around the camp, men appeared....all order members. I jumped to my feet and drew my sword as the others drew their weapons. The fight still hadn't started but we were all ready.

"Lay down your weapons and you will be spared! Longstrider! This escapade is over!" A noble looking man appeared with a couple of guards. Longstrider walked ahead of us as we moved towards him. Warden Shey backed into the tunnel entrance so as not to be jumped from behind.

" And why would we trust you hand? Are you not the one who has ordered the death of hundreds of innocence? Are you not the same man who betray me twice before?!" Longstrider kept his bow trained on one of the guards. An overly large man you could easily mistake for a giant, he had a nasty burn scare his neck disappearing behind his armour. This man has seen battle countless times before. Or he's just a big scary showpiece that had a horrible childhood. Either way, I'll let longstrider deal with him, I've got the other man still large and probably fast, he carried a bow and matching set of diamond encrusted Syrian swords. I had heard of him in the arena. He is skilled with both weapons he carries and had never been hit in battle. Explaining the almost shining silver and gold armour. Wouldn't be my choice of attire and weapons but I guess all rich bastards like the shine.

" You, longstrider will be exacuted for your crimes. Your militia will be conscripted and join the ranks of the Order of Majora." I couldn't help but to laugh at that, the mans glare was almost terrifying.....Almost. "except that one. He will be imprisoned."

One of the order made his way to the noble. I think I knew him, Capitan Ashire, my old bunkmate from training. " Hand, that man is Commander Grethas advisor. He attempted to bring me with him when they left for their fort, If we keep him alive I may be able to get more information on the rebels."

Son of a breelander. "You always were a fine soldier Ashire but you never look at the big picture. One day I pray you will see the harm these men cause the lands." I think I saw regret in his eyes. Good, if I am caught I may yet convince him to join me.

"Any other men with you traitorous bastard?" When he seen I would not answer his inquiry, he turned back to longstrider. "Make your choice Longstrider will you men live or die?"

Longstrider adressed his men. "We are outnumbered and surrounded, but I will not lay down and die! Any who do not wish my own fate, lay down your arms and join those we protect others from. This is your only chance!" He still kept his bow on the mountain man awaiting his own men to make a decision at least twenty of them did so. I discretely signaled the wardens to do the same, if they can get into the ranks then they can more easily spread chaos in the rest.

Convinced that no more would give up, longstrider and I attacked, I moved towards the rich guard seeing the mountain man deflected an arrow and charge. My man drew his own swords. "Keep him alive Lidele, he can be useful." The noble spoke to my opponent as he approached.

I waited for his move first, he brought the blade down at a wide arc I moved to deflect it only to be hit in the back with the other sword. I chose poorly in my opponents. I jabbed my sown sword at him narrowly missing his abdomen he pulled me close and hit me with the Hilton of his sword breaking my nose and blinding me for a moment, he used this to hit me two more times. Now seeing double and my vision obscured I had no chance. I swung again only to be hit again, after a few more tries I could barely stand. I drew a dagger and tossed it at him, he dodged but I ran and tackled him to the ground, he dropped his swords. Thank goodness, I sat up and dropped a fist towards him. It was met with his gauntlets. I kept swinging so as to keep him surpressed until I found a plan. Thinking was hard in the state I was in. Only instinct was keeping me around at the moment. He grabbed my arms, pinning them to his chest. I brought my knee down on the open spot in his armour, he loosened and I slipped out. But another blow came to my head from behind. Everything was black after that.

Adaya pov

I made it to my home. To Sasha. I dug through the bag removing the singlet and placed it on her head. A man Lay on the dead, a shadow. I heard a liya from the back room. "Addy? Is that you?" I am going to beat Helena bloody for this.

"In here sis. Come on we need to get you to a safe place." As she appeared I trapped her in a hug and grabbed her hand. We left towards jettas house, she can fight and would better protect my sister.

After I dropped her off I ran back towards the tower. Midstride I was tackled down by what I'm guessing was one of the shadows. I tried to throw him off but he had me pinned. I lay my hand to the ground and sent a vine through his chest. I turned to see it was another shadow. "A mage? That's not something I expected." He backed off the vine the hole healing as he did so. A shadow in the dark, a very hard opponent to beat. He was far enough I drew my bow but when I aims he was gone, I heard steps behind me. Too close to turn in time. I waited then three my elbow back doubling the shadow over, I turned and hit him we with my bow. He was out. I drug him by a torch and plunged a dagger into his chest. Without the dark he would not be able to heal and would die. I started again on my trek towards the tower. Just as I got there a small group of men were entering. I drew my bow as a blast of light sent them back out the door and rolling across the ground.

"I thought I told the shadows to kill the mages!" What looked like the leader pressed to the wall. I drew an arrow and loosed it. It hit woman's shoulder as she tried to run past the door, she made me miss the mans neck. His attention turned to me and his eyes widened. He doesn't know who I am does he? Sureley not. Then I heard the slurred words of Gretha.

"Dony let them touuchh the coonttrolls men!" A few men stumbled past me.  Seriously! I turned to find a the whole of the army. Most stumbling and leaning on each other. I am so glad I already took out the other men outside. We woyldve been massacred. Grethas eyes went wide and he was about to speak but then my full view changed from the nighttime fort to an overly decorated room.

" This is the apparent queen of the Dales King Igneous." I swung back towards the voice making contact with my bow, he backed away drawing a dagger.

"now now shade. That's no way to treat a guest in my castle. Even one so lowly."