IronGuard

CHAPTER 17

"Step away from her" Lady Therese says. Fiercely gazing at Liana who is trembling with excitement. 

The rain storm still rages outside the tent and the voices of men in battle still fill the camp's surroundings. Lady Therese made it back in time to protect her student who she treats as her own daughter. Liana steps closer to lady Therese and prepares herself for a fight, she hoped to say a few words before they begin but in a blink of an eye lady Therese disappears and reemerges behind Liana throwing her out of the tent and out in the rain with one push of her hand. 

Therese steps outside and finds Liana already up on her feet and ready to go, her eyes filled with rage and anxiety. "I wanna know what happens when I cut your pretty face, milady" Liana smirks but lady Therese only smiles back at her. 

"You can very well try but you won't like the outcome"

Liana exhales deeply and charges like a wild beast towards lady Therese and they crossed blades. Meanwhile just a few tents away from them, Dello watches the real Owen fight Roland. Owen saved him from a horrible death minutes ago and now he is pushing back Roland with each strike. 

"How did you find out!" Roland said as he tries to keep Owen back. 

"You should've looked for a better disguise!" Owen knees him in the gut and Roland stumbles back, nearly falling to the mud. "I never left captain Gildas' side and when Finn and the others arrived. I knew what you have done"

"You just denied me revenge!" Roland strikes back and Owen stops him yet again. "You...wretch"

"The only wretch here is you. Take a look at yourself!"

"Silence! I...won't have...peasants talk to me like this!" 

Owen straightens his back and lowers his sword. He looks at Roland with pity, sad to see a recruit with such potential lower himself to the likes of the corrupted. "Surrender and I'll make sure you live"

Gasping heavily for air Roland swings his sword against the air in anger, only succeeding in cutting the rain drops. "When...news of my defeat...to that piece of dirt" Roland recovers and stands tall. "My family was ashamed of me, they said I was an embarrassment" 

"You're not. If you lower your blade now and help us stop this war" 

Roland chuckles in sadness but seems to be calmer than awhile ago. Shaking his head, knowing the truth of his situation. "It's too late for me, for any of us" he says. He prepares to attack Owen the sprints towards Owen. 

"I'm sorry" Owen replies. Seconds later Owen swings his sword and blood flies through the air and splatters all over the ground. 

"So...fast" Roland coughs up blood and falls to the mud and dies with his eyes wide open.

Owen rushes towards Dello and sees him pale and unconscious, he pulls out the sword from Dello's back and picks him up and carries him towards the healers. Dello still breathes but obviously has little time left before he dies. 

Outside Rithia's tent, Liana still has to land a single blow at lady Therese. She's failed many times now and exhaustion is taking its toll on her. Her excited grin before disappeared and her face only shows frustration and deepening anger. 

"Why do you hate us so much Liana?" Lady Therese asks. Staring at Liana, barely standing and gasping heavily for air. "What have we done for you turn into such madness?" 

Liana doesn't give a reply except a dead stare at lady Therese. The dreadful storm clouds continues to cover the field with cold rain and angered lightning. Lady Therese was about to continue when Owen called out.