Nation Assassination

Chapter Nineteen

(Bonus chapter! I know i updated today, but i feel like you guys deserve another chapter for staying so dedicated :) In fact, without you guys, I probably would have just given up on writing this so super big thanks! And i want to put some names up here and give a big shout-out to my top three readers. I judged this by scrolling through my notifications and am giving some ‘Awards’ out i guess? Nothing much, just some titles, but still.

My top three are:     @J45747     for best comments :)

                               @Fafee245  for giving the most votes :)

                               @CookieMonster2241 for demanding I write more because she hates waiting :) She’s also my best friend XD

Huge thanks to you guys and all that you do. Stay awesome! Anyway, here's that bonus chapter:)

People stared at us as we raced past, but Jean and i kept looking straight forward, pushing our horses to go as fast as possible. This was no joke. If what i saw is real, that means the Raiders caught wind of my future mission to retrieve their one weakness, and they’re tearing apart the town and turning it upside down trying to find it before the NA does.

Which cannot happen. I cannot let it happen. If it happens, then all the hope for defeating the raiders will be lost and they will overrun everything. I could see the seriousness in Jean’s eyes every time i looked over… He believes in me, and in what i saw. Honestly, whatever i saw could just be my mind overworking itself and causing me to hallucinate but it seemed so real. Too real.

Max wasn’t exactly the fastest horse, but compared to Jean’s horse, I think her name is Marie, They were an even match. In any other circumstance, i would be giving Jean shit about it because his horse was bred and trained to be the strongest and the fastest because he was such a high ranking and Maximum has never even been shown any care at all, let alone proper training. But now was certainly not the time, now was the time to be serious and smart.

We covered distance quickly, crossing over the NA border in less than ten minutes at full speed. Im positive someone has already reported to Mr.Black because it was an unauthorized mission, but if not we wouldn't be reported missing until two or three days.

“How long until you think until we get there?” I hollered at Jean.

“If we keep this pace the whole time, two days, but we have to stop and rest the horses… so i’d day three.” He yelled back.

I nodded and faced forward again, mentally preparing myself for anything and everything that could go wrong. Raiders could come after us, we could be attacked by any given animal out there, or we could get lost...or even worse, i will be right about the happenings in Ameron and we will be too late.

I didn't think much about what we would do when we got there, though. If things are normal, Jean will probably be pissed and we’ll have to go back to the NA empty handed. If i'm right and it’s being overrun, what can we do about it? I don't know about Jean, but my vague and not-thought-all-the-way-through plan is to get past the raiders and find the secret before they do. I haven't told Jean that though.

In fact, he’s probably making his own plan inside his head right now.

I’m not sure how long we’ve been riding, but i couldn't see the NA anymore and the horses were beginning to slow down.

“Jean? I think the horses are getting tired… should we stop?” I yelled.

Jean nodded and eased his horse to a walk. “I don't think we should stop until night. After all, constantly keeping them moving, whether it's a canter or a slow walk, it will build stamina and endurance, which is something he is going to need.” He said, referring to Maximum.

“His name’s Maximum.” I told him.

I could feel Max’s heavy breathing under me, but Jean was right. Max is probably two or three years old and this is the first time he’s ever been ridden. Thankfully, he took to it quickly and got the hang of whatever i was trying to make him do. Really it was go faster, slow down, and stop… im not sure how to get him to turn though… but luckily, i don't have to worry about that yet.

“I’m thinking that we should find somewhere to rest before nightfall… soon we’ll be in pure raider territory, and you don't have a weapon or armor. We should probably camp just outside of the territory, and in the morning we’ll be ready to race through it as fast as we can.” Jean told me.

I just nodded and continued to softly pet Maximum, trying to slow his breathing. He was obviously pretty tired, but i would be too if i were him.

The sun blazed a bright orange and the stars on the horizon were barely visible, but still i was tired. It was late afternoon, and i could tell Jean was tired too. Clinging to a saddle must be hard, but i was riding bareback, so he had NO reason to complain. None at all.

“Hey Jean...what the hell is that?” I after I could see a decent sized black speck in the distance.

He squinted for a minute, then his eyes widened.

“Mercy...unless we find somewhere to hide in a wide open plain, were fucked…” he whispered.

At his words, I realized he was right. That black speck was getting closer and it wasn't a speck… it was a group of four hundred or more raiders.

In an open plain, Jean and I could hide pretty easily… but we have to hide the horses too.

We couldn't fight, either. All Jean had were two or three small knives and all I had was...well, nothing. In my condition, I can't accurately operate any precision weapon, let alone take on another group of raiders.

Besides, when I first ran into that first group following Jean and I, I was still seething about Francis’s death, healthy, and I had a weapon.

Now, I'm relaxed, injured, and defenseless. Well, defenseless and injured at least. I WAS relaxed a few minutes ago.

Jean forced his horse to an abrupt stop. He looked at me for a few minutes, then began talking.

“There is no way in hell I'm going to let you fight… but we can't hide.” He stated.

“No shit…” I growled, “got any fancy assassin skills to help us out?” I asked him.

Jean seemed to look like he was thinking of a sarcastic answer, then his eyes widened again.

“No...but your Bandit, the best known thief, fighter and contract killer in the country. I thought Bandit always had a few tricks up her sleeve? Unless the rumors I heard were false…” he said.

Now he was not only encouraging my bad past, but he was daring me to use some of it.

“Damn right those rumors were false.” I said.

Jeans face turned to surprise before I was able to continue.

“I'm always being underestimated, you know.” I winked.

Jeans face went fairly blank, and a little red before I charged off towards the raiders.

‘Its all part of insanity…’ I thought to myself.

The raiders couldn't see me through the dark, but I could see them. They were casually walking the horses, some of them riding and some walking.

I made a wide circle around them, getting almost within sight of one of the outskirt guards and drawing his attention.

Like the dumbass I expected him to be, he didn't alert the others and instead investigated by himself.

He got off his horse and walked towards me, obviously completely oblivious to who and what I was. All he knew was my general direction.