Praestrigia

Hostage

(Here's the second part of chapter two made chapter three to make it short enough)
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STRANGER DANGER STRANGER DANGER AAAAAAAAAAAA

The voiced belonged to a man with a snake skull (an Emerald Tree Boa's too be exact, don't ask how I know). He was a lot skinnier than the others, and his movements were sporadic. I unconsciously leaned clung to Arlot's arms. He seemed to understand because he held me close. 

"Who...?" I jumbled through my pockets in search of something I could use. Aha, a pocket knife! 

His gaze snapped over to me. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." 

I narrowed my eyes. "If you're willing to come alone and unarmed, I assume there are others will you?" 

He was silent before holding up his hand, three of them bent slight. "Bring the girl."

There was ruffling of leaves as a burly man came trekking from the forest opposite from where we entered. He had a rattle snake's skull upon his head. Had you seen this man in any other situation, you probably could've considered him a blacksmith or even a woodcutter. But not in this case, this bastard had a hostage with him. 

It was very obvious that  they girl that was in his arms was a hostage. Her brown hair was disheveled and her chestnut eyes were  red from tears and a knife was stuck at her neck. Her hands were tightly grasping her white dress.

"You bastard!" Avriel growled. "Taking a human hostage, just how low are you?!" 

Human..? Why didn't he just say woman? Was there something I missed? Anyways.. Boa began to laugh maniacally before addressing  Avriel once again. "Sorry, Young Master, but not everyone is as honest with their fighting style as you and your Platoon." 

"You...!" Myard made to lunged at Boa but Avriel held out his hand to stop him. 

"Wait! We don't what he'll do." Avriel narrowed his eyes at Boa. "I don't suppose you'll let her go without gaining anything?"

"Give us the bones." Boa answered curtly.

"Will you release her?" Avriel held a hand at his sword reflexively. 

Alright me, think logically, I've been thrown into another world, nearly killed by a wyvern, made into an emergency tactician, killed that wyvern, and am in a hostage situation over reptile chicken bones?! Are you sure we're only three chapters in?!

I muttered to myself  as I twirled the pocket knife in my hands. "I just need some sort of distraction so I can reach the bigger one, since he's the closest." 

"If it's just a distraction, I can use low level magic to temporarily stun him." Royous whispered to me. 

I nodded. "Sure, but do it discretely, I'll try to get as close to the hostage as possible." 

I saw Avriel glancing at me and I motioned with my hands to keep talking to the man with the Emerald Tree Boa skull without letting him figure out the plan. 

I couldn't hear what he was saying as I slithered back into the forest and made my way around to the area closest to the hostage. I looked around to see if I could see Royous from where I stood. Luckily he was almost directly across from my position.