As War Unfolds: an act of valor

Chapter 4

"You have your teams," the Silver Knight announces the obvious, "follow your team captain to your portion of the playing field to hide your flag."

Both Flint and Joan were put on the other team, team Red, and I'm the only mage on my team. Though I got Gregor on my team so it should even out, plus our team leader is Locksley.

Locksley leads my team of twenty through the forested mountain to a small spring. It's surrounded by strange rocks and a gigantic oak tree.

"Alright, we need a plan." Locksley informs us of obvious. "Anyone have an idea?"

"I do Sir." Gregor says from the back of the group.

"Come up here and explain."

Gregor makes his way to the front of the group and kneels down with a stick in hand. He starts to draw in the dirt.

"Alright, so here's the plan."

~~~~~~~~~~~

I send a ball of fire into the night sky, signaling we're ready. A minute later another ball of fire is shot up far in the distance.

"Let's go." Gregor grabs the flag and we run off into the cover of the trees.

The forest is silent except for the occasional owl hoot. Gregor moves through the greenery, not making a sound. I follow as quietly as I can.

We see a few of our team mates run through the bushes trying to draw attention away from us.

Gregor holds up his arm, signaling me to stop. I stop and listen, looking in the direction of every sound I hear. Gregor points up a tree and holds out the flag.

I nod in understanding as I take the flag.

Gregor notches an arrow, ready to take out anything that could possibly see us. I scramble up the tree rather easily considering I have a scabbard knocking me in the leg.

After wedging the purple flag into a crevice I pile dead leaves on top of it, making sure it's hidden well. I hop down from the tree and nod to Gregor.

Gregor pulls out a small knife and cuts a small symbol into a root protruding out of the ground. With that last action, we run off in the direction of the decoy position.

The decoy position is the place where we set up most of our men to fool the other team. It's at the bottom of the giant oak near the spring.

The plan is working. about ten of the other team is here in battle with my team. Gregor goes in arrows blazing. I come in bland but ready for action.

My khopesh in hand, I take on a man. It takes me less than a second to realize it's another mage, Olaf.

His daggers are streaked with blazing fire and his eyes are glowing amber. A smirk crosses my lips, this should be fun.

He strikes almost instantly, catching me off guard. I stumble back, holding my jaw with my free hand. He stands there smiling, ready to attack. I snap back and summersault around him to his backside. I roll to my feet and strike across his back. My blade does nothing.

He elbows me in the gut, forcing me backwards. The flames on his arm scorches my tunic, barely missing my flesh. Olaf spins around and knocks me off my feet. I fall onto my back as he towers over me. He holds his dagger over my head, ready to knock me out.

I smile. He looks a bit confused as to why I'm smiling. He hesitates, giving me the one second I need. I hammer him in knee with my elbow causing him to loose balance. I maneuver my khopesh around his blade, yanking it from his grip. I shoot down his other arm with a blast of ice. I scramble to my feet, barely dodging the fire ball that would've hit my chest.

Strong arms wrap around me, pinning my arms to my torso. I try to swing my elbow into his gut but I can't get the power I need with the limited space.

Flames engulf Olaf's frozen arm, melting the ice.

Olaf smiles as he works on summoning a giant ball of fire. This is against the rules! That sphere of flames is enough to kill me! I take it back, this isn't fun.

I struggle in the arms of my captor, desperate. An idea comes to mind.

I whistle, impersonating a blue jay. Nothing, no response.

Time for plan B... I just need to figure out what plan B is.

Out of instinct, I act.

I put my trust in my captor's strength and lift my feet out from under me, kicking out at Olaf. My foot goes right through his flaming ball, burning my boot but hitting Olaf and breaking his focus. The flames dissolve as he stumbles back.

I put my feet back on the ground and use the back of my head to head butt my captor. He lets go and stumbles away from me.

Meanwhile, Olaf has recovered. i'm too late to notice though. A dagger is plunged into my leg. I cry out in pain. I have enough common sense to shoot a blast of ice behind me, enough of a distraction to keep my former captor busy.

I grit my teeth as an orb of raw magic touches the bare flesh on my sword arm.

With pain, I continue to fight, refusing to retreat. I think you've all discovered that my stubbornness is my biggest downfall.

An arrow flies into Olaf's arm, rendering him less of a threat. His face contorts in pain but he continues to fight, just as stubborn as myself. Maybe it's a mage thing, I'll have to ask Korris about that.

I parry his attacks, still in pain. He knocks my blade from my hand, a twisted smile on his face. Closing my eyes, leaving myself open for attack, I take all that pain and force it into energy.

I open my eyes, surprised not to find another blade embedded in my body. Olaf is pinned to a slab of stone by his own daggers bended into cuffs.

How did this happen? I look down at my hands, confused, amazed, and most of all, terrified.

I rip out the dagger in my thy, taking this moment of opportunity. I look back up at Olaf to see his terrified eyes staring right back at mine.

"What the hell are you?" Olaf asks, petrified.

I turn around ready to take on my next opponent but I find none. Everyone's trapped the same way as Olaf.