Ancient times ( Book 1)- Blood Vengeance

Chapter 9 ~ The crossbow ambush

Sail's were stowed, pillings lashed, the crew settled into a leisurely rhyme of unloading cargo. Carmly calling out orders amidst the swarming crew as they guided the ship to dock. Three  complete days on the water gave Drew a lot of things to think about as he was among the people who were unloading cargo.
Once he was done, he grabbed his bag and existed the ship his sword sheathed perfectly at his side. Even while walking king on the dry sand, he could sight a few tall castle. The sun was high in the sky pouring it heat down and soil, he was now in welzynn where lots of things was bound to go down especially in the tournament which he must win.

He barely noticed that someone was close to him until he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned immediately right hand on his sword. It was a man who looked like giant literally. Six feet tall, weighs close to four hundred pounds and brown colored bearded that reaches his chest and marched his eyes.
The man had to come from iron pine, only they possess such physical appearance.
He was putting on a silver tunic that has been ripped off at it shoulder length, black heavy boots covering his hairy legs.

" Sorry for sneaking up on you like that, I didn't want to lose you again. Am Garwin Mohr from the city est in Deverous, here for the tournament" Garwin introduced himself.

" Arthur wigan. You wanted to see me" Drew asks stopping a few miles close to the gold stone bulwark which was magnificent.

Turns out Garwin was not from Iron pine anyways. They were other recruits as well heading for the bulwark.

" Just loved the way you handled that shitty rapper of a man back in Vos, love a man who step up to those kind of fuckers " he said.

" Thank you but I must be on my way now" Drew replies.

" Am just saying, if you need any help with anything at all, maybe you feel lost around here, where the best ale is been sold, whore house. I am your man, I know places around here" Garwin stated his voice was deep.

Drew nods. This is definitely the one person he needs to avoid, the last thing he needs is a distraction.

Whoosh!

An arrow killed one of the recruits right in front of them.

" Bloody..."

Another arrow drops one recruit again.

Everyone else began to panic. Drew unsheathed his sword, same as Garwin only it was a big axe.

" Where the fuck is that coming from! " Garwin yells as Drew glanced around but he didn't see anyone.

Whoosh! Whoosh!  Whoosh!

Three arrows put down three more recruits, and they were like thirty of them including Drew. There were on an open field no where to hide or run too, why would they be killing recruits for the tournament? He wondered.

" What do we do" a recruit with no hair ran towards Drew and Garwin. Some of the men were coming his way as well.

" This is insane!" Another yells but before he could continue, an arrow went right through his heart causing blood to spill out before he drops dead.

Drew acted instinctively.

" Everyone! Into the water now!" He ordered.

" That's your plan?!" No hair man retorted.

Drew ignored him already running towards the sea yelling.

" We need to draw the shooter out by making he or she thinks we are retreating" the rest joined him running with the arrows still dropping down more men by the second.

" You need to keep your head down under the water for as long as you can, when I give the signal everyone charge in" Drew yells already close to the river bank.

" This plan better work for all of our sakes" Garwin said. They threw away their weapons jumping into the water without hesitation. Whoever the archer maybe, is definitely using a crossbow or they had to be more of them to shoot that fast.

The plan was simple, draw the archer out making it seem like they are the cowards running away from their problem rather to face it head-on and then surprise them. This was Drew's plan.
He held his breath as well as the others only, they were in the water and only his eyes were at the shallow. He couldn't see clearly because of the water in his eyes but he could make out movements and it was three but they were young, they spoke as they approached the deck where the ship had once been. Drew couldn't hear anything unless his head was totally out of the water which he avoided but now was the right time, they were totally unmatched.
He raised his right hand out of the water waving it at the three men who were confused and then pointed out his middle finger. That was the signal, or at least the one he knew everyone understood.

They exploded out of the water like a hungry lion, before any of the archers could even blink, Garwin busted one's head open with a punch to the skull. The remaining two bodies and faces couldn't be recognized anymore, it was covered by their blood and guts spilling out. But the men were still punching and kicking the dead bodies.
Drew didn't even get a chance to to do anything, though he was angry for what they did but he left the killing to the furious men of Deverous. He has bigger fish to catch. His entire body and cloth was dripping with water from the sea as he try to catch his breath suckling in more gulps of air into his lung as he searches for his bag but Garwin out of nowhere pulled from behind into a huge hug almost crushing his bones.

" I knew finding you wasn't a mistake Arthur wigan! That brain of yours is fucking gifted!" He exclaims realising him.

" How did you know they were using crossbows" one of them ask.

" No good archer could shoot that fast except a Sultan which I am pretty sure they aren't" Drew answered grabbing his already found bag nearby. " Sometimes you have to think like the enemy to beat them" he added.

" That's stupid" Garwin laughs as the others joined him.

Drew ignored them noticing an old man with wrinkled skin in a monk outfit approaching them with two knights in red polished armor although, their helmet covering their facial features. Drew called the attention of the recruits who were still laughing about Garwin disgusting jokes of naked women.

" Who are you" one asked.

" I am grandmaster Dutch to the king of the eight kingdoms. I am sorry for your loss, it was necessary to test how prepared you were for the tournament" he began with a Western accent.

" Wait.. you sent those men to kill us. Why?" Drew questioned.

" Every kingdom's recruits were tested as well, but you need to understand that this tournament is a life or death battle. There are no friends, no allies, just you and your opponent till death" he explained.

" What about the bodies we can't leave them here to rot" for the first time Garwin said something significant.

" The bodies will be buried with the rest that died. Nevertheless you will be accommodated into one of our finest inn with the best ale, a room each and any lady of your choice for the night" he finished.

" Including the fat ones with the large tits" Garwin inquired.

Drew sighs.

The others burst into laughter but the old man nods.

" All will be available for you tonight to enjoy yourselves. Tomorrow the tournament begins, come with me please" Dutch ushered them to follow him as they cross the bulwark into the capital city of welzynn.....

A/N

Thanks for reading this chapter, please comment on anything you think about this story so far. I will really appreciate it.

DEAL4N