A Dark Knight

5.The Fire

So Lord Ozzie was standing right in front of the Lord of Dundalk who had invaded our town. He was unarmed and wasn't wearing armour. Added onto this Lord Jay ordered him to surrender or die. Normal people would surrender instantly or die fighting. But Lord Ozzie isn't normal. Instead of surrendering or fighting he laughed at the Lord of Dundalk. The enemy had their weapons trained on Lord Ozzie just as our soldiers had theirs at Lord Jay. I suddenly had a crazy idea but it might break the tension. I dismounted Link and backed silently into the crowd. My friends hadn't noticed because they were too focused on the two lords, plus Link was beside them.

I ran into my house, things were scattered everywhere, probably while my mother was escaping. I went into my room and found what I was looking for. It was a device Father crafted for me before he died. It was a long grapple hook chain that was used for getting apples that wouldn't fall and were too high for me to reach, but one time I missed and grabbed onto a branch. I had used the device to climb up the tree instead and found out that it could hold my weight. I went back outside just as my mother was came inside.

"Mother!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "You should have left! You could be killed!" She just shook her head.

"Jade, I came back for you..." I shook my head but she continued. "Please, I don't want you getting killed either!" I shook my head again and ran out into the streets, ordering her to get out of the town.

I climbed onto the roof of the house and aimed the device at Lord Jay's sword which he was now pointing at Lord Ozzie. I released the chain and Lord Jay's sword came back into my hands. Arrows flew everywhere but none hit their target after the sudden interruption. I dropped Lord Jay's sword on the roof. If he wanted it, he could come and get it. I whistled and jumped of the roof landing on Link's back. The two lords wrestled on the ground but nobody interfered with them in case they hit the wrong man.

Once again I was in the fight slashing and enemy soldiers but this time I didn't close my eyes. I didn't want to be dragged off my horse again!

Some of the fights around me went inside peoples houses. In the corner of my eye I saw mother racing to get out of the town. But a Dundalk soldier grabbed her and dragged her back into the house. Suddenly I was thrown off Link and landed painfully in front of him. I got trampled by his hooves and I checked to see if he was hurt but I couldn't see properly. I did know he too was escaping the town. But I needed to save my mother!

I got up and staggered towards my house. Everything was blurred. When I got to the door I could make out that it was blocked and the soldier who had taken mother was lighting a match outside. "No!" I yelled flinging myself at the man. But it was too late he dropped the match and I could hear my mother's cries for help. I reached for my sword but it wasn't there. I must've lost it when I fell off Link. So I punched the soldier in the head. He stepped back and went for the return but I caught his arm, twisted it and pushed him back into the flames.

He screamed as the flames started melting his armour and raced out of the flames and away from me. I didn't follow. I thought about using the chain to pull the material blocking the door, but that would take to long. So instead I rammed into it. I winced as the flames started melting my armour, but the rubble gave way. I scanned the house looking for mother but I couldn't see anything with the smoke and my blurred vision. I heard someone coughing and staggered in that direction. I found mother lying on the floor suffocating with the smoke. I tried to lift her but she spoke to me hoarsely.

"Jade... Leave me.... It won't do any good... I won't make it."

"No!" I cried. "I'm not leaving you! It's my fault you're still here!"

"Jade! Don't blame yourself!... I should have left... You are a good fighter... Your father would be proud. As am I... I love you."

She closed her eyes and I checked for a pulse. There was none. I wanted to bring her out of the house but I wouldn't be able to. So I staggered blindly, this time my tears added to the bad eyesight. I couldn't find the way out!

"Jade!" I heard Niall's voice call. I felt him catch me as my vision clouded over and I blacked out.