14

The gate of the fort quaked as the bandits desperately pushed their shoulder on it trying to get it open. Corc’s army pressed on them, pinning them against the fort wall. Some bandits squeezed out to the sides, and fled through the uneven, jagged rock ground to the sides. The ones that stayed pinned could only wait and watch their barrier of flesh fell one by one by the swords of Corc’s army.

Corc’s army had no mercy, this band of bandits were infamous for terrorizing the nearby villages. It was a known secret that Kelso had a deal with the lord of the villages. He would let them steal, kidnap and spread fear in exchange for tribute. When ever someone campaigned against them, they would go hide in the mountains. This time they had no where to hide, their slaying was over due.

A soldier sliced thought half a bandit’s skull before his blade got caught in the wood plank of the fort wall. The bandit was the last who was not fleeing. All other bandits were far in the distance, hopping franticly through the rugged terrain.

For Corc’s men it was a sight of relief. The soldiers who had charged the final onslaught breath heavily with their mouths open. Blood mixed with sweat ran down their cheeks. Some raised their swords. Some put their hands on their knees. Others sat on the ground, resting besides mutilated bodies.

Some soldiers quickly walked around, tending the wounded. “Are you hurt, my Lord” one of the soldiers who had gathered around Corc said. Corc was covered in blood, his stare had become blank, his face limp. “I’m…fine!” Corc said in a dull tone, struggling to get out his words. “My lord, please remove your armor so we can have a better look at your wounds” said a wide eyed soldier, as he pulled on the blood soaked leather strap of Corc’s chest plate. “Where is my sister, I wish to see her” Corc said softly. “I will send a squad to retrieve her, my Lord” said a soldier.

The soldiers softly gasped as one of the soldiers took off Corc’s padded shirt, tugging it away from the sticky dried blood on his skin. He had cuts throughout his body some deep and still bleeding. “Quick, we must tend to his wounds, help me clean his wounds, someone go get the medical supplies” a soldier said as he and others poured water on Corc’s body. Dried blood washed away while new thick blood flowed out from the deep wounds.

A soldier arrived with linen bandages and herbs, handing them to the soldier treating Corc’s wounds. “It’s no good, I need to treat him further and he needs a place to rest. Lets take him inside the fort” the treating soldier said. “Sir, the gate is locked!” A soldier interrupted with sharp, hasty tone. “Then carve it open, dammit!” the treating soldier spitted out.

A squad of soldiers pried away the axes from bandit’s stiff hands and went to the gate determined to open in by force. They lunged at it with all their might swinging their axes into the hard wood of the gate. But instead of the gate holding strong, it just pushed open.

“I thought they said the gate was locked” said one soldier. “Well it’s not locked now” said another. They opened the gates and went inside to secure the area. The area looked secure with not that many places to hide. There were Cots scattered around the ground, a couple of unconcerned sheep staring at them while chewing. In the center there was a big fire place and near it was a large peaked roof tent that stood tall with purple silk fabric. At the end of the fort there was a a rocky slope like the roots of the mountain were coming out from the ground. At the top of the slope was a cave entrance.

“Quick, the gate is open, help me carry the lord” the treating soldier said. The soldiers carried Corc, heading inside. “How long will this take, I have to go…ride back to father” Corc mumbled, his voice barely put together. “I’m sorry ,my Lord, you won’t be going anywhere today, you’re in no condition to ride a horse” said the treating soldier in a stern and steady voice. Corc clenched his muscles to try and stand by himself, but the pain was too hard to bear.

“Easy now, my Lord. You need not worry about King Tidwield. He’s likely already half way to the Duesart capital after winning the battle. Besides hes got King Tomasan there with him” the treating soldier said. “King Tomasan being there is the reason I’m worried” said Corc as he winced in pain and clenched his teeth.

The soldiers gathered all the gold and silver, even the ones clenched by dead bandit hands. The wooden coffers had been cleaved beyond use so they held it by hand and by the watchful eye of one another and Corc’s. They carried Corc and the gold inside the tall purple tent in the center of the fort, no doubt it had belonged to Kelso, who had not been since since he lost the duel to Corc.

The tent was one suitable for even a king, even if it looked like it had been completely ransacked recently. Shelves were laying on the ground, the padded blankets had been turned over like someone was searching beneath them. Perhaps Kelso came here for his possessions before he ran off to who knows where, or his bandits did that for him.

“Has anyone seen Kelso” Corc asked. “No one, My Lord, but strangely enough a soldier said they found his axe laying on the ground just outside of the cave” said a soldier. “Send ten men to search the cave but tell them to stay where the sunlight reaches, do not go into the darkness” Corc ordered. “Yes, My Lord” a soldier said, heading off.

Corc was placed on his back in a wooden table. The Soldier continued to treat him. As Corc laid still on the table, getting treated, his attention drifted to the tent door, there seemed to be a lot happening outside. He wanted to be there to make sure everything was done right.

As he stared at the tent door, there was a commotion outside, the soldiers became loud all of sudden. The folds of the tent door split open and long black hairs slid in, followed by the eyes, nose and lips of Kelso.

Kelso’s head was peeking out from the folds of the tent door. Corc’s eyes widen, his body shook as he tried to get up. The solder treating him, pinned him to the table as much as he could. Other soldiers that were in the tent drew their swords, faced the door and braced.

The head then seemed to float in mid air. “My Lord…we found Kelso’s head in the cave, along with the head of one of his advisers” a soldier who entered from behind the door flap said, he was holding Kelso’s head as he stood there, his excited face turned to confused after looking at all the swords pointed at him.

Kelso’s head had pale skin, his jaw was hanging, revealing his yellow crooked teeth and his eyes wide and full of terror like he was reliving the final blow that did him in.

The air returned to the tent as everyone sighted in relief. Corc let his body limp for a moment his head bumping on the table. He took some deep breaths.

“My goodness man, you almost let Kelso win by scaring us to death” one soldier scolded him. The solder with the head was embarrassed, his skin flushed red, his eyes looked at everyone then rolled to the floor.

“What could have happened to him? It must have been another another bandit” a soldier said staring at the head being displayed by the soldier who brought him. “But who could be as strong to slay him when even lord Corc struggled with him” said another soldier.

“Kelso was no regular bandit, his moves were sharply disciplined. He was most likely an exiled soldier from one of the kingdoms” Corc said staring at the top of the tent. “Could he even fight after Corc sliced his hand, and why he leave his axe behind?” a soldier asked. “Soldier, did you find any of the gold that he took?” Corc asked lifting his neck to look at the soldier’s eyes. “No, My Lord. Only his and his adviser’s head on a spike and their bodies nearby” the soldier answered. “Which adviser, the one with the wrapped legs?” asked corc. “No, the other adviser, the old one, My Lord” answered the soldier.

“Put two on guards outside the cave entrance. If there’s still enemies inside, some could be considerably dangerous” Ordered Corc.