The Lufian Family 11

The iron shroud falls over Win and his father. Win does not know how to face him now, having already run away once. However, the love in Dagobert’s eyes does not waver, not even for a moment. He speaks quickly and firmly, the need to apprise his son of the current circumstances dire.

“Win, thank you for coming for us. But we cannot fight. I am sure you have realized already, but there are archers ready to fire on your mother and Odila. We have no choice but to resign ourselves if we wish for them to live. I am sorry you came for us.” Win answers him, his own voice just as firm.

“Father, I am strong. There is no need to fear.”

As Win stands his cloak is drawn away from Dagobert. His cloak billows as he sends it behind him with a strong breeze. It casts a shadow over Sigiland and Odila as it covers their bodies, blocking the path of any archers. Win draws his blade, blocking the heavy blow from Leofwine’s halberd. Even with the weight of the blow Win is not moved. He pushes the halberd back and forces Leofwine away. The arrows sink into his cloak and fall. With a quick twist of his body, Win fires several consecutive bolts of electricity in every direction he can manage. Whether they found their targets or not, he cannot know. Win then takes his cloak from his shoulders and wraps it around his mother and sister. He looks at Odila gently, a sadness held back just behind his eyes.

“Odila, I’m sorry I’ve been gone. But I’ve returned now. I promise…”

Win wavers before he can find his next word. He feels the overbearing presence of Leofwine right behind him. Before any promise can be made, Win must return to fighting. With a flick of his wrist Win turns his sword behind him. He catches Leofwine’s halberd without even glancing back, his free hand supporting his blade.

Leofwine rears his halberd back for a second blow. As Win feels the halberd lift off of him, he turns and thrusts his blade towards Leofwine. Win slices into Leofwine’s armor, but with a poor angle and too little force behind it, he leaves only a nick. Leofwine swings his halberd in a horizontal arc. Win ducks beneath it and prepares for his next slash.

At the moment Win begins to move his arms, he blunts the edge of his blade. He would rather crush the sturdy plate armor in a single blow than spend the time cutting through it. He slams his blade into Leofwine. Leofwine’s armor makes a terrible crunching sound and Win drives his blade deeper. He throws Leofwine back in the end, a large crater over his heart. It is then that the metal of the armor begins to reshape itself, again assuming the form of the armor.

“I see. Your armor cannot be broken. Though I would suppose that it is the armor’s own magic rather than anything you have done. You have something such as this and yet you still only face my father with hostages in tow. Why still fight? Don’t be cocky, weakling. Even if you try to surround me, reinforcements will arrive soon enough. And after them the soldiers. Did you truly think you could rob such an honored family as ours in the short time you gave yourself?”

“Bah! What good will one or two measly soldiers do?”

“What confidence. Coward, do you presume everyone to be so craven as you? There is no reason to believe I have not amassed an army one-thousand strong.”

“Your army won’t matter when I spill your guts out onto the ground. Bada! Eadwig!” The two bandits join their leader in fighting Win.

Bada comes up behind Win and stabs his shortsword forward. Win parries the thrust and carries it past him. With the sword outstretched and Bada behind him, Win finds himself enclosed. He realized it a second too late. Eadwig brings his mace down. Win hardens one hand and catches the mace, the weight of it almost carrying his arm down with it. Leofwine, in front of Win, takes a powerful step forward. He drags his halberd down through the air. Win brings his arms in close and slips through a small gap between Leofwine and Eadwig’s imposing frames, swift as the wind.

Rather than press on to attack, leaving himself open even if he might be able to take out one of his opponents in a single blow, Win backs away and jumps into the air. If he remains above them he’ll gain a clear advantage while also keeping himself away from any further enclosures. Thinking so, Win floats with confidence as he prepares his next attack. Leofwine, Bada, and Eadwig follow after him on the ground.

However, before he can attack, Win sees an arrow flying towards him. He flips in the air, dodging out of the way of the arrow. Upside down, he sees a second arrow pass by the one he saw. Any benefit he might gain in the air would be lost if he let himself get pinned down by whatever archers are left. Win lets himself begin to fall. Tracing the path the arrows flew and adjusting for the likely movements of his snipers, Win takes aim. He steadies his arms and two beams of lightning shoot out as he falls. Again he cannot know if they hit, much less the condition of the archers.

With a burst of wind, Win shoots down onto the ground, away from the bandits following him. Bada catches up quickly, again thrusting his shortsword. Win leans in close as he takes control of his blade with a parry. He’s mere moments from disarming Bada when Leofwine swings his halberd. Letting Bada free, Win dodges the heavy slash. He ducks underneath it and walks, coming up behind Leofwine. However, Eadwig reaches him then, brandishing his mace.

Another large frame crashes into Eadwig before he can attack and carries him away. Win quickly scans the area as Leofwine and Bada turn their attention to the new arrival. He spots Calliope, winded from running, quick approaching the courtyard. Trailing behind her is the unit of soldiers. Rolant stands proudly, a shield obtained sometime after Win entered the courtyard on his arm and a bejeweled sword on his waist.

“Little lord, allow me to handle this one.”

Rolant and Eadwig face off as Win returns to fending off both Leofwine and Bada’s attacks.