Showdown

Countless figures made their way down the road, coming into view one by one. Men in steel, men with blades. Men eager for blood. There were more in the free company than Jabez even realized. And riding ahead of that great mass of people was Captain Bowen, Alech, Aurora, and Hito.

“Decided to finally show yourself,” said Bowen. “I’d commend your bravery, but a rat is still a rat, even when it’s brave.”

“Captain, just give the order,” Alech had his bow trained on Jabez.

“Not yet,” Bowen put up his hand. “I want to hear it from him before we end this.” Bowen then got off his gurok. “Why did you do it?”

“Why?” asked Jabez. “Is it really so strange to want to cut down the wicked?”

“They didn’t do anything, you bastard!!” shouted Bowen, drawing his glaive from his back. “My friend entrusted me with Ronnie and Bobbie! They were like my own flesh and blood. And you killed them. For what? To save the lives of a few crop-stealing, child-eating vermin?!”

“You don’t know them like I do. The goblins I saved couldn’t hurt a child even if they wanted to. They fear, they hunger, they love, they teach, same as any other who walks the surface. But you and the rest of the trash of this kingdom don’t care, do you? You can’t stand the idea of people who are different from you. If you can’t keep them in chains, you exterminate them!” Jabez then stood up, drawing his sword and tossing the sheath to the side. “You asked me why I did it. To that, I ask you this: if you don’t see the value in the lives of others, why should I see the value in your lives?”

“I’ve heard enough of your ramblings. Everyone, fire!!”

Alech, as well as dozens of other mercenaries, let fly their arrows and bolts. Jabez stood his ground, his faith in Sullivan’s enchantments absolute. The arrows closed the distance, stopping mere inches away from Jabez’s body and bouncing away harmlessly.

“Time to die, Captain.” Jabez rushed forward like the winds, swinging his blade at Bowen. Before his sword met its mark, Aurora leaped from her gurok to block him, pushing him back with her own sword.

“I can’t let you take any more lives, Jabez. Stop this madness at once!” shouted Aurora.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I’ll do everything in my power to cut you down.” Stomping her right foot forward, Aurora adopted a fighting stance that reminded Jabez of kendo. She lunged forward, slashing and stabbing at him with great speed and fury. Even after his recent training, Jabez couldn’t quite keep up, and he felt the tip of Aurora’s blade cut across his arm. “His enchantment protects against ranged attacks, but he’s still vulnerable up close. Everyone surround him!!” Aurora shouted.

““Aye!!”” shouted the crowd of mercenaries in response.

Men rushed Jabez one after another, attacking him with swords, spears, and axes. Making use of his enhanced speed, he circled around the horde of warriors and cut down any who stood out from the crowd. One, two, three men fell to Jabez’s blade. Another man rushed him, but Jabez kicked dirt into the man’s face, blinding him long enough to stab him through the throat. But with so many combatants, Jabez was quickly surrounded, and scores of swiping blades came raining down on him. He parried, he dodged, he punched a man across the face, but those he couldn’t fend off met their mark, spilling his blood across those emerald fields.

Strange... thought Jabez, sweeping through the enemy. Why do I feel so... Light? Is it Sullivan’s magic, or Demetra’s training? Even when they hit me, it doesn’t hurt that bad. Two more warriors were cut down. I don’t feel the rage I did when I fought Wallack and Ozahl. All I feel... Is calm.

After leaping away from the enemy, Jabez felt one of the enchantments fizzle. He realized he was vulnerable to ranged attacks. Aurora had an expression of recognition as well. While Jabez defended against incoming blows, Aurora threw a rock, striking him in the nose.

“His protection has waned!” shouted Aurora. “He’s vulnerable!”

That’s my cue to leave, thought Jabez. He turned around and rushed across the fields toward the forest.

“He’s on the run! Spearmen, after him!” shouted Bowen.

As Jabez and the mercenaries ran into the woods, Hito tapped Bowen on the shoulder.

“Hm? What is it?” asked Bowen.

“It’s time,” said Hito.

Bowen looked back at a nearby wagon full of crates. “So it is...” Turning back towards the forest, Bowen said, “If you think you can run, Jabez, you’re sorely mistaken. This isn’t a battle. This is war.”

---

Tuuli watched the battle from a distance, holding her bow at the ready. Jabez fought against the enemy valiantly, and once he came back running into the forest, she and the other archers wasted no time firing on the spearmen. Several mercenaries were cut down and scattered. Those who evaded the initial volley got their feet caught in traps designed by Kela. False ground dropped their feet into wooden spikes. The men cried in agony before another volley of arrows silenced them. Everything was going well. But that was only a small part of the enemy forces. There were still several out in the fields preparing something.

“What are they doing?” whispered Samu.

“They’re breaking open crates,” whispered Tuuli. “Wait, that man with a torch...” A panic set in as Tuuli realized what was about to happen. “They’re throwing bombs!!”

By the time Tuuli and the others reacted, it was already too late. A volley of fist-sized bombs were tossed into the forest, causing untold havoc. Trees exploded, scattering wooden shrapnel. Brush caught on fire, with the moist greenery creating thick, choking smoke. Some of the trees were even toppled, forcing archers to either leap to safety or fall. Hidden Grove warriors who were hiding in the brush scattered, doing their best to avoid the falling trees and fire. And when their well-laid plans went up in flames, the rest of the mercenaries charged.

“Kill them all! Give no quarter!!” shouted Captain Bowen.

Tuuli’s tree had fallen, forcing her to the ground. As she got back on her feet, a mercenary charged her with a sword. She tossed her bow aside, drawing her axe and jamming it into the man’s neck in one clean motion. Others attacked as well, forcing her back. With all the smoke and fire, it became harder to keep track of where the traps were. Tuuli defended herself as she looked for a path, only to see Samu stumble and get speared by two mercenaries.

“Samu!!” she shouted.

“You’re next!” said an incoming enemy. Tuuli ducked the sword swipe, tripping that foe and slicing at another. Arrows shot through the woods, pinning another merc’s head to a tree. Tuuli finished off the man on the ground and looked over, realizing that Seela had saved her. She merely gave a nod before running off.

Did they know we would try for something like this? Damn these humans! Rushing through the forest, Tuuli made her way to Reijo. No matter what, I can’t let them hurt father!

---

Demetra stood at the ready, gripping her trident. She was far back enough in the forest to avoid the initial onslaught, but hearing the death cries of her companions did not sit well with her. Still, she swore to protect the non-combatants, and she wasn’t about to abandon them now.

An arrow!

Demetra dodged in time to avoid an arrow to her head, but it struck her circlet, revealing her true form. In that moment, over fifteen men stepped out of the smoking woods.

“Oh, what’s this? An Ajinian? I haven’t seen one of their kind in ages,” said one merc.

“Let’s wound her, but don’t kill her just yet. I think we could have some fun with this one,” said another merc.

“You’re welcome to try, boys, but I’ll warn you: I don’t play nice,” Demetra grinned.

“Tsk! We’ll see how much you’re grinning when we’re through with you!”

A mercenary charged Demetra, raising his sword. Before he could even swing, Demetra kicked him in the gut, crushing bone and armor both. The man slammed into a tree, spitting blood and collapsing.

“You wench! I’ll tan your hide!!” shouted another merc.

The horde of mercenaries rushed Demetra at once. That suited her just fine. As they all attacked, she swung her trident like a club, smashing through the mercenaries in an arc. She kicked, she punched, she stabbed, and even picked one of the men up, smashing his head against a tree. Not a single one of them wounded her.

“So this is what passes for warriors in this age? What a waste of life,” scoffed Demetra.

“A waste, is it?” said Captain Bowen, walking into the fray. Behind him was another horde of warriors, as well as a peculiar man with blue hair and a white cape.

“So this is where you were keeping them,” said the blue haired man. “Making it a bit obvious with a guard, aren’t you?”

“And who are you? Are you Hito?” asked Demetra.

“I am indeed,” the man bowed his head.

“You at least seem interesting. Wanna fight?”

“Oh no, that won’t do at all. I’ve already sworn to abstain from violence on this mission.” Hito then raised a hand, gesturing at the disguised wagons. “But I’ll help in other ways.”

A sudden gust of wind shot through the forest, ripping past Demetra and tearing apart the brush covering the wagons. So potent was the wind that even the wagon covers were blown away, revealing Kela, the other goblins, and Iris in a single spell.

“What the? You bastard!” shouted Demetra.

“My, such language! I hear they cut your tongue out for that in some parts of the kingdom. I sure hope for your sake this isn’t one of those places,” Hito smiled.

Surrounded by mercenaries with the non-combatants behind her and the mysterious mage at her front, Demetra sized up the situation, realizing that it would either be her life or the little ones. But just as things were about to turn dire, rays of light fell upon the battlefield, scattering the mercenaries to Demetra’s right. Sullivan then rushed in, staff at the ready.

“Keep them safe! I’ll handle Hito!” shouted Sullivan.

“Will you manage?” asked Demetra.

“I haven’t a clue. But... I’ll feel a whole lot better knowing I saved someone.”

At this, Demetra nodded, gesturing to the non-combatants to follow her.

“Get behind me, everyone. I’ll cut a path through this mess.”

---

Jabez cut through the mercenaries one after the other. As he struck another down, he did his best to cover his mouth. The smoke and fire was so dense, he could hardly see anything. All around him was shouting, fighting, and chaos. He had lost his way trying to reach Kela and the others.

Dammit all, where are they?!

Looking to his left, he realized someone was wounded on the ground. It was Seela. A burning tree was starting to fall in her direction, so he dropped his blade and dove right for her, grabbing her just in the nick of time before the tree fell. They rolled across the grass and eventually came to a stop. Jabez soon realized that she had taken a crossbow bolt to her stomach.

“Seela!”

“Hey, Jabez. Nice to... See you. I’m not... Sure I’m making it out of this one.”

“Screw that, I’m saving you!” Jabez hoisted the elf over his shoulder. “We have to find Tuuli! She can patch you up!”

“You’re just going to get killed at this rate... Find her on your own.”

“Hell no! I am not leaving you behind!”

Rushing out of the smoke and fire, Jabez heard a scream. He pulled Seela’s dagger from her belt and lashed out, cutting down a wounded mercenary.

Are there any others? How many?

Jabez looked around the area desperately, nearly blinded by the raging fires nearby. It seemed as if there was nowhere left to run. But he refused to give up.

Remember Demetra’s teachings. Open your ears... And listen. Trying to pierce through the veil of shouting and chaos, Jabez homed in on a very particular sound. The sound of rushing water. A river? Then I’ll head that way!

“Hold on tight, Seela. I’m getting you out of here!”

Jabez leaped through the fire, landing on the other side and continuing to run, dodging burning debris and fallen corpses. After pushing past so much smoke and flame, he burst through the forest, skidding to a halt at the edge of a cliff. At the bottom of the ravine he could see water, but it was nowhere close enough to be of use. Even if he tried jumping down to escape, he’d hit rock long before reaching the river.

That’s when Jabez heard something from behind. He turned, and there was Aurora.

“Nowhere left to run, Jabez. Give it up.”

“You think I’ll give up now? There’s too much left to do,” Jabez set Seela down gently. “My path takes me far from here. If you want me to give up, then make me.”

Aurora grit her teeth. “You stubborn bastard!! Look around you! Is this what you wanted?! And for what? To save people? How many have to die for you to be satisfied?!”

Jabez shook his head. “You just don’t get it. If things were different, if I was fighting to save human lives, would you still be talking me down? Calling me a fool? What about you? Who do you care for? You said you had a family. If they were locked up and kept in a barn like livestock, would you be okay with that?”

“No!! I never said I liked slavery! But this isn’t the way!” Aurora then extended her hand towards Jabez, a pleading look on her face. “Give yourself up now. We can end this fighting right here! No one else has to die! Please...” Tears welled up in Aurora’s eyes. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

Jabez looked at the crying woman. She had trained him, kept him safe, broke bread with him, and even now shed tears in his name. But seeing her desperately trying to pull him back to her side... Only filled him with disgust. He then reached for her hand.

“Thank goodness... I’m sorry things went so far, Jabez. But now we can end it,” Aurora breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry too.”

“What?”

Jabez yanked Aurora forward, headbutting her in the nose. As she reeled back in pain, he yanked the sword from her hand, spun her round, and brought the blade to her throat.

“J-jabez?! What are you doing?”

“What I have to,” he said. He then looked into the nearby smoke and shadows. “I can see you. Come out now, or I slit her throat.”

Alech the archer stepped out, his bow at the ready. As he stared Jabez down, he said, “Holding a woman hostage, hm? Now that’s a new low, even for you.”

“Like you care. Drop your weapon.”

“It’s okay, Alech,” said Aurora. “I’ll be fine. Do what you think is right.”

“Oh, I already made my decision,” said Alech, pointing his bow right at Aurora. “I’ve been saving this poisoned arrow for just this occasion. Keep him steady for me, will you?”

Were there some distance between the two, Jabez might have been able to dodge to the side, throw Aurora at the archer, or do anything in response. But with the arrow already drawn, all his enemy had to do... Was let go. The arrow cut clean through Aurora’s collar bone, piercing the girl and striking Jabez as well. In an instant, he could feel the poison course through his body, making him feel weak and shaky. He understood immediately that he only had a few seconds to spare before he toppled over. He threw Aurora aside and swung at Alech, only for the archer to dodge the attack, sweeping Jabez’s legs and knocking him to the ground. As Alech drew a dagger to finish Jabez off, Seela grabbed hold of the archer’s leg, distracting him just enough for Jabez to jab his sword into Alech’s gut. The archer fell, as did Seela, whose strength gave out. Jabez then looked for Aurora, realizing she was holding onto the cliff’s edge for dear life.

“Jabez! Please!” she reached out a hand. “I don’t want to die!”

Those words struck Jabez like thunder. Even though she was his enemy, even though he hated her, he couldn’t turn away. He grabbed Aurora by the hand to pull her up, but by then, the poison had already taken hold. He watched as his body went still and he let go of Aurora. The pleading mercenary disappeared into the ravine below, and everything went black.