Chapter 38 - Bust A Move

The wagon slowly plodded along the tree lined road. The route was a major source of trade between the capital and the Viscount’s lands so it was wide and well maintained.

Wide enough that Ariadne wondered how Warlock’s crew would close the distance from their hiding spot amongst the trees to the incoming travellers before they could hurry their horse and flee.

She looked at the wagon as it came closer into view. It had been two years but she never ceased to be amazed at her ability to see at a distance thanks to her elven eyes.

The wagon itself was large and open. Two people sat inside, heads slung low. Their hands were bound together by leather straps and those straps were in turn tied to a post in the corner of the wagon like a leash.

She recognized Silea, still wearing the same tattered rags from their last meeting. Kaelen had clearly been given a similar outfit and Ariadne could make out the distinct colour of bruising through the holes in his shirt. The wounds were that shade of purple turning to a vivid yellow that marked bruising that was already a few days old.

But what really surprised Ariadne wasn’t the prisoners. It was the guards. There were far too few.

In fact, she only saw two guards. Each blue faced soldier walked along one side of the wagon. They seemed alert, but she couldn’t understand why anyone would send so few. One of them also had a bandage wrapped around his left hand.

She’d overheard Warlock’s crew talking about their plan. It wasn’t to overwhelm the guards, but rather was intended to be a hit and run attack since they assumed they would be outnumbered.

But two? Only two?

The only others present were the two wagon drivers. She couldn’t make out many details due to the cloaks wrapped around them, probably to keep the early morning chill away. But even though she couldn’t see their faces under their hoods, the shabby quality of the clothing made her think that the demons must have commandeered a local farmer’s vehicle, drivers and all.

I suppose I can’t complain if this is easier than expected.

She watched as Warlock’s crew slowly crawled closer and closer to the road through the tall grass. She noticed that even doing that they would have about a hundred feet without cover to run to close the gap to their target soon.

The wagon was drawing very close. The two guards on each side were obviously bored but still were doing their duty and scanning the area.

She heard shrill, bird-like whistle. It was Warlock’s signal to begin.

Apex suddenly stood tall out of the grass, his bow pulled back as he aimed. The arrow flew and buried itself deep into the horses eye. It didn’t even have a chance to whinny and fell to the ground, dead.

That was a nice shot actually. It was a good idea to make sure the wagon couldn’t just flee. Kinda feel bad for the horse though.

As Ariadne had that thought the other members of the crew stood and charged towards the wagon, yelling various war cries and insults towards the demon soldiers.

The soldiers were quick to respond. The one with a bandage on his hand closed in to block Rose’s approach and her falchion clanged loudly against his sword.

The other soldier intercepted Ajax, whose shield rung out as it deflected the soldier’s first blow.

But with only two guards no one was left to stop Warlock as he ran towards the back of the wagon.

Apex stayed back and trained his bow on the guards. He was a good shot but didn’t dare try to shoot with his friends engaged in melee. His role was to provide cover fire when they needed to fall back and retreat.

Ariadne watched as Warlock finished closing the distance.

Odd. You’d think those drivers would have run away by now, especially if they were forced to do this. They didn’t even seem to complain when they lost their horse.

Just as she was thinking that, Warlock’s sword flashed as he drew it from his waist and cut through the first set of straps tying one of the prisoners in a single movement. Kaelen’s hands were still bound but he was free from being tethered.

Warlock raised his sword to free the next prisoner, Silea, but just as his sword fell it stopped suddenly and bounced back.

The driver on the right had turned and leaped into the wagon, pulling some kind of mace out from under his cloak and blocking the shrouded man’s strike.

“Greetings…Warlock.”

The driver pulled back the hood of his cloak and a fiery nest of hair framed Xorn’s face as he stood there with a malicious grin.

“Did you really think I would let you come to take something that is mine?”

Xorn finished pulling off the cloak that covered him and stood to his full height, towering over Warlock.

“What?!” Rose couldn’t hide her surprise and her momentary inattention led to her taking a cut across her right forearm as she failed to parry the oncoming blow.

She fell back a few feet and held her arm a moment. It wasn’t as deep as she feared. She could still fight. It could have been worse. She wondered if the wound on the soldier’s hand had prevented him from maximizing the opportunity her distraction had provided.

“Rose!” Ajax yelled out, noticing she’d been hit.

Apex scanned the area, desperate to find a way to help his friends. He let loose an arrow at the soldier fighting Rose when he realized she’d been able to get a little distance between them. But in the fast paced battle the soldier’s movement prevented it from being a decisive strike.

The arrow struck the soldier’s shoulder but was mostly deflected by the pauldron there. Still, it would hopefully prevent a bit of his arm’s movement as it stuck in the armour.

Ariadne watched as Xorn stepped on the leather bindings that Warlock had cut. Kaelen had quickly moved to get away from the demon in the back of the wagon but the sudden resistance yanked his arms and he nearly fell forward. He tugged futilely at the restraints trying to get free as Xorn swung his mace in a wide arc to prevent Warlock from closing in.

“Going somewhere?” The demon taunted.

“Warlock! What do we do?!” Rose had steadied the falchion in her hand and re-engaged the soldier but had no clue what to do now that Kaelen was trapped again.

Ariadne could see Warlock turn his head left and right as he scanned the battlefield.

How are you going to get out of this one I wonder? Should I help?

Before she could decide what to do, Warlock moved to close the distance with Xorn and thrust his sword towards the demon.

The demon looked unworried. He knew that little the rebel could do would hurt him. But he moved his mace to parry the incoming blow.

The sword’s strike never clashed with the mace. It was feint and Warlock quickly spun in place instead of finishing the attack.

In an instant his sword’s momentum changed from thrusting towards the demon and instead came down in a curved arc to cut through the bindings held under the demon’s foot.

Off balance from the sudden release, Kaelen staggered back and bumped into the edge of the wagon.

Warlock, continuing to use his momentum flipped in the air and suddenly swung his foot into a powerful kick.

Right into Kaelen’s chest.

The blow was powerful enough to knock the man clean out of the wagon and he hit the ground hard and rolled into the grass.

Meanwhile Warlock used the blow to kick off of the mans chest and flip backwards and land at the back of the wagon away from the demon.

“Not bad.” Xorn couldn’t help but be impressed.

What a show off! Ariadne thought as she watched, rolling her eyes.

“Rose! Get everyone out of here. Leave the other prisoner. Now!”

Rose noticed that while Kaelen had been kicked, the move had actually completely freed him from the carriage and she saw him starting to stand.

“Kaelen! Get to Apex!” She tried to point with her left hand, hoping the buckler she used didn’t block the mage’s view. “No arguing this time!” She yelled as she intercepted another blow from the soldier.

Apex meanwhile had broken into a run to try to help his friend.

As he closed the distance he turned to look and see if Rose would be able to get away too. Her fight had initially seemed evenly matched but with the soldier’s shoulder wound he could tell that Rose was getting the upper hand.

But what he saw next took him completely by surprise.

“Rose! Behind you!!”

She took a chance to quickly glance behind and saw an amethyst skinned, white haired demon strolling towards her from out of the woods.

Ariadne noticed the woman’s approach too and gave a nonchalant whistle.

Oh dang, I was wondering when she’d get here!