Ambush

Thoren let out a bloody cough before falling forward. A shower of the warm, red liquid sprayed Mahannana’s face. She stood frozen in wide-eyed shock, clutching onto her staff for dear life.

“Holy-!” Kern clapped a hand over his mouth. Everyone turned and stared at Thoren’s body for what felt like hours, even though it could only have been a few seconds. Kern’s eyes landed on the white and silver feathered arrow. “It’s the elves!” A look of undesirable horror crossed the raider’s face, chilling Mahannana’s blood. She would never have imagined that a hardened warrior could make that face.

“Everyone, look out, it’s an elven ambush!” The second Kern yelled out his warning, all hell broke loose. A rain of silvery arrows showered the clearing. “Look out!” Kern grabbed Mahannana and covered her face with his large hand. “Damn!” Kern looked over and saw an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. “K-Kern!”Mahannana trembled. She had no idea how to react; all the feelings and stimuli were flooding her mind in an incomrehensiable wave. The high of the adrenaline and anxiety heightened her senses and she felt like her heart had stopped. ‘W-what is this?!’ That’s all she could think. She had no context for war or death. This wasn’t like reading a book or playing a video game. It wasn’t a scenario that her mind had a script prepared for. Kern stood up, but continued holding Mahannana and shielding her. “I’m fine! It’s only a flesh wound! But elves are expert archers and those arrows are built to do real damage! They'll tear through you and end it instantly!” Around them, arrows continued to come down and the clearing was consumed by the sound of clanging metal as the Valkirk raiders attempted to fight off their assailants.

‘Damn it!’ Kern cursed; slowly backing up as he held the mage tightly. ‘We’re no match for elves! The knights need all sorts of magic and enhanced arms to merely fight on an equal level! At this rate we’ll...!’ He gritted his teeth and looked over at Thoren’s body. ‘Leader...’ There wasn’t any time to mourn; he had to find a way out! ‘We messed up...no. We weren’t any less careful than we normally are. We even planned for someone being injured during the raid. We did everything right but these guys-! Why are the elves attacking near Umbria? What are they planning?" He looked down at Mahannana. The poor kid had a stunned look on her face as she clung to him. ‘This is our fault! She’s not a professional adventurer and she’s never fought, but we convinced her that this would be safe! We’re the reason she’s in this situation in the first place!’ “Mahannana! Listen to me! We gotta go!” He threw the girl over his back and took off running.

Mahannana clung to the raider’s broad shoulder’s as they tore through the forrest, the trees blurring around them. “W-what’s happening?” She asked in a trembling voice. “Little girl, listen to me and don’t panic!” Kern ordered in a calm, commanding voice. “We were ambushed by elves. They’re deadly fighters and everyone is probally going to be dead soon. I’m sorry we got you into this mess, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let a kid die!” Behind them, Mahannana could hear a distant snapping sound, as if something was traveling through the treetops. “Kern, what’s that?”

“Ugh, one found us already!” Kern increased his pace, even though he was sprinting as fast as he could. ‘What’s my plan here? If they catch up to us...gotta buy some time!’ He stuck two of his fingers into his mouth and made a rapid sequence of whistles. In reply, a loud roar tore through the forrest, shaking the trees. Mahannana snapped her head back and could see Kern’s arctic tiger bounding towards them. “I’m sorry Mahannana, but I promise I’ll get you out of here!” He promised, the wind stealing away his words as they ran. “I’m going to throw you onto Fang and he’s going to take you back to Umbria. I’ll hold off the one trailing us for as long as I can!”

Mahannana jolted in alarm as she realized what he was planning to do. “Kern, don’t!” He shook his head. “Don’t worry about me! All that matters is that you get home safe!” Reaching behind him, Kern grabbed Mahannana and pulled her into his arms, ignoring her yelp. “I really did enjoy our conversation.” He smiled down at her. “I’m glad we got to meet. If you ever run into my sister, tell her I’m sorry for being such a stuborn idiot, will you?” Mahannana whimpered and clung to his shirt. “I’m scared.” She whispered. ‘What about the other men? Kern’s planing to die, isn’t he?’

“You’re going to be okay!” Kern said assertively. “I promise! On three! One-” “No, wait!” “Two!” “Kern, don’t do this!” “Three!” Before Mahannana could protest further, she was flying through the air. Just as her stomach started to sink, she slammed against something soft and warm. “Ghhh!” She groaned as she clung to the tiger’s neck and tried to pull herself upright. She looked back and saw Kern facing away from her; defiently standing to meet the enemy. “Kern!” In mere seconds, the broad figure shrank and disappeared completely as cry was torn from her throat. Mahannana turned forward and, gritting her eyes shut, held tightly to fang. “Let’s get out of here, Fang!”

                              *                                                                *                                            *

As soon as Mahannana and Fang were out of sight, Kern turned. “A foolish decision.” Unable to discern where the voice had come from, the raider stared firmly ahead, scanning the tree line. “Not really. I had the choice and I chose to save the life of someone else. I stand by my decision.” A peal of mocking laughter rang out. “Save? You haven’t saved anything. You know she’ll die too, don’t you?” Ignoring the taunts, Kern took out his two battle axes. “Doesn’t matter. I promised her I’d protect her and I’m gonna do just that!”

“You humans really are fulll of huberis and self importance, hmm?” A glint of silver appeared in a tree behind him. “If you really think a scrub like yourself could make me so much as stumble...well, don’t say you weren’t warned.”