Xenarra: The Dragon Throne - Chapter 20 Assassins

Following that around five people came rushing out of one side. They were in greens and browns and all holding bows. “Stand down everyone, they are just hunters.” The hunters ran past us into the other side of the woods. They didn’t even glance at us. We all relaxed a bit and moved off again, following the path through the woods.

The path itself was not well maintained. It was muddy for us on foot, hard to trek through at times. Even the horse got nearly stuck at one point. When it did, the messenger Anubis, was nearly thrown off straight into the mud. Which would have been funny, seeing him get soaked in mud as he had been a snoob the whole journey so far. I let out as a sigh as it seems we will have to be spending the night in the woods. “Everyone keep an eye out for a place we can make camp. We need to get it set up before night falls and it becomes completely dark.”

We trekked for about another hour before seeing a small clearing up ahead. We all moved into the clearing. It wasn’t that big, just big enough for a few tents and a fire. We all got quickly to work, including Anubis. His horse was tied up, people went to gather wood for a fire and set up some small snares. The rest got the tents set up. We were all vigilant, making sure that there was no one that could approach us from the forest, without any warning.

Once everything was set the fire was going. I made a small spit and some rabbits had been caught. They were skinned and gutted, we left them hanging for a little bit as well so that any blood ran out of them. Once all of this was done the rabbits were attached to the spit and we slowly cooked them. As they cooked we all sat around the fire, talking to each other. Anubis who don’t speak that much to us for obvious reasons, spoke up. “So ummmm, I know I have been a twat, and well I ummm, i just wanted to say sorry for that, I have been rude and horrible to the people protecting me, I don’t deserve people such as yourselves to protect me.”

I stared at him surprised, he had actually apologized. It was odd, an arrogant and rude person had apologised. All I could think was that the nights outside had changed his mind a little on how he thought he should act. I shrugged my shoulders passing him a bit of the rabbit meat that had just finished cooking. “Thank you Adoh, I really am sorry though.”

“Why don’t you sleep in a tent tonight, I will just stay out here and keep watch for a while.” He looked at me surprised. I don’t think he expected me to be so nice to him so quickly. Not long after that everyone else went to bed just leaving me up. I sat down and placed my sword in its sheath on my lap. Then lent back just staring at the fire seeing images in the flames while I listen for anyone approaching us.

Probably around three hours after they all had gone to sleep, I heard the crack of a branch being broken. My eyes darted to where the noise came from as I stood up, my sword in my hand drawn out of its sheath. Then there was another crack, then another. Whatever was coming and was getting closer. I picked up my sheath and chucked it at one of the tents waking up its occupants. “There is something coming, Get the others up and be ready,” I whispered. They all got out but only had the leather armor on as there was not enough time to get all of our amour on.

Everyone was up by now all of us with swords drawn except for Anubis who didn’t bring any weapons to my annoyance so he was using a dagger someone had leant. The fire had not completely gone out yet. So in our weapon we could see the fire reflected off of them. There were a couple of cracks sounding together. Then nothing. It was silent. I scanned the tree line trying to see a figure or hear anything to give away where whatever it was, was coming from.

Then I saw something. A shadow near one of the trees. The little light that there was had somehow reflected off of the human looking figure’s eyes. Now that I had seen it, I wouldn’t take my eyes off of it. Then it disappeared. Then I heard a buzzing sound come from behind me. “Everyone get down,” Anubis yelled out. Hearing him I hit the floor with a thud. Next to my face there was another thud. Looking over there was an arrow there sticking out of the ground. Then I heard the noise of people running towards us.

“Everyone get up! They’re attacking and watch out for the archer!” I yelled out a few orders in quick concession. As I was I jumped to my feet and rushed towards the attackers with my sword in hand. They were dressed in black completely, all holding daggers in their hands. “Assassins,” I muttered. There were only five of them though. Which wouldn’t be too bad.

I used both of my hands to grip my sword so this way I would have more control over it and be able to put in more power behind it. I reached the first assassin fairly quickly. I started off with a stab to the throat followed by two slashes to both sides of his body. This was a basic combination attack I had been taught. But I had enhanced my arms with some mana allowing for me to be able to go quicker. All of my blows collected and with a load of blood being vomited out the assassin died.

The over four assassins were engaged by the others. I headed off into the woods though to find the archer. It was dark. I couldn’t see that far in front of me at all so I was moving fairly slowly. Then I heard a crack behind me. I swung around with my sword slashing at the side as I did. But much to my surprise there was nothing there. Then I stabbed behind me hearing a crack. But only stabbed into the tree there. “Lig mo shúile a bheith láidir,” I muttered, moving the mana I could to my eyes, enhancing my vision a bit.

This allowed me to see more in the darkness, then I noticed a shadow on the floor. He was in the tree’s above me I realised. After working out which tree he was in. I tightened my grip on my sword and swung at the tree. This didn’t do much but moved it a little. Then with a bang he had fallen out of it. I pointed my sword and his throat. “Who do you work for!” I yelled out.

All I could hear was “You were meant to be weak,” in a muffled voice. Then he forced his head onto my sword killing himself. I wiped the blood of my sword on his clothes and walked back into the clearing. The other assassins were all dead. It seemed like they hadn’t put up much of a fight.

We cleared the area, then checked their bodies for any valuables and information of who they were, which there were none. So we then buried them and broke camp.