章 6: The Send Off, Part Four
Grace seemed uneasy and Flint looked over his shoulder at Alex, " Alex, do me a favor and look behind my seat here." Alex had noticed a sealed compartment against the front of the wagon in the back. He fiddled with the lock and opened it to find a number of items but one stood out.
A long silver sword laid over the other items, easily reachable for emergencies. He took it out and studied the blade. As Alex studied them he recognised the runes: Strong, sturdy, unbreakable, and more simple runes. "Where did you get this?"
"I got it from an old friend of mine." He winked. "He must have been pretty wealthy to afford magical runes." He winked, "He was a good man, even if he was wealthy. Take that out and keep it on you." Alex laid it across his lap curious and wondered what Flint was hiding. By the time they made it to the forest edge it was late afternoon.
"...I wasn't expecting us to get here so late. By the time we make it through it will be dark. Grace, should we turn back?" She shook her head, "We have to be back to open the shop, it should be fine as long as we're quick." She didn't seem to convince herself, the warning from before still hung in the air. Flint nodded and snapped the reins, "Then let's be off."
The lowering sun lit the forest enough to make out the road, but anything between the trees was hidden from view. Alex began to examine every shadow, every movement, and every sound. He wasn't letting anyone get the drop on them. They had set up multiple lanterns on the cart as well to light the way. They were all on edge, but so far so good.
It wasn't until walker began acting up did Alex begin to worry. The horse would look side to side studying the area himself with better equipped eyes. "If anything is moving out there Walker will spot it. He's smart," at that moment the horse stopped in its tracks." Flint snapped the reigns and he didn't move, "Forget what I said Alex, he's a little dumb."
Alex stood up as he began to make out shadows in between the trees, "No, I don't think he is." Flint turned around and understood, "Brace yourselves, this is going to get bumpy." Grace looked over what do you mean?" Alex and Flint tensed as a stuck cracked in the forest. Flint whipped the reins hard, "Hya."
Walker understood and took off just in time. Men jumped into the road brandishing weapons right as they took off. They just escaped them before they could get closed in. Alex held onto the wagon for dear life, "General, how long can Walker run with all this weight?" He snapped the reins, "Not long enough to get to town. As long as they don't have horses well be-"
Out of nowhere an arrow flew through the air near their heads and Alex turned around and saw the bandits riding up on horses. Alex wasted no time, he couldn't hide it any longer. "General, keep Grase's head down and eyes closed." Flint followed the instructions as Alex prepared.
He called on the power inside himself to manifest and his hands began to glow. The men on horses began shooting arrows but Alex was already done. He held his hand in the air and the arrows were splintered by some unseen force. Alex had erected a barrier to destroy the arrows.
He focused his will magic in the palm of his hand and a ball of fire erected in his hand, he aimed it at one of the bandits and shot it towards him. The flame hit the man dead in the chest and sent him flying back. The others were not deterred and continued to fire arrows. He blocked another arrow and leaned down to Flint, "Cover your eyes, this is going to be bright."
He blocked an arrow and closed his hand to prepare a spell. Wene he was about to release it an arrow struck him in the shoulder. He didn't even flinch and opened his hand revealing a flash of light that blinded the riders. He heard many of them fall off their horses and hit the ground hard. The light died and Alex could see no one chasing them, his plan had worked.
He quickly tapped Flint on the shoulder, "Clear." Alex kept his eyes back the way they had come in case more follow. Grace turned around,"Alex, your shoulder!" He had forgotten about the arrow lodged in his shoulder. Alex ripped it out with little more than a faint growl, "I'm fine, for now we need to get out of the forest."
Flint cursed and brought the wagon to a stop, "Were not going anywhere." Alex looked up the road and eyed a line of men blocking their way. All the men were holding a lantern or a weapon. One man, the largest and presumably the leader walked up to the front, "What would we have here?"
The man was wearing a wolf fur jacket and pants, and carried a large battle axe that was stained red, "So a cart made its way all the way here, impressive. It seems we get to rough you up instead." All the men laughed and cackled. Flint stood up, "I don't think you want to do this. If you let us through well give you a barrel, free of charge. It's a good deal." All the men laughed at the notion but the large man didn't move.
"Don't misunderstand we want your cargo, but it's no fun without a fight." Flint smiled, "Come, be reasonable, were just inn keepers." The man took the battle axe and pointed it at the wagon, "The only way you got this far was by defeating my men. If that's the case… then you are more than just simple inn keepers." Flint sighed, "Alex, can you take them." He jumped off the cart and walked in front of the wagon sword in hand.
The man eyed him, "You send a child to do a man's work. What are you, a coward." Flint sat back, "He dealt with the others, and they weren't much of a challenge." All the men sneered. The man with the axe grew angry, "After I'm finished with him, your next." Grace slapped Flint, "Why are you making him fight."
Flint whispered in her ear, "Because, this to him is a way of repaying us." He smiled, "He can take care of himself." Alex studied all the men, they were all handling some form of axe or sword. Being bandits, they have no sense of battle formation so he'll have to take all of them down one by one, or instead… he eyed the big one and came up with a plan. Killing a common wolf does not deter the pack, but take out the alpha and they will scatter.
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Hutchison_Writing5
Hutchison_Writing5 After taking a break from the site I have come back to truly redefine a past work. So beginning now, I will actually have a schedule. I will post something every Wensday and Sunday. There may be times I post in between, but I will always have something to post Wensday and Sunday. Beyond that I need to ask questions. So sometime after Sendoff Part Four, I'll post a short Q and A. I relise my commitment issues in the past have killed off my chances, but this time I'm going to do better.
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