A scream echoed from outside, I charged over to the window and searched the area until I saw what caused the scream. The creature of children's nightmares, banelings. They were swarming down the hills towards the crowds. My instincts kicked in I had grabbed my sword and leaped through the window, I saw the ground coming towards me fast, I bent my knees and as my feet hit the ground and rolled forwards, standing sword in hand ready to fight, but before I could move I heard Caleb calling out. I scanned the crowd for him, but I couldn't see him. The villagers were shoving one another aside to get as far away from the Banelings as possible. There was no way of getting through them, I sprinted towards the stalls and leapt upon them running over the items that then tumbled to the floor, still hearing Calebs little voice, calling out for his mother. I still couldn't see him, the crowd was to dense and the Banelings were getting closer. I felt a surge of adrenaline, and I focused on the closest Baneling and dove into it out stretching my blade, with ease I slit his throat. My grip tightened on the sword as I swung for the next one, my blade embedding in it's chest.
"ALEXIOS!"
I spun around spotting Caleb, he was trapped between two stalls, a Baneling closing in on him.
"CALEB!" I left my sword in the dead Baneling and charged at the monster, when I was close enough I launched into it crashing into the stall selling glass, I felt them slice into my skin but I did not care. The Baneling looked at me with dead eyes and struggled against me, trying hard to tear into my flesh. I drew my fist back and smashed it into it's greyed face, again and again, hit after hit, until it didn't resist anymore. It slid to the floor dead.
I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, my breathing laboured. I turned to see Caleb's terrified face, eyes wide with shock, I looked beyond him to see more Banelings still coming there were two others fighting against them, but they were outnumbered. I grabbed Caleb's arm and hauled him towards the tavern
"go inside and to the end room on the top floor" he just stared at me "NOW CALEB!" I pushed him towards it, he looked up at me tears filling his eyes, he turned and scarpered.
Turning I watched the two strangers fight the group of Banelings, gathering myself I reached for my dagger at the small of my back and ran back into the danger. The Banelings were concentrating on the two fighters that they did not notice me coming up behind them, quickly I forced my dagger into the spine of one of the monsters, she went rigid and then crumpled as I moved onto the next one which had spotted me, I lashed out attempting to pierce its chest. It moved back out of reach and grabbed my arm, before I could stop it had opened its jaws and latched down on my arm. I let out a cry of pain. Raising my other arm to punch the disgusting creature off me, before I could move another had grasped my fist, leaving me defenceless. I struggled against the pair, unable to move either arm, I raised my leg and brought my foot down hard on the knee of the second Baneling, I heard the crack of bone as it stumbled. I took the moment and kicked it in the face, before it hard time to hit the floor I had my now free hand prying open the jaws of the first. It took all my strength but I could feel it give slightly. Blood was pouring down my arm, the pain was almost unbearable, I could feel every one of the creatures rotten teeth buried deep in my flesh. I closed my eyes, concentrating on not passing out, if I pass out I'm dead for sure. Suddenly the monster let go and fell away, I opened my eyes looking down to see a dagger lodged in it head. I grasped the open wound on arm applying as much pressure as I could. Another pair of hands touched my arm, I jerked back expecting another enemy, instead I was met with pale blue eyes filled with concern.
"it's ok" she said her voice soothing "we will get you to a healer" her hands gestured towards the village, she placed a hand on my upper arm and guided me back. I looked back to see the field covered in dead bodies.
I sat in the healers front room as he tended to my arm, he was checking to see if there was anything left embedded in the wound. My forearm still hurt but not as much as when it first happened.
"well nothing is in there that I can see, it's just lucky that the seeker and mother confessor were here, this could have been a lot worse" his gruff voice stank of pipe smoke, but more than his voice caught my attention, the seeker and mother confessor.
"was she the one that brought me in?"
He looked at me in surprise "how do you not know who they are, by the spirits boy have you been living under a rock for the past 3 years" he watched me then shrugged and turned to get some bandages. That was the mother confessor, the one with the pale blue eyes, she had saved my life. A gentle knock echoed from the door, the healers grumbled for them to come in. A man not much older than myself walked in with short dark hair and a sword strapped to his side, I recognised it from the drawings Caleb had showed me. The sword of truth, which made the man Richard Cypher the Seeker. A woman followed him inside, the one from the fight, the mother confessor, Kahlan Amnell, she was dressed in white, her black hair falling over her shoulders. Both their eyes fell on me, the healer scrambled to his feet and greeted the seeker with a handshake. But I continued to watch the mother confessor as she stepped forwards.
"may I?" she asked gesturing to my arm, I raised it so she could get a better look. Her fingers were warm on my skin as she examined the broken flesh "it was very brave what you did for the boy" she looked into my eyes then back down to the wound "then coming back to help us, thank you"
I was taken back by the thanks, I had never received gratitude before, it was strange, I wasn't sure how to respond. After a moment of silence I replied in a quiet voice
"my arm will heal soon enough anyway I should be thanking you, you saved my life" another pause, then something clicked I owed her my life I rose to my feet "I am indebted to you, my sword is yours mother confessor if you will take it" she looked up, meeting my gaze, she was gauging my words, seeing if I was lying.
