Chapter 4 – A Lead
Flying was something Corvo could get accustomed, but flying with someone on your back? That was going to take some getting used to.
As some time passed, Camilla was probably contemplating what she would have to do to get her little brother back. Corvo began thinking, was the kid in the carriage Corrin?
The Royal Protector has been up in the air for about ten minutes, this was the longest he had ever possessed any being. He felt himself getting sick and needed to land. Now. Luckily, he spotted the convoy, or what was left of it. Also in his view was a forest, which enveloped the east side of the road. He could use that to disappear after 'exiting' the creature. He had a plan! Corvo figured the princess would not mind walking the rest of the way.
He darted to the ground, alarming his passenger. She tried to pull up, asking "What are you doing?!" Wind was caught under his wings, just as they were going to collide with the ground, softening their fall. As he landed, he 'left' the creature and clenched his fist, using Blink to make his way over to the trees and bushes to hide his presence to Camilla and her dragon. She began inspecting her companion to make sure that it was all right. It was not. Corvo could not see, because the thing's back was turned toward the forest, but he heard bile and vomit hitting the grass.
Feeling a hint of guilt, he turned and began to make his way to the convoy he saw earlier, only as black dots on the ground.
As the Royal Protector approached the group of soldiers, hidden in the brush, he saw that Camilla had arrived already and was having a heated conversation with a blonde prince with a cape and a very high collar. He eavesdropped on the conversation,
"Leo, what direction did they go?" Camilla said, calmer now that she has had time to think.
"Xander and a few captains followed them through the forest," Leo said pointing to a path that had let the trees engulf the sides. He continued, "maybe they came out the other side, and have them already!" the boy said, trying to calm the axe-wielder down. She thought for a moment before speaking again,
"How many?"
"Probably two dozen at least."
"That's nearly double our troops," she said with concern, glancing at her creature, which was now laying on the floor, being tended to… by a person with a stick? What good was a stick going to do, the thing needed medicine at the very least!
"I would take him, but he felt sick, not sure why. He usually is all right for long battles, let alone a fifteen-minute trip!" She told cape wearing boy, who was probably also a prince.
Corvo had heard enough, he needed to find Corrin. He turned around, ready to run all the way, but the he realized, he needed some form of transportation. There was no way he was going to keep up with the bandits, Xander and a carriage all being led by horses. He returned to the spot. Camilla and Leo had separated ways, the woman tending to her creature, and the boy checking on their wounded, which were numbered at about seven, no body had died in the attack. More importantly, no one was by the horses. Now was his chance.
Corvo donned his mask, put his hood up, and stepped out of the shadows and let the afternoon sun touch his head and shoulders. No one was looking in his direction. He silently made his was over to the horses who were now curious as to who he was. The saddles were left on, likely because the battle was a surprise. He mounted a horse.
Now the soldiers were looking in his direction. It was not one of theirs. "Hey you! Stop!" one of them ordered, others mumbled, saying "another bandit?" The Assassin looked over his shoulder as he reared the horse, turning it towards the path. He was riding now.
A blast of dark energy hit the ground less than a metre from where he was. He turned his head again, to see Leo with a book in his left hand and magic in his right, held high above his head. Damn it. Is he Marked? Corvo thought silently as he started down the path, following the tread left by the carriage and wagon.
A few soldiers followed hooded man down the path, weapons drawn.
