Estien watched in horror as an arrow barely missed Yfandena, landing with a
resounding thunk in the trunk of a nearby tree. He had to get her safe, he
thought to himself, as he grabbed her off her horse and dove under Rolan's
protecting bulk.
:.Rolan! Where did that come from? Is everyone okay?.: His mind nearly screamed at his Companion. Slowly, he began to rise from his position, scanning the silent road and the surrounding trees. He noticed several of the other travelers doing the same. Estien winced as he stood fully. His ankle throbbed, warning of an injury he would pay for later.
:.Are you both okay?.: came a voice in his mind. Terla. Estien glanced around, finding the slim, petite woman and nodded ever so slightly in reassurance. :.Dammit. I was looking right at Dena. We almost lost her! It came from the trees over there--the reddish ones with the yellow splotches. Estien, I don't like this. There is more than one person with a bow out there. We can all feel it. But the Companions and scouts couldn't see or sense anything before!.:
Estien looked around him at his fellow travelers. There were five Heralds, including himself, and three Heraldic trainees. Two small wagons loaded with goods, a few unmounted servants, a cook, and four mounted guards to accompany those wagons completed their retinue.
:.Alright. How many do you think there are out there? They can't be bandits. No bandits would be stupid enough to attack a group with this many fighters. .: He Sent to Rolan and Terla. He looked down at Yfandena quivering under Rolan's legs. :.They shot at her and only her, so we can assume that she's the target. .:
:.There are at least twenty men out there Chosen. We know that one of them is a mage of some ability, since we could not sense them before. He could be hiding more men in the forest. We cannot afford to lose her Chosen. .: stated Rolan gravely. :.The treaty..:
:.Dammit I know. We need to get her out of here, but I don't want to leave the servants and all to defend themselves. .:
:.Then split the forces. We'd have to anyway. The trainees, the guards, and I will stay with the wagon and cover you. Josen, Kart, Minna, and you can break her out of here and make a dash for Haven. The Companions can make it there before nightfall if you go at full speed. .: Terla Sent flately.
:.No! It'd be suicide for all of you if they decide the wagons are a good target too. .: Estien replied.
:.We don't have much choice in the matter. The servants and guards couldn't keep up with the Companions, and you'll need all the Heralds to get her to Haven safe, especially if there's a mage and an unknown number of men on your tail. .:
:. She's right. Terla and the trainees can at least get the servants out, along with the guards if things get bad. Chosen, we must go and NOW. Our main concern is the girl, we must keep her safe! .:
Setting his face in a grim scowl, Estien gazed once more toward his fellows. The interchange had taken barely moments, and he knew that they had less than that before their attackers decided to move again. :.Alright. Rolan, tell the others our plan, if you can call it a plan. At my signal, we make a break for Haven. Guard formation, Dena will ride pillion behind me at center. Have Josen erect one of those light reflecting mage barriers around all of us, and all the shields he can around the girl. I want Minna to do whatever she can to those would-be assassins. Whatever she can. .:
He felt Rolan's assent, and vaguely heard him relay the orders to the other Companions. Terla had already mounted and moved toward the wagons and guards, motioning them to gather protectively around the wooden structures.
The others mounted as well, and Estien saw leaves rustle all around them. He could hear the crunching of footsteps behind the trees that lined the road. His body tensed, his right hand moving almost unconsciously toward his sword, the other reaching toward Yfandena. "Dena, get up on Rolan. Quickly." He whispered, trying to move his lips as little as possible. "We must go."
Estien jumped up into Rolan's saddle first, followed by a trembling Yfandena who scrambled up behind him onto the tall horse. Her arms clamped his waist with the forcefulness of a drowning spirit.
:.Okay. Rolan, ready? Go! .:
:.Rolan! Where did that come from? Is everyone okay?.: His mind nearly screamed at his Companion. Slowly, he began to rise from his position, scanning the silent road and the surrounding trees. He noticed several of the other travelers doing the same. Estien winced as he stood fully. His ankle throbbed, warning of an injury he would pay for later.
:.Are you both okay?.: came a voice in his mind. Terla. Estien glanced around, finding the slim, petite woman and nodded ever so slightly in reassurance. :.Dammit. I was looking right at Dena. We almost lost her! It came from the trees over there--the reddish ones with the yellow splotches. Estien, I don't like this. There is more than one person with a bow out there. We can all feel it. But the Companions and scouts couldn't see or sense anything before!.:
Estien looked around him at his fellow travelers. There were five Heralds, including himself, and three Heraldic trainees. Two small wagons loaded with goods, a few unmounted servants, a cook, and four mounted guards to accompany those wagons completed their retinue.
:.Alright. How many do you think there are out there? They can't be bandits. No bandits would be stupid enough to attack a group with this many fighters. .: He Sent to Rolan and Terla. He looked down at Yfandena quivering under Rolan's legs. :.They shot at her and only her, so we can assume that she's the target. .:
:.There are at least twenty men out there Chosen. We know that one of them is a mage of some ability, since we could not sense them before. He could be hiding more men in the forest. We cannot afford to lose her Chosen. .: stated Rolan gravely. :.The treaty..:
:.Dammit I know. We need to get her out of here, but I don't want to leave the servants and all to defend themselves. .:
:.Then split the forces. We'd have to anyway. The trainees, the guards, and I will stay with the wagon and cover you. Josen, Kart, Minna, and you can break her out of here and make a dash for Haven. The Companions can make it there before nightfall if you go at full speed. .: Terla Sent flately.
:.No! It'd be suicide for all of you if they decide the wagons are a good target too. .: Estien replied.
:.We don't have much choice in the matter. The servants and guards couldn't keep up with the Companions, and you'll need all the Heralds to get her to Haven safe, especially if there's a mage and an unknown number of men on your tail. .:
:. She's right. Terla and the trainees can at least get the servants out, along with the guards if things get bad. Chosen, we must go and NOW. Our main concern is the girl, we must keep her safe! .:
Setting his face in a grim scowl, Estien gazed once more toward his fellows. The interchange had taken barely moments, and he knew that they had less than that before their attackers decided to move again. :.Alright. Rolan, tell the others our plan, if you can call it a plan. At my signal, we make a break for Haven. Guard formation, Dena will ride pillion behind me at center. Have Josen erect one of those light reflecting mage barriers around all of us, and all the shields he can around the girl. I want Minna to do whatever she can to those would-be assassins. Whatever she can. .:
He felt Rolan's assent, and vaguely heard him relay the orders to the other Companions. Terla had already mounted and moved toward the wagons and guards, motioning them to gather protectively around the wooden structures.
The others mounted as well, and Estien saw leaves rustle all around them. He could hear the crunching of footsteps behind the trees that lined the road. His body tensed, his right hand moving almost unconsciously toward his sword, the other reaching toward Yfandena. "Dena, get up on Rolan. Quickly." He whispered, trying to move his lips as little as possible. "We must go."
Estien jumped up into Rolan's saddle first, followed by a trembling Yfandena who scrambled up behind him onto the tall horse. Her arms clamped his waist with the forcefulness of a drowning spirit.
:.Okay. Rolan, ready? Go! .: