Chapter 26
I looked at the cabin and felt my breath hitch in my throat. In the middle of the porch sat Edmund, in the rocking chair, which had been tied securely to a wooden post. He was roped and gagged. Blood ran down his forehead as he struggled against his bonds. I could hear muffled swearing as Edmund glared murderously at his captor, who was standing behind him, sword in hand as if expecting us. It made sense after all, since the four horses were standing to the left and tossing their manes in agitation.
His captor saw us, his eyes just taking in Halt's longbow as he dived to the floor, saving himself by a hairsbreadth as the arrow lodged itself into the door. However, he rose in barely a second and held his sword to Edmund's throat before Halt had the chance to nock and fire a second arrow. I swore and so did Halt beside me. If only the arrow had hit him. Now that he held Edmund captive, any movements on our part would risk Edmund's life.
"Retrocede! Retrocede! Stay back!" he yelled in a heavily accented voice. "I will kill your amigo!"
"Let him go," Halt warned, his voice low as he held out his hand, signalling to both Wolf and I to keep this distance. I wanted to loose my saxe at the man but didn't dare in case he decapitated Edmund, and also because it would leave me weapon-less. I saw the handiness of having a bow and quiver of twenty-four arrows, rather than just one saxe.
"Give me the documento and I will leave," he yelled. Documento? I assumed he meant documents.
"What documento?" Halt called and I knew he was bluffing. Apparently while we had scouted the docks, Edmund had found Ranger Victor's file on the activities on the Boss. We couldn't let them have it, yet we couldn't lose Edmund.
"Made by that bastardo Ranger," the man sneered, pressing his sword closer to Edmund's throat. My grip on the hilt of my saxe tightened. I couldn't bear to watch Edmund suffer like this when I was only a throw away from killing that bastard. Edmund's eyes widened in pain but he bit his lip and didn't cry out, refusing to give his captor the satisfaction. But he squirmed in his seat, trying to alleviate the blade's hold on his throat – I could have wringed his neck for risking his life. In a few seconds he spat out his gag and then spat in his captor's face.
"Idiota! No hay tal cosa," Edmund said as I peered closer at his captor.
"He's the Iberian from before," I said quietly to Halt, recognising the red cape and heeled boots. The man had thick black curls and a dirty moustache which seemed to make his thin swarthy face seem more sinister. He looked tall and walked with an arrogance of an experienced swordsman.
"Must have come to check on Victor, whom he no doubt killed with that crossbow, to look for any documents," Halt replied and I noticed for the first time the huge crossbow slung over the Iberian's back. "I've had enough of this joker."
"Tell me about your boss and I will consider sparing your miserable life," Halt called, taking a small step forwards. However, the Iberian just looked confused.
"The Boss. El jefe," Edmund translated as understanding dawned in the Iberian's eyes.
"I am no niña, scared by your threats," he spat in reply. "El jefe wants documento and I am not leaving without it." He tightened his hold on Edmund and took out a four-sided quattro and began cutting down Edmund's right forearm. It was an assassin's weapon, used for throwing, with four sharp blades that spun through the air towards their target. Uniquely Iberian, I found out later.
"Bastardo!" Edmund spat, but he didn't cry out in pain and kept his face stony cold. While the Iberian's concentration was focused on his torture, Halt took the opportunity and fired an arrow. I expected to see the Iberian dead with maybe an arrow through his eye—as the majority of his vital organs where covered by the back of the rocking chair—and bit back my surprise to see Halt's grey-shafted arrow miss, thudding into the chair. The Iberian yelled in surprise, diving to the ground again and landing painfully on his left elbow.
"You missed," I said, incredulous as Halt ran closer, trying to find an open shot before the Iberian got to Edmund again. The Iberian scrambled to his feet and loosed a quattro, his speed matching that of Halt with his bow and not giving Halt enough time to return the shot before ducking.
"Get down!" Halt hissed as he hit the ground, and I followed suit, but not before I felt a pain in my left shoulder as the projectile scratched through skin and drew blood. In a second Halt rose to his feet and fired an arrow, but the Iberian saw it coming and raised his left forearm, which was lightly armoured, to use as a sort of shield. He gasped in pain as the arrowhead slashed through flesh but saved his life, deflecting the arrow and simultaneously drawing his sword, going for a slice that would separate Edmund's body from his head.
"No!" I yelled in my mind – not wanting to alert the Iberian of my impending actions – as I brought back my right hand and launched my saxe knife, aiming for the man's exposed neck. I couldn't let Edmund die. I just couldn't and although I heard the swish of an arrow loosed beside me, I had to do something myself. As soon the hilt left my fingers I knew it was a good shot. Practiced, aimed and perfected.
At that moment Edmund broke free of his bonds and jumped up, punching the Iberian in the jaw. It would have been a knockout blow except for the fact that my saxe buried itself in Edmund's upper body armour, causing him to wince in pain and recoil from his punch. The Iberian crashed to the floor in a twisted manner and miraculously again saved himself from one of Halt's arrows.
"A Ranger never misses his target," Halt said, turning his head and giving me a pointed look as we ran to Edmund's aid.
"He was helping Edmund get loose," Wolf informed me, and I felt stupid for doubting his aim but was soon distracted by Edmund.
"Gorlog's beard! I hit you!" I said, horrified, running straight to Edmund, who was rubbing his neck, which despite the ordeal was only scratched. He pulled out my saxe without too much trouble and dropped it to the floor.
"I'm fine," Edmund said with a slight smile. "My armour stopped the worst of it. It'll probably only bruise." I sighed in relief, glad that I hadn't killed him.
"You're bleeding," I noted, standing on my tiptoes and gently touching Edmund's hairline where a cut was bleeding all over his forehead, and then inspected his forearm where an ugly wound was seeping blood as well.
"It's not that bad," Edmund replied with another smile that melted my heart as he unrolled his sleeve to cover the wound. "I was on the porch and had just hidden away the documents when I heard the horses whinnying up a storm. I should have ducked, but I was too late and one of those bloody quattros got me and almost completely knocked me out as well."
"Yeah it hurts," I answered testing my left shoulder where I was bleeding. "But I thought you were going to die."
"I'm tough, don't worry," Edmund chuckled slightly and gave me a sort of awkward side hug with his uninjured arm.
"Sorry about that," I apologised, wincing at his pain caused by me.
"It's not your fault."
"It was."
"Stop apologising!" Edmund jokingly demanded.
"I feel bad."
"You can't change it now."
"But it's still painful for you."
"Fine, how 'bout you give me a kiss, because I know that will definitely make it better," Edmund said, smirking at my reaction as he jokingly smacking his lips against my cheek.
Halt coughed and we hurriedly separated.
"You two are worse than having to deal with a love triangle," Halt said in exasperation.
"Love triangle?" I asked.
"Will, Alyss and Evanlyn," Edmund whispered and I felt my eyes widen.
"A long time ago," he added before my thoughts started wandering, but I gave him a look saying that this conversation was not over, only postponed.
"Where are the documents?" Halt asked as he bent down to inspect the Iberian who appeared to be out cold. Edmund took a package out of the opening of his shirt that he had tucked into the waistband of his pants to hide.
He saw the looks on our faces and held up a hand, stalling our next question. "I haven't opened it yet. I didn't get to because the next thing I knew someone was causing the horses to go off and I was being attacked and tied up."
He jerked his thumb towards the Iberian. "His name's Florando and he killed Victor on the orders of the Boss. Ranger Victor was a diablo curioso according to him. A Curios devil. So they got rid of him. That's all I could get out of him. He was a notoriously tight-lipped Iberian, other than his threats and swearing."
"You sound like you were the one doing the interrogating," I mused.
"We should get going before his delay in returning to the factory is noticed," Halt said looking over his shoulder to the horses. "They might send more foreign devils."
"Foreign diablos," I grinned, proud of my first Iberian word.
"Learning some Iberian I see," Edmund said grinning back. "Lo siguiente que usted sabe que va a ser su primera lengua."
"I think I'll make another round of the cabin, just in case," Halt said, reaching for the door knob.
"What about him?" I asked, but the next thing I knew, there was a tight, vice-like grip around my neck as I was pulled off the porch and to the ground. My eyes had closed automatically as a reflex, but I opened them to see Edmund and Halt staring in my direction in anger. Halt drew back his long bow but was stopped by a heavily accented voice.
"I will kill her," Florando warned, his toxic breath curling around my ear as I felt his sword digging into my neck but not breaking the skin – yet.
"Deja que se vaya," Edmund ordered his voice low as he spoke in Florando's native tongue.
"I will kill your compañera if you don't give me the documento," Florando ordered, and Edmund swore, realising the man had only been faking his unconsciousness and had heard our entire conversation.
I felt like an idiota for letting myself get captured so easily. I reached for my side but my saxe was lying on the porch, where Edmund had left it and I had neglected to pick it up. I mentally kicked myself. It should have been the first thing I did rather than being distracted by Edmund. Wolf was barking ferociously and baring his fang-like teeth.
"Call off the mongrel," Florando called as he dug the sword in deeper and I felt hot blood begin to run down my neck.
"Wolf," Edmund warned, and the dog immediately stopped barking, but still looked as if he wanted to rip Florando's throat out. I wouldn't have minded if he did.
"I've had just about enough of this idiot," Halt said, and a second later an arrow was embedded in Florando's left arm.
His grip on me loosened as he screamed in pain, swearing and yanking out the arrow. I took the opportunity, turning around and taking a small knife out of Florando's scabbard – which I had noticed earlier – and holding it at his neck. The tables had turned.
"Any last requests?" I asked, unable to resist.
"Your ceja," Florando said and I was taken aback by his answer. My ceja? That was the chance he needed, however, as he dropped his sword, grabbed a quattro and reached for my face. I thought he was going to gauge out my eye and tried to move out of the way, but he held me tightly as I felt pain above my right eye.
"Bloody hell!" I swore and spat in his face, opening my right eyelid cautiously, feeling relieved that I was not blind. But soon the blood ran into my eye and I could not see through it anyway.
"He's getting away!" Edmund yelled as he ran after the fleeing Florando. An arrow whizzed away but the Iberian had fast reflexes and saved himself, yet again.
I wiped my right eye on my sleeve, realising that he had opened up my scar. I touched my neck gently and was relieved to find that the cut was not deep at all, and although it bled slightly, it would be unlikely to scar. I weighed the small knife, testing it for balance before I threw it at the retreating Florando, fuming with anger. I swore when it missed as he ducked to the right, simultaneously missing a grey shafted arrow that instead buried itself into a nearby tree.
"Cobarde!" Edmund yelled, running towards the Iberian who turned with a nasty smile fixated on his face. "Fight me like a hombre!"
"I challenge you to a duelo then," Florando said, circling Edmund. "Have your amigos play fair." Edmund didn't look convinced.
"I knew you were a cobarde," Florando taunted. "Can't even fight for your woman." Edmund's eyes narrowed.
"I am no cobarde!" he yelled back, his eyes rimmed with anger. "I accept your terms."
"What are you doing?!" I asked incredulous.
"Fighting him," Edmund answered. "He hurt you and I won't let him get away with it." The initial anger wore away as he breathed deeply and prepared for the oncoming fight. He flexed his neck and took out his sword from its sheath, wincing as he remembered that his right arm was injured.
"Second thoughts?" Florando asked, looking thankful that his own sword arm was relatively fine. Edmund just smirked calmly, threw his sword up and then caught it with his left hand. I was just as shocked as Florando and very impressed.
"Enough of this," Halt said, drawing his long bow and aiming for Florando, finally having a clear shot where none of us were being held captive.
"No, I want to kill him," Edmund said. "And I agreed to the terms of the duel."
"Don't be stupid, boy," Halt countered. "You owe him no chivalry."
"He hurt Mon and I will make him pay," Edmund replied standing up taller. "Do not interfere." I was taken aback by his blatant demand of Halt and insistence to revenge me. It was stupid but endearing at the same time.
"Knights," Halt said, shaking his head but he lowered his bow. For the first time this evening I considered the fact that perhaps Halt was using this whole situation as training for us. Was it possible? I mean his arrows kept on missing their target.
"You can't let them fight," I appealed to Halt. "He'll die! And he's using his left arm!"
"Nice to see that you have faith in your boyfriend," Halt said raising an eyebrow. "But he's just as good with both. Horace and Gilan made sure of that."
"I don't want him to die."
"I will let him fight, Mon, but I won't let him die," Halt promised, hand clenching around his bow meaningfully. My thoughts gained more evidence as I realised Halt would deal with Florando in his own way if things turned sour. I ran to the porch and grabbed my saxe before standing with Halt on the sidelines, watching the two warriors' prelude to the fight.
"I trust in his skills as a swordsman, though, and so should you," Halt said. "After all, he was trained by the best and I would say is the next Premier Knight of the Realm after Horace."
"Really?" I asked, incredibly impressed.
"And he's all yours," Halt added. I thought that it was not an appropriate time for such humour, although heard Wolf laughing – if in a doggish way.
"Usted debería haber ahorrado mientras aún podía, níño pequeño," Florando said with a smirk.
Edmund appeared to be angry but bit it back, answering coolly, "No va ser requieren ahorrow."
"What are they saying?" I asked Halt.
"I don't speak much Iberian but something along the lines of: 'You should have saved yourself, little boy' and 'I won't be needing saving'," Halt answered. I raised an eyebrow at the fact that both Edmund and Halt could speak Iberian.
Edmund pounced, his eagerness taking over as he thrust forward right at Florando's ribs. But the other man was either anticipating the move or had amazing reflexes, as he easily deflected Edmund's sword. Then, with a flash, Edmund followed it up with a backhand that sent Florando reeling.
"That's your boy," Wolf said. I rolled my eyes but felt my heart warm at the fact that Edmund claimed he was doing this for me, even though I thought it was stupid, as he might kill himself. I clutched my saxe tighter, ready to interfere if necessary.
"Do you want me to kill that…?" Wolf trailed off as I gave him a warning look, not pleased with his swearing.
I shook my head slightly. "Let Edmund since he wants to."
"That…" Wolf started but I gave him another look, "man."
"You were going to swear," I said under my breath, smirking.
"Why must you always think the worst of me?" Wolf replied indignantly. "I was going to say man and was going to say that I hate him for hurting you and would love to rip off his head."
I raised an eyebrow, not believing the first part but patted Wolf's head affectionately at the second part. I heard a cry and sucked in breath as I realised it was Edmund clutching his stomach as Florando kicked it. Florando then took the opportunity to try to finish Edmund off once and for all, lunging at Edmund's chest.
"No!" I yelled, preparing to fire my saxe and hearing Halt bring back an arrow, but then Edmund stepped back just in time so that the slice only drew blood and didn't kill him.
"Is that all you got?" Edmund taunted, standing up straight, despite only just avoiding dying. Blood seeped from between a join in his armour where Florando's sword had penetrated.
"Araluen swine," Florando spat, and I felt my fists ball up in anger.
"Perra Ibérica!" Edmund shouted back and Florando lost it, coming at Edmund with a flurry of blows which he held back, but only just.
"What did he say?" I asked, narrowing my eyes, after wiping blood away from my eye for the fifth time. "He must have offended him greatly to cause such a reaction."
"He called him an Iberion dog." Halt smirked.
"That's not that offensive," I scoffed.
"Female dog," Halt added and I laughed out loud, feeling proud of Edmund's comeback. Florando narrowed his eyes at our laughter and suddenly erupted in another flurry of blows, catching Edmund off guard and flicking Edmund's sword to the ground. Florando immediately stood in front of the sword, stopping Edmund from being able to reach it and keeping his legs out for balance.
"Prepárate para morir!" Florando yelled going in for a killing shot to the unarmed Edmund. I brought my right arm back, ready to release my saxe and aiming for Florando's neck and I sensed Halt pull back his long bow beside me.
"You'll be the one dying today," Edmund replied, and dived to the ground between Florando's legs, somehow coming out the other side, grabbing his sword and gracefully rolling to his feet.
"Araluen swine! Fight me like…" Florando yelled utterly confused and not even finishing his sentence as Edmund's sword pierced through his chest, coming out the other side. The Iberian looked down at the protruding metal, dumbfounded, before falling forward, dead.