Chapter 26
I woke up to Aseir, barking and growling at the door and the muffled sound of shouting. "Is someone outside the door, boy?" The only response I got was more barks and growls.
Then, my door was kicked open by two men in full armor, aiming their blades at me. I rolled out of bed and quickly grabbed my blades, preparing myself to fight. I launched myself over my bed, putting me in front of the first knight, catching him off guard, allowing me to quickly put him down. I shoved his dead weight onto the other, sending both toppling to the ground as I killed the one pinned to the floor. I looked out my door, only to see two guards with arrows aimed at me, prepared to fire them, until they fell face to the floor. Revealing Nienna standing behind them, holding two bloody shortswords.
"I was coming to say thank you for the new gear and was walking around to get used to the added weight. Looks like I came at the right time." She said, flipping her blades and putting them back on her belt.
"Well it seems luck has something in store for me." I turn to the racks near my bed and start rushing to grab my armor.
She stayed out in the hall near the door, keeping watch. "Might want to grab anything you wouldn't want to leave behind. Whoever's men these are, they are everywhere."
As she spoke I was pulling my armor on and tightening it, glad I left it loosely put together. As she finished speaking I pulled my pack onto my back. "I'm ready to go," I checked Aseir's collar, and checked him for any wounds. "And Aseir is good too. Let's go, I need to check on my mother."
As I started to walk in the hall, I saw my mother's door open and saw an arrow be let loose. I quickly pulled Nienna into my room.
She quickly caught her footing, seeing the end of the arrow go past the door. "Okay… thank you for that."
"No problem." I peak my head out the door and I see my mother, with her bow at the ready.
She quickly recognized me. "Darling! I heard fighting outside and I feared the worst! Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. I got some help from Nienna." I gestured to her head, which was poking out my bedroom door. She gave a small wave. "What's going on?"
She dropped her bow, but kept an arrow at the ready. "I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you immediately.' My mother turned to look at me. "A scream woke me up. There were men in the hall so I barred the door." She used her boot to turn over one of the men's shields, gasping when she saw the emblem on it. "Did you see their shields? Those are Howe's men! Why would they attack us?"
I felt anger grow inside, but I kept it from reaching my voice. "He's betrayed Father. He attacks while our troops are gone."
"You don't think Howe's men were delayed on purpose? That bastard! I'll cut his lying tongue out myself! Have you seen your father? He never came to bed!"
"Maybe he stayed up with Arl Howe." Maker, please keep my father alive.
"We must find him!"
I listened closely and could easily hear the clashing of swords. "It sounds like the battle is downstairs."
"We must fight our way to him. Your father needs us both. I am no Orlesian wallflower-give me a sword and i'll use it! Now let's go!" My mother's eyes were filled with determination… and a desire for vengeance.
"The fighting is everywhere. There's at least five men further down the hall, one of them is injured." Nienna told us, one of her ears twitching slightly.
I walk over to my brother's room and open the door. What I saw was etched into my memory, and then I heard my mother cry out.
"No! My little Oren! What manner of fiend slaughters innocents?!"
My grip tightened on my blades, knowing now that my anger wouldn't stay inside. "I'll make them pay!"
"Howe is not even taking hostages! He means to kill all of us! Oh, poot Fergus… let's go i don't want to see this!"