Chapter 3

Music: Strong and Strike

Telarian hunched low on his horse as they galloped through the forest. He closed his eyes and focused on his mount. "Hurry, Windrider," he said. "We've got to ride more quickly in order to get to the fort in time."

Telarian's horse snorted as it narrowly dodged a great oak tree. Foolishness, it replied. Break leg. Enemies come. Gallop into next world.

Just then, an enormous arrow whizzed past Telarian's shoulder. "Damn Fortuna!" he said. "I'm going to get rid of them, you stay close."

Windrider snorted in agreement. Telarian heard another air fly through the air and plunge into Windrider's hindquarters. Windrider neighed in pain, threatening to throw Talanshar to the ground.

At the last second, Telarian leaped out of the saddle and grabbed a low hanging tree branch. He used Windrider's momentum to swing himself up. After taking a second to balance himself, he unlatched his Short bow.

Sure enough, his attacker continued riding directly pass Windrider, hooping and hollering in his victory.

Telarian drew an arrow and aimed at his target. I must be careful. I've only got two shots until he'll reach cover. He exhaled slowly, and let his arrow loose.

It sailed true, and plunged into his foe's mount. That one is for Windrider! he thought.

The mount collapsed, and his foe tumbled out of the saddle. Truly monstrously-looking, the barbarian stood nearly seven feet tall, and blue war paint decorated his entire body. Other than a quiver and a gigantic claymore strapped across his back, he wore nothing else. Telarian swiftly swung around to the opposite side of the tree before the barbarian could see him.

Damn Gauls! thought Telarian. My best chance is to keep my distance. As long as I can stay out of his melee range, I can probably take him out. Those bows take too long to load.

The barbarian began to laugh. Telarian could hear the vibration through the tree trunk. "Herausgekommen, Kürbis." the barbarian growled. "Lassen Sie uns zusammen spielen."

Well, I don't have a clue what he's saying, thought Telarian, but I don't think I want to find out.

Telarian closed his eyes. He brought his hands together, palms facing outward with his fingers interlocked. Diana, please bless your servant in his time of need, he prayed. May the forest entangle the intruder!

The vines wrapped around the trees closest to the barbarian exploded outward, deftly constricting the barbarian. He roared in a rage and twisted fiercely, snapping many of them. His bow twisted in his hands and formed a crude set of manacles. One of the nearby trees bent down and entangled his legs.

Now's my chance! thought Telarian.

Telarian leaped out of the tree, firing his bow in midair. The arrow flew straight through the entangling plants and sunk into the barbarian's left shoulder. The barbarian roared in pain, and shattered the crude manacles as he reached for his claymore.

Telarian swiftly ran away as he drew another arrow. As he dodged a tree trunk, he spun around briefly to fire off another arrow. The barbarian roared again, confirming a hit.

Praise Mars! Telarian thought. That's two. It will probably take only one more.

Telarian ran from tree trunk to tree trunk in an attempt to lose his pursuer.

Did I lose him? I don't hear anything.

The barbarian's huge Claymore flew through the forest and impacted on the tree Telarian was hiding behind. He's still behind me? What speed!

Telarian spun out behind the tree and fired another arrow at the barbarian. It struck the barbarian's left thigh, but he kept on coming. "Gekommen und stellen Sie mich ehrlich gegenüber!" the barbarian cried as he rushed up to the tree and grabbed the hilt of the claymore. Telarian's eyes widened in fear as the barbarian began to pivot towards him.

The claymore sliced through the air with deadly intent. Telarian rolled out of the way, and the blade cut through the air where Telarian had been just a moment before. The barbarian, unable to stop the momentum of the blade, sunk the claymore into a nearby tree nearly 3 inches deep.

Telarian dropped his bow and drew his twin gladii in one fluid motion. The barbarian tugged the claymore out of the tree trunk with ease and came at Telarian again. This time, Telarian threw up his gladii to deflect the blow, which caused his arms to spasm in pain. His strength is enormous!

As the barbarian was recovering from the previous swing, Telarian darted in under the barbarian's guard and sunk his right gladius into the barbarian's abdomen. I have you now! thought Telarian grimly. The barbarian dropped his claymore.

The barbarian looked down at the gladius sunk into his chest. Then he looked into Telarian's eyes and grinned. "Ich werde beendet," the barbarian said. "Aber Sie kommen mit mir!"

The barbarian's massive left hand grabbed Telarian's face and picked him off the ground. Telarian swung his gladius upwards and cut the barbarian's biceps, but the barbarian's right fist came around in a punch and sent Telarian flying. He slammed into a tree trunk nearly ten feet away.

Black flecks danced across Telarian's vision as he got off of the ground. He could barely make out the barbarian kneeling on the forest floor. The three arrows remained lodged in his body, and blood was gushing forth from his left arm.

The barbarian locked gazes with Telarian. Hatred swam across his eyes. "Sie sind gut," he said. His body began to shudder, and the barbarian sunk to the ground. He brought his eyes up to Telarian for a final time, and this time they were filled with peace. His face fell to the ground, and his body exhaled its last breath.

That was a close one, thought Telarian. I must've had the bad luck of crossing an officer.

Telarian limped back to his mount. Windrider's head turned to watch his return. Rider gone? she asked.

Telarian nodded and muttered another prayer to Diana. His hands began to emit a pale blue light. He grabbed the arrow buried in Windrider's hindquarters and slowly drew it out. The wound healed itself up afterwards. Telarian threw the arrow aside, and Windrider stood up.

Other horse? asked Windrider.

Telarian turned around to see the barbarian's mount twitching on the ground. Stranger, it cried out. Help me.

Telarian hesitated. He wanted to help the barbarian's mount, but he only had enough mana for one more spell. He knew that a battle was likely to happen later that day, and that he should probably save it for an emergency. And besides, he wasn't exactly in perfect shape himself.

"You won't return to the barbarians?" asked Telarian. "You'll roam free?"

The barbarian's mount signaled acceptance. Free, it replied. Free like birds.

Telarian sighed, and went over to the mount. He muttered another prayer and healed the horse's wound the same way.

Thank you, replied the mount as it stood up and stretched. My herd will remember you. The horse trotted off into the underbrush.

Telarian limped back to Windrider. You are weak, snorted Windrider. Should have killed. Nature knows no kindness.

Telarian ignored Windrider as he mounted her, grimacing in pain. "I couldn't help it," he replied. "He was a creature of nature, just as much as you and I."

Windrider snorted in disagreement, but didn't say anything else. They started off once again.