Ch. 5: Cornered and Trapped!!!
.. Rory ..
The cold wind whipped the hair around my face and numbed my hands and feet. Nonetheless, adrenaline pumped through my veins.
There they were, standing by the flower seller's cart. I was amazed how heavily armed they were, complete with javelins and swords. An interesting crest appeared on one short man's tunic, an eye and a spear and arrow crossed over a purple battlefield. It looked foreign, but I was foreign to Kyrria also. I did not recognize Shorty or the crest from the night before. Shrugging it off, I prepared myself. My time had come.
Quickly, I reached over and grabbed an overripe tomato from the fruit stand I was hiding behind. I hurled it with all my might and then ducked into the shadows of an alley. With satisfaction, I heard a sickening splat. Ah ha.
I took off, silently running through the alley, and turned left, then left again. I came out in the same square and spotted my victim. He and his comrades were peering into the alley I had just recently vacated. To my great amazement, they had left their weapons scattered on the cobblestones! What fools!
Quickly I darted into the open and picked up a huge spear belonging to one of them. I gritted my teeth, the thing was nearly twice my size, and crept after them. Blessing my black clothes and soft buckskin moccasins, I blended into the black street like a cat. One hand brushed the building's side while I hoisted the spear into ready position.
I reached the pack of burly men and pressed myself against the wall.
"Who e'er did that must be 'ere!" The tomato stained man cried in frustration.
"Aye. Search the alleyways!" called out the leader. I studied his muscular form. He was the only one who actually new how to handle himself, and had kept his weapon, a thick, unsheathed, double blade sword. His accent and form were definitely familiar from that night. Pushing that thought from my head, I considered my options.
My dilemma was to corner the men in a way that they would be vulnerable to a single girl and spear.
Side stepping one old brute, I launched myself into the open and tore down the passage.
"Hey! Who the 'ell was that?" Shorty, the one I hadn't recognized, yelled in a strangely foreign accent.
"Follow 'im!" Another bellowed, but already I was turning sharply into another alley. I knew these streets well; three more rights and a left would take me around the square to the shut off old dump yard. Looking over my shoulder, I caught a glimpse of three of the soldiers barreling after me, huffing and puffing.
I lead my pursuers on a wild chase through the streets of Roselin. I knew my fate if I was caught, but still I was having a great time leading them to a trap. As I turned into Junkyard Lane, I heard them panting. "This way!"
"He turned here!"
In front of me was a huge tower of rotting trash, blocking the way. I doubled back a ways down the lane and ducked into a doorway. Not many knew of this abandoned home except me and Tomase, who had gone off and left me some years before so he could become a knight. It used to be the residence of a butcher before the yard had been strewn with trash. Still it was decorated with old rusty meat cleavers and meat hooks.
Pressing my ear against the thick wooden door, I made out the deep voices of my stalkers. The sounds faded as they strode down the lane to the dead end. Taking my chance, I hopped out into the street. Positioning myself and taking aim, I hurled a thin bladed butcher knife I had grabbed at one man. It hit him, or rather his jacket collar, right on target, pinning him to the wall.
His companions whirled around to find me crouched and ready. Before they could react, I enlisted the same concept that had the first man pinned to the wall, and flung my second knife. Again, my target was hung helplessly by his hood, legs thrashing and gloved hands clawing at his neck.
I concentrated on the three men left. Shorty wasn't there. One was definitely the leader, and the one with the most wealth. A jeweled brooch pinned together his cloak and his pockets bulged and jingled with coins.
One man charged at me with fists raised. I gulped, Here we go.
I flung my leg out to meet his shoulder, with a sickening crunch. His eyes screamed silently with pain and he desperately threw a punch at my face, with his good hand. He missed and then abruptly he fainted. That's weird, I thought. A dislocated shoulder wouldn't cause any warrior to faint, no matter how inexperienced they are.
Whirling around to meet my other opponents, I stopped. No one was there. But I had been sure there had been three warriors left to deal with! I scanned the area for escape routes and found none.
Oh my god. There lay one soldier, not the leader, on his back, just like the one I had just dealt with.
I ran to him and squatted to check his pulse. Blank, dead.
What had happened? Did the leader attack his own? Maybe they had-
My thoughts were interrupted by a strong hand clasping around my neck.
... Eric ...
It was a long ride back to the palace. I bet one of my knight friends, Sir Merkins, who's accompanying me, 2 nobles that Claudia will be waiting for me just inside the gate when we arrive. To bad for her, but I won't be in the mood to discus our "plans".
We rounded a bend and could see the palace in the distance. Sadly, she wasn't waiting for me, probably getting her nails done by one of her many personal servants in her quarters.
As I turned around to grin at Merkins, I saw that his back had gone rigid. Though I was a great swordsman, I hadn't much battle experience. Merkins, on the other hand was an old War of the Kings veteran. He swiftly drew his sword and turned towards the forest. Before I could inquire on his suspicion, foot soldiers began pouring from the dark trees!
Arrows wised through the air from unseen archers in the trees.
"Duck! Your Highness, flee!!" yelled the knight in command of the return trip. Merkins followed me and as I turned Marshal, my loyal warhorse, towards the distant castle gates with my knees. I saw a branch of knights break off from our main group and charge at the attackers in a v formation.
With out looking back, we galloped towards the palace, but I knew it would be too late. About 50 soldiers on horseback were racing towards us from the forest. I could tell they were going to block us off from the palace and reinforcements, but we couldn't turn back.
I ducked again as another shower of arrows rained down upon us. Merkins cried out as three thick arrows pierced his chest.
"Nooooooooo!" I screamed. Merkins had been a father and teacher to me since I could hold a sword.
I caught him as he was about to fall from the saddle, and settled him in front of me.
"Leave – me. I am a - burden. Escape, Eric!" He whispered shakily to me. "No, I can't leave you!" I pleaded, but it was too late. He let out a lat long sigh, and his face became ashen.
Anguish flooded trough me. I had to fight! Our attackers were almost upon us. As they neared, I studied the crests and insignia on their armor. An eye with an arrow and sword forming a cross in the fuchsia background. That's funny, I thought. That doesn't belong to any kingdoms I've ever heard of. They must be barbarians! I said to myself with contempt.
Now that they were closer, I had a better view of the men themselves. They were huge, on horseback their heads reached 12 feet tall! The horses loomed 3 feet over Marshall and raced along the hills with supernatural speed. These were certainly barbaric foreigners!!!
With one hand I steadied my injured companion and with the other I flung a knife from my belt into a man. He gagged and fell onto the ground, to be run over and crushed by the rest of his comrades. Engaged in a sword battle with another soldier, I didn't see the soldiers part and form a circle around me until it was too late. Trapped, I stabbed the soldier I had been fighting deep in the chest and mixed guts and bone with my sword. I groaned and turned to face a general that had come into the center of the circle with me. He chuckled when he saw my sword, still dripping blood, drawn and ready.
"Well, well, well. Looky 'ere, men. 'ere is the Crown Prince." He said in a foreign drawl. I couldn't place his accent either!
One foot soldier separated himself from the crowd that was beginning to grow. He saluted and bowed to the commander.
"Your Grace, Palace reinforcements are 'eaded towards us. Estimated time of arrival, 5 minutes. The knights accompanying the prince 'ave been taken care of." He stated in a loud voice with out looking at me and then stood stiffly at attention. This news was alarming, those knights had been some of the best fighters in the realm!
"We'll jus' depart then."
Guards came up on all sides of me and herded me after the lines of soldiers marching off in the distance.
I was still in shock as we headed away from the palace and my kingdom.
Disclaimer: I do not own the "mixing guts and bone" thing, that is from the book Eragon (which is a VERY good book). Also, I do not own anything from Ella Enchanted.
A/N: A/N: Hey guys, here is the next chappie.
Sorry to break the news now, right b/f break, but I have decided to stop this fanfic…
UNLESS WE GET ENOUGH REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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