Chapter IV
Cold Blood, New fears
The sky remained dark for hours, the summer sun finally rising in the east as the pair made their way into the shabby inn. Five miles to the south it sits. Tucked neatly away between two trees. No one is in side it, and though it should resemble a crowded bar the two of them are the only noisemakers of the world. In the distance an animal crows telling the world that daybreak has indeed began.
The pair are tired, their eyelids heavy in sleep as they sit down. A woman moves passing them tea and trying to make mild chat but the guest's response is limited and so she abandons the job. They eventually pay for rooms and leave the bar; their tea drained away as the sun pushes away the stars.
Hours pass and eventually the pair are back, their hoods pulled down as they move towards the innkeeper. The lady speaks, her companion standing behind her suspiciously. Her voice is a dead whisper one that only the innkeeper can hear. "Two horses please." She hands over some gold; enough to probably run this place for a month and the two of them are directed towards the stables.
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The horses where not worth all the gold, she spent on them. They weren't good runners, slow and it took them too long to get warmed up. No she would eventually need to find better ones. But for now this was all they had. The horse's hoofs thumping against the ground as they rode. They don't move very fast, a trot maybe but it is hard to tell with these horses. They don't push it though. In stories that she has read the horses gallop for miles. But those are stories, fiction. A gallop would kill these beasts; no they will stay at a trot, maybe a canter if necessary. But for now a gallop is far beyond her reach.
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The city is soon far behind them, no more out line of its wretched walls can be seen. They move on, faster and slower keeping the horses at a steady pace. They have lost track of where they are on the map, following the road seems to be the easiest way to go. But for now god only knows where they are. They converse little, their hands on their weapons as they move through forests and grass.
They stop for lunch, abandoning prayer as they move. No, god will go with them; he will forgive them of their sins. Night falls and so they continue. Stopping every hour to feed the horses and themselves. But they keep moving, tiring themselves more and more as they go. God only know where Gardious is right now. He could be miles away, even at the castle but it seems unlikely. He will not let fresh blood get away so easily. No he is most defiantly on the hunt, he might not even have gone with his guards. But either way something, someone is following them.
Eventfully they stop, the horses wheezing as they pat them down and lead them into sleep. They make their own camp, no fire is lit for it is warm enough and the smoke would instantly attract someone towards them. No they must remain alone, unheard of. Even their speech is limited. No noise rustling the silence as they eventually fall asleep.
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But the night stirs; they are not in-fact the only ones on the island. In the distance a wolf cry echoes through the night. An owl hoots and then there is silence. Like the breeze they move, bows held in place ready to fire. Eyes slowly flicking over the world as they move with perfect grace. Fingers point, indicating what is to come. Nods break out, small swift smiles.
Some fall from the trees onto the ground, the crescent moon reflecting in their eyes as they step forward. Blue paint covers their body hiding them from the world. Teasing an onlookers eyes, are they their? Or are they not? They continue to move, a hunt has broken out. Their feet padding along the leaf covered floor much like a wolves. The deer in front of them springs moving off, but arrows rain upon it. Dead before it hits the ground. And then in the distance a horse shrieks, causing heads to turn as they search for the source. The dear is collect and then they move, following the noise…
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Something awakes him, he doesn't know what. But it feels as if someone is breathing down his neck. Watching him, Alan stands pushing himself out of the thin blanket he has wrapped himself in. Rya sleep on though, slowly he walks over to the horses. Touching their necks he is shocked to find that their necks are drenched in sweat. Their eyes rolling as he tries to calm the beasts, something is wrong.
He had felt it and the horses have confirmed it. Slowly he turns hand on his weapons as he quietly makes his way towards Rya. Shaking her awake he speaks. "Something is wrong." Is his only explanation for the sudden wakening. She nods getting up to pack her things. They move silently, communication is held only to whispers and hand gestures.
She herself doesn't know what is going on, but she trusts him and so she makes sure he movements are exact. He will explain later, her eyes flicking over to the forest. The moon offers little light but she has no doubt something is up. Pulling herself onto her horse, she calmly waits for Alan to follow in her example. They turn their horses somewhat desperate to get away. But then something happens, something that is not expected. From the trees someone shouts, a call is thrown out into the summer night. And with a shriek the horses are off.
Arrows rain down on them, onto the horses and onto themselves. She feels her horse giving way and falls to the side to let it die. Alan has fallen of his horse. The beast galloping away, slowly disappearing from view. Turning she grabs for her knife, Alan's sword is out at the ready a yell coming from his lips challenging them. Who ever they are they stream out of the forest, swords and axes at the ready.
Ready to kill and to fight, they don't have a chance, there have got to be at least ten of them, if not more. Ten against two was not a fair advantage. But their options are limited. No they would do what they needed to do, even if they did end up dead. The men come forward, screams echoing from their mouths. Turning she stands back to back with Alan a frown springing to her face as she holds her dagger at the ready. It's a shame really… to die so early in life. S
omeone attacks and with a snort she parries holding her weapon with graceful ease as she waits for another to attack. She will not kill, no not until they deem a real threat to her. She hears a yelp from behind her, Alan has killed someone, and so with a snort she decides to deem them a threat.
God had forgotten them, at least for this day; this hour he had left them behind to bleed. It had taken at least an hour to get rid of the men. Their attacks fierce and merciless and Alan tried to cut down one after another. He kills three in all, the rest leaving because of pure exhaustion and with a sigh and moan Rya falls to the ground.
Bruised and scratched they lie there. No movement coming from either of them as they desperately tried to restore some amount of strength. Eventually she moves her hand coming up to greet Alan's. Eyes flick open as she eventually and slowly gets to her feet. Alan soon follows suit, his legs bloodied from a large scratch that continues to flow. Groaning she grabs a hold of his arm helping him to the horse that lies in the dirt. Dead. Pulling the saddlebags out from the beast she takes out bandages, needles and thread. Her eyes flicking into his to reassure him.
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Day broke early that day; the sun rising as it usually did casting away the stars and moon. They had rescued what little things they could from the horses body, Alan's horse had been no where to be found and they soon realized that their provisions had been cut short. Her money was still with them, not all of it but enough to buy provisions if they could.
Alan is currently sleeping, his leg stitched up and wrapped the best that she could. Healing wasn't her number one thing in the world, and the stitches had taken longer then usual. But it was over and done with, he was sleeping and so with a yawn she allowed herself to follow suit. So far her grand escape had not gone according to plan.
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AN: Thank you Daisy for the first review. As you can see I took it into consideration. XD