A new year and a new chapter!! Enjoy!! XD ~~~~

The night was lazy as the four men stood watch over the beaten older man. Orin gave a huge yawn, watching as the rest of the cavalry were relaxing and enjoying themselves.

Lucky bastards.

They could be merry and get drunk as they pleased tonight.

Not him.

He was with the Special Forces. Trained to be a killing master with his spear alone. So he had to stand guard over the old man.

Karma was a cruel, cruel thing to him.

" This job sucks." voiced the sword master.

" Don't complain, Kurion. The last thing I need to hear right now is your annoying voice." replied an older looking ax master, his tone tart and unfriendly. The young sword master puffed up, glaring at the ax master angrily from his position on guard. Orin sighed.

"Old man, you need to learn how to make small talk. This isn't the time of the old wars where talk meant death." he waved a finger at his older companion, shifting in his place to get more comfortable.

" Good old days, the time during the old wars." responded the ax master, wistfully." That was when punks like you were never allowed into the Special Forces."

" Are you trying to start something, old man?"

" Would you both stow it already?!" snapped the lance master, finally irritated with the argument enough to speak up. " Kurion, this does suck, but don't take it out on us. We don't care. Zor could kick your ass easily any day so give it a rest. Zor, I advice you take your own advice. People hear you talking like that and you'll get stripped of your position. It's a rule never to speak of the happenings of the old wars with new military members. We follow orders, we're not here to get an opinion on it."

Zor frowned and said nothing in reply and Kurion was silent as well. Suddenly, old Sunfonroy broke the silence, chuckling at the four after Orin sighed for a second time.

" You have something to say, Sufonroy?" Orin asked, sternly, eager to get the other three focused on something other then each other. He felt this bickering happened too often among men who were supposed to be comrades.

Sunfonroy laughed and laughed at them in a low tone so that the whole camp didn't hear him. His laugh was bitter cold, like the winter wind bringing the hair on the back of these fighting men's necks up to stand on end.

" Yeah, I've got something to say." his voice was abnormally rueful and bitter. More then usual for him. " How the hell did I ever let myself get caught by you stupid ass people?"

Zor abruptly kicked Sufonroy once hard in the gut. Being the most experienced soldier among them, he was the only one allowed to inflict any harm on Sufonroy unless Sufonroy physically attacked them all.

" Fools should keep their mouths shut." Zor stated, while Sufonroy curled over his gut, gagging painfully. He might have thrown up if he'd had anything in his stomach at the time. Then it was silent for awhile.

The night was calm enough, despite some rough goings of the drunk cavalry men. A sweet breeze of a coming rainstorm blew with an intermingled smell of alcohol from the camp.

For these men, stuck at work as they were, this was a mild comfort for them. That coupled with the knowledge that many of their fellows would be feeling the pain later in the form of a hangover the following morning kept their bitterness at the situation to a decent minimum.

Birds chirped and hooted, while the night creatures scurried about the clearing. Some afraid to be eaten by owls and others not caring enough to take the caution that the others took. These ones simply went about finding their food as if nothing about these humans was abnormal.

It was pleasant, pretty, and most of all, peaceful.

" Gotta piss." Sufonroy said, obnoxiously, disturbing the peace with his loud then half of the rest of the camp glanced his way. They all moaned and groaned, waving them away.

" Take him outta here!!" shouted somebody, getting quick agreement from most everybody else around.

So, Zor untied the notes of the chains around the tree trunk to prevent Sufonroy from moving freely. Holding up the chains that were linked to wrist cuffs, Zor gripped the chains tightly and led Sufonroy along. Kurion scoffed at Zor and the lance master who moved to follow the ax master.

" I'm not gonna stand around to watch an old man piss." he scowled, shaking his head at the two." You take him, I'm staying here." The two glanced at Orin, too frustrated with Kurion's attitude to try and convince him to come along. Orin shook his head in reply to them, knowing they were inquiring as to if he would come along as well. How much trouble could an beaten up old man cause going to empty his bladder? Both ax and lance masters shrugged at the two then led Sufonroy away into the trees and out of sight.

Time passed. Well, when you got to go . . . But soon, it was too long. Orin and Kurion glanced at each other and Kurion's shrug was the only thing that could ease Orin's nerves. Soon it wasn't enough after more time went past. Finally, it was too much for Orin, and he went to see what was taking so long. It didn't take long to figure out.

Zor and the lance master were dead, only one arrow sticking out of them, both in the neck of each man. They both bled profusely, laying in the pools of blood. Not more then a few yards away, Sufonroy's chains were discarded, laying alone on the ground. Still further away, Sufonroy himself was being ushered away into freedom by two young people. It doesn't take much to put two and two together.

" Intruders!! The prizioner is escaping!!" he yelled out loudly, so as to get the attention of the cavalry men only just out of sight from these trees. Faces turned around to look at him.~~~

"SHIT!! We're busted!!" Aaron cussed out to Will, helping her Master along and letting out a long, loud whistle that caused Sufonroy and Will to cringe and hold their ears. "WILL!! Let's move it!!" Will was shooting on comers at the time, and let loose a few more arrows before turning to kneel down on the ground.

" The hell if I let anybody carry me-!" he was protesting, but Aaron shoved him onto Will's back. The young Ranger held tight and lifted the man into the air with a huge amount of effort.

" The hell if we have a choice in the matter, Master!!" Aaron snapped back, cursing still more and trying to help Will along as much as she could with her one free arm. They would be able to last long in a chase like this and Aaron needed to do something to help.

Her eyes searched around, frantically, trying to peace together something that could work, or to catch sight of her stallion that she knew was on the way with Tug too. They had to last til then.

" WILL!! Give him to me!!" Aaron insisted, stopping Will a moment. She knelled down, Will staring at her in disbelief. The sling had been discarded, and her bandaged arm hung out to lift her Master onto her back.

" Your arm-!" he began to argue.

" There's no time for that!!" she snarled, hold the ax master's weapon in her good arm and shaking it at Will. " You think I'm any good with this?! You need to use your bow to take these guys out from a distance!!" Will hesitated, but Aaron was impatient right now, as this was not the time to argue. " It's our only chance!! WILL!!"

Finally he yielded this, setting the old man down on the ground. Just then someone got close enough to attack them. Unprepared, the men had to go and find where they'd left their weapons first, before they were able to give chase of these people. The faster among them had caught up now.

" AH!!" Aaron screamed out from surprised, swinging the ax, clumsily, managing to unbalance the man. At that point she reached for a knife and stabbed him in the heart with this weapon instead.

Her arm protested hugely, pain leaping through it and rippling up her entire arm, despite it had only been the small knife being thrust into a man's heart.

Spinning, she swiped one man with the force of her spin with the ax, sending him falling backwards, bleeding from a stomach wound. Finally, she lost her grip on the weapon and it went flying into another man and he fell with the weight and force of the ax as well.

Firmly, Aaron crouched down again, and Will began to take out men with arrows now. Sufonroy looked at Aaron, his long time student, with a critical eye.

" Get on!" she commanded to him. Sufonroy folded his arms, frowning and cursing Aaron a moment or so.

" Who taught you to be so brazen to your Master, boy!" he snapped back at her. Aaron got to her feet, fuming mad. A hand on her hip, she jabbed her finger against his broad chest with such a fire in her eyes you'd think with one look she could set this man to flames.

" You did, you damn bastard!! And I'm a fucking girl, remember?!" she poked him furiously several times in the middle of his chest, almost pouting at him, as if to show disappointment rather then anger at him.

This time, she spun round and simple grabbed, him, yanking him up onto her back and settling him herself, her arm burning with pain. She managed the pain into a gasp, and trudged off with her Master, Will following after while taking men out with his arrows from the shadows of the trees and his Ranger's cloak.

All the while Aaron carried him, her Master cursed, cussed, and spited Aaron in every language and way he knew how.(Note: This is a lot, so this took awhile.) In fact, even when Rurin came running out of the trees, Tug close behind, the older man had yet to finish cursing his student to his fullest composite. By this time, Will was being overwhelmed.

" SHUT UP!!" she finally couldn't contain herself, snarling at her Master. Instantly,the old man's cussing ended, and he stared at her in surprise. " There's no time for this, Master!! Just get on Rurin and go!!!" she insisted, putting him on his feet again.

Quickly, she turned from him, being sure to lower her head to stop Will from seeing the pain filled tears that were in her eyes and the cringing of her expression. It was her arm again.

Will came running over, forced back by the men that were advancing towards them now. He started going past Aaron, but when Aaron didn't move to follow, he kicked up dust to stop himself. Then he came up next to her.

" Aaron?" he asked, taking her arm a moment. Instead of going along with him, she moved a step forwards. " Aaron, what are you doing?!" She pulled out a knife, putting it in her good arm and letting her right arm dangle next to her.

" You know this won't work, Will," Aaron said, almost too calmly. It sent a chill up Will's spine at just how cool headed she was right now," just go. I'll delay them." Horror crossed Will's face at what she was suggesting.

" I'm not leaving you here!" he replied, only getting the worst glare he'd ever seen in his life from this girl in front of him now.

More men attacked then, and Aaron took the initiative and struck first with only her short knife. Even with her left hand, she was able to brace back a sword strike, and twirl her grip after moving the attack to the side enough to send the man to the ground dead.

Turning on her heels, Aaron caught one man with a slice across the chest so that he fell to the dust with a heavy thump. When another man headed for Will, Aaron threw her knife, hitting the man in the thigh so that he crumbled to the ground screaming in pain.

" WILL, GO!!" She screamed at him, running up to him, panting for breath." The rest of the army will be here soon, all organized and ready to go!! We won't make it out if we all go!! Rurin will be too slow to escape carrying two people!!!" Jogging along, she got Will to follow her over to Tug, ushering for him to mount his horse.

" But-!" he protested, but Aaron wasn't paying attention. She was focused at looking over the rise behind them. Riding up the rise, Urosia led a small group of men ready to go after the intruders who had his former captive. Her panicked eyes hit Will hard.

" GO!! I'll keep them busy so you can get away!!" she told him in a louder voice then would have been nessicary under normal circumstances. When Will hesitated again, Aaron just couldn't take it anymore!! " You bastard!!! Don't make us all die for nothing!! GO!!"

Finally, Tug denied Will the privilege to hesitate anymore. He galloped away, towards Rurin.

" GO!! GO!!!" Aaron called after them both, as they had both halted at the top of another rise. The horses seemed to be the only ones willing to go along with Aaron's plan. Rurin let out one final whine of mourning before turning with Tug against the will of both of those that rode them.

What was strange was that Aaron smiled about this. Horses were creatures that could be the most intelligent minded animals in the world if taught. Tug and Rurin were smart creatures. They could tell what she was saying, and knew enough that it was best, even if Will and her Master couldn't understand it. She was thankful for Rurin.
If her Master didn't set that beautiful black stallion free into the hills once she died, she'd have to haunt him for the rest of his stupid life.~~~~

Okay, that's the chapter. Getting down to the wire now, and things aren't looking so good for Aaron. What next? You'll find out later!! XD Read on! Read it again!! Then review!! I love any and all kinds of feedback!! Anything is helpful!! Thanks for reading!!