With one last glance at Kelley and Swuro, Damon was led out of the dungeon.
I have to win. He thought, shielding his eyes agents the dazzling sunlight.
The vermin, a collection of stoats, ferret, weasels, rats, and the occasional fox, surrounded him on all sides, trying to catch sight of the stranger who would dare to challenge their fearsome leader. Damon fixed his eyes strait ahead, trying not to think of his death which could be very soon.
A stoat, dressed in a red tunic, fringed with gold lace on the sleeves and around the neck, emerged from the crowd.
Thin and agile, his green eyes glowed dangerously and his sharp sword glittered in the sunlight. Damon knew at once that this was Captain Ragen.
He’s a little young to be a captain. The otter noticed.
Judging from the look of him, he could not be that much older them Damon.
But while the otter had been training with wooden swords agents kind teachers, Ragen had been fighting for his very survival and had the scars to prove it.
“Release him.” the stoat commanded coldly.
Aviso stepped back as the chains clattered noisily to the ground.
With a humorless grin, he handed the black otter a sword.
Damon ran his hand down the blade. “It’s dull.” he said.
“Tough.” Aviso sneered as he, along with the rest of the vermin, backed away.
I don’t expect any better from these cowards.
Damon took a beep breath as Ragen charged towards him.
He raised the sword in time to deflect the blow and slashed at the stoat, who easily stepped out of reach.
The swords met with a loud clang, which jarred both animals’ arms.
Damon stepped backwards to recover his balance as Ragen circled around him.
He looked up as a commotion came from the onlookers, who were starred in the direction of the slave compound.
Ragen’s strike came unexpected.
Damon nearly lost his grip on the sword and blood streamed down his arm.
Blinded by pain and rage, the otter rushed forward, bringing the sword down upon the stoat’s shoulder.
Ragen winced slightly, but continued to block Damon as the otter slowly tired.
He was now fighting for his life.
Mika, her back to the forest, sent arrow after arrow spinning off into melee.
The slaves were losing, some had dropped their weapons and a few had frozen in terror, but not all. A beautiful yet fierce young squirrel, a short sword in each hand, spun like a deadly whirlwind. Mika was unable to shoot anywhere near the squirrel for fear of hitting her.
Sinwell and his brothers needed no help and Kelley had disappeared.
Rats were closing in on two shrews, which had been cornered agents the wall.
Mika’s arrows took one out, then another.
That’s better. She said to herself as the shrews chased the rats around to the other side.
She glanced back to Damon and was horrified at what she saw.
The black otter lay on his back, Ragen stood over him.
Damon held half of the sword; the rest was embedded in the dungeon door.
Mika could tell that he was wounded badly.
Notching an arrow to her bow, she aimed at the stoat.
“Ye die.”
Her bow crashed uselessly to the ground, spilt in half by the very saber that was now pressed agents her throat.
Aviso grinned wickedly.
“Ye die.” he repeated.
Damon struggled to his feet.
“Look what ye have done.” Growled Ragen, gesturing around.
“You and your guards can always give in.” Damon gasped.
“Never! Ye will pay fro this.” Ragen lunged forward.
At the last moment, Damon stepped to the side and droved the broken sword deep into the stoat’s chest.
Ragen dropped lifeless to the ground.
No comments:
Post a Comment