Arrow of Justice

by R W Caron

  “You will not double cross me.” He said to her. “I am not one of your puppets on a string, I will nave none of it.”

  “I was merely sugg-” She choked as the Hunter squeezed harder. “I will not double cross you.” She stated having never felt this much power in a man before.

  “You live because I let you live. Never forget that.” The hunter stated and then let her go. He stormed out of the room and left her to her thoughts. He had other matters to attend to, the mercenary had to die, but the true force behind the army was the golden boy. Andrew Brady was his new prey and he had the scent. Nothing stops a hunter when he is after his prey. His blades craved the blood of men again and Andrew was first on his list.

  Chapter 19

  A Snake in A Storm

  Nahan knelt at the end of the cliff face. Watching the bight light erupt into the sky as he heard the sounds of war erupt in the city of Debec. His heart told him he should join his people in this fight but a solitary glace towards Alina squandered all those thoughts. He was at peace and in love. He had Trinity as well, his lovely griffin that had stayed close by. War was not in the stars for Nahan. He stared up at the stars that night and found himself reflecting on what brought him to this point.

  Alina bustled around in their makeshift cave and Nahan couldn’t help but wonder what she would be like in an actual home. As the sounds from the city below grew louder Nahan tried to block them out. His focus was keeping Alina safe, and he could not risk her life. Besides the Masters had said if he joined into this fight he would die and the prophecy would start.

  Nahan did not fear death, as death is only a part of living however in his death the world turned to turmoil. That he did fear, thought it found it hard to believe that one man’s death could mean so much. Master Barton believed it so strongly he killed for it, to try and keep Nahan there in the mountain in order to keep him from this war. Everything Nahan was doing to himself.

  “Nahan, come here for a minute.” Alina called from inside the tiny cave.

  Nahan pulled himself from the battle below and his through, stood and sauntered into the cave. “Yes.” He replied. His eyes shot wide open as Alina had slipped into leather amour. She had her bow strong across her back, along with two quivers of arrows. She had a quiver full of arrows attached to her belt, her hair was pulled back into a magnificent braid and she had mud lines under her eyes to stop the glare of the sun. “What are you doing?” Nahan asked.

  “Helping our people,” She replied “And Andrew.”

  “You can’t be serious?” Nahan said rolling his eyes. “This is not our fight.”

  “Not our fight?” She exclaimed. “Our people are being slaughter and you want to sit up here because of some lines a bunch of wizards told you?”

  “You don’t think I want to be down there?” Nahan yelled. “I am the Chief of the Nipawin people, I should be leading them into battle.”

  “Then let’s go.” Alina reasoned.

  “It’s not as simple as that.” Nahan replied. “This fight was brought on by men not our people.”

  “This fight is for our people, for all people.” She shot back.

  “Where will we ever fit in the community of men? They will always look to us a savages and skinners but nothing more than that.”

  “Why do we need more than that?” She asked. “The Nipawin people have never expected anything for anyone.”

  “I don’t expect anything else from men, it’s just...” Nahan started.

  “What? What is it that hold you back?” Alina asked shooting her arms out to the side.

  “It’s you.” He replied harshly.

  “I’m holding you back?” She asked a little wounded by the comment.

  “No.” he replied. “I fear for you.”

  “Why?”

  “If the prophecy is real, and I do die. You are left in pain. Pain that will be beyond your wildest dreams and I cannot live with myself by putting you through that again.” Nahan confessed.

  “Well,” Alina replied after a long pause. “Don’t die.”

  With that she walked to Trinity and grabbed the reins of around the birds bill. “What are you doing?”

  “We are going to save our friends.” She replied pointing to Nahan as well.

  “Trinity is not ready for battle.” He replied trying every excuse he could to keep her out of the battle.

  “Trinity, should we save our friends?” She asked the griffin. With a couple of squawks and a rear of her head, Trinity’s answer was clear.

  Nahan laughed, “It would seem I am out numbered.”

  Alina hoped onto the back of Trinity and extended a hand to Nahan. “I will stay on Trinity, attack from the sky.”

  “I have your word?” Nahan asked.

  “As much as my heart.” Alina replied kissing his lips and spurring Trinity out of the cave just as the sun started to crest the horizon to the east as storm clouds threatening moved in from over the mountains.

  ∆∆∆

  Andrew slashed back and forth slamming his shield into another guard, breaking his defense’s and driving his blade into the man’s belly. He turns off the attack and blocks a spear with his shield coming for he’s head. He kicks his leg out and ducks low as a bolt of lightning shoots over him and catches the man in the chest sending his flying back. Andrew smiled and turned to Carmae “Watch it.”

  “Shut up.” Carmae replied with a grin. Andrew laughed and looked around the courtyard of the Citadel for the first time since they sabotaged the gate. It was quite easy to get into the citadel once the explosion at the front of the first gate happened. All the guards had rushed to defend Debec; leaving the gate to the citadel open. A few swords they had found into the gate controls and no one would be able to get that gate back close. What Andrew had not expected however was the second wave or guard. The King was a smart man and had not taken as long as Andrew had hoped to regroup. The scene in front of Andrew was a grim on and the wreck of death and blood tortured his senses. Nearly half of Carmae’s Mages had been slew in the second assault a fact that pained Andrew though he took comfort in the fact that Lexi was not there. His men had fared a bit better but his forces were dwindling. He could hear Tuck and his men making their way to him but there where still plenty of soldiers before they got to him. The doors to the grand hall of the Citadel lay up a long wide stone staircase but Andrew hesitated on storming it.

  There were one of two things that could happen, they could storm the staircase and get through the door no problem, only to be in a wide-open room of two levels. Here archers could pick them off, or they could stay in the court yard and continue to fight back the kings seeming never ended forces hoping tuck. His men could get to them and formulate a different plan. Neither seemed very promising to Andrew but he new he needed to think quickly before another wave of soldiers flooded there ranks.

  His choice was Made for him as the door to grand hall opened and another score of thirty or so men rushed out, swords and spears in hand. They stopped suddenly at the top of the staircase as Andrew and his men formed a ‘V’ around the mages. A man in studded leather armor stepped out in the middle of the staircase. He banished two swords his hands and a golden handled dagger with a jewel on the hilt on his belt. His smile stole the fight from Andrew’s men as they all stepped back at the pure evil in his grin. “Andrew Brady, the Golden Boy.” The hunter said coyly. “Bring your men and we shall dance.”

  “And if we refuse?” Andrew blurted out.

  “Then you die where you stand.” The hunter calmly replied.

  “We have fared well enough so far.” Andrew said building confidence in his men.

  “Then test you blade against me boy. They will not attack.” The hunter said as he walked out of sight. The guarded moved with the Hunter backing up the platform. Andrew looked at his men and nodded, as they slowly crept up the stair case. The hunter was true to his word the guards did not attack as Andrew and his men crested the top of the staircase. Andrew knew this dis
play of power was something he didn’t to play into, to by tuck and his men time to get to them.

  “Who are you?” Andrew asked.

  “I am the King’s Body Guard but in all honestly I am the one they call the Hunter.”

  “What should I play your game Hunter?” Andrew asked.

  “My blades crave your blood, and so I shall grant them their wish. As I granted them the wish of the Nipawan Chiefs blood.” The hunter said knowing full well Andrew new who he spoke up.

  “Nahan.” Andrew said softly to himself. The blood boiled in Andrew and his face flushed red.

  “Yes.” The Hunter said allowed. “That one seemed to be talented. He however was no match for me as I hear you were not match for him. Once I slid your throat and remove your head from your shoulders, these men will kill the rest of you except you.” He pointed his blade to Carmae. “You killed my bird,” the Hunter paused. “I will feed you to that Ravens family.”

  “I do not fear you Hunter. Your words are as hollow as your soul.” Andrew said trying his best to sound confident but failing at it. The Hunters mere presence seemed to steal the will to fight out of men and his confidence was a never ending force that weight on even the most trained of soldiers.

  “You try as you might, but you are afraid, as well you should be. I have never been bested in combat.” The Hunter started forward. “Shall we dance?”

  Suddenly a large shadow filled the ground, all looked up to see the feathers of a golden beast. Instinctively everyone raised their weapons. Three guards that stood the closest to the hunter fell with a feathered arrow protruding from their throats. Within Seconds the beast was gone taking two more guards with it in his talons but it left something behind. Standing between Andrew and the Hunter stood Nahan, blades in hand eyes narrowed at the hunter. The hunter took a step back and looked at Nahan curiously. Andrew stared in disbelief as Nahan turned his head and smiled “Longtime friend.”

  “KILL HIM. KILL HIM NOW!” The hunter orders as he turned and rushed into the grand hall, confused by the appearance of a man he believed dead.

  Andrews men did not never have a chance to raise their weapons as Nahan Rushed in at the guards. The first thrusted his spear at Nahan and with devilish speed nahan deflected the blow to the right, pivoted and reversed is second hand blade and drove it through the armour the covered the mans back. The blade slide through the armor with ease and protruded from his chest. The second attack came at Nahan from another guard Nahan deflected the sword, kicked his foot out catching the main in the groin then in one fluid motion yanked his blade from of the first victim and thrusted both his swords in a downward chop on at the mans shoulders driving both down in a ‘v’ shape and nearing severing the mans head. Nahans magical speed took over as he was moving faster than humanly’ possible slicing back and forth with his blades letting them dance with magnificent speed as guards continued to fall in his wake. Andrew and his men rushed in to help Nahan and within minutes all thirty of the guard where dispatched. As the battle end Nahan started after the Hunter.

  “Nahan,” Andrew called. Nahan stopped and turned to him. “How are you alive?”

  “It’s a long story my friend.” Nahan replied. “One I will tell you when we are safe.”

  “I’m sorry.” Andrew replied. “I’m sorry I lost faith in you”

  Nahan was touched by the man and sheathed his blades walking up to Andrew whose head hung low. He grabbed the man in a hug and patted his back. “It is I who am sorry for thinking you would ever harm my people. You are a true king Andrew Brady, you fight for the people and wear the burdens on your shoulders and your’s alone. I know this burden and you should not have to wear it alone.”

  “I should have never stopped looking.” Andrew replied.

  “Fear not as you would have never found me.” Nahan replied. He looked past Andrew to the City of Debec. “Your forces come.”

  “Our forces come.” Nahan smiled and slapped the mans shoulders.

  “Find the king, capture him and make him answer for his crimes.” Nahan said.

  “What of the Body Guard? We should go after him, take him...” Andrew started.

  “No. This is my fight, and my fight alone.” Nahan replied shortly.

  “But.”

  “I must do this alone Andrew.” Nahan replied. “I will explain it to you one day.” Andrew and Nahan locked eyes and Andrew knew there would be no changing the mans mind. Tuck and what was left of his forces come up the stairs then and halted seeing the exchange. “One thing I ask of you my Brother, if I die take Care of Alina for me. She could not ask for a better man then you.”

  “Alina lives.” Andrew asked completely shocked. Nahan motioned to the guards downed by the arrows and Andrew finally noticed Nahan had no bow. Andrew hugged Nahan again. “You have my word.”

  “Till Death brother.” Nahan said.

  “Till Death.” Andrew repeated the two nodded and Andrew led the forces to another entrance of the citadel. Nahan watched them leave, cracked his neck and pushed the two wooden doors open wide as he walked in. No guilt, no fear but most of all not afraid for Alina since the first time since they had been reunited.

  ∆∆∆

  Alina rested atop Trinity’s back bow ready to fire the devilish arrow that hung from the string. As they circled the city of Debec, surveying the slaughter her heart wept for the people. Men and woman stepped through the bodies, picking up what scraps they could to sell. Alina had seen this behavior in animals but never in people and she wanted to fly down, to help them, to tell them it would be ok. How bad off where the people in the capital city of this land that they had to scavenge like animals she wondered.

  The sudden crack of thunder and a flash of light mere feet in front of her made her focus again as the rain suddenly came like a water fall onto the city below. The flames around the city continued to flicker as the rain fell hard. The sound of battle was hard to hear through the pounding of the rain, but Trinity had heard it and swiftly banked hard back towards the Citadel almost unseating Alina. They flew low and could see the ambush well before Andrew and his men.

  Alina noticed at once that Nahan was not with them and he head whipped to the grand hall entrance. His hair stuck to her face as she fought with the decision of what to do. Nahan would be completely alone but if she did not stop Andrew his men would walk into an ambush of archers. “What do I do?” She asked to the sky. “What do I do?” She said exasperated.

  ∆∆∆

  Andrew and tuck led the charge. The rain would normally hinder them but it was a refreshing cool rain that helped the sweltering under their armor. They pushed their way across the courtyard and started towards the Oratory. This place Andrew knew was connected to the throne room and the chapel. This was the kings private place to talk to the gods. Andrew shook his head, not believing any god would listen to the unholy man but it was just another way the king could use his gold. It was a way of showing he had power.

  “Wait.” Andrew yelled as they entered the large square leading to building. “Something doesn’t feel right.” Without warning arrows launched at the men and Andrew did not have time to react. “RUN!” He yelled. Carmae, Tuck and Andrew bolted for the door, his men hastily following. The big shadow covered Andrew and the men for a moment and he glanced up to see several archers come tumbling off the room top. With the second pass of the shadow more archers dropped off the rooms with loud scream and the clanking of armor on stone as they fell.

  Tuck did the wooden door at a full run dropping his large shoulder and driving into the door. The door exploded into splinters and Carmae following in using the big man as a soft-landing pad. Several more men following in as Andrew ushered them on. One man was cut down by an arrow just as Andrew reached for him. The arrow cut through the back of the man men and exited his throat spaying Andrew with blood. The horror on the mans face matched Andrews look now. He fell into Andrew arms and the two tumbled into the open-door way. Andrew rolled the man off him and said a sil
ent pray as he knelt beside the man and closed his eyes.