Desperately, Myst charged pass the Ogre fighting him, trying to intercept the red Ogre. His back was open to the one he just past, as he lunged at full extension for Krug’s back.
Myst’s bastard sword took the Ogre low in the back, just above the kidneys. The blade stuck in the wound before Myst could twist it free. Krug leaped sideways from the attack. Myst’s sword was wrenched from his hand, and flung into the bushes yards away.
“Twunk.” A crossbow bolt sailed over Myst’s head, and stuck the Ogre who was about to rip his back open with it’s copper war axe. The bolt entered it’s left eye and flung the Ogre somersaulting backwards to the ground.
Willow, at once started the practiced movements of recharging the crossbow she had fired, not bothering to look up, knowing that her shot had flown true to the target.
Myst stood over the Ambassador, his long knife held at the ready, waiting for the badly injured Ogre to come and die like the rest had. It would not get past him, he had no doubt about that. And neither did the big red Ogre, it seemed.
Krug took a last look at his target, knowing that the Sun Elf warrior was a master swordsmen. He had killed most of his group already, and Krug did not want to try him again, not with the wound in his back. And the little Gnome girl with her deadly crossbow, would be ready again in only seconds. He turned, and disappeared into the undergrowth of ferns and young trees.
Myst knelt down beside Kayla, and helped her turn over the Ogre. Under the thing was the smashed body of what had once been a extraordinarily beautiful Star Elf lass.
Kayla was crying at the sight of her friend. She checked her for a pulse, weak and fading it was. Kayla watched as Zarra quickly faded.
“Oh Zarra, no please. Please don’t go. You are my friend, Zarra.”
Myst saw that the end was close for the Elf lass. She had been crushed by the Ogre, and her lungs were collapsed and filling with blood. He smoothed her hair and looked at the watching Ambassador.
Kayla’s eyes were pleading for him to do something, anything that might save the other girl’s life.
At that moment he looked into the soft light blue eyes of the Ambassador, and he knew he was defenseless from her appeal.
“Well, I guess my secret is done for,” he thought ruefully.
Myst placed his hands on Zarra's bare chest, a green glow sprung up from his hands and flashed brightly. He drew upon all of his Earth Magic to help heal the dying girl. He was not sure that he could, but he would try. The power of Earth Magic was not the best choice for healing, that was Spirit Magic, and only Priests had that power. But Earth Magic was all he had, and he poured it out into the dark haired lass.
Slowly, Zarra opened her bright green eyes, and looked up at him.
“Am I going to live, I hope,” she managed weakly.
“For a while, at least. We still need to get you to a Priest soon. There was only so much of the damage I could fix.” The magic had weakened him and it would take time for him to recover.
“I thank you. Zarra Alkirr owes you her life, and she is grateful.”
Zarra coughed and her eyes closed in pain.
“Myst, here’s your sword,” Thomas handed Myst back his bastard sword. He had been searching through the bushes for it, and finally found it in clump of what may have been poison oak. “Would you help me get my crossbow from under the that tub of lard.”
“Sure Thomas, thanks for the help, you’re really good with that bow of yours. And so is your niece Willow. Thank you, that last shot saved my hide.”
“My pleasure, Colonel,” Willow piped back in her high musical voice. “Not bad for a child, hum, Uncle.”
“Once again, you ignore my orders, Niece. You do not act as a proper young Gnome lass should,” scolded Thomas. “But, it was most fortunate for us that you did not. Hum, what am I going to do with you? I think it’s time to take you home, maybe college will do what I have not.”
“You’re welcome Uncle, I think. If that was indeed your way of thanking me for saving your life.” Willow laughed at the joy of surviving death. She was giddy from the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.
Both Myst and Thomas watched her, both remembering how hard it was to deal with your first combat. Even after a hundred years, Myst still felt the letdown that follows battle, when your heart stops pumping so hard and the hormones depart your mind.
Thomas pulled as Myst pushed, and slowly the Ogre turned on it’s side. Willow darted under the beast and grabbed Thomas’s crossbow. They let the thing fall back, when she had darted from under it.
“Well, it looks fine, except for all the Ogre blood,” Willow exclaimed. Then she threw up all over the weapon; dropping to her knees, she continued to empty her stomach, and shake.
As Thomas hurried over to her, Myst said to her, “Easy lass, it’s just the battle shakes. You’ll be fine, and if you keep killing Ogres you’ll get use to it.”
Gently, Thomas helped her up. “It’s normal Willow. We were watching to see when it hit you. You will be fine in a couple hours, but now we have to get the hurt Elf up to the Cathedral. Take your bow, and follow behind us closely. Look for someone on are trail. I’ll take the lead.” He had been quickly cleaning and checking his crossbow as he talked. Now reloaded, he hurried up the road back to town.
Myst walked over to Kayla who was gently stroking Zarra’s forehead. “Greetings Ambassador, my name is Colonel Myst Sunstar, of the ISS. And, as you have by now already guessed, I am here to rescue you.” He smiled at her, knowing that she too was coping with the terror of what she had just been through.
Myst picked up the injured Star Elf girl. She had fallen unconscious again, as they had prepared to leave. Tired as he was, and still needing to carry the girl the three or more miles back to town, he began to channel a small stream of healing magic into her. His right hand glowed softly with the green light. It was not much, but it would keep her alive for a little while, hopefully.
Kayla followed close behind Myst. She was at the end of her ability, and somehow she was drawing strength from him. For the first time in days, she felt hopeful and safe. He was responsible for that she knew, and somehow she would get through this horrible ordeal. As good of a friend Zarra was becoming, she was not able to trust the other girl fully. She was after all by her own admission, an agent for the Kushian Emperor. This Sun Elf warrior was one of her own people; someone that had been entrusted to find and save her, and he had done so. And she thought to herself, “I have not even thanked him yet. Somehow I feel so good just being close to him. Strange, perhaps it’s some residue of the magic he’s feeding into Zarra.” But she knew, it was something more than just the magic.
~
As they hurried up the road to the town, Thomas sent Willow running ahead to the Cathedral for help. She ran as fast as she had ever run before. Over the cobbled streets she flew, Gnomes being surprisingly fast for their small size.
Most of the town was at their mid-day meal, and so the streets were nearly empty. Up the steep main road she went, her legs a blur, in her headlong dash to get help.
The tall three and four story white washed buildings, all tiled in the dark red clay tiles, cast a cooling shade onto the narrow road. The bright walls and gates of the city, were covered in brightly blooming flowers. Bougainvillea and Hibiscus seemed to dazzle in a rainbow of colors; each competing, it seemed, for the title of brightest bloom. At each of the cross roads, Willow was forced to run around fountains splashing water in joyful cascades. She had never realized how many of the darn things there were.
Finally, she reached the imposing structure of the cathedral. Its massive double doors, each twenty one feet high, were wide open. Up the steps she hurried. There, just coming out, was her goal.
“Bishop Darrian,” Willow gasped, finally out of breath. She was doubled over fighting for air.
“Willow my child, what is the matter?” Asked the kindly older Moon Elf. Willow thought he must be really old; his fiery red hair had started to gray at
the temples. Most Elves tended not to show signs of aging until at least six hundred years of age.
“Ogre’s ambush... Elf girl hurt... Uncle bringing her here, from bridge,” Willow still had not caught her breath, each word was a struggle to get out. “They’re still about a mile from town... need help.” This time speaking was easier; she was even able finally to stand up straight.
“Wait here, I’ll get a carriage.” The old priest hurried down the steps and around the side of the building.
She sank down to the steps. It had been a quick three mile run, all up hill. Anxiously she waited, “They are past any chance of another Ogre attack by now, I hope,” she thought to herself. But the Star Elf girl looked to be in very bad shape; she really didn’t know if she would make it.
Bishop Darrian’s official carriage came through the gate. It was white with gold trim and edging, a bright gold sunburst blazoned the coaches’ side doors. The holy symbol of the Creator gleamed in the bright sunlight. It was pulled by four white horses; their long manes and tails, groomed to soft cascades of white horse hair. On top, a bearded Dwarf, in the white livery of the church, slowed the horses so she could hop through the open door of the carriage. As soon as she was in side, Darrian closed the door. The carriage rocked back on its springs, as the driver whipped the team into a fast trot. It was faster than was allowed inside the town limits, but no one would question the Bishop over the speed of his carriage. All knew to look out for the white carriage, racing off to bring healing to the sick or injured.
Down the winding cobblestone street, raced the Bishop’s carriage. Willow held on for dear life, as the driver urged the four horses faster. The silver bells on the horses’ harness, jingled madly. The few Elves on the street, warned of the approach of the rocketing carriage by the wild music of the bells. Somehow, the Dwarven driver managed to negotiate the streets and fountains of the city, without disaster.
Finally, clear of the town, the Dwarf whipped the horses into a gallop. Willow stuck her head out of the window, to feel the rush of the wind in her face.
“This is fun,” exclaimed Willow.
“Be careful little one. We don’t want you falling out onto the road. I can’t spend the whole day healing Gnomes of road rash,” laughed the friendly Bishop.
“How badly is the Elf girl hurt, Willow?”
“A big Ogre fell on her. I was surprised that she was still alive when I left to get you.”
“Are you certain it was a Ogre and not a Goblin, Willow? There are small tribes of those little thieves all over, could it have been a Goblin?”
“Bishop, I well know the difference between a eight foot Ogre and a four foot tall Goblin. Just because we Gnomes are small, doesn't mean we are stupid!”
“I did not mean to imply that you were, child. I just want to make sure of the problem we face. Well, Ogres in the middle of Kush, what next? There so common up by my home land of Tuscan. The Ogres’ main area, the Mountains of Naya, adjoins Tuscan to the west, as it does your land of Gnomes to the north west. Ogre raids are a normal hazard there, but not here. Well, we will have to petition the Emperor, to send his troops to clean out this nest of vile Ogres.”
The carriage pulled up to a short stop next to the struggling survivors. Bishop Darrain opened the door, as Myst brought Zarra over to the carriage. He laid her onto the back seat, and then collapsed across from her, completely drained from pouring out his magic for so long. His head pounded with pain to the point of double vision and dizziness, a side effect of drawing too much magic.
Bishop Darrain quickly assayed Zarra’s injuries, and the glow of white light sprung from his hands, as he bent over her. Kayla climbed into the rear facing seat next to Myst. She was exhausted as well; the events finally taking a toll on her last reserve of strength.
Thomas, climbed up with the driver as the carriage started back toward town, now at a slightly slower and safe pace, than the rush down to the victims.
As they entered the city again, the old Priest finally started to look relieved. “I think she will, make it now. I find it hard to believe that she made it as long as she did.”
“Thank you for your help, Father. I am Colonel Myst Sunstar, and this is Ambassador Kayla Morningstar. We were attacked by these foul Ogres just a few miles from the city. Unfortunately the Ambassador’s assistant was seriously hurt in the fighting.”
Kayla looked at Myst, trying to force her mind to follow his explanation of their predicament. She had not given any thought to the story that they would have to tell, having been so focussed on just surviving. But, they would have to quickly think up a ‘politically expedient’ account. The diplomatic repercussions of this incident were just too vast and volatile.
Kayla had no doubt that the ‘Shadow’ was behind what had happened to her. The damn Shadow Elves are behind most of the evil plots hatched around the world. But, she knew that they would have somehow insulated themselves from the covert operation against her, and ultimately against the Sun Elf Kingdom that she represented.
For now, she would have to trust Myst to tell the tale; she was just too worn out, and he was a senior professional agent after all. He could come up with a politically safe story, she had no doubt.
Bishop Darrain continued to work his magic on his patient, now more focused on her individual injuries, and not just stabilizing her life functions. He did not mention to Myst all of his doubts about the story that was being told. “Sure it is,” he thought to himself, “the ambassador from The Sun Elves and her assistant were just running around nude and without sandals, when they were attacked by a gang of Ogres. And the only retinue she had with her at the time was a senior military officer? And Thomas and Willow Farthing just happened onto this incident while out rabbit hunting with their crossbows?”
“It’s nice to meet you, Colonel Myst. I, of course know your father well. I like to think of him as one of my good friends, as well as a colleague. We have spent many a night sitting by a fire, drinking good brandy together, and discussing our children.”
“Then, of course you know, that there is only a smattering of truth to the story I just told you about what happened?”
“Yes, but it seems about as good of an explanation as could be found at the moment,” he smiled back at Myst.
“It would have been more plausible if they had been wearing clothes you know, Colonel?”
“Unfortunately I hadn’t prepared for them not being clothed at the time I caught up to them.” Myst smiled back at the Bishop.
“A kidnapping?”
“...Unfortunately yes.”
“Well we will get them into the private rooms of the cathedral, and into a bath and some clothes. Then, any explanation would seem more likely.”
They pulled up to the side entrance of the cathedral. The driver hopped down and opened the door of the carriage, and lowered the metal steps to the ground. A small group of Church employees were gathered, to help the Bishop with any wounded he brought back in the carriage.
Myst, once again took Zarra up into his arms, and followed the Bishop into the Church with Kayla and the others, close behind. Into a set of private rooms they went. On a soft feather bed, he laid her gently onto the coverlet. Myst noticed that her bright green eyes were open and watching him closely.
Already she was much improved he saw; it was almost as if a fortnight of recovery had taken place in just the last few minutes, “the Bishop was really good…”
“Thomas, find my aid Kell, and bring him here as fast as you can. Willow, here’s five hundred silver. Go and buy the two Elf girls some good clothing that would go with their status, Ok?” He handed Willow the coins.
“Sure, getting paid to go shopping, that’s fine by me.”
“Find out what sizes to get from the Ambassador.”
“On my way. Be back in an hour or so.”
Bishop Darrain hustled back into the room with a dark blue travelling robe. He handed it to Kayla, “Here you go Ambassador. This should do for the mom
ent.”
“Thank you very much. I was getting rather tired of running around naked. All I need now is a hot bath and a good night sleep to feel elfin again. How is Zarra, my er assistant, doing?”
“She will be fine now. By morning, she will be in better shape than you are. But as for a bath; it’s in the third room down the hall, on your right. Towels and such are already in there. Enjoy yourself.”
“Again, thank you for all you have done for us, Bishop Darrain.”
“It is my pleasure, my child. Now, I must see to my patient.”
Kayla headed down the hall to the bath. Myst, she noticed, went with her.
“Until we are safely back in Sun Elf controlled area, you have me as a shadow, I am afraid.”
“I can’t think of anyone I would prefer as a shadow, Colonel Sunstar.”
She opened the bathing room door and went in. It was larger than she had expected. A shower in the corner was next to a small pool of steaming water. On the other side of the room was a bench, a massage table, clothing racks, four sinks, a giant mirror, and behind a partition a pair of porcelain toilets. These last she headed for; it had been a long morning. Tossing the travailing robe to Myst she directed him, “Hang that up will you, oh shadow, and be so good to check to see if the water is hot enough.”
Catching the robe, he watched her walk away from him. “Hot enough for what,” he asked?
“Nice butt,” was what he was really thinking.
He hung up the blue robe, and wandered over to the pool of water.
“It’s hot enough to cook a lobster.”
“Good, just what I need.” Kayla answered as she came over to the shower. Standing under the wide shower head she let the stream of water run over her. Myst handed her a bar of soap and wash cloth, without her having to ask him for it.
“Hum,” Thought Kayla, “he’s very well trained, is our good Colonel.”
Lathering her self up with the soap, she succeeded in washing away the grime of the past few days of hell. The feel of the wash cloth and soap on her skin was delightful. She noticed that she had a few bad scrapes under all of the dirt. They stung slightly as the soapy water cleaned them off.
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