Chapter 7
After a short nap, Rose awoke to a disturbing sight. Across the farmyard in front of her the shrine of Ya was burning, in fact it was already completely engulfed in flames. She got up quickly and ran across the yard, wondering what has happened, and hoping that Joshua had gotten out in time.
“Josh!” she yelled out, looking everywhere to see some sign of the Cleric. As she came closer to the blaze, the intense heat stopped her in her tracks. It was way too hot now to even get close.
“Joshua!” she cried out again, circling around the back. With a loud crash, a figure burst out of the back wall and rolled on the ground. Rose rushed over to find that it was the Cleric, and she moved in quick to help smother out the last few flames from his clothing.
“Are you ok? What happened?”
“Get down Rose! The ones who lit the fire must still be here somewhere. I am fine for now.”
Rose quickly dropped to the ground, glancing all around the yard behind the burning shrine. She then saw two figures approaching from the trees just beyond them.
“You really are becoming most difficult Cleric. Why don’t you just die like you are supposed to.” the approaching man taunted. There was a ring of steel as the two dark robed figures got closer and pulled out two long silver daggers each.
“Run to the house Rose!” Josh cried out. They both got up and ran. Joshua however was not in any shape to run and stumbled often. Rose reached for him and pulled his arm around her shoulder to help him up.
“C’mon Josh. They are catching up.” As if to taunt them further, the two pursuing them did not run, but walked slow and steady.
“All the power of your worthless god will not help you against the cold steel of our blades you weak fool.” a woman’s voice said though clenched teeth.
Rose was too shaken to care about who these ominous people were. She just wanted to get away. Josh stumbled again and Rose went down with him. It was too late now, and one robed enemy stood right over them, sharp blades flashing in the firelight.
“In the name of the almighty Belial, I now slay these, his enemies!” the male assassin cried out. He lifted up the blades high above his head and let out a wild scream.
Rose looked up to face her death, but then with a sickening thunk, an arrow stuck into the eye of the screaming man. He fell on top of Rose and Joshua, and she hurried to push him off, knowing that there was still another killer out there. Rose looked up to see the other killer now only a few feet away and running fast toward them.
“Die you pathetic weaklings, die!” the woman screamed in an awful hissing voice. Without really thinking, Rose fell on top of Joshua to protect him from the attack. She shook, waiting for the blades to slide into her waiting back, but all she heard was the flight of another arrow and loud painful cry from the angry woman.
“Not on my farm.” sounded the voice of Jirah from not too far in the distance. Rose rolled off of Josh and they both looked up to see the last attacker on her knees with another one of Jirah’s arrows protruding from her chest. It was over. Jirah rushed over to them quickly to help get Joshua up.
“Let’s get into the house you two.” She said as she reached down to help them up. The three scurried over to the farm house and got inside.
“Will there be any more out there?” Jirah asked Joshua.
“No more for now I think. That was a triad. They always travel in groups of three so if one or two of them die, one can get away to report what happened.”
“A triad? Who would have sent them?” Rose asked.
“They are assassins.” Joshua responded. “Highly trained killers sent out by those who worship Belial. This is very unfortunate for us. The third member will surely go send out another triad to hunt us down. We must leave as soon as we can.”
“We are as ready as we will ever be.” Jirah said. “I got us some horses to make the trip a little faster too.” Rose was now wondering what would have happened to them if the huntswoman has not arrived when she did.
“Josh, why did you not use your power? Did they catch you off guard?” Rose inquired.
“The powers given to me are only to battle the unseen minions of Belial. I am powerless against a steel blade. Praise Ya that Jirah arrived just in time.”
“And that she is good with a bow. I have never seen anything like that. I was terrified.”
“Why did you not run when I asked Rose?” Joshua asked. “You are no more equipped to fight a triad than I am.”
“I was not thinking I guess. My first instinct was to protect you. Sorry.”
Jirah interjected, “You did right Rose. Without Josh, there is no reason to go on this perilous quest. We need him as much as we need you dear.”
The three companions scurried around now to gather what they needed for the trip and Joshua changed back into his grey robes. Rose packed up all the cooking utensils she would need, with Jirah’s help, and before too long, they were mounted each on a horse, and riding away from the farm. Rose watched Jirah’s mournful face as she glanced back at her little farmstead. So much needed to be discussed about the events of that night, but all three companions were lost in thought. They rode on in silence down the winding country road listening to the rhythmic clopping of the horse’s hooves.
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The Staff of Ramah Page 10