Chapter 31: I’ll Be Waiting for You
Bedge and his men laughed at Brent, holding their bellies and slapping one another on the backs.
“It’ll take more than just you to defeat us famous highwaymen,” said Bedge. He wiped a tear from his eye and watched as Claire and Alex joined Brent, drawing their blades and standing alongside their companion. “That’s a bit better, I suppose.”
“Fighters,” said Chase. He opened his bag and withdrew his bow and quiver of arrows. He placed the quiver beside him where Alex had been sitting and knocked an arrow. “I’ll support you from back here the best I can. Thomas, Amelie, and Marlon, stay in the wagon. Don’t leave it for any reason.”
“Wasn’t planning to,” muttered Marlon and Thomas in unison.
“You lot sure you wanna cross blades with us?” Said Bedge. He drew his own sword and his men did likewise. “Would be a lot easier to just give us your gold and be on your way. I can tell you’re all fresh off the island despite your clothes.”
His men grinned evilly but the three fighters kept their cool. From where he was sitting he could see that Alex was the most nervous. The highwayman facing him was also a rotund man but unlike Alex bore numerous scars across his craggy face and was carrying a battle axe. Claire’s opponent was the smallest and reminded Chase a bit of Charlie Boils: lithe but emanating sinewy strength and aggression.
“We’re not gonna let a few NPCs shake us down,” spat Brent. His voice was the opposite of frightened. He sounded excited, like a child opening a gift for his birthday.
“Chase.” Amelie placed her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t you think you better get down there and help them out?”
“That’s what this is for,” he said, raising his bow. “To be honest, they each need some extra training anyways. That fight with Belek wasn’t enough to crack level two for any of them.”
“But what if they get hurt?” Concern filled her voice and Chase imagined seeing her lip quivering if he turned around.
“Don’t worry, Amelie,” said Thomas. He had hopped over the back seat to sit beside Chase as toon as Alex had dismounted the wagon to join Brent. “You should have seen him kill those bandits back in Moon Town. Their blood was everywhere! If anything’s happens then he can plug them easily.”
“I…see,” she said hesitantly.
I should be able to, thought Chase. Getting a good shot in the middle of a melee was always tricky. One time he has accidentally pierced Dredman’s hand through the middle when trying to hit an Assassin sent after them in the early days of the Old Guard. He decided to keep that to himself.
“Did I tell you about sticking the gang boss’ eye with a rusty key?” Said Thomas mischievously, knowing full well he had multiple times.
“Yes you did!” She said, sounding sick. “Please don’t remind me again it sounds horrendous.”
“I saw the brains of another guy who Chase stabbed in the head, too.”
Amelie sighed.
“Hush,” said Chase. “It’s starting.”
Not wanting to show his or his men’s backs to Chase, the leader signaled for them to spread out to either side, forcing Alex and Claire to follow their opponents while Brent stayed firmly in the middle, sword bared and ready to brawl.
“Well then,” said Bedge. He spat thick wad of brown spit on the ground between himself and Brent and grinned like a wolf about to jump a sheep. “Let’s see what you got, boy.”
Brent parried a fierce blow from the bandit leader and answered with one of his own. Bedge easily swiped his sword out of the way and laughed.
“Not bad,” said Bedge.
The other two highwaymen took that as their signal to begin, and shrieking like banshees they came down upon Alex and Claire with manic glee. Claire was able to dodge a slice that would have left her with one arm and retaliated with a blow aimed for the man’s side. He barely blocked her blade and seemed surprised that she had gotten so close. Growling, he hacked at her defenses, using his greater weight to push her into a defensive stance. Alex, meanwhile, was desperately blocking the wild axe swings of the fat highwayman. He seemed to be shockingly out of his depth and was doing everything he could to not be hit. His opponent was enjoying this greatly and, tongue lolling out, laughed every time Alex swore in frustration at a blow nearly landed.
“I don’t know about this, Chase,” said Marlon. His tone uncharacteristically serious. “I’m worried about them. This is a real fight each of them are in now. How much fighting have they done, exactly?”
“Brent and Claire I am less worried about,” said Chase, rubbing his chin. He saw Alex barely dodge another blow which made his opponent guffaw. “But Alex I am a bit concerned about. That highwayman is just toying with him.”
“Well shouldn’t you…?” Marlon made the gesture of drawing an arrow.
“Way ahead of you, Marlon,” said Chase. He drew the arrow to his cheek and sighted down the shaft. Fortunately, Alex’s opponent was large and made a good target, unfortunately, so did Alex.
“What are you waiting for?” Said Amelie. She had climbed over the back seat as well and had pushed Thomas to the side who was watching with rapt attention to every blow and parry.
“I need the right moment,” said Chase, not releasing a hair of tension from the string. “If I miss I could kill Alex, you do see that, right?”
Come on, Alex, move, thought Chase. The arrow head consumed his vision and the point was for a moment at the face of the highwayman and the next at Alex’s broad back. They became such a tangle of arms and legs that Chase had to blink several times to focus. Sweat was trickling from his temple.
“Gah!” Brent cried as Bedge nicked his forearm and blood quickly covered his arm.
“Give it up, boy,” sneered the leader, his greasy hair was slick with sweat and despite his bravado he was breathing heavily.
“Never,” seethed Brent. He changed his stance to an overhead position and placed his right leg forward. “Do your worst.”
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Claire, hearing Brent take an injury caused her otherwise excellent focus to crack. The entire time she had been performing flawlessly, the result of countless hours spent on the training field with Brent practicing sword forms and sparing with Master at Arms Brix. When the highwayman lunged she would sidestep and parry, when he would swing wildly with frustration she would easily countered his blow with one of her own.
“Brent?” She said, his cry of pain made her take her eyes off her enemy for just a split second, but it was all he needed.
The highwayman kicked her square in the chest, sending her flying, and she landed in a heap upon the ground. The sword never left her fist and she instinctually raised it to defend her self despite having all the air knocked out of her body.
“Chase, now!” Shouted Thomas. Amelie was holding him tightly with worry and she joined her voice with his.
“Shoot him, Chase!” She said bloodthirstily. “Right between the eyes!”
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Chase moved the bead he had on Alex’s back to where Claire’s opponent was looming over her, sword raised and ready to deliver the final stroke. He zeroed in on the center of his chest and felt the feathers of the arrow slip through his fingers as he released the string. All the while the sound of clopping footfalls coming up from behind filled his ears to a crescendo.
A man in resplendent armor charging on a horse overtook their right side and his sword bit into the highwayman’s neck, taking his left arm along the way. At the very same moment Chase’s arrow burrowed itself deep within the center of the mans chest, the highwayman’s arm fell to earth first, taking the sword with it, blood continuously spurting from the stump and from his neck. A look of annoyance crossed his face, and when he saw the mortal injury his eyes rolled in his head and he collapsed onto the ground, sword falling harmlessly away.
“FOR THE ACADEMY!” bellowed the Knight, his battle cry ringing about the meadow. He easily slowed his horse and then turned it around, readying a second charge. Sword raised, it was dripping with blood.
“Not this guy again,” moaned Alex’s highwayman. The big man expertly stepped inside Alex’s guard during a moment when sword met axe and cracked him across the jaw with a left hook. Alex went down like a sack of laundry and the man turned around to face the Knight who was quickly bearing down on them.
Bedge was bleeding from a dozen small wounds and had the appearance of a caged animal. His hands were too full with Brent for him to be able to turn around and face this new threat.
“Jeremy,” said Bedge. He had to parry a strike from Brent, and then another. “Damn! Relax, boy. Jeremy, whatever you do, keep that Knight off my back. I’m gonna finish this kid even if I have to reset to do it, okay?”
“You got it, Bedge.”
“Claire, this is my fight!” Said Brent as she began to edge near him, sword drawn. “Don’t interfere.”
The highwayman, Jeremy, positioned himself between Bedge and the Knight who was quickly bearing down on them. Axe raised high, Chase was unsure whether his plan was to strike the horse or throw his axe. Just as they Knight was only ten feet away Jeremy jumped out of the way, exposing Bedge’s back and saving Jeremy from being trampled.
“Whoa!” The Knight pulled on the horses reigns with a steel grip, not wanting to run over both Bedge and Brent. He barely managed to get the horse under control but swerved around the fighters just in time.
“Jeremy!” Bedge was breathing heavily now. “You rat! You think I won’t remember this if I die? You’re outta the group! Go back to that pony town you’re always talking about!”
“Sorry, boss,” said Jeremy, picking himself up from the ground and dusting himself off. “I just got scared at the last minute. Don’t think I really thought it through properly.”
Brent swung just as Bedge was attempting to respond. Bedge raised his hand to block but the blow was too powerful, and sent him kneeling to the ground, both hands on the haft of his sword.
“Well done,” said the Knight. He had dismounted and was standing by the wagon watching Brent fight, sword jauntily over one shoulder. He appeared to be well over six feet tall and was decked in plate armor. His visor was down and blocked his face but his voice made the armor reverberate with his deep baritone. “But you need to work on your feet placement. A decent leg sweep could send you to the ground in an instant.”
“Thanks for the help,” said Amelie, leaning over the side of the wagon. “What’s your name?”
“I have been recently knighted Sir Antony,” said the Knight. “After this fight perhaps we can…oops. He’s trying to get away. Pardon me.”
“I can just shoot him,” Chase told the Knight. He held up his bow to show him.
“No,” sighed the Knight. “I am afraid I must meet him in honorable combat. If you ever become a Knight then you will understand.”
“He looks really strong,” whispered Thomas to Chase as the Knight trudged over to the highwayman.
“That’s because he is,” said Chase, keeping his voice down. “Knights have to be on their third mark to qualify for the class. He’s must have hit over a dozen strength buffs by this time.”
Jeremy was tripping over himself to put as much distance between the Knight and himself. He was having trouble making much headway as he was already exhausted from the fight and his girth had progress very slow. When he looked behind the way he had come and saw Sir Antony walking towards him he yelped and tried to move faster, but to no avail. He ended up tripping over his own feet and landing flat on his face.
“You have two options,” said Sir Antony. He stooped over to pick up Jeremy’s battle axe. “You may either fight, or go to the dungeons. The choice is yours, highwayman.”
“Erm,” Jeremy came shakily to his feet. He squeaked when Sir Antony tossed him the axe and it buried in the ground itself between his feet. “I haven’t been to the dungeons in some time. What’s the length of the prison time these day?”
“The last bandit I put there got a six month sentence,” said Sir Antony. “Since you didn’t kill anyone you might be out in 3 on good behavior.”
Jeremy appeared to weigh his options. He looked behind him at the open road, then to Bedge who had just barely dodged a fatal slash, and then to Sit Antony and his sword.
“To the death I suppose,” said Jeremy. He picked up his axe and hefted it in his hands. “If Bedge dies, which looks like he is close, I don’t wanna have to explain why I was in the dungeons while he was dead.”
“Smart,” nodded the Knight. “You may have the first—!”
As fast as lightening Jeremy swiped at the Knight’s face with the battle axe. Sir Anthony barely dodged it, and the shock caused him to stumble backwards. He barely caught himself but by that time he was off balance.
“Take this!” Jeremy kicked at the Knight’s feet and caused him to tumble to the ground, flat on his back. “Stupid Knight, can’t you just leave us alone?”
The highwayman brought the battle axe down with both hands, using all his might. Amelie covered her eyes and Thomas covered his mouth.
“DIE!”
Sir Antony caught the axe by the blade. Whether it was the armor or the sheer strength in his hand the haft did not slice through his armor. Jeremy’s eyes widened and when he tried to pull his weapon back it was too firmly in the Knight’s hand to retrieve. Forgetting the weapon, Jeremy tried to run, but Sir Antony had tossed the axe, was on his feet in a blink and grabbed the bandit by the shirt.
“Not so fast,” said Sir Antony. His voice did not tremble and if he felt the pain he did a good job of hiding it. “That was a mighty strike, but you would need a much bigger axe to break through my defense buffs.”
“Ah…right,” said Jeremy. “Of course. So…the dungeons it is?”
Chase could hear a smile in the Knight’s voice as he responded.
“Afraid not. The conditions of my Knights Code has been met. I can dispose of you as I see fit.”
“Erm…do you think…maybe….AHHH!”
With a single arm Sir Antony tossed the bandit high in the air. Despite the highwayman’s girth the Knight easily threw him 15 feet. At the zenith of his flight, Sir Antony readied his blade.”
“FOR THE ACADEMY!” He bellowed. Jeremy fell to earth, still screaming, and the Knight swung his sword faster than Chase’s eye could follow.
Like a sheet of paper being split in twain, thought Chase.
“Don’t look,” Chase said to Thomas. He had to fight the urge to cover the boy’s eyes. He had forgotten just how violent Knights could be when they had the mind. Thomas didn’t need any encouragement, and just stared stone faced at the floorboards of the wagon.
“Did he just…?” Amelie sounded like she was in shock. Chase saw that her eyes were wide and her typically bouncy curls seemed dimmer in the sunlight.
“Yeah,” said Chase.
“That’s barbaric,” said Claire, voice shaking. Despite the Knight’s actions her eyes had barely left Brent as he struggle against Bedge.
“Finish this, lad,” said Sir Antony, coming over. He was wiping his sword on a scrap of cloth torn from Jeremy’s shirt. “He’s just as exhausted as you are. Don’t lose focus now.”
Brent was in the fight of his life, and appeared to be loving every minute of it. Chase had known a few players who seemed to only gain energy the longer a fight lasted, but Brent was putting them all to shame. The cut on his forearm now had a matching injury on his left shoulder, and blood seeped from the wound down his arm. Bedge, on the other hand, was far worse for wear. Cuts all over his body stained his clothes a dark red and his breath was that of a beaten dog, ragged and and desperate.
“It’s been a good tussle, boy,” said Bedge. Blood had leaked into his eye and he was forced to peer out of the other one, giving him a mad one eye look. “But this ends here.”
“Even if you beat me,” said Brent, slightly lowering his sword. “My friends would still kill you.”
“Of course they would,” said Bedge. He nodded his head towards his fallen comrades. “Don’t think just because I am some bandit NPC my friends wouldn’t do the same for me. You got the best of us today, but next time it won’t be so easy. Guess it’s my fault for deciding to stop a cart full of players. That mistake is on me.”
Brent spat to the side.
“Yeah, it really was. We are The Seven Banes and we are gonna be the best in Esem one day.”
“Heh,” the bandit half laughed, but a wound caused him to wince. “I half believe you, boy. Now let’s wrap this up. Will take me a month to reset and I don’t want the boys to be waiting around for me.”
Bedge gasped as a gauntleted hand fell upon his shoulder, and a sword burst through his chest.
“And when you do reset,” said Sir Antony through clenched teeth. “I’ll be waiting for you, just as always.”
The life, if life it could be called, left Bedge, and as the Knight withdrew his blade with a sickly swipe, the body collapsed to the ground, motionless.