Martha observed the road ahead of them with racing heartbeat.

Two solid tree trunks were lying criss-crossing the path with their branches freshly cut off.

The road was blocked.

‘This is an ambush.’

Martha steered her horse to move slightly forward, standing guard before the cart.

Whistles were already sounding off in the distance with hustles and loud human voices in immediate vicinity.

The truth was, an obstacle of this size would not pose any difficulty for her warhorse. She could just storm through riding - which would also be the safest option.

However, the ones driving the cart - they couldn't. And jumping over while carrying three peoples on his back were too much even for Cavalier.

'Chatty, try to to make a turn and drive back'.

'Huh, you think how many times I rode the cart before? This is, like, the first! Is it even possible to do so on such a narrow road?!'

'Do you want to die?'

Cursing, servant girl started to slowly and awkwardly shifting horses in circular motion.

A somewhat pale face peeked out of the cart and immediately shrank back, shutting window tight.

Young lady of Sheyield has obviously taken note of the situation as well.

Martha slowly paced as well to match cart retreat.

'The one's who are blocking the path: I am an officer of Imperial military on active duty!'

'Make this barricade undone immediately or face the consequences!'

That being said, even if by some sort of miracle her adversary would really removed the trunks, she still wouldn't pass there and be a sitting duck at other's mercy.

Currently, running back was the only thing on her mind and Martha was just buying time for their inexperienced coach.

'Ehhh, a woman?! What have you been drinking instead of ya’ mother's milk? You are almost as tall as my old man!'

A burly man appeared from the side of barricade accompanied by loud voices of laughter and sally jokes.

'I can't believe we actually got someone on this god forsaken track!'

'Aya, if only Boss wouldn't have been wounded we could have taken the main road for ourselves. Imagine, how nice that would be instead!'

'Now, now, let's be content with what we have, gentlemen! At least we got two chicks right here!'

Gesturing for his mates, who were swarming out from the bushes, man moved his eyes from Chatty to Martha back and forth and licked his lips.

Knight grit her teeth and brandished sword in a wide swing to scary off some of the more brave bandits.

This didn't make any sense though.

No bandit's haven was located near the city of Nardh. And no band would be so bold to even try.

Mindless beasts had their tides and could migrate as they will, but people who lived on murder and robbery - they had to be careful where they tread. It was beyond stupidity for them to appear this close to a city where stationed military would make short work of them within a day's notice.

'Faster!'

'Im trying, al'right!'

Chatty, her face pale as a ghost, was already scared out of her mind as she frantically lashed at horses, who were both confused by so many people suddenly surrounding them and coach's violent outbursts.

'Gotcha!'

A cart has finally straightened on the way back and started to move.

'Ah, not so fast, girlie'

A group of men also appeared from the opposite side of barricade with their bows nicked, blocking carriage’s retreat.

Not saying another word they have released a stream of arrows felling both horses.

Few of them have even hit Cavalier and helplessly scattered from armorplates covering his sides.

An attempt to retreat has thus failed.

The following events quickly took turn for the worse.

A skinny bandit jumped on the coachman seat kicking Chatty away. She actually didn't even try to resist - be it out of fear or sense of futility. Three or four pairs of hands caught here on the fall from carriage and hastily started to tear her clothes and grope her, while accompanied by whistles and catcalling.

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Martha could only helplessly glance at girl’s direction and pay no further heed as she herself was currently under the siege of five people armed with long wooden pikes who were poking at Cavalier under the coverage of shooting arrows.

What was going on though?

This was a way to counter riders employed by actual warfare!

Back in the coachman position skinny bandit hacked at the frontal window and peeked inside.

'Aya, there is another woman, boys!'

Next, he released a piercing shriek and fall on his back, as fine decorative dagger was stabbed deep into his eye socket.

'Bitch, come out yourself or we'll set the cart on fire!'

Seeing, surprisingly, a first casualty on his side burly man felt heating anger and decided to end this farce. He took a pike himself and moved onto Martha.

The way he saw it this staunch knight was the crux and backbone of carriage party resistance.

As soon as he unmounted and seized her the fight would inevitably die down.

As for what would have come next, the man could only swallow his saliva in vivid anticipation.

Wary of this new opponent Martha backed down to the trees, protecting the rear.

She was only defending till now, measuring the assault's potential and finding mishaps in their formation and defence.

'This is doable!' - She reaffirmed herself, strengthening her grip.

Then she suddenly burst forth onto the burly man.

'Ehhh?' - surprised, bandit raised his improvised spear to pierce into rapidly approaching horse.

It was to his further shock, however, that Martha has released her left hand holding the reins and used it to catch the pike in its stabbing motion.

The man felt like his weapon was nailed into the stone. Next it was pushed forcefully to the side and bandit, who couldn’t even release it in time, followed, losing balance and stumbling awkwardly.

A sound like from a smashing fruit basket rang out and man's neck and what’s above were all gone in a clean hit.

While this bandit has identified Martha to be a pillar for the other party, Martha has done the same.

She was hiding her strength and skill, patiently waiting for the other to deliver himself before her.

Panting, she raised her sword covered in blood and gore.

'Who's next?!'

Bandit's momentum was now gone. Jumping off the cart, leaving almost naked Chatty, they started to retreat into the forest sending scared looks at this towering black knight.

Cowering and tearing squire had crawled behind the knight.

'Marthaa, Marthaa' - she was only bawwing.

Leaving messed up cart, carefully observing the place, has also left the ruined carriage Lady Celine.

Martha briefly looked at her and, confirming that despite being deathly pale girl didn't have any injuries, only nodded at her.

It was at that time...

'A Paladin...not quite right, hmmm'

A lazy and thick male voice travelled from afar.

'A nominee then?'

A tall man with a crumbled posture, his right hand falling down helplessly along his body in bloody bandages, emerged from the forest.

'Boss!'

'It's Boss!'

'Let's see how you sing now, bitches!'

Man paid no attention to bandit's happy shouts and stared at Martha, a broad smile on his handsome face.

'Am I right?'

Martha's mind shook. The fact that man was able to measure her strength in a glance signified that he could only be stronger than her and not weaker.

However this was not what has shocked her into disbelief.

What the man was dressed into was a worn down, torn in multiple place, mudded - but, still, nevertheless - a genuine military uniform!

'Why?...'

However, before she even finished her question she stopped herself.

This wound, this ambush on the side road, the stranginess and familiarity of bandit's motions.

Everything led to a quite simple conclusion.

'You are a deserter!'

'What's more, you are a Champion rank!'

Man has widened his smile till his eyes turned into satisfied crescents.

'Correct!'

This was a Champion! Knights had Paladins and usual foot soldiers had Champions. The Imperial military groomed and trained the first so it was evident that most rankers in the army were Paladins. But once in a while people on the frontlines were able on their own to accumulate enough experience and skill to stand their ground even against these chosen. Such warriors growing from the ground bottom among the weeds were called Champions.

Once Empire took note of the Champion they would offer him a suitable office and income, changing his entire life prospects. However, more often than not, because they weren't, unlike Paladins, shown Imperial kindness when they were cannon fodder, these people had questionable loyalty.

Still, abandoning the post and deserting army was a crime worthy of most severe of punishments. Empire might ignore an odd bandit troupe in the vicinities of human city, but if it was confirmed to be a deserter - a whole another story! Military would stop at nothing to chase down and make an example of traitor.

As if anticipating an obvious question man sighed.

'The news...probably have not made it yet?'

'There has been a major change at the frontlines'

'Perhaps, the whole war course will now be set adrift'

He glanced at his crippled arm.

'My regiment has been wiped out. What choice did i have?...To follow into their demise? I have only recently minted Champion ranks and didn't even enjoy my new life...'

Man then straightened his back and stared at Martha, his eyes narrowed.

'Enough. I planned to rest here for a day or two then make a beeline to south border'

'I naturally can not leave you, ladies, to your own devices now that you are privy to my circumstances'

'Guess what? Help me and my brothers here recuperate while we are on our march to the south'

'Then, i can assure you, you will be released once we reach the border!'

Man laughed then.

'That, of course, if you don’t find our treatment to your liking.'

At this line his peers, who were cautiously peeking out of the woods, cracked in greasy laugh as well.

'Boss is the best, you know!'

'War hero is every girl's dream!

He gestured for silence and asked in a calm voice.

'Well, do you surrender or not?'

At some moment Martha has felt a small hand tightly grasping her wrist. A hand was cold but firm in its grip. Martha lowered her eyes and met the gaze of Baron's daughter. The girl didn't want to surrender. She wanted to fight. She wanted to resist. She wanted to emerge victorious and pay back for the humiliation.

Perhaps, thought Martha, her young heart has been suppressed for too long and now was finally looking for a chance to make a stand.

She then turned to her other companion.

Chatty, this lively girl, was completely broken. She was hugging her knees, elbows tightly pressed to her hips and hands covering face.

Some random rags assembled together were hiding her trembling full body.

The weakest in mind among them all, Martha could easily imagine what would be the future of this unfortunate girl if they really surrendered.

But could they win? While wounded, and not wounded lightly at that, this was still full-fledged Champion, a combatant full rank above hers!

Moreover, from how this man carried himself and how his warped personality seeped into his every word, she could feel that he was not simple.

Still, she fought Paladins before. Commander of one of the regiments she rode with on the frontlines were a Champion.

Then again, she was gifted and she had riding advantage.

She would fight.