Martin snapped the reigns on his Heidel again, urging the poor beast to run a little faster. But it was futile, no matter how they ran they would escape the Ostryx. The feathery lizard monsters were renowned for their unending endurance and ability to run down even the fastest of Heidels.

If it had just been two or three he and his crew might have been fine. But five was to much for them. They cut the wagons and put on as much speed as possible.

Dammit. Those Adventures said they cleared the Ostryx out from the road. There must have been a second pack of them.

Martin glanced back and once more saw the Ostryx just a bit closer. He sighed, no getting out of this. He turned to his second in command “Harry, you keep the crew together, get as far as you can. I’ll buy you as much time as I can.”

Harry’s eyes were wide and wild. He knew that if Martin took on that many bronze rank monsters on his own he would not be coming back. But he didn’t argue. He made an exaggerated nod.

Martin prepared himself for what would ultimately be his last moments. While he was strong for bronze rank he would never hold up against that many at once. But he could buy time for his people, that would have to be enough.

He turned in his saddle as best as he could, and was gathering his courage for one last stand.

CRACK!

A sound like two boulders smashing together echoed across the desert.

One of the Ostryx’ stumbled, and Martin saw a wound gushing blood on its flank.

CRACK!

Another wound appeared not too far from the first.

CRACK!

This time Martins bronze rank perception was able to make out the barest shadow of something small flying into the Ostryx.

The monster couldn’t handle the damage any more. It crashed to the ground and did not get up.

Martin tore his gaze away from the Ostryx and searched for the origins of the sound.

On a small rise was the shadowed figure of someone on a Heidel. Martin couldn’t make out any details since the sun was to their back. But he did see the two other riders barreling down the rise and towards Martin.

The figure on the left was a thin man, probably an elf.

The one on the right… Martin blinked in surprise. The right rider was burning with golden armor, and so was his Heidel.

The Blazing Outrider.

Dustin Westbrooke wasn’t as famous as some bronze rank adventurers, but among the people who spent their lives in the saddle there wasn’t a one who hadn’t heard his exploits. Martin even met the man once in Basal. He had thought the man wouldn’t live up to the reputation, but after one night Martin knew that he did.

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If the Blazing Outrider was here then the thin man must have been the Earth Breaker Flint.

The third was a mystery to him, but given that they had been able to take out an Ostryx at this distance Martin was willing to believe they were also strong.

He faced forward. “The Blazing Outrider has come to our rescue. Just hold on a little longer!” He called to his people.

They all looked back just long enough to see the Burning Smolder with scimitars at the ready. Something about his men changed, the oncoming dread was replaced with hope.

In no time the Blazing Outrider had caught up to the monsters and was already kiting their sides with quick slashes. While Matin’s Heidel could only barely keep ahead of the monsters Dustin’s Heidel was bronze rank and experienced the same boost in speed and ability of all bronze rankers. Flint was too far behind either, not close enough to draw attention, but close enough to start casting spells.

Slabs of Earth rose in front of the Monsters and the Ostryx were forced to swerve to avoid the obstacles. This slowed down the monsters and frustrated the Ostryx. Martin Drew in a breath and summoned his own magical weapons. A steel mace appeared in his hand and he pulled on his Heidels reigns to join the fray.

The first Ostryx he found within his range received a mace to the skull, and just for good measure Martin added his special attack [Unstoppable Force]. The special attack worked on a basis of momentum, and give the added bonus of being mounted on a charging Heidel, Martin’s blow was truly devasting. The monster fell onto the ground in a heap.

The chase devolved into a chaotic mess of Heidels, fire, and Earth magic.

Martin tried the same attack on another of the feathered lizards. But this time the monster ducked and the lunged for his Heidel. The poor beast did not react well the monsters teeth, and in the process of dislodging the monster Martin was also thrown off.

His Heidle, no longer being coerced into battle by Martin bolted, leaving Martin alone in the dust.

He was on the outside of the fray, and the Ostryx was just picking it self up. The monster locked eyes with Martin and began to prowl forward. Each step was taken with obvious care as the monster watched for any sudden movements from Martin. These monsters could keep up with a galloping Heidel, there was no way he was going to escape.

Martin hefted up his mace and readied for the lunge. It had been to close to the last time he used his special attack, but Martin had other abilities.

Then, for a brief second the monster’s eyes shifted, and whatever it saw made it hiss. Martin didn’t have a chance to think before the monster leaped forward. He held up his mace and readied himself to take the monster’s attack. He swung with his mace, but the monster ducked under the blow and went straight for Martin’s neck.

Martin’s perception of time slowed down. His hearted hammered in his ears, and he knew if the monster tore his jugular that he would bleed out quickly because of it. His leg muscles bunched up as he tried to lean away from the attack, but it wasn’t fast enough.

He looked into the monsters eyes and knew the Ostryx would kill him. He also saw something else in its eyes, a dark shadow image. A reversed reflection of what the Ostryx saw, Martin saw his own pale face, and a hand reaching out behind him.

Something tugged at his neck, the added force pulling on his shirt yanked him back just outside of the monster’s attack, and time began to move at its normal speed.

Martin was being dragged along the ground by his shirt. He brought his hands to his collar to try and give himself some breathing room. But before he could do anything else he was lifted away from the ground and up onto a broad Heidel’s back.

“Almost lost you there” A husky female voice said in front of him.

Martin looked down onto his savior’s back. She wore a tan dust cloak, a broad brimmed hat with metallic colored hair underneath, and was holding her Heidel’s reigns in one hand. But the most striking detail was one Martin didn’t see, but felt.

This woman was iron rank, moreover she was a fresh iron ranker.

“You saved me?” Martin said in shock.

“Well it wasn’t Buck’s hand that pulled your ass out of danger.” She retorted.

“Whose BucK?”

She patted the Heidels flank “This is Buck, bravest, meanest Heidel in the five deserts. Now take the reigns, I cant aim with only one hand.” She said as she passed Martin the reigns.

It was awkward trying to guide a Heidel from the back, but Martin did his best.

The women pulled up a long metal tube thing with a wooden rest she pressed into her shoulder.

CRACK!

The sound was even louder this close up, and Martin felt his ears ringing. But now he had an explanation for where the noise had came from.

“Danm.” The women cursed. “I’ve never down this during a galop. What I wouldn’t give for some suspension.” She pulled a pin and the tube opened up and a brass cylinder popped out. She forced another cylinder into the breach and closed the odd weapon. “Keep us straight, I need every advantage I can get.” The iron ranker ordered him.

Martin had no idea what the weapon was or how it worked, but he did know that it somehow brought down an Ostryx in three shots. So he would trust the women.

“Control bullets.” The women muttered. She took in deep breath and slowly let it out.

CRACK!

This time martin looked back and was able to witness the monsters head burst and the rest of its body fell to the ground.

“Yeah, eat lead you over grown rat!” the woman whooped.

“Why would any one want to eat lead?”

She laughed “they wouldn’t.”