Myra and Ruadh were running around the woods and stuff. What else is new.

They had been fleeing for hours now, climbing up the forested slope of the great ridge, heading towards the road on the far side. They had not spoken the entire time as they scrambled uphill, both expert woodsmen as they were, not daring to look back lest their pursuer gain on them. Myra, since being healed by the miraculous healing juice, now seemingly possessed a vitality that could have seen her to other side without breaking a sweat. But Ruadh, hardy though he was, had been pushed to the limits of his endurance from the terrible tortures he had received. His scars had reopened, though he made no complaint even as his blood flowed.

Myra turned to notice Ruadh beginning to lag behind. His blood was beginning to leave a trail clear as day, making Myra wince. Daring to pause and look out for pursuit, she doubled back and gripped Ruadh gently by the shoulders.

“I think we’ve lost him,” she said in a hushed voice, “for now, at least. You should rest…”

Ruadh shook his head. “I’ve got breath in me yet, I can keep going…”

Myra forced a small laugh. “Leaving your blood all over the place like that? Just as good as calling out where we are to that bastard. Just sit down and I’ll clean you up.”

Ruadh complied, watching the surrounding land warily as Myra cleaned and bound his wounds with what little supplies and time they had. His brow furrowed as his mind was allowed to wander.

“That girl, Wudu…” he said at last. “She’s dead.”

Myra paused. She was glad that Ruadh had his back turned to her. She looked down at the ground, feeling a heavy weight suddenly fall on her shoulders.

“We can’t know for sure,” Ruadh continued. His head drooped low. “But deep down, I’m certain of it. That bastard… after all that Lady Erda did for him…” His clenched fists trembled.

“He’s sided with the enemy,” Myra said, softly. “It’s not surprising, he kills for money. He’s just an assassin, even if it’s the law that pays the bill.”

“He’ll pay for this,” Ruadh said through gritted teeth. “By the Song, I’ll see him pay.”

Myra looked up towards the crest of the ridge. “Soon enough…” she said.

“Wudu said that Erasmus was nearby, didn’t she?” Ruadh said. “Time is not on our side, but we would be betraying our promise to Erda if we didn’t look for him. I’m worried that Pike might have done something to him.”

“No.” Myra said abruptly. “You said that we must make sure Talon doesn’t go near the Rangers. And we’re nearly there, we’ll just lose time if we double around while trying to dodge Pike. We should trust Erasmus and continue with our plan.”

Ruadh chuckled. “Talon ahead of us, and Pike behind. We’re caught between the hammer and the anvil. Maybe I should have listened to the wife when she said to leave this mission to the young bloods. Told her it was just a diplomacy mission, there and back before the tea got cold. At least she’s used to me getting into unexpected trouble. Always have, never thought I’d even live to see grey hairs. I’ve been ready for my last adventure for a long time…”

Myra sighed. “Erasmus tried to warn me off from following you all out here. Said I had no reason to be risking my neck in all this, that he could find me work in the city, call on some favours to set up me with a comfortable life. I didn’t tell him I was an outlaw. Though I’m sure he could have pulled some strings to get me a pardon. He would have done anything it would have took to help me out, no doubt.”

“City living just not for you, then?” Ruadh said. “Or just want to pay back the favour to our dear Paladin?”

“I think I’m just that same, hopelessly stupid little girl that ran away from home to chase a handsome man and adventure. Still, I never wanted any other life.”

Ruadh laughed softly, “You would have made a fine ranger, lass. A fine ranger. I’m glad to have you by my side in all this.”

Myra said nothing, only looking all sad and shit all of a sudden. She finished bandaging Ruadh’s back or whatever and place his cloak about his shoulders. “That’s done. We’ll go when you're rested enough.”

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“Aye, I’m readier than heavier.”

“If you say so,” Myra looked towards the peak. “We must make haste…”

At least a day or two past, neither Myra nor Ruadh stopping nor resting for more than a few moments every few hours. Ruadh was impressed by Myra’s skill as a woodsmen, rarely leaving any kind of trail to follow, stepping lightly and gliding through undergrowth. Skills learned from a life on the run.

Anyway, the crossed like a sudden crevasse all of a sudden. After a bit of shimmying, they crossed over the the other side. As they were just about to plunge into the woods ahead of them, Ruadh looked back. He stopped suddenly, tense like a cat ready to pounce.

“Myra…” he hissed. Myra turned, saying nothing, she saw him quick enough. There, on the other side where they had come from. Stood a grey cloaked figure. Sheathed sword in his hand.

“Shit…” Myra breathed. “Run!”

The grey cloak made to chase after them. If he found a way down, Myra and Ruadh didn’t stick around to learn. Forgetting stealth, they raced away, Myra leading. After a moment, she halted suddenly, looking around as if she was looking for something. “Damnit… not now… we’re nearly there, where the…”

Before Ruadh he ask, Myra suddenly pushed forward, sighting an ancient, gnarled oak which stood out from the other trees.

“Here… Hurry Ruadh. This way!” She sped off the left and Myra staggered behind. They passed around a cliff, another turn, and they soon found themselves in a small valley, a cleft between two rocky rolls. Ruadh stared into the valley in mute fear, something spoke to his instincts in vague warning. Myra strode forward, then stopped.

“Ruadh… please, don’t move.”

Then he saw them, peering from hidden ledges on the face on either walls of the valley. Saw their glaring eyes and the muzzles of their rifles.

A shadow appeared suddenly behind Ruadh. He turned, hand flashing towards his dagger, but the gleaming sword was at his neck before he even saw it. Fang grinned wolfishly down at him. (Remember Talon’s boy that killed some people and tried to bust Ruadh out)

“We meet again, you slippery little bastard,” he cackled. “We have to stop seeing each-other like this…” he let his sabre draw blood from Ruadh’s neck.

“Fang!” Myra called as loud as she dare, stepping between the two men. “He’s not to be harmed. That was what Talon said.

Fang leered at her, his eye gleaming above his lazy sneer. “Did he? Well he also said he appreciates a warrior who shows initiative. And this ranger has outlived his usefulness…”

Myra suddenly drew out a pistol from where it was hidden beneath her cloak and aimed it skyward. The snipers appeared suddenly, weapons aimed at Myra.

“Swear you won’t touch him. Shoot me if you want, but noise will tell everyone miles around that you’re here.”

Fang pouted and sheathed his sword, raising an open hand into the air. The riflemen quietly disappeared back over the ridges.

“So he’s really on his way here then?” Talon said.

Myra, pistol still in the air, nodded. “He’s right behind us, we don’t have time.”

“Myra,” Ruadh breathed. “What’s going on…”

She looked away, biting her lip. Fang chuckled. The swordsman laid a heavy hand on Ruadh’s shoulder. “You, my old friend, are the bait.”

“I’m sorry Ruadh. This was the only way I could see you and Erasmus out of this safely.”

“Save it for another time,” Fang stepped forward, carelessly dragging Ruadh with him. “Yes, I swear on all that his good and holy and all that, we won’t hurt this bag of bones. Strike me dead.”

Myra, put away her pistol and followed, not daring to look at the Ruadh’s slumped shoulders. She dug her fingers into her hands until she drew blood. This was the only way… she muttered to herself, over and over again.

Fang quickly led them up to a kind of natural stair and clambered up the height of the cliff face, joining the hidden riflemen that hid behind the tree-line.

(Retcon note; so its like, this place is actually life a circular cliff that forms kind of bowl. It’s doesn’t matter that much). He made Myra and Ruadh hide behind a bunch of shrubbery and out of sight from the ground below.

“If you get any ideas…” Fang hissed, turning to Ruadh, “I’ll string you up and give you back that crazy bitch Thorn. Just sit put for now, and you can be on your merry way.”

Ruadh, seemingly resigned, said nothing.

“Or perhaps,” Fang continued, “gives this sword a test and see if it really is all that…”

Minutes passed in absolute quiet. Fang and his men made no movement, seemingly not even breathing. Talon’s soldiers, cloaked and masked, only continued to peer down the lengths of their rifles, all aimed at the thing cleft in the ground that led into the hollow dell. Fang, hunched, eyed that same place, like a crow watching a dying animal, Myra thought.

In the silence, their came to faint rhythm of footsteps, hurriedly making its way over damp earth and stone. Fang leaned forward. Myra held her breath. She had desired this moment. To see Pike die. But now, the thought left a sour taste in his mouth.

He deserves this anyway… she thought. It’s the only the way. Pike’s life for Erasmus’.

Suddenly, a grey cloaked figure emerged into the dell. As if expected something, the figure hesitated, half hiding himself behind a rock. Talon turned to the rifleman crouched beside him.

“Wait for it… let him come out a bit…”

Myra leaned forward as far as she dare, her keen eyes trained on the grey cloak. The figure stepped forward, cautiously, then gained confidence, took another step. The hooded face turned up at the ridge, but seeing nothing. Myra looked intently at the man, when a part in the clouds let out a ray of sunlight, it fell upon the upturned face, casting away the shadows. It seemed as though Erasmus was looking directly into Myra’s eyes.