The cries of the birds who fled sensing the impeding danger, resounded through the woods.

*Clop* clop* The sound of the hooves of horses as the made contact with the ground below was heard as they made their way out the woods and into the plains.

As they drew closer to the wall at the end of the plains, the sounds finally caught the attention of the guards who were to engrossed in their conversations of what had happened earlier.

One guard moved closer to edge leaning over to have a clearer look. He soon made out the horses as well as their riders decked in armor, with their weapons prominently displayed.

"Sound the-" The guard turned to warn the others but was cut of by an arrow that flew right through their head and embedded itself in the wall.

The guards looked at the blood covered arrow then to the other guard who had fallen before collectively turning to the source where they saw, the person who seemed like the leader readying another arrow.

"To your stations people, sound the alarm and close the gates! We are under attack!"

With that shout everyone was now alert, two guards quickly moved to shut the massive gates. The guards above attempted to slow down the army that was heading for them.

The clear sky soon turned dark as arrows filled the sky and headed straight down for the army of mercenaries. Their leader with her bow at hand stared at the arrows that were heading straight for her.

Her expression remained steady as the arrow was but a meter away, *Kang* the sharp sound of metal clashing was heard as an axe flew before her blocking the arrows.

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She continued to ride with weapons flying before her preventing any arrows from having contact with her armor.

As she grew ever close to the towering stone walls before she stood upon her stead, putting away her bow and pulling out two axes staring at the guards with a stare as cold as the plains of Articos.

Leaping of her horse she scaled the wall with the grace of a cat, arriving at the top of the wall her axes were quick to draw blood as one was sent into a guards neck causing her to be bathed in the blood of her enemy.

With one swift movement she avoided three sword swings from the guards who had now moved to surround her. With one strike she disarmed to guards before using her other axe to liberate the men's heads from their bodies.

At this point some of her men had made it to the top of the wall dying the grey cobbled stone floors with the crimson liquid of life that continued to seep from the ever increasing amount of bodies that littered it's surface.

Jason and his father had finished packing up their things ready to leave when the sounds of screams found their way to their ears.

"Father what is going on?" Jason asked with fear creeping into his voice. His father did not respond as he moved to the entrance to take a peak of the chaos that was ensuing outside.

Closing the door carefully in order not to attract attention he turned to his son seeing the confusion and fear etched upon it.

His eyes darted from his son to his workshop before quickly moving to one of his workstations and pushing it aside to reveal a trap door.

"Get in here" he ordered his son who remained still staring at him with eyes filled with confusion, "father.." "This is no time to argue boy, for once in your life just do what you are told. Hold your things close and stay in here until I tell you to come out, understood!"

He spoke in a tone that left no room for arguments, Jason hearing his father speak like that knew better to argue and obediently headed in and watched as he father closed the hatch.

His father now sure his son was safe moved to the wall grabbing an axe and began to feel it's weight in his hand, his eyes held countless emotions.

His grip was changed to one his body was familiar with, he then struck behind him with such strength and accuracy that the head of the invader who had burst into his workshop was cut cleanly into two.

Jason who had raised the trapdoor just enough so he could peak had a mixture of horror and awe in his eyes.

The boy watched as his father stood his ground confronting all who dared to enter his workshop, the bodies before him began to pile up with his clothes dyed red with the blood of his enemies.

The orange light from the flames devouring the buildings outside shone upon him, at that moment Jason did not see the carpenter who was his father but rather a warrior who lived in the battlefield.

Jason was lost in his thought only regaining his bearings as his father turned to lock eyes with him, annoyed he disobeyed orders.

His lips parted but not a single word was uttered but rather a trail of blood began to flow out, Jason watched as the emotions in his eyes changed to one of horror and confusion.

His father soon fell to the floor with a heavy thud with a heavy arrow sticking out of his neck. Jason wanted to run to his father but the look in his father's eyes as the warmth left his body caused him to stay still allowing the trapdoor to close leaving but a tiny slit through which he could barely see the one responsible walk in.