Stood dressed in fine clothes and a pair of shiny black riding boots was the young prince. It was Cal who noticed the boy first and immediately shoved his chair back, making a noise as the feet dragged on the wooden floor. “Your highness. Forgive us, I did not see you enter,” he said bowing his head slightly. Leo watched on as the others all stood, albeit much more quietly than Cal had done, and realised he should probably once more follow their lead.
“Very well, you may continue with your meal. I am ready to leave whenever you are,” came the voice of a very well-spoken boy. Leo noticed the youngster staring directly at him, and although he felt like glaring back, thought he should lower his gaze.
The prince wandered back out of the room which thankfully meant they could all sit back down and continue with their meal. Leo wiped the last of his broth with a piece of bread and looked yearningly towards the doorway hoping there might be a chance of a little more. “Are we going back now?” he eventually asked realising no more food would be forthcoming.
“In a little while, we just need to give them time to saddle up some fresh horses and we’ll be on our way,” Dan told them.
Leo looked around the faces at the table as it occurred to him that he had no idea who was actually in charge. Each man had at some point taken the lead, with the others following and never once questioning the reasons why. Perhaps they did not have a leader and they were all equal; well except for him of course.
After sipping the last of the tea from his cup, Leo leaned back in the chair, content with his fill; although a little more would have been nice. The head of a young man popped around the doorway, “All ready when you are,” he said before vanishing out of sight.
“Come on then,” Cal said once more scraping the chair across the floor as he got to his feet.
“Remember the prince stays in the centre of the group. You two take turns at front and back,” he said pointing to Dan and Will. “Leo and Logan stay close to me and the prince. I’m sure we won’t find any trouble, but let’s be ready just in case,” the man said, sounding as if perhaps he was the one in command.
Leo was about to quip that trouble usually found him, but thought it was probably best not make such remarks and chance fate. The young prince was shepherded outside surrounded by the group towards the awaiting horses. Leo was a little surprised to see a large horse waiting for the young royal and was certain the lad would never be able to get up without any help. His theory was obviously soon proved wrong as he watched boy spring up into the saddle as if it were something he did every day.
Few people paid them much notice as they passed out of the iron gates and out onto the main street. This time Leo had been given a chestnut coloured stallion, and one who he knew was going to cause him trouble. The creature was already trying to pull to the side, and Leo was finding it difficult to keep the horse moving forward in a straight line. By the time they had reached the town’s gatehouse, he had already bumped into the prince and Cal, both of whom had given him stern looks for doing so, despite offering apologies to both.
As the noise of the hooves echoed under the stone archway, the group picked up the pace a little and by the time they were out on the main track they had reached a steady canter. Leo was thankful now they were moving a little faster, as his horse seemed to settle and do as he wanted it too. Only several more hours in the saddle and they would all be home safe and sound, where he aimed to sleep for long as anyone would allow him to.
Chapter 19.
Mia and her group had travelled several days. The direction always being northwards. Now they had the wagon, at least her legs had been saved the arduous trip, although the speed they travelled was little faster than they would have managed under their own steam. The old farmer had given them two of his better horses to pull the wagon, and although they could have probably moved a little quicker, the wagon in which they sat was so rickety she thought it might fall apart if they did.
Gallien had been somewhat offish with her since the stay in the farmer’s barn, apparently upset she had decided to bed one of the farmhands. Mia could not understand what the problem was, and in all truth had been a little disappointed by the man anyway. Despite being muscular and having a body she found irresistible, the farmhand had been somewhat lacking in other areas, with the whole thing being over in just a few minutes. In comparison Gallien, although not having such a body was the more satisfying of the two. She had been thinking that perhaps if Gallien was not willing to satisfy her increasing desires then she would have to settle for one of the others in the group, although in truth there was little to choose from.
After stopping several times to let the horses have a drink and a bit of a rest, Mia was glad to hear the news that the town of Riverdale was within reach. The mood in the wagon was somewhat chilly at best, although for what reason she did not know. Kala seemed intent on glaring at her, and Gallien all but ignored her. She had tried making eye contact with one of the other younger men, and had already started trying to imagine what lay underneath his clothes. Whether he was interested in her or not, she thought she might try later if Gallien was still being childish and unreasonable.
The track on which they travelled was barely wide enough for the wagon, and in dire need of repair. Each time one of the wheels hit a rut the entire vehicle juddered. Two of the group had actually decided to walk alongside the horses at the front as opposed to sitting in the wagon, although that was something Mia had no intentions of doing.
Mia was sat looking up at the sky as she felt the wagon hit another fault in the road. This time however, instead of them continuing on, she felt herself falling backwards. One of the wheels rolled onwards as the rest of the wagon came shuddering to an abrupt halt. Mia and the others were all sent tumbling, ending up in a heap of tangled bodies. She opened her eyes, still shaken by what had happen to see Kala looking down at her. “Get off me!” she snapped wanting to get to her feet. Kala just stared for a few seconds clearly struggling to stand herself, before eventually being helped by Gallien.
Fennick who had been sitting up front with the reins in hand appeared to be the only one in the wagon that had not ended up in a pile. After enquiring to see if everybody was okay, he stood back and looked at the axle, now bereft of its wheel. He would have been first to admit he knew little about wagons, but even he could tell there was no way the wheel was ever going to fit back on. The axle had bent under the strain, making the wagon useless.
“We need to gather our things and move on,” he told the group.
“Give us bloody chance!” Mia shouted dusting herself down. Fennick stared her direction for a few moments, and she thought for a moment he was going to say something else, but he eventually turned his gaze elsewhere.
Aside from a few bumps and bruises everybody was fit enough to continue onwards. Mia however was left somewhat disgruntled as Gallien was clearly being foolish and immature in refusing to carry her bags for her. However, after complaining and hoping one of the other men might come to her aid, she was surprised when Kala of all people offered to lend a hand. At first she was going to refuse and say she would rather carry them herself, when she realised that was not entirely true. If Kala wanted to help then why should she object, after all, anything she didn’t have to carry made her own life somewhat easier.
Fennick was unsure whether they should just rest and make camp or whether to push on. He knew they needed to plan and do so carefully if they were to succeed in their task. Taking the prince would not be easy, and unlikely to go without incident; getting him out of the town and away from any pursuers would be even harder. Fennick knew that their best chance was going to be a quick snatch and run, and hopefully be away from the town before anybody realised what had happened. They would likely need to steal more horses to make a quick getaway, although once they had their prize that would not matter.
With the afternoon sun still making the group uncomfortable in their travels, Fennick shouted for the group to halt. “Riders!” he shouted to
those following behind him. “Let’s steal their horses,” came a voice from the back of the line, that Fennick realised wasn’t that of Mia. Although not knowing exactly how many riders approached he decided to do exactly that. “Split up, you go one side of the track and we’ll attack from the other,” he said gesturing them all a little nearer.
Will, a ranger of experience and skill rode affront of the group. He noticed several figures up in the distance and at first thought them just travellers heading towards Riverdale. However, he judged their behaviour somewhat odd, and although he was still some distance he slowed his own horse, meaning those following behind did likewise.
“What’s up?” Cal called from a few paces further back.
“Somethings not right. We have a group of travellers ahead of us…but they have split either side of the road as if…”
“Preparing for an ambush?” Cal added finishing the sentence for the ranger. Will nodded and held his hand up for them to slow down to a walk, “Leo, Logan to the front and be prepared,” he said. Leo felt the adrenaline starting to pump as he moved his horse forward as requested not quite sure what to expect.
“Why are we waiting?” Mia whispered trying to make a conscious effort to keep quiet. Fennick who was knelt down to her right hissed for her to keep quiet. “I only asked. There is no need to be rude,” she replied pulling a face behind the man’s back. Knowing Mia would unlikely keep silent he whispered “I think they know we’re here,” although he kept his gaze firmly on the group of riders in the distance. “Then why are we hiding?” Mia added, questioning him further.
Despite her being a hindrance, the question posed was not seemingly as stupid as he had first thought. Indeed, why were they hiding if the group of riders had already spotted them? Although with that reason in mind, if they had been spotted why did the group of riders continue onwards? Only when they neared a little further did he realise just who and what opposed him. The strange gear of a ranger, with the familiar looking black robes of the sorcery faction rode affront of the group, and Fennick knew perhaps this was all a mistake.
Mia stood and thrust her hand forwards sending forth several small bolts of energy, expecting her colleagues to follow her lead. Fennick was about to let the riders pass by unhindered, but the fool girl had forced his hand. Now he either stood beside and fought or tried to make good an escape. With Kala and one of the others already joining Mia in the attack he was once more forced into acting.
Logan waved a hand and threw up a shield of glimmering light to protect the group, as a handful of figures stood in the distance. “Bloody hell they’re all sorcerers!” he shouted back to those following behind him, as more revealed themselves.
“Leo do something!” Cal shouted forward ensuring he remained at the side of the young prince.
The first few bolts to strike the shield being held by Logan had all but fizzled out due to the range they had been fired at. Cal pulled the entire group to a halt knowing that as long as they remained at this distance they would have the advantage. They may have been fewer in number, but with two guild rangers and Leo he could reach the enemy without them causing him too much bother. “Drop back a few yards!” Cal called to Logan and Leo.
Leo’s horse obviously picked a good time to start playing around, as the creature bolted forward. “Leo!” he heard being shouted from behind him as he realised he was nearing the enemy lined up on either side of the road. He looked up from his hood as several small energy blasts were heading his way and knew he needed to act swiftly. Not confident in concentrating to make use of a shield he had to think of an alternative. Without thinking of the consequences he let go of the reins and leaned to his left and prepared himself for the fall that would ultimately follow.
Feeling the wind forced from his lungs and his head whip backwards he hit the ground hard. With his friends some hundred paces one side and the enemy the same the other, he was caught in the crossfire. Keeping his head down, he moved his arms and legs to make sure all was as it should be. Aside from a sore leg and a pain in his neck he felt well enough to move. Several bolts of energy were sent from the enemy towards his friends, as Leo watched from his crouched position. Fortunately, they were all but spent as most never even reached the shield being held by Logan.
He was just about to start trying to move when two arrows flew over his head. He turned quickly and watched as both hit targets on the side of the track. The shafts thumped firmly into the chests and Leo watched as two lives were ended in the blink of an eye. The impact of the ranger’s actions was immediate as the enemy suddenly stopped firing and instead dived for cover.
Fennick watched in horror as two of his number slumped to the dusty ground with arrows protruding from their bodies. This was not how he had envisaged things to happen. Had they not acted so rashly they could have defended themselves with shields, rather than all attack en-masse. “We need to work together!” he shouted focusing his anger Mia’s direction, thinking this was all her fault.
However, once more Mia forced his hand as she threw up her own shield, “Come on then!” She shouted sounding as if she was actually enjoying herself. The old Mia of course would have panicked and curled up in a ball afraid of what was going on, New Mia was very different, she was bold, brave and knew that to survive she had to kill if needed.
Leo started crawling on his hands and knees, hoping he was keeping low enough not to be hit. He heard the shafts of two more arrows fly overhead and looked to see if they were successful like the first. This time however, both merely stopped as they hit the magical barrier of light being held up by one of the enemy. Leo refaced the way he was going before freezing in place. “No…it can’t be?” he uttered to himself.
He glanced toward the enemy once more, and could not believe what he saw. Stood affront of several others was a young woman, one he knew only too well. “Mia,” he mumbled as he foolishly got to his feet, making himself a target once more. “Mia!” he shouted as several enemy blasts quickly came his way, forcing him back down to the ground much quicker than he had got up.
Leo puffed out his cheeks, trying to steady his breathing, knowing he needed to focus and concentrate. Whilst still kneeling down he thrust a hand forward and concentrated hard. The blasts of energy spewing forth from his hands fired at a rate even he thought not possible, as he targeted the shielded enemy, Mia amongst them.
Fennick and the others took turns to throw up a shield, as they advanced as a far more coherent group. Two arrows were merely deflected aside, and as the riders tried to fire another short blast of energy their direction that was also dealt with in a similar fashion. He noticed one of the riders who had fallen from his horse moving about in the shrubs somewhere in the middle of the two groups. He was certain the black robed figure had called Mia’s name although not certain as the sorcerer had been sent back down to the dirt from Kala’s attack. He chuckled, if this was a guild sorcerer as his robes indicated it was certainly not a very good one. Most would have merely deflected an attack aside with a shield, whilst this one seemed intent on diving around on the ground.
Fennick was taken by surprise as the same black robed figure started rising again, but this time firing at him and his group. He knew straight away this was no ordinary sorcerer as the ferocity and speed of the energy blasts hit his shield. Within a few moments he felt his power all but drained as the barrier tried to absorb the attack. Knowing he needed to release his defence or risk exhaustion he did so and felt his knees buckle. The young man beside him was not so fortunate as his shield was obliterated by the attack and made the mistake of trying to remain standing. The blasts of energy hit him so hard they knocked him several feet backwards, his body blackened and scorched before it even hit the ground.
Kala and the two beside her looked over to where their leader had fallen to the ground, “Run!” he said to them. “You can’t win this fight,” he added trying to catch his breath. Mia however was having none of it as she finally realised just who it was that she was fig
hting. “He cannot shield,” she mocked before being forced into evasive action herself as the riders from further on started firing her direction.
With Fennick almost exhausted and three already dead, Gallien helped his leader to his feet, crouching low as he did. “Come on let’s go,” he shouted to the others, who were already retreating, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the powerful sorcerer stuck in between the two groups. Kala stood and stopped, unsure as whether to stay and help Mia or retreat with the others. As much as she loathed the girl in question, Kala found something quite endearing about her. An attraction perhaps, but whether that was worth risking her life for she was uncertain. Her mind was made up as she watched the others leave her behind, as her indecision played on her mind.
Gallien shouted for Kala to hurry, realising the woman was getting left behind. Mia turned to see the others retreating and immediately felt betrayed and angered at their treachery. Here she was standing and fighting on their behalf against the guild and at the first sign of trouble they had turned and fled.
The Rogue Sorcerer: The Caldronian Guild : Book 2 Page 15
