Chapter 9: Ambush

  Julien

  The wind was cold as it brushed against his face. But, that’s wasn’t the source of the chill the ran down his spine and rooted his feet in place. He cast his gaze from one cloaked figure to another. They wore tight fitting black leather armor with tight hood and mask covering their faces. Only their eyes were visible but they were too far away for him to make out any other features.

  Each and every one of them had two thin curved blades held firmly in their hands already drawn and ready. Julien did a quick count and there were more than a hundred surrounding them in a semi circle from the tree line. At their head the elf stood. His blond hair glinting in the failing light. His pointed ears and startling green eyes left no room for question, the elves had come.

  Or at least one elf. He spun his sword absently a look of faint amusement lighting up his face. The bastard was enjoying this. A cold fury ignited deep within his gut. He stepped forward readying his blade but the captain’s hand shot out and pushed him back. He stumbled and when he caught himself he looked back to see Captain Eryk standing in front of him staring at him with a desperate look in his eyes.

  “This is where we part ways,” he began sadness filling his voice. He reached into his pack and pulled a cylinder looking object made of hard wood. A thin string tied to another thin piece of wood was attached at one side. He curled Julien’s fingers over it.

  “Get to the top of that small mountain behind us and point that thing at the sky,” he said pointing at the weird contraption he had just handed him. “Keep it well away from your face and Make sure the opposite side with the string is the side pointed to the air. Pull the string hard and it will send a signal.” Julien was stunned the captain wanted them to run? Why?

  “We can’t win this,” he stated flatly without emotion. “Our only chance of winning lies a few miles away, a Calvary contingent sent by your father is waiting for the signal. So, if any of us are to live you need to get to the top of the hill and signal for help. Do you understand my prince?”

  He didn’t in fact understand at all but he did understand one thing. The captain was putting all of their lives in his hands. He nodded trying to show determination in his gaze, but the captain just nodded once before turning to the rest of his squad and speaking in a commanding voice.

  “As of right now the rest of you are conscripted into the royal guard your mission is to protect the young prince on his way up the hill; make sure that that the fire flower is set off.” Julien looked to his friends feeling guilty and worried in equal measures. They were being forced to risk their lives, for him. He had never wanted anything more than to be their friends.

  But as one they snapped to attention breaking Julien out of his reverie.

  “Yes sir!” They saluted even Katrina and Carlouse the two who were the most distant to him. The captain nodded to Altaya an unspoken message passing in between them. She had been technically part of the royal guard her whole life. As his bodyguard it was her right to wear the badge of the royal guard. She stepped closer to Julien and they both turned their backs on the attackers as they looked toward the overly large hill behind them. Without a word Aramin took off, Julien hesitated before bolting off after him his feet slamming into the soft soil. The others followed. Behind him he heard some of the attackers shout in surprise.

  “Don’t let them escape, or you lives are forfeit!! Ten of you come with me the rest of you kill these guards!” The singsong voice of the elf echoed out. At the same time the gruff voice of Captain Eryk rose above the cacophony of nearly a hundred men charging.

  “It has been a pleasure men! Now give your lives for Ishtar!! PROTECT THE PRINCE!!!” An almighty roar rose up from the men behind him. So loud that it nearly caused Julien to stumble in surprise. He caught himself and continued running his arms pumping.

  They hit the incline soon after and the ground turned from soft dirt to rocky ground quickly.

  “Well this is another fine mess our Captain has gotten us in,” Carlouse remarked. But he detected no heat in the bookish boys words only a determined resignation. Altaya wasn’t so perceptive as she nearly snarled at Carlouse.

  “Shut your mouth!!! You’ve been recruited into the royal guard. You will not speak of your prince in such a manner!” Julien quickly realized he needed to cut off that line of conversation fast. He picked up speed and ran alongside Altaya. He reached out and thumped her with two fingers on the side of her head.

  “Argh!” “What was that for!” She yelled at him.

  “Cut that out Altaya , we are all teammates and have been for years. I don’t care how dire our circumstances all of your lives are important. Prioritize your own life, I can take care of myself.” Altaya and Aramin nearly snorted at the same time. With the latter all but scoffing.

  “What!?” He protested. Aramin looked back at Julien his face a mask. But Julien could see the smirk hovering like a ghost just behind it.

  “Listen here you big oaf I’ll…” he was cut of as a he was tackled from the side, all he saw was wavy brown hair. He hit the ground and began to raise his sword towards the would be attacked but he noticed a dagger stuck into the ground a few feet away from him. It’s black painted blade gleamed with three entangled rings of gold.

  “Perhaps we should not be bickering while running for our lives!!” Katrina yelled as she struggled to her feet quickly. Katrina almost never yelled. For that fact she almost never spoke at all. He shook his head jumping to his feet.

  “Come on let’s go!! They are closing in!” Aramin shouted. Julien jumped up and and began running again. The ground quickly began to climb. Until they came to a rough path that wound up the mountain. They continued on the path the stomping feet of his friends were nearly deafening to him.

  But he heard the soft sound of steel scrapping on leather.

  Not having time to question himself he ran forward just as the black cloaked man made his way up from down below gripping the edge of the path and pulling himself up while stabbing out with his weapon in one fluid motion.

  Julien parried the strike right before it would’ve struck Carlouse in his side but before he could even ready himself to engage the assassin, Altaya was there flicking the man’s blade wide with the flat of hers before plunging it into his chest. Blood burst from the man’s chest and he fell backward out of sight with a gurgle.

  Then they were moving again as they heard others climb onto the path behind them. Faster and faster they ran Julien’s breath quickly became ragged the higher they went. They were high above the trees now and as he looked up he realized they were more than halfway to the top. That’s when of course two cloak forms pulled their lithe bodies over the lip of the path directly in front of them. They turned but another three had appeared in the path behind them.

  “We each take one!” Aramin shouted raising his blade. The cloaked men said nothing their faces covered and their eyes shaded in darkness. Julien readied his blade facing the one nearest him. Without a word the five assassins surged forth curved blades whirling.

  Julien forced himself to put his friends out of his mind and focus on the adversary in front of him. The man dashed forward keeping low to the ground. His right arm flashed and Julien barely had enough time to step aside as the blade flashed up toward his face. He was ready for the second strike as he pivoted and deflected the second curved blade with his own. He stepped in close and slashed at the man’s side but almost impossibly fast the assassins blade blocked the strike crossing his weapons in front of his strike.

  But Julien wasn’t done he knew he could beat an assassin with his skill. Not ones that seemed so seasoned, so, he put all of his weight behind the strike leveraging his strength. He was already several inches taller than the assassin and four years of military training had put quite a few muscles on his body.

  The man grunted and Julien heard a faint ringing as the man’s blades vibrated from the impact. Still Julien managed to push the man back and he quickly took advantage of it. He pivoted again, quickly disengaging, then stabbing forward leveraging his longer reach this time. It worked and his blade sunk into the man’s side eliciting a low groan of pain. To his surprise the man twisted despite the sword in his body and slashed at Julien. Julien could only raise his arm to shield himself. The sword bit deeply into his forearm, blood welled darkening his uniform quickly.

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  A sharp pain raced up his arm and he found himself howling in pain. Anger ignited in his gut and he twisted the blade in the man’s side and ripped it from him, sending blood and viscera flying. The man sank to he rocky ground gurgling as blood welled up passed his mask. This close Julien could just make out the fading panic in the man’s eyes as he died. He shouldn’t feel pity for these people. They were trying to kill him right? And yet…

  He turned away from the dead man refusing to let his mind linger. He immediately saw that the rest of them were finishing up their fights or had already finished. A bellowing cry rang out from below them and he risked a glance over the side of the path. Down far below he could just make out a small not of warriors fighting against a swarming tide of black cloaks though it was too far and too dark to see details now. He couldn’t see the elf however. He checked the path below them and it was free from anymore dark cloaks. But he also couldn’t see any traces of the elf.

  “Come on we need to go they won’t last much longer!” Aramin was shouting. He didn’t wait for their acknowledgment he just turned and continued running up the hill stepping over the bloody body of the assassin he had been fighting, they all followed him many leaving their first kills in the dirt behind them.

  It didn’t take them long to reach the top of the hill. They crested it to find it rather flat and circular no wider than one of the towers that ringed the capitol city. Oddly there was a single tree, bent and stooped but still strong growing on the far edge its leaves thick. Darkness was fully coming into effect now the sun barely a glimmer on the horizon.

  Without waiting, Julien raised the cylinder device he had been clutching in his left hand. He ignored the pain from the cut he had received and recalled the captains instructions. He pointed the end without the string into the air. He sheathed his sword before reaching up and fingering the leather cord they used for a string. He pulled it as hard as he could. With a pop the cord came loose from the cylinder.

  For a horrible moment nothing happened. The hammering in his chest was so loud he was sure the others could hear it as well. Then just as he was going to lower it, the thing bucked in his hand; at the same time a blinding flash and a loud pop caused him to nearly drop it. He held firm though and a bright ball of golden light shot into the darkened sky. It rose more than fifty feet before exploding in a dazzling display that blinded Julien.

  They had done it, they had completed the mission, They were saved. The relief was palatable. Katrina fell to her knees he bloody sword held loosely in her grip. Altaya patted him on the shoulder and Aramin gave him a massive grin.

  This was too easy. The thought popped into his head right before a new voice sounded from behind them.

  “You see, this right here is why you humans can’t be left to your own devices. Not even a century has passed and you guys have already begun creating new technologies.” Julien whipped around unsheathing his sword as he did. His heart sunk at what he saw. The elf was leaning against the tree trunk his green and gold armor as vibrant as ever. A long curved blade was in his hand but it was held casually at his side. Julien’s mind reeled, he hadn’t been there before he was turned it. Where had he been? The elf’s green eyes were focused above staring at the golden light that was now falling back down toward the earth while slowly growing dimmer.

  He shook his head in almost as if marveling at the sight before he turned his predator eyes back to them. Once again Altaya stepped in front of him but the elf just clucked his tongue in annoyance.

  “Oh no need to do all that.” He paused his eyes roaming over them and Julien had no doubt he was assessing them. Finally he shrugged and stepped forward.

  “Just know this isn’t personal at all. Now Princess Julien, I’m afraid you and all your friends must die here.” The elf raised his blade. But to everyone’s surprise it was Aramin who acted first. He charged forward blade high, yelling at the top of his lungs.

  The elf’s eyes only narrowed before he ducked to the side easily putting himself out of reach of the big man’s wild swing.

  Before he knew what he was doing Julien was ordering his friends to battle.

  “Altaya, support him! Katrina stay low try to flank him. Carlouse put that spear you borrowed to good use, look for an opening.” He blinked, he’d given orders several times during the many excercises they were forced to go through but this was the real thing. It dawned on him that this time his orders might actually get his friends killed. He pushed down the wave of irrational fear that rose in his stomach.

  His friends however didn’t hesitate they leapt into action. Katrina was first as she drew her belt knife and darted to the side. Carlouse only looked at Julien briefly before giving him a brief nod and running to support Altaya, who had already dashed forward and was side by side with Aramin trading blows with the elf.

  He had no delusions about this fight he knew they were out matched. Everything he’d ever been taught told him elves could move so fast that humans couldn’t perceive their movements, and that’s to say nothing of their magic. The only plan he could come up with was to delay until help arrived. Now that they had sent the signal it was a matter of time. How long they could hold out was completely dependent on them. But he wasn’t very hopeful. That was why he was almost numb when things began to go wrong.

  Katrina was the first, she had moved around the side as he had ordered sword poised and ready to strike. The elf was moving like smoke his every movement hard to look at. It was like looking at a heat haze. So, Julien didn’t see the strike that did it. One moment Katrina was behind the elf poised to strike, then Aramin and Altaya were thrown back both skidding backward in the dirt. They recovered fast in only a second they were back on the elf their blades flashing in complicated patterns.

  Unfortunately a second was all it took. A sharp crack rang out and Katrina crumbled to the ground blood exploding from the side of her heard.

  An agonized scream tore from Carlouse lips his eyes turning wild and frenzied. Julien couldn’t blink he couldn’t, couldn’t register what had just happened. He tried to pull his mind back from the brink. Some small part of him was screaming for him to do something but his feet felt rooted to the spot.

  Carlouse charged forward, jabbing his spear wildly at elf. The elf for his part just smirked and continued to parry every single strike from all three combatants with ease.

  He was toying with them. The realization hit Julien like a thunder bolt. The elf was practically dancing his blade nothing but an occasional glint metal. He weaved in and out of their attack the smirk never leaving his face.

  “That spear is annoying,” the elf sneered ducking one of Aramin attacks before kicking him in the chest. Aramin staggered falling sideways and blocking Altaya’s attack. The elf then raised his off hand and a bright green ball of energy seemed to manifest. A low trilling sound echoed across the barren peak. And it took Julien to realize the elf was whistling a song. Then the bolt shot forward and blasted Carlouse in the chest.

  He was flung backward his spear flying from his grasp. His body landed in the dirt almost five feet away before slowly rolling to a stop. Rage ignited in his chest and the force that had been holding him in place shattered at he darted forward as well his blade falling into the sword forms he had been taught. He took a Carlouse’s spot on the flank slashing and stabbing as he had been taught for years. The elf however just chuckled the sound reminding him of song birds.

  Every strike He tried, every feint, every misdirection was all blocked by the elf. Then in a flurry of movement he was knocked aside as were his two friends he rolled and was back in his feet in a second. He looked to the grim faces of his friends. They couldn’t win, they all knew it. He could see they all knew they were going to die.

  Altaya’s eyes were streaming with tears but her face was set with determination. Even Aramin’s eyes were glittering with she’d tears but he just nodded to them. The look said, it was pleasure fighting with you. No words were said, none were needed. There was only one thing they could do. Even if they ran they couldn’t, wouldn’t make it far so instead they charged as one.

  Aramin took the lead swinging high; the elf parried easily and then blocked Altaya’s follow up strike.

  “You are all skilled it is truly a waste, however.” He suddenly blurted his whole body becoming indistinct. When Julien could see him again he was standing behind Aramin his blade thrust through the big man’s back.

  “You are not good enough,” the elf finished. Altaya screamed then, a raw; guttural, pain reaching sound and Julien raced forward readying to strike. Altaya just sunk to her knees as he raced passed her determined not to stop. He caught a brief glimpse of her holding the stump of her right arm.

  When had the elf done that? Then pain erupted in his midsection. Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe properly, his lungs wouldn’t work.

  He didn’t stop however, couldn’t stop, all of his friends had given their everything to do one thing. Throughout their entire fight they had only one goal. A wild scream tore from his throat as he willed his feet to continue moving.

  For the first time the elf’s eyes opened in surprise as Julien bore into him legs going limp as he did. The elf’s eyes opened stumbled back and… stepped off the sheer cliff at the edge of the peak. For the first time Julien saw panic bloom on the cocky elf’s face. He wanted to smile but he was tired. The elf fell a scream tearing form his throat at he fell. He saw it as he fell a fist sized hole had been bore into his stomach. Through his stomach? Blood was pouring from the ragged edges like rain off of thatched roofs. Julien black out for but a second but next he knew he lay belly down in the ice cold dirt.

  He felt a wetness soaking into his chest and into the ground around him. But for some reason he couldn’t muster the energy to care. He was becoming cold all over but that didn’t matter either.

  Suddenly the hill began to shake. Or was that his body? He really couldn’t tell the difference. He tried to convince himself to get up but his limbs wouldn’t respond to him anymore. A deep cracking sound did catch his attention. A moment before he felt weightless. He.. he was falling. Well he guessed it really didn’t matter anymore. His eye sight was darkening rapidly as a warm sensation spread across his body.

  He was tired, so very tired. But just as his vision nearly blinked out his entire world went white, filled with light… and pain.