Reborn: Chapter of the Mercenary

The First of your Battles

Men have drawn their blades on high alert, some with arrows in their bows and bolts pulled back in their crossbows. The wind blew softly with a violent undertone as shadowy figures started to make way into the camp. I was already caught in surprise as I rolled down to the side of the wagon, away from the one who tried to snipe me with a well-place headshot with an arrow. Not wanting to be a pin cushion with only a layer of chainmail under my tunic, I strapped my shield to my arm.

The men were busy tackling these shadowy ruffians, their figure strapped with leather armor under red cloaks, their faces hidden until what little light flashed through their faces. As soon as I got done putting on my shield, quick footsteps headed towards my direction before one of them dashed through, letting down their arms with knives on each hand. They grunted with force when I intercepted these knives with my own shield, which digged into the wood and caused them to get stuck as the figure recoiled. I then drove the edge of that round shield with force into his jaw, making him collapse and groan in pain, bloody spit hitting the ground. He incoherently mumble in pain as I drew my crossbow and stood up, quickly firing the loaded arrow into his lower leg, incapacitating them for now.

More of these shadowy ruffians headed towards me, but many others started to take people's belongings for themselves. Even worse, they started to eye at the wagon with the caravan's armory. A few of the caravan's men started to hold my position, as I loaded my ranged crossbow and zero in on the intruders. I'm still unsure where the source of the fireball that started all of this originated from, glancing around for targets within my sights. Who I manage to spot though were thieves perched on top of wagons, their shortbows drawn and pelting our men with arrows in the open. As soon as I nabbed their attention and pressed the trigger of my loaded crossbow, they were ready to retaliate.

"Take your cover, archers on top!" I yelled at the men, raising my shield to cover as much of my body as possible. A sudden thump shook my arm, one after another or besides the wagon's wooden frame. The men were now firing bolts at the archers, ending their little hyjinx of raining arrows upon us. They were either hit and dropped from the wagons, or made to descend down to take cover, buying us time to tackle each ruffian, one by one. I quickly shook and took the arrows out from my shield, which their have pierced through, a small sensation of pain hitting the nerves of my arm.

The men have counted at least thirty figures on our midst, with each decisive moment lowering our resources to take them on. The poor travelers and merchants taking refuge on their own tents were now fleeing into the open danger, the fire starting to spread around bits of the camp. Soon, most of it was a living inferno, men and women yelling in pain. I started to observe the scene around me as ruffians got too close and slashed their knives and swords towards us. I took my blade out, a steel heirloom that I owned, putting it to use as I charged at one of these men, running towards one of the thieves at the moment of stabbing a lone merchant. I knocked him over to the ground.

"Flee! Get out of here!" I told the merchant, frozen in fear as I subdue the merchant, placing my boot on his head. He fled wounded, holding his hand on a cut on his shoulder, before my target shook me off and swung his arms towards me, engaging in close-quarter combat. Several thrust and swings were traded, my tunic caught in some of these as soon as the thief picked up a spare knife utensil, exposing the layer of chainmail. Maneuvering through the camp engulfed in flames, A lot of things were in my mind, moreover staying alive.

"Stay still while I gut you, you twat!" My opponent cursed out, recklessly on my face. Any slashes I made started to wound him and hinder him, before I thrusted a kick while he recovered, dropping to the ground tired and hurt.

"You've messed with the Eldridge Arms in your attempt to steal and kill from good people." I solemnly spoke to him, kicking his own improvised knife out. By now, the men working for the caravan had subdue most of the bandits, letting them retreat or picking them off, but most of the camp was torched. Men were now attempting to put out the fire, the people unable to help themselves now helping retrieve what they can. As the ruffians escaped down through the road ahead of us, the people have started to source the water from the Grandiose River, passing buckets, vases, containers that could hold water to put out the fires. Still, a lot of people were panicking, grieving and sobbing over any of our men unlucky enough to live through an ambush.