The Immortality Stone - The Cardinal

Chapter Nine - Something Evil this Way Comes....or Not

"Svarr, keep going, get her. I'll sort these out." The dark warrior called to his steed, half dismounting as he spoke.

"As you wish," The SarrVeck growled, launching himself forward as his rider leaped from his back.

Lethanas' eyes grew wide, who was this Black Knight? His bow rose again and he fired twice more. DeKramarr's armour turned them. Lethanas dropped his bow, instead releasing his blade. He called to the rest of his troop;

"Go after the girl. Make sure she's kept safe."

DeKramarr snarled and ran towards the Sky Elf, the other riders dispersing to follow SvarrKarr. Quickly, Lethanas jumped from his own steed, landing perfectly on his feet with moments to spare before he was attacked. Their blades danced causing sparks to fly. Both were well matched. DeKramarr's blade came down in an arc only to meet Lethanas' sharp defensive upper swing. Lethanas would dance to the left to find Vaskar's servant right there to meet him. The sand was whipped up in a flurry, as the two tried to overcome each other. From the strand Martin and Aramon observed;

"Blondie seems t'be putting up a fair fight." The brigand said indistinctly, as he ate some of the Elves rations he had just pilfered.

"Indeed, I wouldn't want to be fighting ol'fearsome there." Martin agreed, helping himself to some dried meat."Should we step in?"

"Nah. We'd only get in th'way. Tha' there's a pers'n'l disagreement."

"I do believe your right. Do you think they have anything to drink?"

"I dunno, le's have a looksee."

 ~*~

Sameeca let out a shrill squeal when the SarrVeck roared, panic took over completely and she could tell he was catching up. Without warning she veered right and ran about the beast confusing him as he tried to bite her. SvarrKarr stumbled as he tried to follow her but he was too late, and he tumbled in the sand. Arrows whizzed through the air, peppering SvarrKarr like a pincushion. The SarrVeck roared in annoyance as they scored his flesh. Sameeca didn't allow herself to slow down, she focused on her immediate path...which contained five horse-backed riders with weapons....what had she done? She had to make a decision.

She ran into the forest and fell into a hole. 

~*~

Aramon and Martin were becoming concerned now. There hadn't been anything to drink other than water. This had displeased them. The wizard looked over at the two figures entwined in battle. They'd been going at it for a good solid half hour. Aramon was just thinking about interrupting when a loud roar erupted from the end of the strand. SvarrKarr came bounding down it, looking much akin to a large hedgehog. He plucked his rider from the fray, tossing Lethanas' aside and the two disappeared in a flash of light. Aramon spat out some water he'd reluctantly swigged. He hit his friends arm;

"Now, THAT is a useful trick! Not your fancy poof and glitter bombs." Aramon scolded.

"That page wasn't in the book." Martin whined.

They watched in silence as the rest of the riders came back along the beach to Lethanas. Aramon took another swig of water from his purloined flask. Lethanas' eyes found him, the group turned towards them and picked up speed. Martin gulped;

"Time to go?" 

"Yup." Aramon agreed.

"Not so fast." A male voice spoke softly, which was worse than threateningly. You couldn't punch a person for speaking softly. "We need to find your friend, and as you have so nicely helped yourself to our rations you would do well to oblige us."

The two turned around, Aramon sniffed and Martin licked his lips. They were staring at the knees of two mounted Elves. They should have known better, they thought.

"Of course, my pleasure," Aramon said.

"At your service," Martin declared.

~*~

Minutes had passed since Sameeca had plunged into the dark depths of a tree root. Two of the Elves had jumped over her, and no more had appeared (they had since disturbed her brother and Martin instead). Sameeca however, wasn't going to chance moving just yet. It was safe in the hole, it was comfortable and most importantly it didn't contain anything that could harm her, although, there was the distressing smell of fox to deal with. She breathed a sigh of relief. No, no. For the first time that morning, she was well and truly safe. There was snuffling beside her, Sameeca glanced over her shoulder to see what it was and came face to face with a badger. Her eyes widened and she practically levitated with fear as she jumped back out of the hole and into Lethanas' arms.

"We've been looking for you." He told her.

"Just splendid," Sameeca sighed.

                                                                    ~*~