The Knight's Squire

Chapter 4

The scarred man grinned. "Surprised that we recognized you? Word of your exile has spread. We are but simple bounty hunters out for the price on your head," he said as he bowed.

"I very much like my head where it is," Rohea countered. "And you would be wise to leave if you wish to keep yours attached."

The scarred man laughed. He signaled to his partners and two of them stepped forward.

"Honorable combat from bounty hunters?" Rohea commented. "I'm impressed."

"Not as impressed as you will be when you feel your demise," the scarred man said.

Maes looked confused at the exchange, and glanced at Rohea.

"They are challenging us to honorable combat," Rohea said. "Only two of them will attack us at a time, and there will be no thrown weapons."

"What happens after we kill those two?" Maes asked.

"Two more will attack, and so on. But beware, these are bounty hunters and may decide to break their word at any time."

The two bounty hunters approached Rohea and Maes, and bowed when they were a short distance away. Rohea and Maes bowed in return, and all four dropped to their combat stances, facing each other in two parallel lines.

The bounty hunters were well-trained, and they spun their swords with practiced ease. Rohea barked at Maes, who was dazzled by their movements, "Watch their arms, not the swords. They seek to distract you with their swordplay. Remember your lessons well, and we will win this day!"

The two hunters stepped away from each other, and tried to circle around Rohea and Maes. However, Rohea was quick on his feet and charged at one of them. He swung his sword, expecting to be parried. To his surprise, his swing cut through air, and the bounty hunter dodged past, heading towards Maes. They had obviously decided to get rid of Maes before they engaged Rohea.

Muttering a curse, Rohea turned and ran back towards Maes. She was locked in combat with one of the bounty hunters but was losing the advantage. The second bounty hunter was gaining ground and almost behind Maes. Rohea attacked the first bounty hunter, but his swings were parried easily.

"Maes!" Rohea cried out. "Watch your back!"

Maes turned around and parried a blow aimed at her back. She threw off the second bounty hunter's swing, and took a quick step forward, hoping to land a quick thrust. The bounty hunter sidestepped, and whipped his sword up. Maes tried to dodge the sword, but was too slow to react. The sword slashed her left arm, and blood started soaking into her clothes. She cried out in pain and grabbed her left arm.

The scarred bounty hunter, who was observing from a distance, said, "Looks like we drew first blood, Sir Rohea. It is not too late to surrender."

Rohea was silent, and gritted his teeth. He had to quickly end the fight with one of them, or Maes would surely be overrun in a moment. Rohea was a flurry of activity as he swung repeated at the first bounty hunter. The bounty hunter was not as skilled as the other, and he lost the advantage with each strike from Rohea. Soon, the bounty hunter was completely on the defensive, doing his utmost to parry Rohea's strikes, and unable to launch any attacks of his own.

Rohea sensed the right moment and thrusted. The sword struck home, and the bounty hunter was impaled. Rohea grunted, and kicked the bounty hunter to the ground, freeing his sword. Losing little time, he flicked his sword, causing blood to splatter on the ground nearby, and he turned to join Maes.

Maes was not as lucky – besides the slash on her arm, she now had small cuts on her legs and torso, although none was as severe. Rohea stepped to her left, since her left arm was now essentially useless. The remaining bounty hunter eyed his partner, now lying in a pool of blood, and shook his head. It was going to be difficult to engage both Rohea and Maes at once. He took a few steps backwards, and charged at Rohea.