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The traveling was easy, the full wagon was heavy making their progress slow. The days were hot and long, as Phil was pushing for speed and often they rode until they had to stop from lack of light. But at lest the food was good, for he also made sure his guards were well fed to keep up their strength. He didn’t get to see Shalanda much as she rode in the wagon most of the time and by nightfall he was ready to eat and go to sleep. The other guards were friendly and fun loving bunch but kinda kept them out of their ring. So him and Duncan kept to themselfs and just did whatever Windston asked of them. The days turned to weeks and still they pressed on without incident, other than having to replace a few wheels. They stopped in Nimberless for only a day to pick up a few more men, and were off the next morning. A week out of Nimberless Trent and Duncan were riding just a bit behind Windston when Trent had to ask.
“This is not exactly what I expected Windston, is it always like this I mean we haven’t even seen a goblin since we left Silverbane. I thought something would have happened by now, not that I really wish trouble but well if this is what it’s like it’s very easy pay,” Trent put to him.
“It do be a bit quit don’t it, but for us that do this as a way of life its a great thing to go through a week even a month with it so quit,” he said with a laugh.
“Well still most of the time you just ride with the wagon and do nothing but look pretty, it is still great pay,” Trent expressed.
“I it be, an that what bring a many into the life. Yea we ride beside the wagon an who knows how many bandits an such, we discouraged from attacking because we be here,” Windston explained.
“So we get paid half a gold a day to intimidate and discourage, sounds like the life to me,” Duncan expressed.
“I half a gold a day to intimidate most, but the time will come when it be.....” Windston started but his eyes narrowed and his jolly face turned to stone as he watched the grass, then in a loud voice he yelled, “Time to earn you pay gentlemen, look sharp,”
As he yelled the grass came alive with movement, as scores of strange looking scaley creatures stood and launched a hail of javelins. Trent reached for his shield bringing it above his head in hopes of deflecting most of the assault, and turned his head to get a better look at the things that attacked them. More than seventy-five of them there were he noted as he did, Their heads had a lizard like appearance, with big round black eyes and a maw that was long, narrowing as it extended to their nostrils, a full set of razor sharp teeth following as it did. They were short most not much over five feet, with yellow-green skin that blended well in the plains. Their legs were squat and sturdy looking, but with a long midriff. Their arms looked strong but wiry and were long coming down below there waist.
Thankfully their missiles were not well aimed as most hit the ground or wagon, but Trent did fill a thud atop his shield and heard a few shouts of pain. He looked to check on Duncan to find him well with a wicked smile across his face, as he rolled from his horse. Trent as well dismounted for he had not trained for fighting atop a horse and knew he would be more effective on foot. The twang of crossbows filled the air as the guards brought their own missiles to bear to much effect most hitting their mark but only three fell. Trent reached for an arrow, as he slung his shield in place on his back and brought his bow up notching it. Their attack from afar was not over as another volley of javelins filled the air. More shout sounded as they hit, but none of the guard had of yet fell. Trent beaded on a target drawing flinch to ear, and let lose. His arrow flew striking true, taking one of the lizard things in the head and it fell where it stood.
“Damn Trogs, forget the missile fight and into the fry, Draw steel men,” Windston yelled as he drew his own sword, and spurred his mount foreword.
Most of the men dismounted as they pulled their weapons, but two others rode foreword atop their steeds. Trent took aim one more time since he already had an arrow in hand and let fly, it hit this one as well taking it the gut, but the arrow just bounced off its hard scales. He saw Duncan run past him, with his great sword in hand. Another volley went into the air as he started forward, this one to devastating effect. One man flew from his horse impaled through the chest, another man dropped taking a hit in his right shoulder, a third fell with a scream as a javelin pierced his eye coming out the back of his head. And a forth man fell taking a hit to the leg, but he stood again. And few others were hit with glancing blows.
Steel rang on steel as the melee was joined and Trent was not far behind. As he entered he found one engaged with its back to him and he struck hard sending blood in a fountain as he opened it up, and on he went. He heard Duncan’s battle cry and glanced to where his friend was to find him toe to toe with one of the creatures but fairing well.
One then rounded on him its heavy axe already falling to split his skull, but he deflected it with his shield. He worked his sword fast is a series of strikes but found no opening. Back an forth they searched for the killing blow, but Trent was learning it style quickly, and as it made to strike he stepped in knocking the axe wide and brought his sword in leaving a wide gash across its side. It howled in pain and anger going for another attack, but it found a hard shield in its face and it fell from the blow, which Trent had no trouble stabbing it through as he steeped past to find his next kill. He didn’t have time to check on their progress as two rushed at him. Their attacks were in unison, and it took all his skill to keep the sword and hammer at bay. His hands and arms felt every block as it vibrated through the steel. They pressed in on him with quick strikes, and he took a light hit to the leg. He needed to strike but was unable to as they stepped in making him fall back, but as they did he brought his heavy boot back in kicking one in the stomach. He knew it wouldn’t hurt it much but as he hoped it knocked it back enough for him to step forward and in between them as he turned to place himself behind the other one his sword already falling to take it in the shoulder splitting it near in two. He was not done though his shield came back blocking the hammer that fell at him, and with all is strength he knocked it aside, his blade coming across, and this ones head spun through the air. There were none to engage straight off and he was in full lust as he stocked through the fray taking down the ones that were occupied.
Five, six, seven, eight, nine, he counted as they fell before him, most took from behind not even knowing he was there. Until two more came at him, both with swords bearing down. Not waiting for them to press him thou, he stepped in knocking one blade aside with his shield, stepping under the block and dodging the others strike as he spun spilling it guts on the ground. But the other one was faster then he believed as it caught a good strike across his shoulder blade as he spun to met it. He clinched his teeth against the pain and growled in rage, as he fainted a strike at it chest but then dropped into yet another spin bringing his shield above his head as he did. He felt the impact of its blow on his shield just before this one fell to the ground screaming clutching where its leg should have been. With one thought thank you Draven, he went back to work. Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen he counted on as took them down.
Then he heard whooping and looked around to see what was left of their enemy in full flight. Blood and bodies littered the ground mostly with scaley yellow-green skin, and thrust his sword to the air and let out a primal yell. As he did Duncan throw his arm around him and joined him in his celebration. After his lungs could hold it no longer he looked around and saw that most of the guards were wounded but alive. Then he noticed Windston still atop his stallion, looking at them with a proud smile across his face. Then he glanced to the rest and spoke.
“Gather what treasures you can, do not think of keeping anything for yourself for I’ll not tolerate stealing. We will split it fairly and my father will pay a fair price for any good items of worth, including weapons that are still serviceable. But be quick about it, you man that are badly injured go to the wagons now and my sister will see to getting you bandaged up.”
Only three men headed to the wagon, but there were nine that would never get up again. Trent and Duncan went about helping to gather anything that seemed valuable. Duncan spoke first as they searched.
“I took down twelve, you should have seen it. How many did you get?”
“Fifteen, fell by my sword,” Trent said bluntly.
“You both did great, I was worried at first about you two, mass combat is not the same as even two or three against one. But you took to it with good grace. So how do you feel about such a life now, this battle I think was worth the pay, and I think you two earned it well. I think the academy might be hard pressed to teach you two anything,” Windston spoke from behind them.
