“Mr Knight. What is the meaning of this? You speak of safety but here you order your men to surround me? Are you a kidnapper or a rapist?” I didn’t move a single inch. The man tightened his grip on my shoulder and laughed sarcastically.

“You fancy me a fool Witch!?” He looked down at me, his nose high and proud. “You are the witch of this forest. And we are the men who will take you to the Pope. Did you know Tess? Your bounty has accumulated quite the sum. It’d be years of good food, booze and luxury for us. Now, any last words?” I need to escape, fifteen is too many for me especially in open-field combat.

“Yeah, I do have something to say. Lend me your hand.” Confused by my words he lost himself in though for a second, and that second was all I needed to slice his hand off. He immediately fell into panic as the sight of blood shot like a fountain out of his wrist. Some of the men hesitated upon seeing blood, the others made to attack. With as much force as I could muster I booted him backwards into his approaching men. The men behind tried to catch their leader’s fall but lost their balance under his weight. The man now neither upright nor on the ground, but at an angle I ran over him like a ramp, stepping on his stomach and shoulder to escape the encirclement. Everything was perfect, until a blade caught my leg. I ran quickly, but I felt the strength in my leg diminishing. And with such a blood-trail it would be difficult to escape their relentless pursuit.

Twelve of them continued pursuit. My wound gave them greater confidence. I suddenly stopped running, turned and raised my arm towards them. As loudly as I could I shouted. “FLAMES OF THE CERBERUS HEED MY CALL AND IGNITE THEM!” at the sudden sight of my performance they dove behind cover and hid. With great satisfaction, and at a little loss of my dignity I continued to run. As I made to turn pass a large-tree a blade punctured my stomach. In shock, I watched my blood follow the metal down towards the hilt.

“HA! Got you now you bitch!” The man left the blade in me. He pulled his arm back greatly before punching. Blood exited from both my nose and my abdomen as I slumped against a tree. Will this be my gravestone? The other men had caught up. I was surrounded once more. Their leader sluggishly came closer, he looked like shit. His men waited for his orders. Swords pointed at me from every angle. I looked down at the blood-stained sword and felt a glimpse of recognition. This, this sword belongs to Richard. The family jewel, the familiar scratches and dents. There is no doubt, this belongs to Richard.

These bastards killed Richard. He was one of them, he was fucking human. Un-fucking-forgivable. With what strength I had left in me, fuelled by wrath I pulled Richard’s sword out. Blood gushed out and with it my consciousness faded into darkness.