General Roulét: First, I must thank you.
Donned in familiar light armour, the coloured crest upon his upper arm gave notice as to whom he served..
A traitor.
He swept back his fair hair with a large hand, his eyes keenly taking note of each of them.
And though he addressed Anna, who was at the front of the group, his eyes remained solely upon his prize, fixed upon Alex in the distance.
General Roulét: I had momentarily lost sight of your little group and well..
Anna: …
General Roulét: ..I feel inclined to thank you for noisily making your whereabouts known.
He added with a cheshire grin and motioned his horse a few steps closer.
His large build appeared at ease.
And those with him then followed suit. Revealing their numbers and their drawn swords and crossbows as they neared.
All treacherous men from the east.
The smile vanished as he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
General Roulét: Second…
He said. His gaze pleasantly resting upon Anna
General Roulét: ..I shall be taking the southerner from you now.
Anna: So you know, you’re not taking shit!
Anna hotly replied without hesitation, pointing her sword.
Though armed, Jerry failed to follow suit.
And Alex remained firmly planted at the centre of it all, unmoved.
Meanwhile, Violet, a few paces behind, nervously assessed the danger.
Her eyes darted to and fro. Her arrow, nocked but pointing at the ground.
With so many crossbows pointed in their direction, any reaction would prove deadly.
General Roulét: Come now, why make things difficult for you and your comrades?
Anna: …
General Roulét: Can you not see that there are more of us than you? I know you aren’t blind. Or are you?
He said such and yet, still made no advancements to seize Alex nor ordered his men to shoot. Instead, he ordered
General Roulét: Now turn him over to me. I was sent to retrieve the southern prince and by His Majesty’s decree, you would do well to-
Anna: I would do well to do nothing. I know who sent you.
General Roulét: …
Anna: So, turn around and go back to that slimy lord of yours.
Despite being caught in his thinly veiled lie, he didn't flinch.
Instead; perhaps having to do with Anna being a woman, he decided to pull on her supposed fragile heart strings, for next he said
General Roulét: There’s no need for anyone to die here tonight. Surely you do not wish to be responsible for your friends’ demise?
Anna: …
General Roulét: To hear their bloody screams as they’re slaughtered one by one. To hear them beg to live…
Anna: …
General Roulét: ..Surely you don't.
Smug in expression, he seemed satisfied by her inaction, perhaps equating it to fear.
Even so…
{He still isn't making a move to attack. Why?..}
Violet: …
General Roulét: Do not be foolish. Simply hand him over to me and I swear these men won't harm anyone. What say you?
Hand over his crooked heart, he spoke.
And unlike before, Anna gave no snappy retort.
However, whatever her expression was, the eastern general took it as an imminent threat. For he began to slowly draw his sword.
-- Wait!!
He strode forward, nearing the standoff sheathed sword in hand.
Alex: No. Stop, I'll go.
In glancing up at Anna, she side eyed him aggressively. Yet it was unmistakable, even in the evening’s dimness, that tears stained her cheeks.
Alex: I’ll go with you.
Alex firmly repeated to the pleased general.
General Roulét: Hand over your weapon.
From Anna, he checked for resistance. Both men did.
Silent and unmoving, she posed no threat.
He pointed and one of his footmen stepped forward to receive the sheathed sword.
The general then again glanced at Anna, before exclaiming
General Roulét: ..? What’s this now?!
The question wasn’t directed at anyone but in regards to his disbelief at the new problem to present itself.
Violet: Don’t- Don’t move!
Hopefully, her distraction would be enough for Anna to bring herself out of whatever had her motionless.
With her arrow aimed directly at him, it was her one shot against several others and she was desperate to make it count.
General Roulét: Go on then..
Violet: …
General Roulét: Shoot him.
Alex turned and his heart sank.
Her arrow was directed at him.
Thankfully, Anna seemed to return to her senses. For she quickly took note of Violet, then Alex, then back again.
She reasoned within herself that receiving Alex unharmed was the easterner’s goal.
Why else would he have chosen to reason and negotiate with them first? Killing them all would’ve been faster. And it would be easy.
But it was all to avoid conflict that would cause harm toward Alex.
Yes. The general would do anything and everything to prevent it.
So, Violet chose to turn it upon the general instead.
However, this reasoning showed itself false as he nonchalantly replied
General Roulét: Go on now. Kill him.
Alex: …
General Roulét: Kill him!
Violet eyes widened and the man laughed.
The muscles in her arm twitched. It was either release the arrow at its target or lower her bow in shame and surrender.
She wouldn’t be able to hold her fully drawn bow for much longer.
And his promise to let them live?
Should Alex hand himself over, they would still be dead.
General Roulét: You won't do it.
Violet: …
He chuckled and added tauntingly
General Roulét: Go on. -heh! ..I already knew you wouldn't. Pathetic woman.
Violet smirked.
Her smile erasing his sly grin
And she found a strange delight in seeing his uneasy appearance.
Then without warning, and with a steady hand, she let her arrow fly.
Chaos ensued.
They attacked as mercenaries would, wild and unrestrained. For they ignored their general's fervent orders to desist.
With the general distracted, Anna caught him unawares. And arrows flew out of the shadows to meet her.
His stomach lurched.
In a blink, swordsmen raged past Alex on horseback.
And eyes grew wide in search of her.
A flash of her accompanied by another on horseback.
Returning to Arden they gave chase. Leaving half of their companions behind.
Without thought and on its own, his body moved. Sword bared. Reins in hand. He made to follow but halted upon Anna’s shrill cry.
In the rear, multiple arrows pierced its flesh.
Narrowly missing her head, her horse thrashed about before fleeing the scene.
And she found herself shamefully outnumbered.
Indecision froze him.
And the thumping in his head, that of his frantic heart.
He bellowed. And the beast in his command charged towards Anna.
General Roulét: NO!!
Something feathery streaked by.
Lightly kissing him. It brushed his face and left behind a crimson streak.
Spit spraying from the general mouth as he hollered, he commanded all to stop.
However, his men’s brief hesitation proved advantageous for Alex. For he caught a footman off his guard.
Slicing open his chest, the man fell dead onto the forest’s floor.
Then he attacked another and their unfair circle broke apart, widening out. Leaving behind Anna.
But he would not take another by surprise.
Ignoring their leader's orders, the treasonous men lunged at him and attacked freely.
They jabbed and prodded, in an antagonising manner.
It was one against- Alex couldn't tell.
The number of axes and crossbows and swords circling and directed at him were what his eyes were trained upon.
His skill with the sword hadn’t much improved during his youth.
And with being locked away for many years, Alex knew he would be found lacking during combat.
Even so, he braved the first attacker. Then the second and then they attacked in pairs and more.
He immediately found it to be unlike his training days.
With wide eyes, he parried one blow after another. They attacked from all sides.
While one wielding an axe threatened to free him from his weapon, his attention split towards those at his back.
Almost dizzying himself, he spun and spun and parried them.
Eventually, his enemies' attacks slowed as well.
Yet they were toying with him. Like one does with a cat and some yarn. They amused themselves while Alex exerted himself.
Chuckling toward one side, those hanging back could be heard.
General Roulét: Southerner!
Under his heavy boot, he kept a disheveled Anna. Face down with a long blade pointed at the nape of her neck.
With all her might, she fought to right herself.
Writhing and shrieking to lay hands on him. And he would do well to keep her there. For if he faltered, she possibly would tear the general’s limbs clean off.
Despite his struggles, he swept his golden hair back with much ease, appearing quite the gentleman.
An irritated smile and a malicious glare crossed him. And without a further thing spoken, the general's intentions were clear.
Alex was to surrender.
Should a singular thought occur of doing otherwise, then..
Of Jerry and Violet, his mind suddenly crossed. And the ice cold feeling in the pit of his stomach returned with a pang.
Flushed, sweat crept down his face and back. He slowed his breaths and took calm note of the general.
Holding the general’s stare, Alex slowly dismounted.
And after a few tense seconds, he threw his weapon to the ground.
He expected the man to be pleased, to next let Anna go. Yet he remained unchanged.
The easterner slowly broke his gaze away, turning his attention squarely upon Anna.
Firmly, he stomped. Once. Down unto her back to the point of breaking it. Anna gave a loud cry then fell quite still.
The point of his sword now pressed, piercing into the back of her neck, drawing blood. Only then did the general smile before locking eyes with Alex once more.
Was he to beg? Fall to his knees and beg?
Here was another casualty.
Here was another person about to lose their life because of him. After he swore to himself that it shall never occur again.
It was playing out once more before him and there was nothing that could be done.
Helpless. He could do nothing more.
He wearily looked on, strength abandoning him, he fell to his knees.
-- Argh!!!
A horseman fell.
His bewildered comrades, slow to realise, still stood around.
He laid face down, dead. An arrow pierced deep into his back.
Puzzled, the general made to approach, leaving Anna behind.
However, this confused atmosphere only heightened. For the next to be struck down was the general himself.
A look of surprise and disbelief found upon his motionless face, while a pair of long black arrows penetrated his chest.
➵
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