Rise of Heroes

Chapter 27 - Rescue

Isabelle was about to drop the sword when two more arrows found their mark in the creature’s body — one in its head and one going right through the thin neck holding it attached to its broad, pointy shoulders.

The beast swayed to the side and Isabelle took her chance, feverishly crawling away from it, kicking the ground in panic. Elaine threw her hands around her, pulling her to her feet while trying to drag her further away from the trashing creature. Isabelle didn’t resist, her eyes locked on the writhing body that kept kicking and reaching out for her as its life seeped out of it drop by drop.

The sound of horses approaching made them all turn to face the group of Roderian riders — half of them proceeded toward the battlefield to aid the remaining soldiers while the other half circled the four women. Isabelle noticed Simon on one of the horses and relief washed over her. Her feet buckled, but Elaine caught her just in time, saving her from a disgraceful fall. As the adrenaline rush faded away, the pain of the bruises and cuts hit her all at once and she almost cried out loud.

“Quickly, ladies! We have to go!” the massive blonde man at the head of the group shouted and hastily offered Cara a hand while his horse danced underneath him. Cara glanced at the others for a moment, then let the man pull her up on the saddle in front of him. Simon jumped off his horse, wrapping his hand around her waist and relieving Elene of her weight. He picked Isabelle up and sat her in the saddle, urging Elaine and Malina to move as he climbed behind her.

A few seconds later, they were already riding in the direction they were originally headed. The rest of the soldiers — all Roderians — were trying to push back the few remaining creatures, moving in a two-line formation that rose like a wall between the fleeing group and those horrendous beings. Isabelle couldn’t help but notice that there were more human bodies on the ground than there were beasts.

Still looking back past Simon’s arm, she was just about to ask her Guardian what those things were when she noticed something shiny flashing in the air. Her eyes widened as she stared with horror at the ragged spear that flew toward them. Before she could make a sound, the spear thrust into their horse’s behind. The horse neighed in agony, taking two more steps before toppling to the ground.

Simon tried to keep them on the saddle but ended up flying off the horse, landing almost on his neck before rolling a few feet away from the dying animal. Isabelle screamed when she hit the ground sideways and cried out in relief when she realized the animal hadn’t landed on her.

Lightheaded and gasping for air, she stumbled on her knees and tried to reach her Guardian when something yanked her down. Looking back, she expected to see another creature preparing to tear her to pieces, but it turned out it was just her dress that got pinned to the animal with the edge of the spear. Isabelle almost laughed with relief. She got up, pulling her skirt with all her strength, but to no avail — she felt so weak that she barely had the energy to stand on her feet.

Helplessness gripped her throat, and she turned to shout for help when she found herself staring at death itself — the same creature that had given up on them earlier was now running at full speed toward her. There was nowhere to hide, nothing to defend herself with, and no strength left to do anything but embrace the inevitable.

Isabelle let out a heavy sigh, letting her hands fall by her side and preparing to greet the gods. She wanted to close her eyes at least, but her body refused to obey.

The creature was just a few feet away when a horse flew past her, sending her hair flying in all directions. By the time she pushed it out of her eyes, the rider had already jumped off his steed, but instead of coming to her aid, he took a step toward the monster. Isabelle stared as the soldier reached for the two swords crossed on his back, his movements unnaturally slow and patient. She shouted at him to run, but her voice died away as the creature growled. Isabelle’s mouth turned dry, dread filling her chest.

The soldier took a careful step aside, his weapon drawing a crescent in the air as the beast descended toward the earth. The creature swung at its opponent with vigor, faster than Isabelle expected, then jumped aside as the man’s sword flew toward its chest.

The blade managed to cut the skin, but the wound did not seem fatal. Instead, it only agitated the monster further, making it snarl angrily and bare its long tusks. This didn’t seem to phase the soldier who kept on moving quickly, carefully, his attention completely focused on the creature as if nothing else mattered.

Isabelle couldn’t watch anymore. She didn’t want to watch him die; she didn’t want to die herself, and doing nothing was definitely going to result in that. She grabbed onto her skirts again, gritting her teeth and stubbornly pulling at them. Her eyes kept going back to the couple, who kept on charging at each other. After another attempt to get herself free, she dropped to her knees with helpless desperation, letting out a sob. A loud shriek echoed through the field and she turned, ready to meet her end. To her complete surprise, she found the soldier standing on his feet with the body of the beast convulsing on the ground. He was breathing heavily, one hand still holding one of the swords while the other pressed to his abdomen where a dark red stain had appeared over his shirt.

Isabelle just stood there, stupefied, unable to move or speak. The stranger turned. His young face surprised her and the look he gave her made her heart race even faster. He grabbed his fallen sword and rushed to her side, sheathing his weapons on the way. When he freed his hands, he grabbed the spear protruding from the dead horse and tried to pull it out. The weapon refused to budge, so he stepped next to her, grabbing the skirts of her dress and tearing them as if they were as thin as a spiderweb. Most of the cloth dropped next to the dead animal, leaving her in a state that would have brought Alana to tears.

Under any other circumstances, Isabelle would have been mortified at what he had just done, but her mind could only sustain one clear thought at that moment: survive. She didn’t even care who that man was or what he did so long as he got her out of there.

Her rescuer turned around, bringing his fingers to his lips and whistling sharply. Isabelle turned in the direction he was looking, watching with utter disbelief as his horse came galloping. The animal halted next to them and he climbed on its back, offering her a hand. She reached out without hesitation, wincing as he pulled her up in front of him.

She remembered Simon then and looked around frantically, almost dropping off the saddle as the soldier forced his horse into a fierce gallop. She let out a scream, grabbing onto the saddle like her life depended on it. His hand wrapped around her waist tightly, pressing her against his chest.

“Hold on!” He muttered, then he forced the horse to move even faster. Soon they put the battleground behind them, heading toward something in the distance that looked like a settlement. She almost sighed in relief when she realized what that meant — there were probably more soldiers there and shelter against the threat.

“My Guardian… he was with me back and… my sister! Oh, gods, my sister!” She began, but got cut off.

“My men got your Guardian. And your sister should be fine. They had a good head start, they are probably already on the other side of that village. They will be safe.” he replied in a tense voice.

Isabelle frowned — on the other side of the village, not inside? They weren’t going to stop there?

A loud howl came from behind them just as that thought crossed her mind. Isabelle tried to look over his broad shoulders, expecting to see a horde of those creatures following them. His hand tightened around her, forcing her down in the saddle. She grunted at the rough handling, but chose to remain still.

“Damn it!” he cursed out of a sudden. They had reached the settlement and were now trotting through the small square, but there was something off about the place. They were barely past the first houses when she realized what it was — there were no people, no defense against those creatures, and nowhere to hide. Even the houses seemed abandoned.

The soldier forced his horse to a halt, then jumped to the ground. Isabelle just stared at him with bewilderment as he reached out to help her down.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed in panic. “We have to reach the castle! Didn’t you hear that? There may be more of those creatures heading our way!” She continued loudly, and he hushed her, pulling her forcefully off the horse. Isabelle tried to fight his hands but before she could push him away, he was already releasing her and returning to the saddle. He took a small knife from his belt, scrabbling something on the saddle.

Isabelle allowed herself a quick glance around — everything was so still and empty that it made her even more scared than when she was on that battlefield. Black soot covered the ground and the nearby buildings, most of which seemed to be missing their rooftops and some of their walls. The place seemed long abandoned and yet, she had noticed a cart of almost fresh vegetables. It was almost as if there were people running around moments ago and yet, it was so quiet, as if death itself roamed around the empty buildings. Isabelle returned her attention back to the man, but before she got the chance to see what he was doing, he slapped the horse’s behind. The animal spurt forward without hesitation.

When he finally turned to face her, she was staring at him in utter horror.

“What is wrong with you? Those things…” Isabelle started, but he brusquely interrupted her by taking a step closer. She pursed her lips, doing her best to stand her ground.

“Those things are called demons. And believe me when I tell you — I know what I’m doing! We cannot outrun a Rowen demon with two of us and one horse. We’ll have to outsmart them.” He offered his hand, but Isabelle didn’t move. “Trust me, I will die before I let anything happen to you,” he said quietly, looking straight into her eyes. Isabelle hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath until she almost choked.

“That’s easy for you to say. We may die at any moment now.” Isabelle snapped, but accepted his hand and he pulled her toward one of the buildings. She took another look around — still not a single soul to be seen or heard with the feeling of dread and desolation hanging heavy in the air. And on top of everything there was this horrible smell, like death, that came from everywhere and most of all, from the house they were heading toward.