The Rise of The Fallen Dragon Lord

Chapter 4

Old Bo pushed Donny behind him fast.

"Stay back," he said, his voice low and hard.

The woman laughed softly. She wore red robes with gold trim, and her hair was tied up in a sharp knot. She looked calm, like she was not worried at all about the burning hut behind her.

"Old Bo, you look old," she said. "Hiding in the woods for so many years really did age you."

"Mira," Old Bo said. "I should have known Grandfather Fen would send you."

Donny's eyes went wide. "You know Grandfather Fen too?"

"I worked for him once," Old Bo said, not taking his eyes off the woman. "Many years ago. Before I saw what kind of man he really was."

Mira's smile grew wider. "You always talked too much about right and wrong, Old Bo. That is why you ran away like a coward."

"Call it what you want," Old Bo said. "I am done serving that monster."

Mira's eyes moved to Donny again. "The boy is the real prize here. Grandfather Fen thinks he is dead. Imagine his face when I bring him back alive."

Donny's hands curled into fists. "You will not take me anywhere."

Mira laughed harder this time. "Brave words for a child."

She raised her hand, and two more men stepped out from behind the trees. They must have been hiding, waiting for her signal. Both men drew swords.

"Four against one old man and a weak boy," Mira said. "This will not take long."

Old Bo drew his sword again, his stance steady despite the fight from before. "Donny, stay behind me. Do not engage unless you must."

The two new men rushed forward first. Old Bo met them head on, his blade moving fast and sharp. Steel clashed hard, sparks flying in the daylight.

Mira did not join the fight right away. She watched with cold, interested eyes, arms crossed.

"You fight well for someone hiding in the woods for years," she said, almost sounding impressed.

Old Bo did not answer. He was too busy blocking one sword while dodging another. One man swung low, aiming for his legs. Old Bo jumped back, but the second man used the opening to s***h at his shoulder.

Old Bo grunted in pain, blood soaking through his sleeve.

"Old Bo!" Donny shouted.

"Stay back!" Old Bo yelled again, pushing through the pain.

He spun fast, catching one man's sword with his own and twisting hard. The man's sword flew out of his hand. Old Bo did not hesitate. He struck the man down with one clean hit.

One down. One left, plus Mira.

The last man became nervous, seeing his partner fall so fast. He backed up slightly, unsure now.

Mira sighed, annoyed. "Useless."

She stepped forward herself, pulling a thin blade from her sleeve. Her movements were smooth and fast, much faster than the men before her.

"Let me show you real skill, Old Bo."

She attacked without warning. Old Bo barely blocked her first strike, but her second attack cut across his chest. He stumbled back, breathing hard, blood dripping down his robe.

Donny's heart raced with fear. Old Bo was losing.

Mira raised her blade again for another strike. Donny could not just stand and watch. He grabbed a rock from the ground, just like before, and threw it hard at Mira's head.

She noticed it just in time and dodged easily, barely moving her head to the side. But it gave Old Bo one second to recover his footing.

"Foolish child," Mira said, glancing at Donny with irritation. "You think a rock can stop me?"

"No," Donny said. "But it can distract you."

Old Bo used that same second to strike back, hitting Mira's arm hard with the flat side of his sword. She hissed in pain and jumped back, glaring now.

"You two are more trouble than you are worth," she snapped.

She raised her hand and made a strange gesture in the air. Suddenly, dark smoke appeared around her feet, spreading fast toward Old Bo and Donny.

"What is that?" Donny shouted, coughing as the smoke reached him.

"Poison smoke," Old Bo said, grabbing Donny's arm. "We need to move, now!"

They ran through the trees, the smoke chasing behind them like a living thing. Old Bo was breathing hard, his wounds slowing him down.

"Old Bo, are you okay?" Donny asked, worry filling his voice.

"I will be fine," Old Bo said, though his face looked pale. "We need to put distance between us and her."

They ran for what felt like forever, until they reached a small cave hidden behind thick bushes. Old Bo pulled Donny inside and collapsed against the cave wall, breathing heavy.

"Old Bo, your wounds..." Donny said, seeing the blood soaking through his clothes.

"I have faced worse," Old Bo said, though his voice was weaker now. "Listen to me, Donny. There is something important I must tell you, in case I do not make it through the night."

"Don't say that," Donny said quickly. "You will be fine."

Old Bo shook his head slowly. "Listen. Your father, Fen Wei, he was not just the leader of Cloudreach City. Your family carries a bloodline older than any clan in this land. A power that Grandfather Fen wants for himself."

"What power?" Donny asked, his mind spinning with questions.

"I do not know all the details," Old Bo admitted. "I only know pieces from long ago. But your grandfather did not attack your family just for the throne. He wanted something inside your blood. Something only your family can unlock."

Donny's chest tightened. "Why did he not just kill me then, if he wanted this power?"

Old Bo's eyes grew serious. "Maybe he could not take it by force. Maybe he needs you alive, and willing, for it to work. That is why Mira wants to bring you back alive, not dead."

Before Donny could ask more questions, a loud voice echoed outside the cave.

"I know you are hiding somewhere in these woods!" Mira's voice called out. "Old Bo, running will only make this worse!"

Old Bo's face turned pale, sweat forming on his forehead. His wounds were worse than he let on.

"Donny," he said, his voice weak now. "Take my sword. If she finds us, you must run. Do not try to fight her. She is too strong."

"I won't leave you," Donny said firmly.

"You must," Old Bo said. "Your life matters more than mine right now. If you die here, everything your parents sacrificed means nothing."

Donny's eyes filled with tears, but he nodded, gripping the sword tightly.

Footsteps grew closer outside the cave. Mira was getting near, and this time, she did not sound like she planned on giving them any more chances to escape.