Their shadowed saviour was definitely weakening from blood loss. His arm heavy, it became harder and harder to fend off the two guards, both fitter and stronger than he. The moment had worn off and now only the cold reality that he was going to die remained.
Joshua feinted, and then ducked for the other man to lunge over his shoulder, but nothing happened. Looking back, he saw an arrow sticking out of the mercenary's neck, the wound gushing blood as he clutched at it. The moment cost him, for the stranger angled his sword straight up through his ribs. Joshua's last moment of dimming sight was of a man pulling his sword free.
The stranger turned towards them. “Thank you both. Your arrow was timely, lad. Only an expert could have shot like that.” He appeared to be smiling, but he took no m
