Chapter 4: Mud and Blood (1)

Chapter 4: Mud and Blood (1)

Grinning, Biru pointed his sword at Xerxes. Ope youre ready to apologize, boy.

Xerxes lip curled slightly. For kicking your ass? Why would I do that?

Biru bared his teeth and was about to talk, but Gem beat him to it.

Calm down, everybody, he said.

However, even as the words left his mouth, two more figures stepped out from alleyways and leaned up against the sides of the buildings. Between these two, one had a hatchet similar to the axes he and Bel had been training with earlier. The other had a short spear.

Men like this didnt bring weapons and gang up on a small group simply to talk.

Biru twirled the bronze sword and took half a step forward. Well calm down if two things appen. First, chickenshit mageboy ere will get onto his ands and knees and beg me to forgive im. Second his eyes darted to Bel, and his lips twisted lasciviously the lady soldier comes ome with me for the afternoon.

The second comment caused Xerxes jaws to tighten, and he was preparing some scorching profanity to hurl at Biru, but was beat to the punch by Bel herself. She was normally quiet and soft spoken, but not now. Looking the big man in the eye, she said, Fuck you, piss-for-brains.

Her words provoked a few chuckles from the other men. Biru glared at one of them and spat, Shut the ell up. Then he looked at Gem. I told you my terms. Yes or no?

Gems hand was still on his dagger. You do know who we are, right?

I dont care if youre soldiers from the capital. We seven call the Yellow Forest our ome. We aint Isinians. Understand what that means?

Xerxes understood perfectly well. These men knew that if they caused trouble, even trouble as bad as murder, they could mysteriously disappear into the woods and never be found.

Youre a real idiot, he said. Two mages and one soldier versus seven woodchoppers like you? We could kill you all without so much as getting a bump on the head.

Off to the side, his ears registered a shout as Gem clashed with two of the other men. At the same time, Bel had thrown open her bundle and had a stave in each hand. Xerxes tried to ignore them and remain focused on his own situation.

Birus sword descended, and Xerxes lunged forward and grabbed both of the mans wrists. At the same time, he threw his ankle behind Birus calf. Twisting and pulling, he tried to throw Biru to the ground. Unexpectedly, Biru didnt fall. Instead, he stumbled to the side. Worse, he managed to keep his grip on the sword.

Dammit, Xerxes thought. That wasnt how the move had worked in training. And now he was locked in close quarters with an opponent who still controlled a razor-sharp weapon.

Xerxes had his hands clasped around Birus wrists, which, given his superior strength, gave him a measure of control over the direction of the blade. But as Biru caught his balance, he pulled hard, trying to free his hands. Xerxes was tugged off his feet, and then Biru kicked him. His hat flew off to the side.

Xerxes grunted in pain as the mans boot heel connected with his inner thigh. Biru jerked again, and one of Xerxes hands slipped completely off of Birus wrist. He maintained his grip with the other hand, but it was now holding Birus forearm.

This is going from bad to worse, he thought. And it was no training exercise. A stray stab or slash from that weapon could cause major damage.

Xerxes heard cries from off to the side, and out of the corner of his eye saw flashes of motion as Bel and Gem fought the other woodsmen.

Biru kicked Xerxes again as the struggle between the two became more chaotic. Xerxes tried to knock him down, but failed. Biru kneed him in the side.

They struggled back and forth. Suddenly, Xerxes found himself on his back in the mud, not sure how he got there. By now, Xerxes confidence had evaporated, and he knew he was fighting for his life.

Biru tried to hack him with the sword, forcing Xerxes to roll to the side in the mud. He kicked out again and caught Biru in the knee. The larger man squawked as he dropped into a kneeling position, but simultaneously slashed out with the sword.

Xerxes barely avoided it. Maybe casting a spell wouldnt be a bad idea. But did he have the time? He would have to untie his component pouch, draw out the crabnickel powder, trace the Asgagu Isten rune, then channel the melam energy in the proper fashion. Only then would the spell be cast, causing his right hand to transform into a destructive, burning expression of power.

Unfortunately, that entire process would take at least three or four seconds. And that wasnt to mention that he could fail in tracing the rune, or in directing the melam. After all, hed never cast a spell in an actual combat situation before.

Xerxes jerked his head back, barely avoiding the bronze blade as Biru waved it toward him. Then he managed to scramble to his feet. Very vaguely out of the corner of his eye, he saw that one of the woodsmen had been knocked onto the ground and was either unconscious or dead. Gem and Bel were on their feet, but were surrounded.

This isnt working, he thought. Got to end this. Fast.