Smith had a lantern in his hand, it was night. He was in the deep of the woods. He had been riding all day. His back was aching, and he wanted to get to the warmth of his bed.

It would have to wait. The light, from his lantern, shone on a boy. The boy looked filthy, with matted hair. He had a small cut on his chest, it was bleeding through his shirt.  He had the eyes of a demon, he also held a bloodied sword that made his image appear more sinister. He recognized him from when he used to watch over him,  during his guard duty. He still felt the humiliation of having the plate of food being thrown at him.

So they weren't lying about the boy...

He had better have been worth it.

"Where is the Girl? " asked Smith.

Smith was in front of the group. His hard iron gaze lay on the boy, then scanned the surrounding area. Two other Militia men accompanied him, Ralph the red head, and Hughes the leader of the group.  This was Ralph's first mission. Ralph was about 19 a good size for a soldier.  He joined the Militia shortly after he became 17. Hughes was leading, what Smith thought to be a wild goose chase.

Hughes was the man they often sent to hunt down an undesirable opponent of the Militia.

A tall and skinny seer accompanied them as well. He was a sickly sight, he often wore a hooded cape to conceal the white flaky skin he had. His eyes were red and he had no hair. He hated the day, working best at night. He had accompanied the three Militia men to help locate the two important runaways.

Their mission was coming to a conclusion. All they had to do now was apprehend Adar  or kill him on site, and more importantly retrieve Melanie.  

Adar gave Smith a hard look. He was  outnumbered. He saw the other two militia men beside Smith. They both looked a deal stronger than Smith, and posed a challenge,  maybe even defeat for Adar. A hooded figure was behind them. He didn't carry a lantern, but Adar managed to get a glimpse of him.

The figure stared directly into Adar's eyes. The figure's eyes were red and they appeared to be bulging out from his eye sockets. He let out a dark grin once Adar made eye contact with him.

Adar furrowed his eyebrows. 

So that is how they found us!  They used a Seer. A powerful one as well, but how could he find me?  I thought my...

"I won't ask again Boy!  Where is the girl!  " said Smith," These are not the cells! You will pay dearly for back then, nonetheless. "

Adar remained Silent. He looked back at Smith, who was now reaching for his sword.

"Aaron is it? " said the Seer from the back. His voice was hoarse. It sounded like rusted  iron rubbing together.

He knows My name?  how...

Adar clenched his jaw. How would he get out of this? 

"I know not who you speak of. " Said Adar," But if you came looking for me, you've found me." 

Smith turned around to look at the Seer. 

"Where is the girl? " asked Smith.

The Seer stuck a flaky white finger at the bushes that were yards behind Adar.

"She is currently behind the tree, hiding under the bushes." 

Melanie's heart rised in pulse. She could only hear bits an pieces of the conversation The last part she had heard. They knew where she was. She was ready to come out and turn herself in. She couldn't have the idea of Adar being killed because of her in her conscious.

He was her first friend.

Smith nodded to Ralph. "Go get the girl. "

Ralph grabbed the reigns off his horse and started forward.

Adar took two steps forward and stood in front of the horse."  You will have to die 1,000 times before you can even move an inch towards that tree." 

Ralph snickered, " Brave words for a child."

Smith charged forward. Adar was surprised and tried to block the path.  Smith passed Adar and headed for the tree. His horse jumped over the bush, landing 10 feet from the girl.

Lucky I did not land on her! Thought Smith.

There was Melanie with her back against the tree. She had the same blue dress she had worn since the day of the escape. She no longer wore the white cape she often wore. Her hair was unkempt and her shoes were nearing rotted soles. She showed surprise when she saw him,  her eyes fearful.

" Come with me princess."  said Smith, grinning.

***

Adar brought his sword up. Ralph's sword made a clanking noise as it landed flatly against Adar's.

Ralph had dismounted his horse and was now fighting Adar on the ground.

"Brave moves for a child. " said Adar.

Ralph felt his temper begin to rise."  Do not mess with me child! "

Ralph swung his sword downward towards Adar's leg.

Adar countered Ralph's oncoming sword by striking it head on into the opposite direction. Ralph stumbled backwards, unprepared by the equal force met by the other sword. He shifted his stance and looked up to see a Horizontal slash coming at him. Ralph parried as fast as he could, failing to deflect the whole blow.

Damn Boy!  Though Ralph. His arm had received part of the last blow.

Adar breathed in deeply then lunged forward. Ralph's stance was perfect. He brought his sword and up and directed it at Adar's chest. I've got him!  He drove his sword aiming for the center of the chest.

In an Instant Adar brought his sword an in upward slashing motion, slamming it into Ralph's sword. It went spinning out of his hand.

***

Hughes saw Adar deliver a vertical cut to Ralph's shoulder. Ralph gave a scream then a shriek as Adar finished him off with another brutal cut.

"Do not attack him just yet."  said the Seer, his voice seeming more hoarse. "Wait until Smith comes back. The boy is to enveloped  in his anger. Would he have thought clearly he would have avoided the battle with Ralph and headed to protect the girl. "

Smith came back towards the group with Melanie bound and on the horse, legs and head dangling on the opposite sides.

Adar was on his knees He was staring at his hands. They were stained with new blood. The sword lay beside him, Ralph's body a few feet away.

What exactly am I fighting for? For what cause?  Thought Adar. How is Melanie more safe with me? 

Smith laughed as he trotted past him. 

"What happened boy?  Remembering all the lives you have taken? Why we locked you in a cage like an animal, like a monster?"

Melanie's hair was blocking part of her view as she bounced up and down on her stomach, while on the horses back. She only saw a body and a person kneeling next to it.

Her stomach felt like it had constricted.

No it... it can't be. Thought Melanie He can't be dead.

Adar felt a little flame begin to flicker in him. He still felt powerless. Killing Ralph had triggered something. 

The memory of his mother smiling came to him, she was with his brother Cane, and his father. They were all having a picnic outside of the house. The Sun was in the middle of the sky. They lay in the shade, the grass was green. The sky an amazing blue that day.

"Now attack him. " whispered the Seer to Hughes.

Hughes looked at the Seer. He had an Evil smile, a madman like appearance.

Hughes looked at Smith as he passed him.

Hughes almost felt pity for the boy. He dismounted his horse and walked towards Adar.

"Listen here boy, I fight fairly. Now pick up your sword and duel against me." 

Adar looked at Hughes's dark leather boots, shined to perfection. Hughes wore a dark gray uniform, black stripes going down the side of the pants.

***

Melanie was relieved to hear that Adar was alive, but it was cut short by what she was now hearing.

" The boy seems to be in a state of shock." Said Smith.

The Seer's eyes widened with interest." I believe Aaron is coming to a fork in the road. Fight or finally will he die." 

Smith looked at the Seer. " Did Langstrom not tell us to apprehend him or to slay him? Why not apprehend him?  He seems to distraught to fight back." 

***

Hughes carried his lantern and placed it a few feet behind him. He walked forward and stopped, looking down at Adar. 

"If you don't retaliate, then I will take you back to the base. Lansgtrom has many plans for you." 

Adar was still remembering. He looked at his mother, who was distributing the apples. Adar took a bite out of an Apple. He remembered the juice filling his mouth. Then did the image of his uncle beating him come. Those angry eyes, his vicious words after he had beat Adar. He remembered the pain.

A new memory came into his mind. He and Melanie were sitting down.  She had just told him Langstrom was her uncle. Adar remembered Melanie taking his hand as he offered it. "I, too, wish to be your friend." 

"I will fight. " said Adar. He wiped the blood,from his palms, on the grass.

Hughes smirked," That's what I like to hear." 

He moved back a few paces, allowing Adar to stand and pick up his sword.

Adar held the sword more inwardly this time. Hughes seemed as though he was more of a threat than Ralph.

Hughes waved his sword in a circle at Adar.

"You only defeated Travis and another weak soldier back there. I am much more skilled. "

Adar tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword. Hughes held his sword with one hand, the other behind his back. Hughes's Sword had a silver hilt with a beastly animal head engraved as the bottom decoration part of the hilt.

Adar cut at Hughes head. Hughes lifted his sword and deflected it. He came again at Hughes aiming at the body. Again it was deflected by a quick counter.

"Time to get serious boy."  said Hughes smiling.

Adar felt the sword nearly cut his face as he ducked from a head blow. Again and again Hughes struck, Adar barely blocking the cuts. Hughes fainted a stab then cut at Adar's wrist. Adar barely managed to move his hand back, receiving a cut to his forearm.

He's much more skilled than I expected. Thought Adar.

Hughes looked at Adar, laughing."  Where is that Demon hate filled face you had earlier?  You seem set on killing anyone who challenged you." 

Adar felt warm blood ooze from the cut on his arm. It had been deep.

"I prefer to not kill old men, seeing as their appointment is already at the door." 

Hughes dropped his smile. " I'll teach you respect! "

Hughes went forward and gripped the hilt with both hands this time. He executed a perfect horizontal slash aimed at Adar's torso. Adar brought his sword down on top of Hughes's sword, stopping the strike. 

Hughes instantly stepped inside of Adar's  guard and delivered an elbow to his face.

Adar stumbled back. The elbow had caught and stunned him momentarily. Not quite the geezer I believed .

Hughes breathed in and out.

"Your'e a bit of a fighter, that much I can say." 

Adar tasted the blood from his bleeding lip.

"Come and fight." said Adar.

Hughes gave a laugh. He walked towards Adar letting his sword drag across the ground.

Adar cut diagonally at Hughes's open chest.

Hughes ducked, surprising Adar by his speed.

Adar, in seemingly slow motion, saw his sword barely glide over Hughes head. Inch by inch it moved to the right of Hughes's head. Hughes had already begun to move upward raising his sword and going for Adar's now open chest.

I won't have enough time to deflect Hughes's Blow!  Thought Adar.

Hughes came up with a upward vertical slash. The sword cut across Adar's chest.

****

Smith saw blood spray upward. Adar had left himself wide open when he had missed the cut to Hughes's head. Now he paid the price. Adar's sword slid out of his hand and he collapsed to his knees.

"Maybe I was wrong."  grumbled the Seer from behind. " I thought him to be much stronger." 

Hughes stood up from his offensive stance and saw the blood that flowed from the wound. 

"It was a good fight. " said Hughes raising his sword over Adar's head.

Forgive me Melanie... Thought Adar.

A whistling noise cut throughout the air.

Adar heard Hughes grunt, then the sword dropped to the ground near Adar. He looked up and saw an arrow protruding from Hughes chest. Hughes's eyes rolled up to the back of his head before he collapsed.

What is happening? Thought Adar, then his own world went black.

***

Smith looked around frantically to see where the arrow had came from.

"They are over there." pointed the Seer.

Smith saw two figures appear about 20 yards to the left, a lantern light dangled from the horse behind the 2 figures. One had a bow, the other figure was wielding two swords. Both wore black ankle low coats. The figure with the bow had a hood on his coat. The Duel wielding Swordsman walked forward.

" Let the Children go! " yelled the swordsman," or the same faith will come to you! "

Smith felt fear course through his body.

The Duel wielding Swordsman walked forward, followed by the archer.

"What do we do!?" hissed Smith to the Seer.

When he looked back, the Seer was nowhere to be seen.

He looked forward. Both figures stood only 10 yards now. Smith grabbed the reigns of his horse and was stop short by an arrow that landed in his chest. He fell off his horse to the floor. His lantern fell a few feet from him, breaking as it did.

***

Melanie was crying. She couldn't see the battle going on, but she had a bad sense within her, partially because of the lack of light, and more because the battle that was at hand. She heard the clashing of swords,  along with the snickering of Smith. The Seer was only observing.

Now she only saw the dark of the woods, save for the bit of light out of the corner of her eye.

Suddenly someone was in front of her. He tried to take her off the horse. She began to scream, kicking and squirming, resisting with all her might.

"Easy."  said the man."I'm here to help. I won't hurt you. "

He pulled her off the horse and placed her on the floor. She saw the man clearly now. He was tall and a bit broad in the shoulders. His face was white and fair. His hair was a light blonde color, cut very short. His face was thin as well . He had a friendly smile and his eyes looked gentle.

Melanie relaxed as he began to cut the rope binding her.

"Where is my friend, Adar?" asked Melanie looking everywhere. She looked past the man cutting her binds and saw a man kneeling beside Adar, a lantern by his side, blocking most of her view of Adar. He was lying on his back, eyes closed.

She immediately stood up and ran past him to Adar.

The man kneeling beside Adar turned around to look at her running towards him.

"Nathaniel!  Do not let her look!"

It was too late. Melanie had already come into view of the the light and seen Adar. His shirt had a long cut in it, running from the lower right part of his chest to his left shoulder. The wound could be clearly seen, the flesh exposed to the air.  Blood was all over his chest and face.

"Adar! " yelled Melanie, as she ran forward.

Nathaniel grabbed her from behind and spun her the opposite way.

Melanie struggled to get out of Nathaniel's iron hold. He eased his hold on her as she leaned towards him and stop resisting.

" It's My fault! " sobbed Melanie as she turned around and placed her head on Nathaniel's chest.

"My brother, John, Is a Physician. Do not worry, your friend Adar is in good hands. But we must leave him to concentrate on your friend. "

" Bloody Fool! " yelled John."  Why did you allow her to look!"

John shook his head and went back to treating Adar. His own hands were already covered in blood. Luckily he had brought His bag, with the necessary equipment to treat an injured person. Unfortunately, Adar looked more than injured, he looked dead almost.

John checked for Adar's pulse.

It was still there.

Faint but still there. Thought John As long as it is still beating I have hope. No matter the wounds. But I fear he will not live through this...

                     End of Chapter

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