The flaring red from the horse and rider clouded DD’s eyes. It bloomed a rage that he had never felt before. He moved his body to charge the horsemen. A surprisingly sweet voice came from the rider. A loan female reader came here with this message. She saw his move and laughed, “what do you think you are doing?” as if by command three javelins fell just short of him. She had guards on the ridge above.
Scanning the ridgeline pieces started to fall into place. Cudgel had been bothering them to leave. DD nudged her a little as he ran off, “come with me.” People following his orders was a knew feeling but he ran off expecting her to follow him as she could. He was looking at the corners and doorways. They are where these things fall apart. He ran into a town a little as if heading the town center. Doggedly going far into town to disappear. The ridge line could watch but they would need a giant force to see them all.
Once on the far end of Vogler he stopped at the edge of the last building. The cliff dropped to about 30 feet, just beyond a tree. The defense of this place physically harmed DD. There should be a watchtower or something but nothing within view. Through squinted eyes he looked for glints of armor. Nothing gave anyone away. He could feel Donnie next to him but had to trust that Cudgel was coming. As if part of his own breath he ran to the cover of the tree and started to climb. Donnie moved smoother and faster passing him on the cliff wall, even grabbing DD to secure him to wall at one point. Donnie went over the edge as DD viewed the four guards present.
Everything stopped. A crack of noise came from where Donnie stepped. All the guards Stopped; Donnie stopped. The world stood still for a that moment. DD sprang from the cliff. He netted one guard to engage a second. Donnie came to life following in behind. The worked through the guards like a machine. DD would wound them to have Donnie come in behind to finish them off. Donnie ran after the one trying to escape. His legs were not fast enough as Donnie’s dagger stopped him for good.
They started to go through the bodies, looking for weapons and intelligence. DD looked over to Donnie, “I am mostly done”. He looked down the ridge line. “We need to see if there is anything we can do to free up the gate.” Looking just at the right moment he saw a small creature flying through the air. It looked Arnie, but that was impossible. It happened so fast he could not even process to ask Donnie if he saw it. It did make him feel more urgency. Tossing the bodies over the side, he started to tie a rope to a tree and yelling quietly down, “Cudgel get up here your path is clear.” Taking a quick glance around he ran off to try and clear the rest of the ridge.
He reached to last of the guards. They were all looking over the edge. Donnie came up next to him, “should we go get them?” DD stared into his eyes. He wanted to go. He was not wounded but he was tired and could not engage six. Two or three of these guys maybe but not six. His response washed over his tongue with a self-disgust, “No, Cudgel should be here and then we can take them out.” Life before Death.
Cudgel finally arrived on her short legs. Donnie and DD charged out not letting them rest for a moment. The four of them killed them. She and her guard Jeyel ran off to prepare the iron guard. DD and Donnie waited for folks from the town to relieve them on the ridge. They walked back into town. While away the others Led by Eros had moved the populace into action. People were gathering on the docks starting to leave. DD passed by the stables, wishing he could take his new horse. A slight pain came over him, as he walked away, knowing this wonderful creature was likely a future meal.