I move silently through the trees,

Author: * Cinaedh Cruithni - 42 Posts on this thread out of 507 Posts sitewide.
Date: Jun 30, 2006 - 23:33

my mind intent on Gorma. Our bond lets me know that she is alive, but I think she is being held prisoner by someone. Faintly behind me, I hear the warriors following.

Following the trail of faint footprints and broken undergrowth, I come to a spot where there are signs of a scuffle. So - someone did take her. Why she came this way, I can't guess. It isn't like her just to wander off, not this far from the group. Oswald did say she looked 'enchanted', though by what, or who, is a mystery. I work my way closer, and can see past him. There, by the fire, tied hand and foot and gagged, is my Gorma. I spend some little time looking for all those on guard, and counting how many we are up against. About fifteen - that is all I can see, though there may be more. Still, they will be no trouble for us. I slowly back away, until I am sure I am out of sight of the watchers. Then I stand, and give an Osprey's cry.

Soon Dobhar and the other warriors are with me, and I tell them what I have seen. We spread out, some working their way around the encampment. When they are in place, one warbles like a nightingale, and we all rise and race in to the attack.

I kill the watcher closest to me, and race to the fire. I am attacked by two others, one from each side, but I swing my sword and slice deeply into one neck, and jab the other with my spear. Then I am beside Gorma, and cutting her bindings. A large man runs at me, sword first. I parry his thrust, and next thing I know, I am in a serious battle with a fine swordsman.

He manages to give me a long, deep slash on my sword arm, but I switch hands, and retaliate with a slash to his leg, followed immediately by a cut into his shoulder. Meanwhile, Gorma has taken her knife out, and crept close. As he stumbles away from my thrust, she jabs his leg, stabbing it deep into the muscle. He falls, and I finish him with a slash across his throat.

I look around to see how the others are doing. Some are injured, though not seriously, and all our opponents are either dead or captured. Dobhar is standing over the captives, demanding to know who they are and why they took Gorma. I turn then and take her into my arms. She is shaking and saying "I'm sorry. I'm sorry" over and over as she sobs in fear and relief.

I stroke her hair and decide to wait until we are back with the others before I ask what happened. Slowly she regains control, and we walk over to where the Dobhar and the warriors are gathered, to hear what they have to say.