SESSION 14
Jundar grabbed the elf and lifted him off the ground. He checked for the tattoo that marks an elf as slave. He saw none. He smiled wide eyed.
"Go ahead, Stay there. We’re leaving with this elf." Jundar said.
"No, you’re not." Came a voice from the rocks. "You cannot take him."
Jundar twirled around and brought Cyrian up as a shield. "Show yourself!"
"No." The voice said. "My five friends and I have you surrounded. Give yourself up."
"Don’t belive him Jundar." Hospir said. "He’s lying."
Jundar looked around to find the others the voice spoke of. He could find no others.
"Go ahead! Kill the elf! We don’t care!" came a voice from inside the web.
Jundar smiled. "We are taking the elf and that’s that. We only want the elf."
The voice in the hills called out; "Then trade us. Your thief for the elf."
"Ok." Jundar said. "Hosper, come here."
Hosper walked over to Jundar who had just finished putting Cyrian on his horse. Jundar leapt onto his horse and drew his sword and brought it down on the thief, cutting him down. He spurred the horse into a fast run and took off.
The person up in the hills fired off a bow shot. The arrow struck the horse as it rode past. He leapt up from his hiding position, ran down the slope and grabbed the nearest horse and rode off after Jundar.
Agatsu climbed down the slope and over towards Gamaliel who was just not getting up, groggily, but he was up. "Anson, you ok?" Agatsu asked.
"Yea, I’m ok." He replied. "Get me outta this thing!!"
Agatsu wandered over to where the thief was fallen and made absolutly sure that the thief was dead. Gamaliel stood up and crunched on a couple berries. Feeling a bit better, he pulled out his sickle and started to cut into the webbing. Agatsu checked the other bodies of the party memebers. Denal was lifeless. Arik was breathing, but just barely. Druegarr was also dead. Agatsu adminisered some first aid on Arik and he stirred a bit. Searching his body, Agatsu found one of the potions that he had kept. Forcing it down Arik’s throat, he revived Arik. Coughing and sputtering, Arik’s eyes opened. He rolled over gagging, reaching for the hole in his chest. He sat up and immediately downed the other three yellow potions he had. Standing up slowly, he told Agatsu thanks. Agatsu then grabbed the nearest horse and jumped on it. He started to ride off to find Jundar and the new guy.
The ranger was closing fast on Jundar. Two more arrows hit Jundar’s horse. He noticed Cyrian too late, he was casting a spell and a bright flash went off in front of Jundar’s horse. The horse bucked, but Jundar was able to reign the horse in. Jundar brought his gloved fist down on Cyrain’s temple, knocking him back out. Jundar saw the small clearing where the parties horses had been kept. Fresh horses just milling about. And with provisions! This would not be a total loss after all he thought. He slowed his horse and stopped it. He leapt off, and grabbed the nearest horse which happened to be Anson’s. He pulled Cyrian off the horse and dropped him on the other horse.
Daris, the Ranger pulled up and got off his horse. He get behind the horse for cover. Jundar was rumaging through Cyrain’s body when he woke. Cyrian pushed against Jundar with his hands and Jundar stumbled back. Cyrain fell off the horse and hit the ground, out like a light once more. Jundar had a hold of a potion bottle, he quickly placed it on his belt and grabbed the horse and leapt on.
Jundar thought it wise to leave now, as he could always find them later. The elf was a prize of great value, since he did not have a slave mark. He knew they would have to come back through this way to get to Csighd. The information gathered from Anson at the inn was invaluable now.
Agatsu rode up towards Daris. He stopped just out of range of Jundar should he charge or something. He had his crossbow loaded and ready. Daris could not take a shot due to the trees. But he kept trained on the path for when Jundar would come out. Daris got back up on his horse and waited.
Jundar broke for the path and headed towards Argoth. Daris fired off an arrow and missed. He spurred his horse into a run and headed after Jundar. Agatsu just sighed and turned back towards the others. As he turned, he was almost broadsided by Anson who was galloping fast for Jundar.
Daris trained his bow on Jundar’s horse and fired again, hitting the horse hard. He heard Anson Coming up from the rear. Not knowing if Anson was friend or foe, he chose friend. Hoping that it was, since he had never seen this guy before. Anson overtook Daris.
Jundar tried to get his horse to go faster, but it would not co-operate. So he turned his horse around and charged Daris and Anson. Daris brought his horse to a stop and aimed again. He fired the shot at close range.
The horse whinnied for the last time. Jundar, leaping off the dying horse, landed near Daris. Hate was in his eye. Anson saw Jundar turn around and ride past. He also turned his horse around. He rode up towards Jundar. Jundar turned around and set himself for Anson.
Two quick swipes was all that was needed to take Anson off the horse and drop him to the ground. Anson’s body hit the ground in a sickening splat. His blood soaking into the gravel of the road. Juundar whipped around to Daris, who had started to ride away. Jundar got up on the remaining horse and thought about going after the ranger. He decided against it.
Jundar looked down at the broken body of Anson and saw his bow sitting next to him. He bent down and scooped it up. Aiming at Daris, he pulled back an arrow. The range was long, but he was good. Unfortunatly, by the time he decided to fire, Daris was around a corner and out of site. Jundar dropped the bow and kicked the horse into gear. He rode off towards Argoth and new recruits. He would have revenge.
Daris got back to the party which had just finished getting back together. They had one of the elf slaves and had convinced him to come with them, that they would lead him to a safe house and freedom.
"One of your friends is dying." He said. "Come with me!"
Agatsu and the rest got on their horses and rode towards where Anson lay. Agatsu hopped off his horse and got down to Anson. His breathing was very shallow and raspy. Anson had lost too much blood.
"How could he have survived this?" Agatsu asked as he bagan to administer some first aid to him.
"Gamaliel came over to help and said; "It could be a sign from the gods that he lived.
After a couple hours of tending, Anson woke. He felt like a sword had cleaved him in two. All he could remember was Jundar’s sword and his face hitting the dirt. The party made camp and rested for the night. Daris asked if anyone knew what was happening to the Flame Woods.
"Why do you ask? Anson asked.
"Because the woods are dying. The leaves are turning brown and falling. It almost looks like it’s turning into winter there." Daris said. "Do you know what might have caused this?"
"It could be because I was in the Flame Woods." Anson said.
Arik shot Anson a deadly look. "You should not speak of that to every stranger you meet. You don’t know what the Fist will do if they find out that someone actually was able to get past the barrier."
"You got through the barrier?" Daris asked. "I’ve not been able to get into them. And I tried just last night."
"Yea, well, I was able to get in somehow. Gifted perhaps. I was thinking of running a tour service. Make some money on it."
The rest of the night was uneventful and the remainder of the trip to Argoth was likewise empty of events. The party saw in the distance the gates to the Capital City of Argoth. Home to the Council of Nine and their destination.
