Thread: The Prophecy (Tesora & CharmSnake)

The rainfall pelted the leaves around him. There was a cry of a woman's voice. The activity was obscured by the coach but the way that the carriage rocked about and then stopped he could tell that the struggle had move outside into the road. He had to act now. The first two on horseback at the front would fall easily. After that it would depend on their reactions. Silently he fetched two bolts from his quiver and drew his crossbow. Drogba! the lead bandit called off the one lacking binocular vision and dismounted his horse. I swear by all holy I've met horse droppings with more brains than you! He stepped forth and kicked him off the princess. You don't recognize royal blood when it spits in your face? He reached down and wrapped his gauntleted hand gruffly around her upper arm and jerked her to her feet. What do you think we came here for? She's the jink, rockhead! The first rider slumped forward on his mount with a bolt through his back. The second rider didn't even notice. Two seconds later his horse neighed and stepped aside as he fell to the ground with a gasp. Down! the leader bellowed and tossed the princess under the carriage while he knelt by the wheel himself. Drogba with the eyepatch stayed low in the brush but the other two stood looking about. Gar! he huffed to the leader. I don't see them! Shut! he mouthed back silently and menacingly. The first two dropped even easier than anticipated. Shots usually gave away position but the barbarians still had no clue where he was. He lined up the third while the bandit stood there in the mud flicking his eyes about. The others were behind cover. He would have to move to get them. Raven's Rangers! Drogba hissed with one wide eye. Hah rangers! barked one of the standing men with his sword at the ready. We're not afraid! The third man fell with a whimper. The trees! Gar scowled at his foolish cohort. Still sitting in the bough of the tree he pulled a stone from his pocket and flicked it down into the bush a few yards to his right. It swished through the foliage and caught the bandit's attention. The rogue advanced on the false position. The archer in the tree then dropped from his perch onto the soft earth below and took three long deft strides from root to stone to root and was now in the brush at the edge of the road. The bandit hacked at the shrubs where the stone had fallen then stopped in frustration. Show yourself, cowards! he yelled. He had no idea that he was up against just one man. The girl was now visible under the carriage and he could easily tell that she was royalty. She looked like she might make a run for it, but for the moment she was in the safest place that she could be. He drew a bolt and launched it into the rear cart wheel to make sure that she stayed put at least until he took care of the swordsman. The bandit saw the bolt and worked out the general position from where it came. Crouching behind his buckler he made his way towards the brush. Low on ammunition, the crossbow returned to the shoulder and the staff was now at the ready. The attacker was just footsteps away but still did not see him. Holding the two foot stick in both fists, the ranger gave it a quick twist and both ends instantly telescoped out to form a seven foot staff. The forward end planted itself in the dirt between the bandit's feet as he passed. Jumping up out of the brush the ranger twisted the staff upward and over on its end, buckling the knees and toppling the brute. Once down, he pounced with his knife and in the blink of an eye his throat was slit. One of the horses neighed indifferent to the carnage and shook water from his mane. The ranger stood in the open now for the first time, crouched with his staff at the ready. He wore a soaked brown leather cloak and legs with a tree bark vest and boots strapped halfway to the knees. A hood covered his forehead but was cut away at the sides to allow for peripheral vision. The rain dripped before his face but did not seem to faze him in the slightest. His lower body held perfectly still while he switched weapons. Two men left. Now the girl needed to move. He dropped to one knee and reslung his crossbow. Aiming under the carriage he gestured with his head to the girl to run for the bush. He gestured a second time more urgently. Stand down or the lady dies! shouted Gar as he grabbed her by the ankle with that same gauntleted fist. The ranger launched a bolt that buried itself into the hub of the wheel of which the bandit was using for cover. Splinters scattered and he momentarily let go of his grip. When he looked back the ranger was once again gone from sight. Curse that rodent! he spat as a clap of thunder cracked the sky above.