originally posted in:The New Dojo
Alex and Anne followed behind her. They glanced up at the rooftops and the corners, but they still couldn't see a soul in sight.
"I...I can't see anyone either." Anne said as she glanced around.
"I got a bad feeling about this." Alex admitted as the group made its way forward.
English
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"Maybe the kids were lying....But they couldn't have been, they were wrapped up in my chains!"
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"That would mean...." Anne started. "We're being watched." Alex then interrupted. The group continued to make its way through the plaza. "We need to get back to the camp. ASAP. Sera, go the way we came. On the north street."
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"Gotcha, just make sure I don't take an arrow in my back." She proceeded down the street, and kept her eyes out for anything out of the ordinary.
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"Ya, don't worry I got you." He affirmed. "Ya, we got your back Sera." Anne added. The group made its way down the quiet and empty plaza until they reached the north street. The buildings here were tall, even if they were made of wood. The path was narrow, maybe eight persons wide just by looking at it. The street was the longest one in the town from the looks of it, and had many allies that were too narrow for anyone of an average build to make their way through.
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"Something tells me this is where they plan on ambushing us.....My barrier isn't gonna work here guys."
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"You're right." Alex admitted. "This is a set up. But this is the largest street in the town..." "Looks like we'll have to improvise then." Anne said. The group continued to make its way down the street, until the ambush was struck. Black cloaked figures appeared at every window. They aimed their bows down at then group from there. Then, dozens of them appeared on the rooftops and aimed down on the three as well. Anne turned to find that the clan members were able to make their way through the allies thanks to their size, and at least sixteen assassins drew their bows. Making their rear exposed. Then, a similar event occurred in front of them as sixteen covered the streets and took aim. "...ah Shit." Alex cursed. "Don't try anything yet guys. We have to plan how we're gunna get out of here." Anne whispered to them both.
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"I could set off another blinding arrow, then we could try to run? It looks like there's way to manny to try and fight...."
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"Run where though?" Anne asked. "All our exits are cut off. Our only way is through..." Alex stated. "This isn't gunna end well...but okay. On three then?" "Ya. Screw it! On three!"
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Sera drew her bow and notched a flash arrow, drawing it back and waiting for the command. "Just let me know..."
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The assassins pulled their bows back farther as Sera drew hers. "One..." alex started. "Two..." Anne continued. As alex went on to say three, he was interrupted by the sound of hands clapping together. He stopped and raised an eyebrow as one of the doors to then buildings opened. A woman stepped out of it, and she was no child. Her face was unmasked, so one could see her raven black hair which covered her pale face. She wore black leggings, boots and a silk torso that was loose on her developed body. A dark black recurve bow was slung around her shoulder and there were eight knives strung to her hips. She also had what looked to be a longer shortsword that was strung horizontally on her back. "My, my. Bravo. Not only did you walk into the trap, knowing it was inevitable, but you planned to break out of it? My, did you take risks like this when you two were off saving the world? Or whatever you were doing?" The woman asked. She spoke with a smooth but arrogant tone. But her voice still sounded somewhat aged. Her hair covered one side of her face, and Sera could make out wrinkles on the woman's cheeks. "Well, wouldn't have been able to save anyone if we weren't willing to take some risks, Ma'm." Alex answered hostilely. "That so? How stupid of you." "That's coming from someone who probably hasn't taken a risk in her life! Enslaving children to fight for her! The one they call "The Mistress?!" Anne yelled. The Mistress raised an eyebrow under her hair as she took a step forward. "My, my. Look at you, little Twilight dove. I suppose the children at the Inn broke under your torture, then? You must be some cruel sadists to harm children..."
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"And your a sadistic bitch who made children fight in a war that didn't concern them!" Sera shouted.
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"Mmm? Oh. I suppose you're correct in that regard you rude little...girl..." The woman eyed Sera for a moment. Her mouth opened into a smile as she took another step closer. "My, my! Look at you're pretty little eyes. I've seen ones just like them before... On a boy who escaped us. A little tike. A little ruffian. A little Zane..."
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Sera notched a broad head arrow and aimed it at the woman, deadly intent in her eyes. "You shut your mouth, you don't have the right to talk about my parents...."
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"Damn right she doesn't." Alex said as he stepped beside the girl, his blade drawn. Anne took a step beside Sera as well, with her Magnus aimed. The army around them pulled their strings tighter... "Oh! So feisty! Truly, truly Zane's child! Ah! A nightingale. A girl born with darkness in her heart but only ends up illuminating the world!" The Mistress went on. "Your father was the same. And your brother? I assume he's similar? After all the training he has done with the old king? Oh, what was his name, Tywinn?" "How the hell would you know that?!" Alex asked. His hand on his hilt clenched. "Oh, I know MANY things. The great thing about an army of children, is that no one expects them... Until they are dead, of course." The mistress brought up her wrist, and a holographic display popped up in front of her. Faces and names were all over the projection, and Sera recognized the boy in the Inn. She tapped all of their faces and a large red X popped up after she did so. After briefly doing that, she resumed the conversation. "Now, that being said, you indeed know my goals here. I want you, Alex. Dead or alive, it doesn't REALLY matter. But I would like your say in the matter." She offered. "You won't be taking him either or!" Anne let out as she took aim at the Mistress. But the woman ahead of them wasn't even close to losing her cool. "Little night dove, you should calm down. We wouldn't want your feathers to get all flustered..."
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"You talk all this big shit, but yet you hide begins children and have them as slaves! Daddy must have abused you as a child for you to be this fûcked up."
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"Okay calm down now." Alex whispered to Sera as he put his hand on her shoulder for reassurance. "My! What a mouth! You, miss, need to be taught a lesson." The mistress said. "No. You won't be teaching anyone anything. She has a point. You hide behind an army of kids you've trained to kill since they were born. You may have conditioned them, Mistress, but there's only so much someone can do for a person without trust or loyalty." Alex started to explain. "What are you getting at? I care for my pets and love them, as long as they serve me." The mistress asked him. "What I'm getting at, is that I challenge you to a duel. If we all fight now, those pets of yours aren't going to all make it through this, even if all three of us die." "Ha! You wouldn't kill them. You proved that at the Inn!" She challenged. "You'll be surprised what someone will do when they are backed into a corner." Alex stated intimidatingly. This got the mistresses attention. "Go on..." she permitted. "We have a duel. That limits the casualties to only you, or me. If I win, me and my friends go free. And on your death or defeat, your clan here disbands." "Mmmmmm. Interesting offer. Then, if I win, I'll get to kill you, and keep the girl, Sera. The princess can go free, she's of no use to me." [spoiler]>Trust Alex >Do not trust Alex[/spoiler]
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"Alex you can't trust her! You've fought against them before, you know she'll fight unfairly!"
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Alex knelt down so he could look Sera in her eyes. He held his blade so it touched the ground as he spoke. "Speedy. This is the only choice we have. If I don't do this, we all die. And I can't let either of you die today." "Alex..." Anne began. "You...don't do this. We can find another way."
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"Let me fight instead, she wants me alive so she won't kill me. And should something bad happen, go get my father."
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"Absolutely not." Alex said. "Sera we...we wouldn't let you do that." Anne said. She seemed more than conflicted with her words. "Plus. Your dad would kill me as soon as I told him. Check mate." Alex told her with a smile.
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"He wouldn't kill you, he'd probably snap and go into a blood rage and hunt down this bitch then gut her like a fish. Besides like I said, she wants you dead and me captured, so she won't kill me."
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"I can't risk that Sera." Alex said. With his words, she knew he was putting his foot down.
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"You know I could bind you right? You can't stop me from fighting her."
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"And you can't stop me from going out there and making sure you can live long enough to do that!" Alex said. He stood up and brought his blade up as well. "Do you accept, mistress?" Alex asked the assassin. "Mmmmm. Indeed. And you?" She asked Alex. "I accept the challenge." He said. "Ah. Ahaha. Good. My little urchlings will not interfere." She stated. All of the children around them lowered their bows. "Now. Take ten paces towards me, and we will begin." The mistress said as she drew the single edged short sword off her back.
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Sera let out a sigh, then walked up to Alex and hugged him tightly. She muttered so only he and Anne would hear. "You better not lose...."