Darkthorn’s Blog

Off Blackmain sped into the night to the place where he had seen the riders before. The tracks were fresh and not difficult to follow. He rode on for some time before he was able to see the guard posted to keep watch. He dismounted and Starless and disappeared into the undergrowth. As he slowly walked around the camp to assess the situation he heard a loud grunt from a man in pain. Another voice said something that Blackmain couldn’t quite make out but as he moved closer he noticed that the guard had left his post to gather with the other men around a tree. One of the five was brutally raping the girl he had seen earlier. It woke a fierce anger in Blackmain, he was not going to put up with this. Simple murder would have been simpler to deal with.

As he moved closer Blackmain disturbed a small lizard which made an echoing call into the forest. Even the young man raping the woman noticed the eerie noise and stopped.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Go and have a look.”

“Garth, with me.”

Two of the men separated from the others and came towards where Blackmain was standing. He had already given away his position so he jumped up with throwing dagger and crossbow in hand.

“Let her go!” commanded Blackmain.

At this, Cimon laughed out loud, a deep rumbling belly laugh. “Why the hell should I listen to you? You, just one man with a dagger and crossbow. You could only kill two at most before my men brought you down.” He paused, and as if that wasn’t enough insult said “Little man.”

Blackmain let out a blood-chilling laugh of his own and spoke “If you let her go, I will not kill all of you.”

His voice was cold enough to make the hair on Cimon’s neck stand on end but he was not going to show it to this arrogant man. “Now Garth, kill this fool before he wastes anymore of my time.”

The young man leapt straight for the kill but Blackmain was ready and merely swatted the man to the ground like a fly. Garth jumped up, “Thats it, you don’t make a fool of a Helhard.”

He attacked more slowly but as he came into contact with Blackmain Blackmain thrust his dagger into Garth’s stomach before he had time to yell. Garth fell to the ground clutching his belly and was still.

Cimon spoke, “Damn you man. Now we will have no choice. But to kill you.” It sounded as if he was relishing the words.

Blackmain was a more than capable swodsman, and without breaking a sweat killed all the men but Cimon. Something told him that this man was important, and he merely disarmed him. When Cimon noticed his men were dead he turned and ran for his horse. Blackmain though of running him down, but saw that the girl was in a terrible state and would require medical help urgently.

Blackmain turned to untie her from the tree and heard Cimon riding off to his left. Blindly he sent a throwing dagger in his direction and heard a yelp as it connected. That would slow him down while Blackmain headed for safety for them both. He rode back to the cabin cradling the girl in his arms, marveling at her natural beauty, so like Kolark’s. He laid her on the bed, covering her with warm blankets ensuring they did not touch the weeping wounds on her breast and thigh. It was not long before he was back with his healing friend Ishton. Ishton was the local doctor but he was also a hunter, as all of his kind were. He was well equipped to deal with battle-like wounds and it did not take him long to bandage and treat her wounds. The two men sat down to wait – only time could tell how Julia would survive her traumatic experience.