Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [110]
Scar and Potbelly have positioned themselves to hold off the oncoming guards, giving the others a chance to get down. As Jiron makes it to the ground, the guards reach Scar and Potbelly, and the crash of swords can be heard as they engage.
Turning to Delia, James says, “You’re next.” He and Roland hold the rope secure while she makes her way down. Glancing over to the fighting, James sees one of the guards has already fallen but that Scar and Potbelly have to give ground as they’re being pushed backward by the remaining seven.
Roland tells James, “Go on!”
Shaking his head, he says, “You first.”
Not wanting to take the time to argue, Roland takes the rope and swings over the side as James holds onto it. He glances back to Scar and Potbelly and it doesn’t look good. Even though another guard has hit the ground, there’s still too many, it’s only a matter of time before one or the other falls.
The tension on the rope disappears and he looks down, seeing that Roland has made it to the ground. “Come on!” he hollers up to him.
Securing the end of the rope around a merlon he hollers over to the fighters, “Let’s go!”
Scar replies, “We’ll never make it!” He parries with one sword and then takes the guard through the stomach with his other. “You go,” he tells him, “we’ll hold them off!”
Potbelly is holding his own, but there’s just too many for them to last. As he watches them fighting, anger and frustration build within him until it’s like a white hot sun.
“Scar, Potbelly! Get down, NOW!” his voice thunders behind them.
Almost reflexively, they drop to the ground as an invisible wave passes over them and they watch as the guards are lifted and thrown backward, some screaming as they fall to their deaths to the ground below. Once it’s past, they get up and hurry over to James where he’s staggering a little. Scar asks, “You okay?” as they steady him.
Nodding his head, James just says, “Let’s get off this damn wall.” He sees a couple of the guards are getting back up from where they had been thrown backward along the top of the wall.
They let James go first and then Scar with Potbelly coming last. When James reaches the ground, he says to Jiron, “What I did up there is going to be like a beacon for every mage in the city. They’re going to know where we are.”
“Then let’s get the hell out of here!” Jiron says as they start to race toward the main gates to the city. A squad of five men turns into the street ahead of them, coming in their direction. When they see James’ group running toward them, they let out a cry and draw their swords as they rush to attack.
A slug strikes one, felling him before they even get close. Jiron takes the next one, knives flashing as they parry and strike.
Potbelly and Scar face the remaining three; Scar’s two swords quickly take out one while Potbelly holds his own with the second but is unable to gain an opening to finish him. Scar engages the remaining one and soon has him on the ground as well. “You got him?” he asks, looking over to Potbelly as he continues exchanging blows with the guard.
“Yeah!” he replies as he blocks and holds his opponent’s sword with his knife, while following through with his sword, taking him through the chest. His sword gets caught in between his opponent’s ribs and is unable to pull it free. Leaving the sword there, he grabs the dead guard’s sword just as Jiron’s opponent falls to the ground. Then they’re off again for the gate.
This area is relatively clear as most of the guards and soldiers have gone to the inner section of the city to hunt for them. They’re able to run quickly through the streets without fear of being attacked and it isn’t long before the gates appear ahead of them. “There they are!” Jiron shouts to them as they race for freedom.
They come to a quick stop when they see at least thirty soldiers in formation before the gate, as well as a mage. “You cannot escape!” the mage hollers