The Adels - Part 11

The Adels part 11 has been posted. 611 words.Tales of the TawsheThe Adels-Part 11Kent eased his cramped position. He did it silently. He was much better at silent then the bowman who shared his hiding spot, and across the clearing his other two men could be heard every so often. They were all getting sore, cramped, muscles from remaining still for so long. After all the sun had risen at least half way up the sky. It wouldn’t be much longer.He had kept two bowmen and another who he understood was good with a sword, one bowman and one swordsman in each position, hidden in the bushes, waiting. He hoped the followers, if there were any, came soon because he didn’t want to miss the fun with the Leprechauns. The buzz of an arrow crossed the clearing. He didn’t know where it originated, but the scream from where his other men hid told him where it landed. Immediately, his bowman rose slightly on one knee, arrow ready, eyes sweeping, searching for a target, only to die with an arrow in his throat. For a second there was no sound or movement, and then the bushes across the clearing parted as a young man stepped out into the open. Kent judged he would be shorter than Blackheart, and carried much less meat on his bones. Not a big man, but still well-muscled, but obviously stupid.Kent grabbed the bow from his dead partner, and stepped out to the clearing. The bushes rustled off to his right. He saw his other swordsman step out carrying a bow also. Kent fitted an arrow to his bow, pulled back, aimed, and stood amazed as both the bow and his arrow turned to smoke. A quick glance told him the same thing had happened to the other man’s bow.The villager, as Kent believed him to be, pulled his sword and started walking towards them. Kent did the same, motioning to his remaining man to take position. They would come at the villager from opposite sides. The outcome was assured. The villagers left arm slipped behind his back and reappeared with a long knife.Kent watched carefully as they all approached each other. The villager was young, but he held his weapons steadily and in good positions. His own man was more animated. He held his sword in his left hand, and spun it around in a circle as he advanced.  Suddenly, the young man charged Kent’s man just as he was starting another circle with his sword. Taken somewhat by surprise, the man’s right hand came up to secure his hold on his sword. He swung it with both hands, a mighty two handed swing that should have removed the villager’s head, if it had connected. Instead, the villager simply swayed back slightly. The sword swept by. The strength of the swing carried the man around exposing his side. The young man was already turning his attention away as he slipped his knife in under the man’s exposed armpit.
Kent was disappointed to witness his man go down, but he didn’t dwell upon it. He had been a city guard before joining Blackhearts crew. He had seen many men die, and had fought in many skirmishes. He planned his customary opening, judging distance, watching for movement from his opponent, but the youth simply stood waiting, sword point down, knife hanging loosely in his other hand. With the skill and ease that comes from years of experience and practice, Kent brought his sword up to an on-guard position, thrust forward, and died from a stroke he didn’t even see.