James / Tiberius Hemming
In one moment, James could feel blood beginning to fill his lungs. The next, it was gone, as if it had never been. A rush of adrenaline sent him spinning around in time to duck another arrow, and just in time to see Adina being dragged away down the slope, hoisted over someone's back like an animal. The light rain had created a cloud of mist that crept up, swallowing and distorting all visual clarity as she disappeared.
"Adina!" he cried out in vain, met with another sword. There were three around him, and he was constantly having to dance and spin around to dodge and counter their blades.
Ari was a few steps ahead of him, roaring as five different hunters piled on top of him, pushing against his brute strength. James desperately wished he could break through the barrier of swords circling around him, but his attention was torn. If he left an opening for a second, it could be the end for him, whether he was wanted alive or not. It was clear that the only prisoner the hunters intended to take was Adina, and James had already lost sight of her. His gut twisted.
Then a whistle rang out. Distant, shrill, eerily echoing off the cliffs. Suddenly their swarm of attackers backed off on light feet. As quickly as they came, they left. The flood of black figures began to withdraw like a wave pulling back from the shore, carrying Adina away with it.
James took the opportunity to pursue - swiping at a swordman's side. The greatsword caught on the pack on his back, slicing the strap and causing it to plop in the mud as he fled. James cursed, dropping the deadweight sword so he could run, run, run.
Ari was a few steps ahead of him, creating a trail of blood in the ground. The two of them were running as fast as their bodies would permit them, James eventually scrambling past Ari on the narrow path.
But the further they ran, the less they saw. All they could see was fog, and the mud a few feet in front of them. And James didn't anticipate the mud underneath his foot to give way and send him flying forwards, backwards, being caught by two strong arms stained with blood.
He stared up at Ari, the two of them breathing too heavy to speak. Ari lifted James up to his feet, letting go. He looked ready to run again, but James could only stare at the red pouring out his side.
"Why did y' stop?" Ari huffed, each word desperate, pitched to near-tears.
James's mouth pressed into a straight line, and he looked out into the direction he last saw Adina disappear.
This was his fault. If he had been more vigilant, more attentive, a better leader, less divisive - Adina wouldn't have been taken.
But what could they have done against an ambush? Outnumbered 6 to at least two dozen trained fighters?
"They took -" Ari started, taking in a sharp breath. "I couldn' - I couldn'a saved 'er, James-"
James's brows knit together tightly.
They all would be blaming themselves. Now was not the time.
He turned to Ari, grabbing the teenager's arm firmly, looking up into his eyes.
"I'm sorry," Ari whispered, with tears welling up.
"She's not dead yet," James said, his voice solemn but steady. "And it's not your fault. You were brave, and you gave all that you had to give. I firmly believe that-"
"James!"
Both Ari and James looked up. That sounded like Kaia. They could see a faint figure emerging from the mist, running with two swords drawn. As she came closer they could see blood streaming down the left side of Kaia's face from a cut on her forehead where loose hairs were sticking along with sweat. She held both swords in her hands, still poised for battle, with blood spattering her armor. But the battle was already over. One look was exchanged between them, and her eyes widened, and her pace slowed. She looked out behind James, into the mist, and understood.
"Rose and Brett are okay," she said quietly. "Hurt, but okay." Then her eyes fell to Ari's side, where he was now pressing down on the wound with an open palm. He had started to cry quietly.
Her eyes flicked to the arrow sticking out of James's arm and she curled up her upper lip in something between pity, frustration, and worry. James had sever other shallow cuts that were bleeding through his clothes, but nothing as urgent as Ari.
"We need to get back to the others and the horses," James said, gently putting a hand on Ari's back for comfort. He could feel Ari's erratic breathing. He started to push slightly on his back to encourage Ari forward, and they started walking, pace ever increasing back as they headed back to their shelter. Kaia matched their haste, marching just a little ahead of them.
"This isn't over. We're getting Adina back, and as soon as we're stable we're heading back out on their trail. I can help you tend to everyone's wounds," he said, nodding to Kaia as she glanced back at him. She nodded in return.
"But we need to hurry."
"What's your plan?" Kaia asked. "If they're taking her to another camp there could be even more people than the ones who just came."
James sighed through his nose, looking up at the shadow of the cave opening coming into view. Rosaleen's head was peeking out. He could see the purple-blue hair.
"I'm working on that," he said quietly. "For now I need you to make sure Ari makes it through this fight so he can fight another one."
He watched as Kaia nodded again, taking Ari by the arm and helping him up the slope whether he needed it or not. James took a little longer climbing up by himself, pausing at the little ledge looking out towards the ocean.
There was a small crack in the clouds where the sun broke through, lighting up a patch of the tumbling waves of the ocean.
They didn't have much time, but if James was sure of anything, it was that he owed Adina his life. He recalled the brief moment the arrow that was supposed to kill him struck him from behind. If it had just been him fighting for himself, he would've accepted his fate without argument. But in the midst of comrades he was willing to die for...
Adina thought his life was worth saving. He believed the same for her. And there was no way that, as long as he still had breath in his lungs, that he was going to let mage hunters put Adina to death without them coming to return to her the time she sacrified for him.
--<>--
Rose looked uncomfortable riding Posey alone, but she held the reins with a steadfast determination and a look of death James had never seen on her before. One of her arms was in a sling - a shirt, made into one - where her shoulder had been pulled in and out of its socket before Kaia adjusted it again. James knew that was her throwing arm. She'd hit him several times with it.
He mounted up on Elliot, patting the horse's neck as he settled in the saddle. Thankfully, the horses hadn't been injured. The hunters had left them alone, focusing only on the people who got between them and Adina, and for that alone, James was grateful. It meant they might actually have a chance at catching up to them and getting there before it was too late.
He turned back in his saddle to look at the others, each mounted up - even Brett, who especially needed the help with the significantly deep cut to his leg. The less weight he put on it for now, the more likely he would be able to push through the inevitable pain for the fight to come.
It felt cruel to think that way, but it was reality, and it was necessary.
Kaia had done the best she could with the time and resources they had. Bleeding was under control, Ari's wound had been hastily stitched up, so was James's shoulder, and everything else was braced or bound.
Kaia had a bandage around her head. Ari suggested she wear James's hat to hide it. Everyone was too tired to argue when he picked it up with a pained expression and set it on her head.
It didn't matter, as long as it helped Ari's morale.
James led the way out, leading Elliot forward with a click of his tongue. The others followed behind, and as soon as the ground flattened out, they found a horde of foot and hoofsteps in the muddied earth.
They found the trail, and all that could be heard was the pounding of hooves kicking up mud in the mist as they made their pursuit.
Gender:
Points: 3255
Reviews: 174