Corwal and Arawn were the first to rush toward the center of the circle. They crouched next to Rain, and Corwal picked up her hand to check the pulse on her wrist.
"She lives," he said with relief.
His eyes then roamed to the deep gash on her left leg, and ether gathered in his hands. It went into her wound, knitting the skin while pushing out foreign substances like dirt.
"You can heal?" Arawn asked while watching in wonder mixed with horror. Was there anything Corwal couldn't do?
"It's called first aid." He removed his hand from the wound which had closed itself. The skin there was discolored and looked disgusting, but there was no longer a gaping gash showing the whiteness of bones. "It's a skill everyone picks up to patch themselves after a fight."
By then, everyone else reacted as well and rushed over. The old woman who had helped Arawn before dropped by their side with her medical case. She began checking on Rain while murmuring something under her breath, and Arawn pulled back.
He looked around, wondering what would happen now. Rain had won, but barely. It wasn't likely that she was going to wake up any time soon.
"Will they attack?" he asked while watching the enemy mercenaries. The crowd was grumbling in soft voices while looking at each other in agitation. It didn't seem like they were eager to call truce.
Corwal also stood up and took a look their way. "They could always do that. If they wipe us out, no one will know that they lost the Challenge. This has always been a surprisingly popular choice, but I don't think it's likely this time. Not with you and me around."
As he said that, a couple people pointed at him. There were deep scowls on their faces, but no one stepped forward. The group only kept muttering among itself.
The woman whom Arawn had saved approached them. "Are you two going to stick around?" she asked in a voice much colder than was necessary.
"You want us to bring them along?" Corwal said with a raised eyebrow. There was slight mockery in his tone.
"Will you or won't you?"
He raised his hands, faking innocence. "Fine, fine! No need to look so fierce!"
The woman scowled, and Corwal chuckled to himself. When she left, he turned around and faced the enemy camp. "Seems like they really have no one capable here."
Without saying more, he marched off toward the enemy camp. Arawn followed him, not sure what was their task. They were only temporary friends with this outfit, not even honorary members, so why was it them doing something dangerous?
The crowd buzzed at their approach, but soon quietened. A couple men stepped forward, one of whom Arawn recognized. It was the person he'd fought first. Kavi was his name if he recalled correctly.
He wasn't the one speaking, however. It was a fifty-year-old man with a long gray moustache which he kept twirling. "Who are you?" he asked them.
"Why does everyone keep asking that? It's starting to get tiresome," Corwal said like he was really bothered by it and waved behind himself. "You know why we're here. You should pack up and come with us to the main camp."
"That's where we've been staying from the start." The man's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't let it show on his voice. "You're the mongrels that were kicked out because you were too weak."
Corwal shrugged. "It wasn't us who lost the Challenge, was it?" When the man was about to speak more, he raised his hand to prevent him. "Don't bother with all your cursing and name-calling. I don't give a damn if you think we cheated or not. You have two options, come peacefully or be killed by me right where you stand."
"You wouldn't dare," the old man sneered, his long moustache rising up from the movement. "I—"
A dagger appeared by his neck as if by magic. One moment Corwal was standing a meter away, and the next he was by the man, his dagger at the other's neck. "Don't tempt me. I have no patience for idiots like you." His eyes flashed with a dangerous light, and he turned to the others. "You've seen what I and my friend can do. If you try to resist, do so knowing that you won't see the sun rise again."
With those words, he stepped back. His dagger disappeared in the folds of his sleeves, and a smile was back on his face. "Now, do I need to kill anyone or are you all coming peacefully as per the rules of the Challenge?"
Fury and humiliation warred in the old man's eyes, but genuine fear overshadowed them. He hadn't seen Corwal move. If the crazy youth had wanted to kill him, he could have done it without any trouble. The two bodyguards by his side would have not been able to draw their weapons before he hit the ground, dead.
Red colored his cheeks, but the old man did not say more. He nodded sharply and turned back while simmering in anger. The two men by his side gave Corwal evaluating looks, then walked away as well.
The rest of the mercenaries had been watching in silence. Once they noticed their vice-captain give up, there were a few grumbles, but they were solitary. Most looked rather relieved that they wouldn't have to risk their lives for no good reason.
They all went back to their camp in the forest and collected their things. During that time, Rain's people got ready as well, and they all marched off toward Broken Talon's real hideout.
A makeshift stretcher had been made for Rain. She lay in it like a corpse, barely breathing. Two strong men carried her, doing their best not to jostle the stretcher too much. The old healer woman was right next to them, watching Rain like a hawk its prey.
Some people were riding, but most were on foot. Since they had come by carriage, Arawn hadn't noticed it before, but the mercenaries didn't seem to have many animals. When he asked Corwal about it, he was told that was because animals were very expensive to keep. Only the outfits at the top of the food chain, like Scarlet Treason, could afford to keep a cavalry unit.
There was actually only one carriage and some people were wounded, so Arawn gave it up for them. He could walk, for the time being anyway.
When the sun was about to set, they reached a stretch of road with plains on the sides. Small hills rose all around them, blocking their vision. A few men on horses were ranging ahead to make sure nothing befell them, and at that moment they galloped back. There was terror on their faces that spoke more than any words could ever do.
"Scarlet Treason!" they screamed. "Scarlet Treason is ahead!"
Two arrows came from behind them, aiming straight for their hearts. On instinct, Arawn raised an ether wall between them. It shattered from the impact, but the arrows had lost a little of their momentum and accuracy.
The two men screamed in pain and fell off their horses while clutching their chests. The column instantly froze, everyone staring at the hill in front of them in disbelief.
Corwal was the first to react and dash forward. He knelt by the men, sending a little either into them to stem the bleeding. "Good job," he told Arawn. "They may still live."
He straightened then and turned back. "Parish! Here!"
The old woman hesitated for a moment, but her healer's heart won out. She rushed forward without caring for her safety and crouched down by the two men. One of the doctors from Garshta's faction also jogged over.
Satisfied, Corwal named ten people, five from each side, to come with him. They weren't eager, but when a few walked out, the rest followed as well. Out of the people remaining, Corwal was the most fit for leadership. He was stronger than anyone else and had the air of someone who was used to leading. It didn't seem like he ever even entertained the idea that his orders wouldn't be followed.
Once the group gathered, they ran forward, from where the arrows had come. After a couple steps, they could already hear the marching of soldiers. There were hundreds of feet stamping on the ground in unison as hooves beat an accompaniment to them.
Behind the bend in the road, the group came to a stop. A whole army stood before them. Scarlet Treason's mercenaries weren't as conspicuous as their name. They dressed in simple armor the color of ground and trees. Their only giveaway was the emblem of a dagger dripping blood over their hearts.
Upon noticing them, the army stopped, and Peter rode forward. He looked majestic in a shiny armor that was encrusted with more than a dozen onyxes. A large gem glistened at the pommel of his sword while its scabbard was decorated with a golden thread.
When he dismounted, Arawn noticed that his boots were also polished till they shone. What was the point though? He couldn't understand why would the man want to pretend to be a noble at such a time.
"I'm sorry we're a bit late," Peter said with a wide grin and a bow. "But we're here now."
The ten people looked at each other in confusion while Arawn kept his eyes on Corwal. His friend's expression was blank, not giving anything away, but that was already saying a lot. It wasn't normal for him to look so calm. There was always a smile on his face when dealing with other people, for it was his choice of a mask.
Yet Peter didn't seem to notice that. He straightened and motioned with his hand toward the army behind him. There were so many people there that it was beyond Arawn's ability to guess their number at a look. It was certainly more than the hundred Garshta had brought with him.
"I brought everyone, so we can wipe them out without anyone being the wiser. Once we leave, no one will know you were here."
"Is that your plan then? To kill everyone and steal their knowledge before burning down their hideout?"
There was a dangerous note in Corwal's voice, but Peter was oblivious to it. The middle-aged man seemed too excited to pay attention to anything. "It's the simplest solution. They'd be a loose end if you leave them alive, and it's too dangerous."
"Dangerous you say?" Corwal took a step forward, his hands behind his back. "It's better to kill a thousand to keep one safe, right?"
Peter nodded, his smile growing even wider. "Certainly. You're—"
A water snake rushed toward him and wrapped around his head, choking him. The man's eyes went wide, but he didn't panic, waving his gauntlet near his mouth. Where the onyx passed, the ether scattered, freeing the man.
"What—"
Instead of answering, Corwal threw a dagger his way. It bounced off harmlessly off the man's armor, but the sentiment was made clear. "I left you to lead Scarlet Treason because I thought you would forget about your obsession, but it seems it has only grown stronger. A pity."
Another dagger appeared in his hand. "A real pity. You dragged my mercenary band down." He sighed before swiftly looking up. There was such loathing in his eyes that even Peter finally realized that something was wrong.
The man seemed to want to say something, but Corwal lunged forward, not giving him the chance. He appeared before the man the same instant, yet Peter wasn't caught off guard. He drew his sword, blocking the attack. It didn't deter Corwal though.
Exchanging the dagger to his left hand, he pulled his sword and drowned Peter in a tsunami of swift slashes and cuts. He was like a furious water deity come to exact revenge. Each strike was calculated and swift, giving his opponent no time to counter-attack.
Onyx scattered most of his attempts to inhibit his opponent with ether, so he didn't even bother with it. At first, Peter still tried to talk without really fighting back, but when the blade almost took his life a couple times, he was forced to defend for real. One wrong move, and he'd be another dead body. Corwal wasn't playing around with him; he really wanted his head.
"Stop! I came here for you! Can't you see it, stupid boy?!"
"No," Corwal said while unleashing another barrage of attacks. Unlike Rain's, his held great strength behind them. It only took a couple exchanges for everyone to see that the middle-aged man wouldn't last long like that. "All I see is a bitter, bloodthirsty man who uses me as an excuse to slaughter people. And I'm sick of it."
His sword slashed past Peter's shoulder, drawing blood. The middle-aged man stretched his sword to force him to defend, but Corwal wasn't having that. He blocked the blade with his own, then stepped forward, bypassing Peter's guard. A dagger was in his left hand, and it rushed forward to strike the man.
Ether flashed, and a fist-sized rock blocked Corwal's attack. He backed off, letting the tempo of the battle ease. "Finally getting serious? I was wondering when you'd realize I wasn't kidding."
"You've gone crazy! I'm your uncle!"
"And? Does that give you the right to dictate my life? Or kill the people around me so I could only rely on you?" Disgust twisted Corwal's features. "I left without killing you last time because of your misplaced feelings, but it was a mistake. I'll rectify it now"
"But all I ever wanted was to protect you!" Peter shouted, looking at Corwal with disbelief. "Everything I did was for you!"
A hollow laugh left Corwal's lips as he raised his sword once more. "Want to protect me? Go ahead then, but be like your beloved sister." He rushed forward with ether gathering around him. "Do it from the heavens!"