The arrow went straight towards Sessa, Nimo's ears quirked. She pushed Kiv and Sessa down with her and the arrow narrowly escaped her, taking along pieces of clothes from her sleeve with it. Immediately Sessa hit the ground, he fell unconscious, Nimo landed on her left arm dislocating it. With a loud shout of pain she grabbed the arm and twisted it back into place, Kiv stared at her amazed at her resilience.
"Sessa." Nimo called but got no reply. She turned him over and found a bruise on his forehead.
She turned to Kiv. "What is wrong with him?"
"He is tired."
"He faints when he is tired?"
"Well he has---"
"This is no place of talking." Nimo cut him off. "Help me get him on a horse." With great difficulty she and Kiv got Sessa to lay on one of the horses of the carriage.
"Get on the other one." She told Kiv, he did as he was told.
"Prince Kiv you will go to Allon City and inform the King of what is happening. I'll try to hold them off for a while, get reinforcement."
"How can you handle these---" Without waiting for him to finish what he was saying she hit the horse on its behind, it gave a loud neigh of protest. Nimo cut off the rope that tied the horses to the carriage and Kiv's horse galloped away. She got hers with Sessa laying unconcious in front of her and sped away, when the assasins saw that the Crown Prince had been carried away they followed in hot pursuit.
"Fifty taels of gold to anyone who gets the head of the Crown Prince." Their leader called out. At the mention of gold, they spread out eagerly like goblins in search of gold.
The horse gave out in exhaustion and Nimo was thankful that she had lost the assassins for the moment, she came down and brought Sessa down with her, putting his arm around her shoulder she half dragged him, looking for a safe place they could hide.
She saw a tree that spread out like a canopy and decided to have a rest there. Nimo sat Sessa down with his back leaning on the tree to support him, she sat down in front of him and began to transfer some of her energy to him. Her body emitted great aura and it entered into Sessa's body.
"Such extraordinary aura can not belong to an insignificant person."
Nimo turned and came to face with an old man with a long beard, he held a chewing stick in his mouth and stared at her curiously.
She stood up and poised in front of Sessa as a form of protection. The old man did not miss her action, and he gave out an amused laugh.
"Miss, I have no interest in your companion."
"Who are you?"
"A soothing balm in chaos, a flash of light in a dark pit."
"What?" The old man gave another laugh, he watched her as she tried to figure out what he was saying. Those words sounded familiar to Nimo.
"Endless light." Nimo said in astonishment. The girl wasn't daft, the old man thought impressed.
"How do you know about Endless light?" She asked.
"The holder of the sword knows his sword."
"You are..." She drew her sword when she realised who he was. He was the fallen Western Vill's god of war. Western Vill has always been Panirut's rival, years ago the Emperor of Western Vill grew too greedy for power amd wanted to merge the world and dominate it.
Panirut Kingdom and State of Neo had refused to be ruled by a tyrant so they formed an alliance and fought hard against Western Vill. Fortunately, they won against Western Vill which was but a thing of surprise for the country had a mighty general. General Sulinn, Western Vill's god of war, the news of the general's death spread out like bats out of hell but no one knew how he died for with his sword 'Endless light' he was invincible.
"Ah, that sword looks familiar." Sulinn said trying to remember where he had seen it.
"You must be a fraud, General Sulinn is long dead." Yet she held her sword against him.
"You must be from Panirut or Neo...well Western Vill has a lot of enemies." He said still staring at the sword.
"How are you still alive?" Nimo asked still on guard.
Old Sulinn sat down and sighed in relief. "I am getting old." He spoke as if explaining his reason for sitting down. "Sit with me, lady. I am now a harmless old man." She sat warily beside him, casting a swift glance at Sessa, he was still unconscious.
"Isn't your sword called Wind cut?" He inquired as Nimo sheathed her sword.
She paused. "I'm tired of asking you how."
"What a temper. A brave man fought with me in battle with this sword so I would never forget it."
"Did he win against you?"
"No. Did you steal this sword?"
She set an amused look on him. "You just said he fought you in battle, how can I steal from such man?"
"Sometimes wise men can be as daft as a brush." He words seemed to carry a deeper meaning as if he was talking about himself. Nimo sobered.
"I did steal the sword from him, he is my father." She stared at the sword remembering how she had sneaked in to her father's inner chamber, she took the sword and ran away from home, off to battle.
"The moment I saw you I knew you were unique." Sulinn sighed. "Years ago, I sold my country out for my selfish interest." Nimo was shocked.
"You sold out Western Vill? Why have I never heard of it?"
"It was a top secret, Neo gave me the special medicine for my sister's ailment then I revealed Western Vill's military formation." Neo was known for being excellent in medicines and poisons. "My sister is well now but my country has being shattered to nothing because of me. I have no reason to be alive." His face showed a faraway expression.
"So you asked for your fake death to be revealed."
"Yes."
"No wonder it spread like wild fire."
Sulinn stood up. "There is a hut not so far away from here. You and your companion can seek refuge there."
"What happened to your sword?"
"It is in a place no one can ever get to. Lady I have to go, it is fate that brought me to your path." He started walking away.
"Where are you going to?" He continued walking as if he didn't hear Nimo, when she decided that he wasn't going to answer her, he replied.
"I'm a vagabond, I know not where I go. This is the reward for my sins."