"Well, well, well," Lord Skarde drawled out in that bored tone of his. His gaze was cold, unbearably so as though his mixture of intent, danger and pure force power dominated the space. His imposing presence towered within the dim torchlight atmosphere as he stood there in his dark attire with a golden necklace encrusted with jewels worn around his neck.
His cold gaze slowly assessed me, before they rested on the prisoners who shied away from his gaze. "Aww, leaving so soon are we? And here without so much as a goodbye?" Lord Skarde asked, his lips tugging up at the corners into a cruel smirk, "Thought we were more familiar than this, right guys?"
I noticed that Lord Skarde didn't come alone, he had at least four guards with him. My hands flexed at my side, "Step aside Lord Skarde," I said, my tone cautious, "Let us pass and no one needs to get hurt."
Lord Skarde's gaze turned to look at mine. "Hurt? Well you are right about that, people will be getting hurt." He said with a shrug, "I'm afraid that will have to be you, not me!"
I glared at him in response, He was really starting to get on my nerves. There wasn't enough time to trade words with him, I needed to get back to the manor and he was in my way.
"You know what Lord Skarde, I do not have the time to entertain your nonsense theatrics." I said with my hands on the sword on my waist belt, "You either let us pass or I will gut every single one of you down!"
Lord Skarde laughed heartily along with his men. They laughed out loud as if I had just shared some joke over a drink. Still laughing, Lord Skarde approached me, "You know son, you keep taking words out of my own mouth!" He said before his gaze turned to the prisoners, "Alright everyone listen up, I will admit I haven't been fair in the past but I will give you an ultimatum now_" He said, his voice carefully measured and filled with something sweet and sugary, like a predator who distributes false hope prior to its deadly attack.
"Here's the deal, you can either choose to die with whoever this is_" He said his gaze flickering to mine for a minute before he turned back to look at the prisoners, "Or you can go back to the dungeon, right where you were always meant to be."
"Do not listen to him!" I yelled at them although I could almost taste their fear and hesitation.
The lethal surroundings suffocated every remaining shred of outnumbered courage the prisoners could hold onto. The cruel words delivered by Lord Skarde poured like venom into the room while prisoners watched him and me trying to figure out what side to stand with.
"Do not listen to him, he doesn't plan on letting you go that easy!"
Lord Skarde turned to snarl at me in response, "Oh I won't let them go at all if they don't listen to the orders I give them, get back into the dungeon now!" Lord Skarde yelled.
I heard a few whispers coming from the prisoners now, they were no doubt considering what Lord Skarde said. I could hear the feet shuffling along with a few whimpers.
"And what do you think he's going to do to you the minute you walk back into the dungeon?" I yelled loud, my voice echoing along the corridor, "What he's offering to you right now, is nothing more than a slow painful death! The minute you turn back and head to the dungeon, he's going to make an example out of each and every one of you!"
All around me the prisoners exchanged whispered words while panic spread through their ranks. I then turned to look at them, speaking more confidently despite the situation. "Freedom is already at the other side of that door, we are so close to it! Do not throw it away!" I said before turning to look at Lord Skarde who just smirked at me, "I will get you all out of here and that's a promise!"
Lord Skarde laughed out loud, the sound filled with mockery. "Such inspiring words, really." He drawled out with a clap, "But how do you intend to get them all out."
"Easy," I replied with a shrug, "Simply by doing this!" I said and before anyone could comprehend what it was I wanted to do, I grabbed Lord Skarde by his arm and pulled him towards him.
Before anyone could do or say anything, I spun him so his back was pressed against my front and my sword was now pressed against his neck.
I then turned to glare at the guards. "Drop your weapons!" I snarled at them.
The guards shifted but didn't do as I had asked, though I could see the way their eyes darted amongst themselves with uncertainty, they weren't sure on who to listen to.
I pressed my sword harder against Lord Skarde's neck. "Order your men to drop your weapons now!"
Lord Skarde snorted at me in response. "And what makes you so sure that they will listen to me?"
"Because I could kill you before you draw your next breath!" I said pressing the sword tighter against his neck, not deep but enough to draw blood! "Still think I'm playing my lord? Call your men off or I won't be so forgiving next time?"
"Drop your weapons!" Lord Skarde ordered his voice firm and powerful but there was still a note of fear in his voice! "DROP YOUR WEAPONS NOW!" He ordered when his guards were hesitant.
The guards obediently did as he had asked, dropping their sword down on the ground slowly just like I had asked. I grabbed Lord Skarde and began walking backwards while keeping my eyes on the guards.
"Get their weapons!" I demanded to the prisoners, "Go on, pick it up!"
Some men immediately rushed forward and picked the sword up, though they seemed uncertain.
"Let's get out of here!" I whispered, still keeping my eyes on the guards, "Get out of here and head straight into the woods, you will find horses and wagons there, along with someone who will help you and you have to leave now!" I said.
The prisoners wasted no time in doing as I had asked, rushing out of the house as if Lord Skarde was going to change his mind soon.
I briefly glanced back at the prisoners when from my peripheral vision I could make out one of the guards advancing creeping towards me slowly.
"Don't even think about it!" I hissed, turning to look at him as I pressed the sword deeper against Lord Skarde's throat.
The prisoners all left and when I was sure they had covered a long distance, only then did I begin to walk outside with Lord Skarde still in my clutches.
The guards followed, taking tentative steps towards me but all I needed was just leverage to get out of here. I wasn't going to kill Lord Skarde, I just needed to get away from here.
I couldn't fight all of them at once and besides I needed to get back to the manor, it was starting to get late!
As I was thinking all these thoughts, I forgot to pay attention to my surroundings since we were now out in the open so I failed to notice the arrow coming towards me and before I knew it, it had struck me right in the shoulder!