SWY 119

Sharhan and Lestel looked at each other. Though they had hoped Thunder and Lightning were safe, they’d half given up, so their widened pupils showed their surprise.

“No way…”

“Whistle again!”

At Sharhan’s urging, Lestel whistled once more. In response, they heard a loud neigh, but no hoofbeats running in their direction.

“They’re over there.”

Sharhan pointed in the direction the neigh came from and took off running. Lestel followed without a word. Samson, confused, rushed after them. Soon, they could hear not only horse sounds but human voices too.

“Hey, what’s wrong with these bastards?”

“They were already wild, but now they’re going completely nuts!”

“Don’t let them get away! We had a hard enough time catching those damn strays that kept slipping away. You better calm those wild beasts down somehow!”

The three stopped running and hid behind a large tree to observe. Armed men were trying in vain to calm the two wildly bucking horses.

No matter how much they tried, the horses kept violently resisting. It was Thunder and Lightning, without a doubt. Their high-pitched cries were filled with alarm. They kicked furiously with both front and hind legs to keep the men from getting close.

Thud!

“Urgh!”

One man was kicked by Thunder’s hind legs and thrown backward, curling up in pain, his ribs likely broken.

“Are you okay?”

“It hurts…”

The two horses continued to lash out, striking at the soldiers. Another was kicked by Lightning this time. The crunch of snapping bones rang out horribly. The others grew too afraid to get close, yet they couldn’t let go of the reins either and stood anxiously.

“Damn it, what kind of monsters are these horses? Won’t even let us touch their gear! Just kill them! We were told to bring them in alive, but beasts like this are better dead and eaten!”

A man who seemed to be the highest in rank ordered their deaths. The soldiers raised their weapons to stab the horses.

Sharhan couldn’t let that happen. He quickly scanned the ground, spotted a sizable rock, picked it up, and hurled it with all his strength.

It flew in a high arc and struck the back of the man who was about to stab Lightning in the side.

Crack!

“Agh!”

The man cried out in pain and staggered. At the same time, Lestel whistled again.

Hearing their master’s call up close, the two horses reared up even higher in excitement. As soon as one man lost grip on the reins, Thunder and Lightning charged straight toward Sharhan and the others.

“Wh-Who the hell are you?!”

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Sharhan, relieved to finally be reunited, soothed the panting Thunder and Lightning before sending them behind him. The horses quickly calmed down and trotted off to a safer place.

“You’re the ones trying to kill someone else’s horses. Sounds like thievery to me.”

“Horses with owners? Don’t make me laugh. You’re the thieves or conmen here. Their owner is in our custody. Hand over your lives, and don’t expect to walk away after attacking us!”

The man shouting was clearly their leader, and he sneered as he drew his sword, looking down on them. There were only three on Sharhan’s side, and he assumed they were liars trying to steal the horses.

Despite two of their men having been rendered useless by kicks, his side still had seven. They figured they could take Sharhan’s group easily.

“You say the horses’ owner is in your custody?”

“That’s right, so stop lying!”

Just then, a nervous man beside the leader pointed at Thunder and Lightning.

“Captain, look at them.”

“What about them… Wait a minute…”

“They were just crazed, but now they’re calmly following those people. I don’t think they’re lying.”

“Then…”

“That must mean they’re with the ones we captured.”

The man called “captain” smirked.

“So they’re part of that woman’s group. Ha! I was furious we let her get away, guess I can get revenge by killing these ones slowly. Don’t let a single one escape. Kill them all!”

At his command, the soldiers rushed in with weapons drawn.

“Samson, think you can handle one of them?”

Sharhan spun his spear and asked.

“Of course. I’ve hunted bears. One of these guys won’t be a problem.”

With a confident grin, Samson pulled a curved blade from his waist. Its half-moon shape looked sharp and unfamiliar. Lestel had already leapt into action, charging at the captain.

Seeing this, Sharhan shouted urgently.

“Don’t kill all of them!”

“I’ll leave one alive.”

They’d said the horses’ owner was in their hands. Thunder and Lightning were smart, they wouldn’t follow just anyone. Aside from Sharhan and Lestel, the only one they’d follow was Derry. That meant the person they captured was probably Derry.

‘And since they said “ones we caught,” that must include Ardelle and the kids. They must’ve escaped with Derry but got caught. Looks like Ardelle got away.’

Which explained their rage.

If he didn’t know their fate, maybe he could leave it be. But knowing and doing nothing wasn’t an option. They needed to make someone talk and find out where Derry and the others had been taken.

Sharhan parried the attacks coming at him while slashing with his spear. There were seven enemies, so he had to take on at least three. Each man wielded a sword and went straight for the kill.

He dodged a strike aimed at his throat by leaning back and drove his spear into the shoulder of the man on his right. Blood spattered onto Sharhan’s face, but there was no time to wipe it away. He continued pressing the attack.

Samson held his own surprisingly well. He moved quickly, slashing at exposed limbs, sides, thighs, and chests. Though he didn’t land any finishing blows immediately, every cut bled heavily.

Eventually, the man facing Samson went pale from blood loss and collapsed. Seizing the opportunity, Samson showed no mercy and slit his throat.

Meanwhile, Sharhan embedded his spear in another man’s gut.

“Gah!”

He yanked it out and turned to strike the man on his left. Just as he blocked an incoming attack from the right and tried to counter.

“Sharhan, duck!”

With a sharp ping of air being cut, a familiar voice rang out. Ardelle. As Sharhan ducked, a stone flew over and struck the man to his right in the head.

Crack!

Reeling from the hit, the man staggered. Sharhan didn’t miss the opening and sliced his neck with the spear. Blood sprayed as the man stumbled backward and collapsed lifelessly.

Just like the day they were reunited, Ardelle leapt down from a tree and turned to assist Lestel. Lestel had already taken down two, leaving only the captain. Though the captain blocked Lestel’s attacks well, he was clearly on the defensive.

Clenching his jaw, the captain swung his blade. It wasn’t refined swordsmanship, but he was no amateur either. Unfortunately for him, Lestel’s skill was greater.

From her pouch, Ardelle pulled another stone and aimed for the captain’s wrist. Whizz! The rock struck hard, and while he didn’t drop his weapon, he did flinch and leave an opening.

Lestel drove his axe into the man’s chest. The captain looked down in disbelief at the weapon embedded in him and dropped to his knees. Lestel kicked him off the axe and yanked it free.

Thud!

As the captain’s body fell backward, Ardelle charged forward and shouted,

“I’m finishing this one myself!”