Friday, August 20, 2004

Jako Suka Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Ambushed

The Josephine Empire stretched from the foothills of the Stygian Mountains all the way up to Kris Pass. Although Black Rosa was said to have many beautiful wonders, few outsiders saw them. To other nations the ways of Black Rosa was a mystery. Those mysteries had caused bloody wars. As Jako crossed an old bridge he couldn’t help from shuddering at the thought of having to fight men in these tight passes. The last war that the Josephine Empire was in proved that these narrow passages could be used to decimate enemy forces trying to invade. Crown General Adotswich of Pomall Republic proved how futile it would be to try siege against the Josephine Empires Crown Jewel.
The Fastest trail into the high mountain valleys that make up Josephines’ farming communities and cities, took five days of the hardest hiking a man could endure. Add to it that the trail wasn’t large enough for a horse and it was nearly impossible to attempt. The path that Ira was leading them on was four days longer than the trail Jako was thinking about. thinking about at least they got to keep their horses.
Something high above caught Jakos’ eye. A quick flicker of light that shouldn’t have been there. Jako quickly unlimbered his horse bow and knocked an arrow. The men next to him could tell something was wrong and quickly followed suit. Moments later an avalanche of boulders came down ahead of the coulomb at the same time men appeared with bows from up in the cliff.
Before any of the men on the cliff could draw an arrow, Jako shot the closest through the throat. This shot was all the signal Ira’s Company needed before they drew their small bows and shafts tore through the air. Seeing members of their number die before they could even make a shot, the bandits still standing retreated away from the cliff. Ira began issuing orders for men to stop their fire, but something didn’t seem right to Jako. When he began to hear dull thuds coming from up above. When he looked up he saw what made the low thudding sound.
“Take cover!” Jako yelled as he got off his horse and ran for the nearest overhang in the cliff wall. Men split in all directions as boulders and logs came tumbling down around them. Most of them managed to find a place of refuge, but it was impossible for all of them to make it to safety before the avalanche hit. Seeing the awful deaths of so many friends was like seeing hell unleashed. Turmoil followed as men began taking every crack and trail to escape slaughter of their dying friends in the canyon. As most of the dust cleared Jako looked for anyone close by. Four men had followed him into the safety of the overhang. Gathering them together Jako was about to go find the others when out of the dust came black clad warriors with black shawls covering all but their eyes.
Slowly Jako stepped forward, his left hand outstretched holding his horse bow for the nearest of the black clad men. When he went to give up his bow the figure stepped back and shook his head. Then he pointed to a man with a gold band around his forehead. Jako proceeded to move to the man he guessed was the leader. As he offered his horse bow with his left hand, Jako quickly slid his belt knife out of its sheath. That was signal for his men to make a distraction. Without warning all four charged the black clad figures to either side of Jako.
With their attention temporarily diverted Jako took that chance to bring the knife up and sheath it in the throat of their leader. With him out of the way Jako turned back for the others but stopped when he saw another flash of light come from the canyon edge.
“Back!” Jako yelled as he ran for the protection of the overhang. Not seeing what Jako saw his companions followed his orders at of pure reflex. The river of black became spotted with crimson as a volley of arrows came soaring down from the sky like rain in a thunderstorm. Jako began to knock an arrow as he gave orders, “We are now in hostile territory so shoot first and we will find out what the hell is going on later. If anything looks like it might be a threat......KILL IT!” Withe that said Jako began to move slowly out of the canyon. They managed three steps before one of the black clad men noticed their attempted departure.
“They mustn’t leave! Stop them. Stop them!” By the silver band on his head Jako new that he was an officer, although he had no clue as to his rank. The only thought was that he couldn’t be left alive if they expected to escape alive. When three shadows drew swords to follow his orders, Jako knew he was going to have to get bloody. Before they could take a step however a black clad warrior turned around and met them. To Jakos’ amazement the fourth clad figure drew a dagger and viciously sliced the leaders throat. Then drawing his sword with the right hand he threw the dagger at the man on the left. It made a little sound as it embedded itself in the mans shoulder.
Jumping over the nearly headless body of the leader, he swung low at the man on the far right, taking off a leg just below the shin. Without wasting movement the quick moving fighter kicked the black clad adversary in the middle with a quick heel to nose movement. Continuing his spinning motion he arched the sword in the air and brought it down through the V of the neck of the man trying to free a dagger form his shoulder. As stunned as Jako was to see this happen he new there potential allie was going to be overrun by the mass of clad warriors starting to surround him. Without a second thought Jako drew his sword and rushed into the fight.
Jakos’ first instincts were to try and take as many of the clad figures away from the rouge as possible. He soon found out that was a mistake. Quick movements saved Jako from losing his head, for soon he was fighting and dodging swords from all sides. The blades were coming closer then they should have as Jako realized that the warriors were better skilled then he had first thought. A pain from his side told him of a blade that got through his defenses without his knowledge. Like a spark on dry kindling, it ignited his rage. A mighty swing from his sword took off the hand holding a blood stained sword. Then a thrust into the heart killed the one armed man. Jako then blocked a perry that would have spilled his guts. Quickly kicking the hand away from the sword, Jako picked it up and went on the offensive. Using both swords as machetes Jako cut through the forest of black on his way to the rouges’ last known location.
After shoving a man with his bak turned Jako found himself in a circular clearing with occupied by dozens of dead bodies and one bloody figure standing ready for anyone to close the gap to it. As Jako looked at the carnage all around him, the thought of rescue was now a little funny. As he looked over to the bloody mess of a person standing ready in the middle of so much destruction Jako began to truly see the person behind the mask of death. The black shawl witch had been covering a exquisite young female face had been discarded sometime during the last battle. When those fierce green eyes met Jakos’ he saw a great hatred for all those that surrounded her. Her stance showed defiance in the face of eminent death. When he saw the ring of men step back at her glare Jako began to rumble with laughter.
Throughout the canyon the cries of men fighting and dying was drowned out by the rumble of laughter echoing off the sides of the canyon walls. One by one men stopped fighting as they turned to face the source of laughter. In a mater of moments all fighting had stopped as men listened to the laughter of one man. When Jako realized that he had all their attention he slowly walked over to the now stunned woman in the center of the circle. “Ye men of Josephine who’s mere name can make the most veteran of soldiers baulk. Your are said to be the most feared standing army in all of the known world. Yet, here I stand in the middle of a battle field and what do I see? One woman not only holds off hundreds of you, but she has slain over two score of you, without receiving more then a few scratches. To think that you dared try to capture me and my men!” As Jako finished, his laughter came up again.
After a few moments of stunned silence warriors pride brought the swords back up as hundreds of angry Josephines’ charged the man that disgraced their honor. As the men rushed in Jako saw something flying through the air. Quickly he dropped his extra sword and picked up a discarded shield. Placing himself in between the woman and the spear, he braced for impact. With the force of a sledgehammer the spear came down on the shield, penetrating five inches out of the back. With the added weight of the spear Jako was unable to use it efficiently. So dropping the shield Jako called back to the woman. “Do ya have a way out of this mess woman or do I have toto make one for us?” Before she could anser Jako had to cut down a man coming at them from the side.
Stealing a glance back Jako saw that she had his back. Together, backs nearly touching, Jako and the mysterious woman fended off the first wave of Josephine warriors.“If only we could reach that edge.” she yelled back as her sword cut through the tendons of a sword arm. “But there are to many of them for us to leave this space.” Jako turned at the cheerful sound in her voice. She looked around with a smile on her face. She was enjoying this. Amusement faded when she barley blocked a chop to her head. Before Jako could do anything to help her, she was sprayed with blood from the head of her attacker. At first Jako was confused as to what happened, but then when realization hit he had to grab her sword arm.
“Stop! Lets see who is coming.” Jako ordered when she tried to brake free to go back on the attack. Another clad warrior fell and Jako was serprised to find that he was face to face with a very disgruntled Tomas.
“These city shadows don’t even know how to make a decent fight.” Tomas said as he wiped his forehead. Behind him Jako could see Jakob and two other subordinates from Iras’ company doing their best to hack at any black form that moved. “Thought you could use a bit of help. Has anyone ever told you that your choice in insults is marvelous. Afer what you said they didn’t even bother with us. They all are staring at you.” As each man began to form a circle around the woman Jako took a good look at them. They all had a cut or two, but they looked to be in good fighting condition.
Not liking the idea of having them protect her the female warrior pushed past Jako and Jakob. “We need to go over to that ledge. There is a trail we could take to get out of here.”
“First tell us your name woman. I like to know who I fight beside.” Jakob yells as he hacks at one mans throat.
“If we make it out of here alive I will tell you. I will also tell your friend anything he wants to know.” Looking back at Jako she softly repeats “anything” before she goes back out into the fight. The difference in skill between Jakos’ party and the Josephine party was vast. Most of the attacks were met and broken up within a mater of seconds. Jako had begon to take this as a training exercise, but slowly the odds started wearing down his allies. More and more swords began getting through their defenses. Jako wasn’t doing much better.
“Aahhh! Take this you blood thirsty son of a tavern wench!” Jakos’ mighty swing took off the crown of the skull of a man that had been to lucky. His sword had come unnoticed from the right as Jako was focused on a man to the left. This made the third time an enemy sword had drawn his blood. Jako was getting aggravated. First Matthew, one of his companions, was taken out of action do to a lucky shot to his side. He was safe for now as he stayed closed to the middle of our small convoy. As it is he still dodged out from time to time so that he could get a quick stab at an un suspecting clad man. All the rest had numerous cuts and scratches from to many close calls. For what seemed an eternity they had fought taking only a few steps at a time, and now all their labor was beginning to pay off. Over the mass of heads Jako could see the ledge to the right.
“Double time men, the end is in sight.” to show his meaning Jako rushed through the throng of black and steel straight for the promised way out.
“Follow me. There’s a footpath that leads up out of the canyon. We will find my friends somewhere up there.” Jako ordered the others to do as she said as he took the rear position from Tomas.
“I’ll follow when Matthew is safely up top.” Jako yelled as he rushed into the oncoming horde of oncoming men. They all stopped when faced with Jako right in front of them. Those that tried to pass were slaughtered on the spot, the others tried in vain to retreat. Jako was having so much fun that he almost didn’t hear the voices calling for him. With a quick glance Jako saw that his companions were all safely at the top of the canyon and each had their horse bow ready for Jakos’ retreat. The thought of retreating against these week men angered Jako but if he didn’t they would eventually use their numbers to wear him down. Reluctantly Jako made his retreat.
Any man that tried to follow Jako up the footpath was struck down by a hail of arrows raining from the sky. At the top Jako found himself worn out. Without the imminent threat of death to push him his strength was beginning to fade. As they set out on their long hike Jakos’ rage ignited again at the thought of having to leave his horse. He could do nothing about it so for now he let it go.
“My name is Cassandra. I thank you all for your help. Before we go further I suggest we bandage any major wounds.” as she said this she quickly jogged off and took something from behind a brown bush. She came back with a small pack. Inside was a clean white dress that she proceeded to rip into long lengths of bandages. She first went to Matthew who was holding his side. After a few minutes taking care of his wounds she went to fix up the others. One by one all the wounds were treated until she came to Jako.
“Let me have a look at you.” she began to reach for a gash at Jakos’ arm when he pushed her away.
“Take care of your own wounds, I’ll be fine.” none of his wounds were to deep and he was aware that most of her bandages were gone. “You need them more then me.”
As she began to bandage her left arm she told them that her camp was about half a days walk away, and that it wouldn’t be wise to try to enter it in the night. So Jako decided to make up camp right were they were. The sun hung low to the west so Jako ordered Jakob to find fire wood. Then he went off to catch them something to eat for supper. When he came back it was dark and a small fire was his only marker of were they were. As he entered camp Charles, the fourth member of his group, came over and helped Jako carry the mountain goat over to the fire. Charles then took over the job of butchering the animal for its meat.
They all ate in silence and as Jako gave out sentry duty Cassandra said, “I need to talk to you. We need to talk about my cause. You don’t know how brutal the Josephine soldiers are. We live in constant fear that they will come to our villages and slaughter us for their sadistic amusement.”
“We will talk about it on the trip to your camp tomorrow. Right now I’m going to sleep. Someone make sure to put out the fire. We don’t need to get ambushed tonight while we sleep.” With that said, Jako found himself a place to ley down and sleep. But sleep came wearily. Something Cassandra said had brought up old memories of home. From before the night Lord Bartholomew came and took his childhood away. No mater where he goes, Jako always seems to find others suffering the same fate. He would have to put an end to this, he new. How many men would he kill before he could leave this land. How many more scars would he have when the fight was over. As sleep overcame him, Jakos’ last thoughts were about Lord Bartholomew, and he wondered where the man was hiding.
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