Vol.3 Ch.204 The Ambush.
<span ss="userText">"Oh, wow. That''s some storm," Dalia remarked as she looked out the window watching the knights on horseback<span ss="aiText"> trying their best not to get drenched.
''Damn... I feel bad for them. Is there anything I can do to help?... Well, I think I have an idea.'' Rya thought as she knew of a new spell she wanted to use. So she started to channel her mana into her hands before motioning them with a series of gestures, forming aplex pattern that shimmered with arcane power.
''me Familiar'' Rya said in her mind as she used wordless casting.
<span ss="userText">***
A momentter, the air in front of the knights started to spark and flicker before a fiery humanoid figure spawned in front of all of them. The knights were startled by the appearance of me creatures but quickly realized that it was a familiar.
<span ss="userText">"Who cast this spell?" Sir Richard asked out loud.
<span ss="userText">General Dous looked into the carriage window and saw Rya waving at them<span ss="aiText">.
"It''s alright. Lady Rya cast the spell," The General said out loud to his men.
<span ss="aiText">The knights felt better, <span ss="userText">as the familiars prevented the rain from hitting their faces and were getting warmed up<span ss="aiText"> by the me.
The knights sighed with relief before continuing to follow the General''s orders. They appreciated the extra protection against the weather that the me familiars were providing. Rya''s gesture to the knights didn''t go unnoticed, most mages wouldn''t bother helping them in such a way.
<span ss="aiText">The me familiar was the result of the first intermediate-ranked spell Rya learned while reading <span ss="editText">a<span ss="aiText"> magic book<span ss="editText"> in the library of the Mage''s Guild, back at Ironside<span ss="aiText">. It was a spell that created a creature made from mes<span ss="editText"> that would act as a torch and it would ram itse<span ss="undoDeletionText">lf int<span ss="aiText">o a nearby enemy if provoked. The familiar could also create a fiery explosion after taking enough damage.
''It''s a nice change to see a mage helping themon folk like that... She''s proven me wrong in so many ways already, she''s nothing like what I expected... Quinus! You lucky bastard! How''d you pull off finding a gem like her?... Damn! Why can''t I find a woman like that?'' The General thought as his jealousy of his prince took hold for a brief moment. Luckily the rain was hiding his tears from the world.
<span ss="aiText">"I can''t thank Lady Rya enough for this. I thought I was going to freeze my ass off," one knight said.
<span ss="aiText">"Tell her, we appreciate the warmth," another knight said.
<span ss="userText">"Thank herter! We need to make it through<span ss="aiText"> this storm," Sir Richard scolded.
<span ss="aiText">"Aye, sir," the knights said.
<span ss="aiText">"Let''s pick up the pace, men," Sir Richard ordered.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, sir," the knights yelled.
<span ss="aiText">
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">
As the convoy moved through the storm, the Duke''s men were waiting down the road where the forest was thicker. c was looking over the road as the rain was beating down hard on them.
They were lucky enough to catch up to the Prince''s convoy which stopped in the town of Edermines City. But instead of staying in the town, they decided to go ahead of them while leaving a scout behind to make sure they would take Eldridge Road which went through the forest. And luckily for c. He and his men stumbled across a sizable group of brigands. This group wanted to rob c and his men at first. But they turned the tables on them and once c took down a few of their leaders, then the rest of the bandits surrendered and agreed to c''s demands to be the new leader of their group.
c knew it was a risky move to trust a group of bandits. But he had no other choice. He needed canon fodder to draw the knights away from the caravan. But to his surprise, this group knew a few other brigands in the area. They were all working together to rob the wealthy nobles and merchants that used these roads.
<span ss="userText">''These bandits are quite organized. They have some military training. So they aren''t amateurs.'' c thought as he witnessed<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> the bandit''s battle formations.
<span ss="userText">So c offered gold for the other<span ss="aiText"> bandit groups to join him in the raid. And most of them were eager to take part in the ambush. And they were happy that they would be getting gold and whatever valuables the caravan had.<span ss="userText"> Soon they gathered almost 150 men<span ss="aiText"> in total.
<span ss="aiText">The n was for the main group of bandits to attack the caravan head-on. And the others would ambush them from behind. c would <span ss="editText">lead <span ss="aiText">the <span ss="editText">main group <span ss="aiText">of <span ss="editText">100 <span ss="userText">men to get the attention of Rya and the Prince. Then when they<span ss="aiText">''re busy dealing with the main group, the others will attack from behind<span ss="userText">. The real objective is to kill the young Lord, Johan Dule. He had no mana vein and he wouldn''t be a part of Prince Quinus'' assault<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">The goal was to get a new Major Noble in power so Duke ric could gain<span ss="aiText"> more influence and power<span ss="userText"> over the court. His goal is to weaken Marquess Duval''s control over parliament<span ss="aiText"> and the court. The <span ss="editText">Prime Minister <span ss="aiText">would have no choice but to listen to him<span ss="userText"> if he was to keep his position.
<span ss="userText">"Damn, this is a horrible day for an ambush," a soldier cursed.
<span ss="userText">"Yeah, the gods are clearly against us," another soldier said.
"Shut up! The rain is giving us cover! This makes it better to ambush them. We can get the job done and be gone before they can get help," c growled.
<span ss="userText">"Y-Yeah, sorry boss," the soldiers apologized.
<span ss="userText">c didn''t reply as he observed the dirt road. He was patiently waiting to see any signs of the convoy. He watched the road for quite some time until Doug came hurrying over from behind him.
<span ss="userText">"The convoy is less than a mile away... It seems that their mage has been kind enough to give every one of their knights a me Familiar... It''s making it easier for us to spot those idiots. Killing that weak bastard is as good as done," Doug said excitedly.
<span ss="userText">"Don''t get too cocky, Doug... We still need to distract their strongest warriors so Lord Dule is left alone with only his personal guards. He''s the real prize here and we can''t afford to mess this up. Understood," c ordered.
<span ss="userText">"Yes, sir," Doug said with a confident smile.
<span ss="editText">"Doug, make sure you take the lead with the fifty men on the southern side of the road. I''ll lead the main group on the north and when they are in range<span ss="aiText">, we will <span ss="editText">unl<span ss="userText">eash<span ss="aiText"> he<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">ll... S<span ss="aiText">tay hidden ande out when it''s time," c said.
"I know, I know... Don''t worry. We''ll make our move when we see the dark el~ I mean when we see the mage focused on your group. Just make sure you really get her attention... Or this n will go belly up," Doug said with a sinister look.
<span ss="userText">"Have I ever failed in the past?" c asked in a cold tone.
<span ss="aiText">"No... That''s why I trust you to lead us. Just be careful with the bitch," Doug said.
"I''m not underestimating her. So, you don''t have to worry about me. I''ll get her attention. You just focus on getting the job done. We don''t have time to waste. The Duke is counting on us," c said.
<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">"You got it, boss. Let''s move out," Doug said as he gave the signal to his men to take their positions before the caravan got closer.
<span ss="userText">
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">
<span ss="userText">It took about fifteen minutes before the glow of the me Familiars could be seen through the thick forest.
<span ss="userText">"Get ready, men. It''s time to earn our pay," Doug yelled.
<span ss="userText">"Haha! We''ll have a good time," a soldier cheered.
<span ss="userText">"Shut the hell up and focus," Doug hissed.
On the northern side of the road, c watched as the convoy came closer, "Men! Get ready to spring the trap," c shouted.
<span ss="userText">"Sir, yes, sir," the soldiers yelled.
<span ss="userText">"Make sure you get your bows ready," c ordered.
<span ss="userText">The soldiers all drew their bows. Waiting<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> for c''smand to unleash their volley of arrows.
<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">Soon the convoy of knights on horseback appeared on the road and they were riding close together. c could see that the me Familiars were being used as a shield against the rain.
<span ss="userText">As the convoy moved closer, the bandits began to ready themselves, and they were itching to<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> kill and loot.
<span ss="userText">''That''s it... Just a little closer<span ss="aiText">,'' c thought.
<span ss="aiText">Finally, the caravan passed by, and the bandits unleashed their volley of arrows.
<span ss="aiText">"FIRE!" c roared.
<span ss="aiText">Arrows rained down from the forest<span ss="userText"> while another group of bandits released twenty logs<span ss="aiText"> down the hill.<span ss="userText"> The arrow stuck into the horses while the lead knights smashed into the logs causing them to tumble to the ground.
<span ss="editText">''This is going better than I thought! We might kill the Prince as well!... Gah! Don''t get ahead of yourself! That elf can heal anyone so don''t be surprised if the prince is fine,'' c thought while he watched the arrows continue to<span ss="aiText"> fly.
The me Familiars went out, as they were riddled with arrows. The knights tried their best to avoid the iing volleys until the bandits exhausted their supplies. c ordered his men to charge at the convoy and the bandits who were hiding on the southern side did the same.
<span ss="aiText">''This is it!''
<span ss="aiText">"ATTACK!" c roared.
<span ss="editText">The bandits surged from the forest and charged towards the convoy. And when they came out to the clearing<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, they were shocked to see something they weren''t expecting. The bandits on the northern side were the first to be greeted by these strange horses that they had never seen before.
<span ss="userText">"What the hell<span ss="aiText"> are those?" one bandit shouted.
<span ss="aiText">"They look like <span ss="userText">horses... But they look like they are made of stone and mud?"<span ss="aiText"> another bandit said.
These earth horses had mud dummies riding on them and their bodies had these weird pyramid rocks lining all around their sides. c was the first to realize what these were but he was toote to respond.
''Golems! We''ve been tricked!'' c thought as the Mud Golems charged at the bandits.
<span ss="userText">The bandits panicked and broke formation.
<span ss="userText">"RETREAT! RETREAT!"
<span ss="userText">But it was toote as the first horse exploded sending those pyramid rocks flying<span ss="aiText"> into the crowd of bandits.
The rocks exploded into a hail of spikes that impaled dozens of bandits and vaporized ten of the closest men as a mist of blood filled the air.
"AAAHHH!"
<span ss="aiText">"What the hell was that?" a bandit screamed.
"Shit! They''re attacking us with exploding horses!" another bandit yelled.
<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">The second golem charged at another group of bandits and <span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">it exploded<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">, s<span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">howering them with spikes.
<span ss="aiText">''Damn! Damn! DAMN, IT ALL! We don''t have a choice now!'' c cursed, <span ss="aiText">"EVERYONE! FALL BACK! FALL BACK!" c ordered.
<span ss="userText">*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Thest of the horses exploded, killing about forty more men and wounding countless more. The bandits were in disarray after feeling the shock of this strange trap.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">What the hell were these<span ss="aiText"> things?!" one soldier yelled.
Before anyone could answer him, the bandits heard a few horses neighing in the distance. The survivors turned to witness their horror as they saw twenty knights on horseback staring them down with their swords out.
<span ss="editText">General Dous could only smirk at Rya''s brilliant idea. He didn''t know this kind of spell or enchantment could draw enemy fire and then <span ss="userText">explode when their guard was down<span ss="aiText">. The fact that the Golems <span ss="editText">mimicked their horse<span ss="aiText">s made it the perfect distraction and a deadly weapon<span ss="retryDeletionText">.
<span ss="aiText">''<span ss="editText">Lady <span ss="aiText">Rya, you never cease to impress me<span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.<span ss="userText"> It''s a miracle that the Prince somehow got her to<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> marry him... He better not make her mad or I won''t be able to help him,'' Dous chuckled to himself.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">She''s a fierce<span ss="aiText"> woman," General Dous said with a smile.
"That she is, sir," Sir Bret said.
<span ss="aiText">"What are your orders, sir?" another knight asked.
<span ss="aiText">"What we are paid to do gentlemen! We''re going to crush them. Charge," General Dous ordered as he held his sword out.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, sir!" the knights roared.
"Charge!" Sir Bret yelled.
"Kill them before they get away!" Another Knight growled.
<span ss="aiText">"y the bandits!"
"For the crown!" Hollered the rest of the knights.
<span ss="userText">The Royal Knights charged at the surviving<span ss="aiText"> bandits <span ss="editText">who were still in the middle of the roa<span ss="aiText">d.<span ss="userText"> General Dous had to chuckle as he saw the bandit''s leader retreat into the woods with a few of his men. Where they were running<span ss="aiText"> was irrelevant because <span ss="editText">Rya''s golems would f<span ss="aiText">in<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText"> them a<span ss="editText">nd dealing with them was a fate worse than <span ss="editText">death.
"Looks like Lady Rya and the Prince''s n worked. Hah hah! Let''s finish off the stragglers, men! We can''t let Her Ladyship''s efforts be in vain," Dous shouted.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, sir!" the knights roared as they<span ss="aiText"><span ss="editText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">smashed into<span ss="aiText"> the bandits and a fierce battle was waged. The knights were far superior warriors and were stronger than the bandits<span ss="editText"> who were mostly wounded by Rya''s magic<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="editText">It wouldn''t take long befor<span ss="aiText">e the<span ss="editText">y<span ss="aiText"> would finish the fight and return to the caravan.
<span ss="aiText">
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">
<span ss="userText">About a half mile back from where the failed ambush took ce. Rya, Quinus, and the rest of the convoy who stayed behind were waiting for Dous and his men<span ss="aiText"> to return.
<span ss="aiText">"I hope Sir Dous is alright," Johan said.
<span ss="aiText">"Don''t worry. <span ss="userText">Lady Rya has her golems sneaking through the forest. None of those bastards will make it out alive," Sir George smirked.
Most of the party was standing under a rock canopy that Rya created so they could stay dry while Rya had her eyes closed and held her arms out so she could perceive what her golems were seeing.
<span ss="rounded transition-colors ease-in-out duration-100 editor-block-inner bg-amber-200">"Well, I can''t take all the credit. If it wasn''t for Dalia''s amazing sense of smell. I wouldn''t have been able to tell which direction the bandits wereing from. And then Quin came up with the idea of making the golems," Rya smiled.
<span ss="aiText">"I''m sure you''re giving yourself too little credit.<span ss="userText"> But I have to wonder who sent<span ss="aiText"> the bandits?" <span ss="editText">Johan<span ss="aiText"> asked.
<span ss="aiText">"Probably my uncle.<span ss="userText">.. Hey Rya? Do you think you can capture their leader<span ss="aiText"> alive?" Quinus asked.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">I will see what I can do<span ss="aiText">," Rya said as she focused on the battle.
<span ss="userText">Percy looked over at Dalia who was pouting<span ss="aiText">. He chuckled, "<span ss="userText">You really wanted to fight them<span ss="aiText">, huh?"
<span ss="aiText">"Yes," Dalia huffed.
<span ss="aiText">"Don''t worry. I''m sure you''ll get the chance to kill some more bandits in the future," Percy smirked.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">But why not now!?<span ss="aiText"> It''s not fair!" Daliained.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Dalia?... You might be pregnant and it''s not worth risking it unless it is necessary," Rya<span ss="aiText"> said.
<span ss="aiText">Dalia''s face went red<span ss="userText">, "But it could be fat! And what better<span ss="aiText"> way to burn off the calories than fighting? I want to fight! I want to fight!" Dalia whined.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">No, Dalia<span ss="aiText">. We''ll talk about it when we get <span ss="editText">to the capital<span ss="aiText">," Rya said firmly.
The wolfkin wanted to argue but she knew that toneing from Rya''s voice. She would have to wait to have this discussionter with her Chieftain.
<span ss="aiText">"Haaaah... Okay, fine," Dalia pouted<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="userText">Niere<span ss="editText">n <span ss="aiText">was trying not tough, but the look on Dalia''s face was too cute. She''s never seen someone act this way before.
''This is hrious!... I know this wolfkin is annoying most of the time, but I''m starting to understand why Rya is friends with her... Heck, I''m starting to take a liking to her myself,'' Nieren thought.
<span ss="userText">Out of everyone who was underneath the canopy, it was Tayna who was bored. She didn''t like the fact that her shoes were getting wet and dirty<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Tayna? Are you okay?" Johan asked.
<span ss="aiText">"Just dandy," Tayna growled.
<span ss="editText">Johan wasn''t an idiot, he knew his wife<span ss="aiText"> was upset <span ss="editText">about standing around in the mud and it was his idea to bring her<span ss="aiText"> along<span ss="editText"> when she wished to stay in the carriage<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.
<span ss="aiText">"I<span ss="editText"> can send you with one of our guards<span ss="aiText"> to get you <span ss="editText">back to<span ss="aiText"> the carriage," Johan said.
"I would appreciate that, love," Tayna said with a smile.
<span ss="aiText">Johan nodded, "<span ss="userText">Gyst,<span ss="aiText"> please escort Lady Tayna to the carriage."
<span ss="userText">"Yes, sir," Gyst bowed as he held up a device that was simr to an umbre so Tayna could get back to the carriage without getting<span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText"> wet.
Johan just smiled before turning his attention back to the road. He wished he could see the battle but all he could do was listen to the conflict from a distance. And he could barely hear the skirmish through the sound of all the rain hitting the canopy.
''I wish I could be of more help,'' Johan thought as he looked down at his legs. He thought he was so close to casting Shadow Self. But he always did something wrong before casting it.
''Haah... Stop beating yourself up, Johan. You just found out that you were a mage a day ago. Not everyone gets it right away. You will get there. You just have to believe in yourself,'' Johan thought as he looked up. The group was all waiting for the sounds of battle to end so they could rx and return to their journey.