Ona. Bring down, he ordered.
The panther gave an enormous leap with her hind legs and fell on the mercenary leader with tremendous force. The woman was thrown forward as the leader fell to the ground under the force of the impact. Lasgol ran to the woman, grabbed her by the arms and pulled her back, then took out his Ranger knife and axe. With a massive heave the leader pushed Ona back with his arm and shoulder, so that she fell on her back. He stood up and grasped his scimitar.
Ona. Watch, Lasgol ordered, so that she would not attack but remain on guard. He did not want the mercenary to hurt her.
“I’m waiting for you, big man,” Lasgol said. He showed him his weapons with a gesture of total indifference, as if he did not fear him at all, which was very far from the truth. He knew he was in a weak position in close combat with that enormous Nocean. But at the same time, he had his Gift and his two partners.
Apparently the man did not understand Norghanian, but on the other hand he understood that disdainful pose perfectly well. He lunged at him, slashing to right and left. Lasgol slid to one side and thanks to his enhanced reflexes, allowed the sword to pass him by without touching him.
He could not see Camu, but he knew he must be close at hand. Camu, bring down, he ordered.
Suddenly the huge warrior was unexpectedly butted in the back by something invisible, and fell forward. He struggled to his knees.
Ona. Bring down.
The panther gave another enormous leap, and before the man could get back to his feet and recover, she fell on him and pushed him over again. Lasgol, wasting no time, ran to the mercenary while he was still trying to stand up, cursing. Being so big had many advantages in combat, but not when getting back on his feet, and Lasgol seized his chance. The mercenary dodged his axe with his own scimitar, but he could not block the knife, which buried itself in his throat. Wide-eyed, he stared back at Lasgol, who pulled out his knife and moved back rapidly, at the same time gesturing Ona to move away too. The Nocean dropped his sword, put his hands to his throat and stepped back. Despair showed on his face as he realized that the wound was deadly. After a moment he fell dead to one side.
Very nice bit of work, both of you! Lasgol told his two friends.
Easy job, Camu transmitted with a feeling that was half one of joy, half one of pride in what they had achieved. Ona chirped in acknowledgement.
That certainly wasn’t easy. That poor woman nearly didn’t make it. Things got very complicated, as I was afraid they would.
You not release.
I couldn’t see it clearly. I was very worried about the knife at her neck. If I didn’t kill him instantly, he was going to cut her throat. I didn’t think I could cause death so instantly with a single shot, and if I didn’t, the woman would’ve died. It was too risky.
Put bow down, more risk.
Yeah, it wasn’t the best possible strategy, but it worked.
Ona complained with a moan. She had been equally unhappy about the way he had lowered his bow.
Let’s hope next time I can come up with something better …
Yeah, better, Camu agreed.
Maybe we ought to prepare ourselves to face situations like this …
Fun.
Lasgol was about to tell him there was no fun involved, but after how well they had done, he could not bring himself to.
You’re fantastic, he said gratefully.
I fantastic.
And so is Ona.
Ona second fantastic.
Ona moaned in protest.
You’re impossible, Camu.
I possible.
Lasgol shook his head and rolled his eyes.
The farmer families were hugging one another, glad to have come out of their desperate situation alive, even though nothing would wipe away the terror they had felt in their souls, or their grief over their dead relatives. The woman whose life Lasgol had saved came to him and took his hands.
“Thank you … so much …” she muttered, part-terrified, part-grateful.
“You’re welcome,” he said reassuringly. “It’s over now.”
“Thank you, Ranger, you’ve saved us all,” said one of the elderly farmers, who must have been over seventy.
“It’s my duty as a Ranger,” Lasgol replied. Seeing their grateful faces, he felt deep pride in being a Ranger and being able to defend those in need.
“If it hadn’t been for your help …” said the young woman who had been dragged into the farm. She still looked terrified. Her little brother hugged her tightly.
Lasgol was looking sadly at the murdered farmers. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”
“They were good men,” the blonde woman said. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her frock. “They tried to defend us.”
“They killed them … as if their lives were worthless,” the brown-haired girl said. She was in tears. “They didn’t deserve to die like that. They didn’t know how
