Welcome to my seemingly endless journey.
A trip that will take you to places I might have visited many moons ago.
It´s a tale that came back to me when I meditated on one of my past lives. A life I told you about in my unbelievable true story.
As promised in that story I will now share this story with you.
Chapter 82
"In sword fighting, we are at a disadvantage, not only numerically but probably also in skill. The only way to get out of here alive is to reach the other side of the bridge as quickly as possible."
"If I count well, there are twelve of them. Knowing my forces, that might be the case, the emerald hell might have gotten some of them. It's just a shame that there weren't enough of them. But it seems to me that they will not take any chances and will meet us with all the manpower they have. There is no point in putting one or two men on guard; there are too few of them for that. In addition, they will not assume that we will survive, let alone escape."
"We must spread out in a semicircle. Cabilah and Numico will be on the outside, Retsj and Mart a position further inside, and I will be the center. Make sure they see me first. Don't show up until they're quite a distance from the bridge. Then it's a matter of running for the outer two. When they seem to reach the bridge, it is Retsj and Mart's turn. I will try to divert attention so that you can reach the bridge safely.”
Cabilah opens her mouth to speak, but Reiko cuts her off. “There's no time for discussion, sis, it's all or nothing,” he says, his eyes fixed on the ledge. “Now they are running downhill.”
We spread out as directed by Reiko. Using everything that obscures us from view, we move cautiously toward the open space that needs to be crossed as unnoticed as possible.
Even though we are not trained, everyone is performing unexpectedly well. Even Retsj manages to hide his enormous body from view regularly. As I take cover in the nearest sheltered spot, I see only the scout waiting at the rope bridge. I try to estimate each person's position. Having an idea of their locations might be useful if the need arises, allowing me to quickly offer or ask for help.
I have a hunch where Cabilah is hiding, but Numico seems to have vanished into thin air. Retsj positions himself a little further behind the first ruin they have to pass. The only one not completely covered is Reiko, his upper body rising above a low rock formation. The bow is ready in his hands. The distance between him and the scout is less than a hundred paces, just enough for a skilled archer.
It's a matter of seconds before the scout will spot him if he shoots now...
But Reiko doesn't shoot, and the scout sees the armed man with the arrow aimed at him. The platform on which he stands provides no cover. The scout throws himself on his stomach, gaining a few moments, as a slight adjustment of Reiko's position is sufficient to focus on the soldier again.
Yet, he still doesn't shoot.
What is it?
Doesn't he dare?
Is it a friend?
Can't he shoot his own troops?
The scout, feeling the point of the arrow burning on his head, tries to rush towards the stairs. Then the first of the group that has started the descent arrives, with the next in his wake. Before the man in front knows anything, Reiko's arrow pierces his skull; he staggers and falls into the depths.
The scout gestures to Reiko's position. People are speaking, and for a moment, doubt crosses the eyes of the man who walked behind the dead soldier. At that moment, the scout gets to his feet and sprints across the rope bridge. The man behind him follows his eyes constantly on Reiko's position.
One by one, they now run across the rope bridge. The scout who is the first to set foot on solid land must regret this. My arrow pierces his left thigh; he falls to his knees. Before he gets up again, Reiko drives his second arrow deep into the skull through the right eye.
The man falls forward. The end of the arrow hits the ground first, drilling even deeper into the scout's brain. The forward fall was not hard enough to pierce the skull. Now the upper body hangs a few centimeters above the ground. The head rests on the back of the arrow. The man remains balanced like this for a moment before his head turns, and his cheek touches the earth.
I hear an arrow fly over my head, and when I look at the soldiers on the bridge, I see the nearest one shrinking, putting his hands on his knee. Numico must be in a tree somewhere. Smart move, I think as I release the tendon to give the man, who still has his hands wrapped around his knee, one last painkiller. My arrow hits him square in the chest.
The other three try to get to safety as quickly as possible. They run in Reiko's direction and almost reach the place where Retsj is hiding. The forest giant is not a mighty swordsman. I even doubt for a moment whether he will be able to kill. It remains something he does not support, but in this case, it is a dire necessity.
