Monday, September 6, 2021

The Dragon Swordmaster - 6

The Eastern Scourge

Iron helmets glistening in the early morning sun, a thousand troops marched westward from the Eastern Empire. They held their weapons high above their heads as they crossed the River Tarragon. Fish struggled against the strong current in an effort to escape the crossing horde. Ahead of them lay the hills of Weston. It would be near nightfall when they would breach the woods that bordered the castle lands.

The chainmail over their leather tunics clinked as the swordmasters marched up the slope. Their buckled broadswords, whose scabbards bore the Imperial crest, slapped their sides with a steady beat. Behind the swordmasters, several rows of archers carried full quivers of one hundred arrows each. They would remain ready within the woods until called for.

An envoy travelled ahead with a missive from the Lord of Weston Manor. As she entered the wood, she was set upon by assassins. The first drew a knife attempting to stab her, but she quickly disarmed him. A second sought to slay her with a crossbow. She swatted the missile out of the air with her sword, only to be set upon again by the knife-wielder. She met his second run with the edge of her sword. Taking his blade, she took careful aim at the sniper in the trees. After dodging a second bolt, she launched the knife, felling him.

Attempting to move forward, she faced two swordsmen. She skillfully dodged each thrust and met each parry in a match that lasted for the better part of an hour. The first opponent went down after a skillful slice to his throat. The second opponent, she ran her sword through his heart. She arrived at the castle at the midday hour.


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