A Soldier's Life - 377 - Guild Hunters (edited 4-15-25 +200 words)

Chapter 377: Guild Hunters

“They cooked the stag beetle with fire magic,” Castile announced unceremoniously. “I am guessing at least four mages in the group—one of their scouts was severely injured by the beetle, but I believe one of the mages is a healer.” She paused. “Never mind, he bled out before they could heal him. They are arguing, but I am too far away to overhear.”

Castile had a limited range on her spell. It helped that they were in the open on a clear day, but still, five miles was a vast distance. A heat built inside my armor, telling me they were now trying to find us. Castile blinked rapidly, coming back to herself, “It takes too much of my aether to see so far.” She reached into her armor, downed one of my aether restoratives, and looked around at the group. All eyes turned to me, including Castile. I hated being the one to make decisions that could result in the deaths of others. I stalled, handing Castile two more of the potions, and gave Selene her second. I had a feeling the mages were going to need it.

Reluctantly, I handed one to Lesna, who looked confused at the offering. “It is a minor aether restorative potion.” Her eyes bulged comically as the potion disappeared into her clothes.

I spoke seriously. “We can’t outrun them; they are all mounted. They won't take long to push past the stag beetle nest, and then it would only be a matter of time.” I looked over our people, “there are nine and a half of us and thirteen of them.” Lesna narrowed her eyes at me in mock indignation. I hadn’t counted Lexi or Evie. “I think if we can find a defensible position, and we will have the advantage.” I turned to Benito, and a beautiful bow and full quiver appeared in my hand. Benito came forward and took it with a grateful nod.

The shock of my space was wearing off, as no one had been surprised. Sylph spoke, “Got another for me? I'm decent with a bow.” 

“I only have one other bow, and I will use it. But if they come in range, I will engage and leave the bow for you,” I answered her.

Everyone understood what was about to happen as we climbed a grassy hill nearby. We staked the horses on the far side at the top. The horses were happy to graze and rest. I slipped Ginger an apple and told her not to worry. I gave Blaze the spyglass to keep watch for their approach. I thought our odds were excellent with the high ground and a mage that could unweave spells at a distance.

As we waited, Castile approached me and spoke softly. “We can still outrun them. Put the otherworlders into your space.” I glanced at the anxious women and children. I considered that it wasn't a crazy idea. I was trying to build trust, but you couldn’t build trust with a dead person. Moreover, not having to keep track of the children in a fight would be welcome.

I nodded to Castile and approached Karina, who was staring into the distance. “Karina. I would like your permission to put Evie and Lexi somewhere safe.” Her confused look had me explain further. “My space is large enough to hold them. If you are concerned about their safety, you can talk to Selene. She spent two months inside, and no time passed for her.”

She went to talk with Selene, but doubt lingered on her face when she returned. “If you’re lying to me—let’s just say you won’t like me when I’m angry.” I coughed at the reference, and we both smirked, breaking the tension. I didn’t tell her that after I stored the children, I planned to do the same with Anika and her. Then, we could outrun the adventurers and get them all to safety.

Karina knelt down and spoke to the two girls to explain. Lexi argued that she could heal and would be valuable in a fight. Evie remained quiet, but a fierce determination to help shone through her as well. Eventually, Karina turned to me, nodding, and I approached. I tried to sound reassuring. “No time will pass for you, and I will keep out of harm’s way.”

I attempted to move Lexi to my dimensional space first. I was stunned when the auburn-haired girl resisted and stumbled back like I had been kicked. Lexi winced as well, but I don’t think she understood what I had just tried to do. Of course, Lexi would make this problematic. Everyone was concerned and confused by my reaction. I waved them off. I took one of my aether restoratives, regained my composure, and tried to move Evie. 

This time, I was successful, and Evie disappeared. My aether channels burned from using twice my aether pool in less than a minute, a warning I was treading dangerous ground and needed some time before using aether again. 

A bit relieved, I addressed Karina, Anika, and Lexi as I drank another potion. They looked a little panicked at Evie’s disappearance, while my companions just looked stunned, especially Lesna; as this was her first time seeing my ability. “Lexi is too strong. I wasn’t able to overcome her innate resistance, but Evie is safe.” I knew the answer, but I asked the women anyway. “You can join Evie.”

“Not unless Lexi can join us,” Karina said steadfastly. I knew they wouldn’t leave her behind and sighed.

Blaze, being a bit of a wiseass and breaking the tension a bit, said resignedly, “I will volunteer to watch Evie.”

I ignored Blaze’s quip and addressed Karina. “I understand; you two stay behind us, guarding Lexi, and ensure the horses do not bolt when the fighting starts.” They didn’t object, and if things went south, they could try to flee on the horses. We did what we could to build some quick defenses on the hilltop. 

“I see them,” Blaze informed us a short while later. “Thirteen mounted, two on each flank screening.” They disappeared and came into view as they rode the waves of the hills. They could clearly see us and were coming straight at us. Blaze handed me back the spyglass when they were just a mile away. I stored it, brought out my bow, and stuck a row of arrows in the dirt in front of me. Blaze was on my left, and Benito was on my right. Castile and Selene were directly behind us, ready to shield us with their magic.

The adventurers slowed their approach and halted at the base of the hill, roughly sixty yards from our position. The large bald man, with deeply tanned, leathery skin, appeared too large for his mount. His square jaw and fierce eyes conveyed that he was here for revenge and not to talk. I assumed this was Samael. My gaze shifted to the rest of his group, and I identified the likely men whom Castile had believed were mages.

Two slender figures in loose, brightly colored clothing. I could tell they were uncomfortable in their saddles, likely unaccustomed to pushing so hard for so long. The third was the only woman in the group; her pointed ears hinted at elven heritage, and her eyes were intently studying our line. However, it was the fourth mage who spoke. He wore heavy robes but didn’t appear hot under the rising sun; his face was beginning to show signs of age, and his black hair was streaked with gray. It took us a moment to realize that Elvish was a common language. “I am Kadmiel.” He said it pompously, like I should know who he was. “Quite the chase you gave us, but it is at an end. Give us the otherworlders, and you may continue whole and uninjured.”

I knew enough about guild etiquette to reply with some snark. “We have accepted an assignment to escort them to Shiunyuet lands.” When there were competing contracts or adventuring groups were pursuing the same contract, usually the second group to arrive would back down.

He offered a tight smile. “That doesn’t quite work for us. This brute has to settle accounts, and I am here for a necromancer bounty.” His eyes glanced past me at Karina, Anika, and Lexi. He tilted his head, seeming confused. Did he already know Evie was the one with necromancy? Well, he wouldn’t find her unless he killed me first.

Lesna’s hushed voice spoke from my right, “I heard of Kadmiel in the Adventurer’s Hall. He never takes his bounties alive.” 

That was the impression I was getting as well. The thin mages looked a little saddle-weary, but everyone else looked seasoned and prepared for a fight. “There are no necromancers here. But if I run into one, I will surely let you know. You should try back the way you came—maybe you missed them.” 

Three of his riders had crossbows, and I didn’t see any other ranged weapons among them. The crossbows were loaded but would be extremely difficult to reload from horseback. I had tried his patience and the conversation was abruptly cut off as all three crossbowmen swung off their mounts and fired in a single motion. All three bolts were aimed at me; one fell short, but the other two were on target. My aether shield didn’t flash; instead, Selene’s water shield covered me. However, that attack prompted Samael and five other men to kick in their heels and charge up the hill. I guess we were done talking.

Blaze and Benito released their first arrows at the elven mage. Castile had told them she was the fire mage, and both arrows turned to ash before reaching her. My target was one of the fastest riders, who had lowered a thin lance as he charged up the hill. His armor consisted of metal plates connected by leather straps. It was not enough to stop the heavy shaft as I struck him mid-sternum. You didn’t need much penetration to cause serious damage to a rider, and he rolled from his horse, clutching the shaft in a pained scream.

Benito and Blaze had already switched to target the light calvary charge. I released two more arrows at one of the mounted swordsmen before he rolled from the saddle as well. Blaze had taken down three men with rapid, well-placed arrows, while Benito had only scored hits on Samael so far. The angry bald adventurer had two arrows in his thick leather armor but looked unfazed as he reached the top of the hill. His horse’s legs suddenly crashed into the narrow pit covered with Lesna’s illusion, probably breaking its leg by the loud crack. Samael managed to roll off the mount and to his feet on the other side of the pit. I tossed the bow behind me and drew magebane.

Only Samael and one other swordsman had reached us. The others were likely alive, but needed healing to rejoin the fight. Helena’s spear deflected Samael’s heavy swing as she intercepted him. The hilltop was suddenly engulfed in a rain of fire. Pellets of fire bounced off armor and burned as they fell around us. They were not deadly, but they did prevent Selene from being able to shield us, and they triggered my aether shield as well. It was an effective attack to wash away our defenses.

As the grass beneath also started to smoke and burn, a crossbow bolt suddenly appeared in my gut—Selene’s defensive magic had been temporarily unavailable due to the fire rain. The smoke and fire heightened the chaos of the fight. I cursed as the battle was turning away from our favor. The opposition had just what they wanted: four mages and three crossbowmen able to attack from a distance while we were distracted. I knew Castile was doing her best to keep the mages in check. Suddenly, Anika came forward and skewered the swordsman through the back of the neck, turning the tide. Samael was now fighting us alone, but his numerous wounds hadn’t slowed him.

I threw a handful of smoke pellets down the hill, hoping at least a few would break open and give us time to regroup. I then pulled the bolt from my abs and tried to get the internal bleeding under control. Samael was soon surrounded, but it was Karina who got the final blow. She rushed in after he committed to a wild swing at Sylph and punched his jaw—her hand and Samael’s jaw didn’t stop moving. Samael was in shock as he clutched at the air where his jaw had just been. Anika’s saber then thrust up into his brain, ending him. The pair had gotten revenge for their lost companion, Teresa.

I recovered quickly from my wound. Enough pellets had broken, that we had a temporary wall of smoke between us and them that should prevent the mages from targeting us. My people were coughing from the smoking grass. Pained cries, curses, orders, and frightened horses echoed across the hill. I took in the chaos. Blaze was incapacitated with a quarrel in his hip. “Benito!” I yelled and tossed him a dungeon healing potion. “Get it to Blaze!” I turned to Castile, “What is happening?”

Castile grimaced as she worked her aether, “Two crossbowmen and the four mages remain. I can only unweave spells as they reach our position—and even then…” She stopped as she countered something. 

I made a decision, realizing Castile couldn’t hold off four mages forever by herself. “We don’t have much time before the smoke dissipates.” The grass was burning in patches under our feet, but not enough to provide us cover. I recharged the aether shield amulet while Blaze was drinking the potion with Benito’s help. I nodded to them and Castile, “Cover me.” The black faux legionnaire helm from Godak appeared in my hand, and I slid it over my head, then I produced a shield. I waited until I received acknowledgments from everyone and then raced down the hill through the smoke, leading with the shield. I was taken aback when Sylph and Helena flanked me in my frantic descent down the hill. I moved to outpace them and engage first since I had the amulet. 

Magebane lashed out at the head of one of the horsemen who never made it to the top, ending his life. A crossbow bolt thudded into my shield. Arrows raced past me toward one of the two remaining crossbowmen. As I got close, the elven fire mage clapped her hands together, and a geyser of flames erupted toward me. I dove under it, placing the shield beneath me as flames washed over my back. I hoped Sylph and Helena were not caught in the wash.

The last crossbowman never fired another shot as an arrow pierced his eye. The four mages now appeared much more uncertain as I sledded toward them on my belly. I felt my mental fortress deflect some sort of mental attack as I plowed into the surprised elven mage. A blinding flash of fire enveloped us both, but magebane struck true, piercing her chest and emerging from her back. She tried to say something, but I yanked down hard, silencing her.

I discarded the oddly light body from the blade to see the other three mages running for the horses. One of the mages stumbled with an arrow in his back. Sylph cut down another with her spear, leaving only their leader. Arrows deflected off an invisible shield surrounding him as he mounted his gray stallion. 

I reached him before he could kick his heels, magebane cutting through his robes and into his thigh. He screamed something in the local language at me, but my only thought was of his death. A wand appeared in his hand, and he pointed it at me, but confusion clouded his face as if nothing had happened. An arrow struck his chest, and I lunged with magebane, targeting his heart. 

He cursed me in Elvish as he slid from his saddle. I extracted magebane and gave his neck one slash to ensure no healing potion or spell could save him. I turned to look across the field of battle. Sylph was already making sure the others at the bottom of the hill were dead. Benito and Blaze were moving down the hill to silence the horsemen. I started to account for my people and cursed as I realized Helena was missing and never made it to the bottom. I followed a charred line of grass heading up the hill with her body. I raced up the hill to find her clothes and armor burned away and her skin blackened and cracked with blood oozing from it. She was wheezing terribly and unresponsive.

If she was bleeding, she was alive. I rolled her over and carefully poured a dungeon healing potion into her mouth. Her skin started to flake off as it worked, and I was certain she would be okay once her lungs healed. Sylph arrived, and I left her to work to care for her friend. 

It was a bit messy, but everyone lived. As the collector appeared in my hand, I had no reservations about using it.

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