☯ Common ☯ Irarian ☯
Chaos erupted in a flurry of clanking metal and iron meeting iron. Warren grunted, using the muscle in his arms to swing the axe up and across, launching it into the chest plate of one of the guards who let out a shocked breath. He didn’t have time to register the expression the man wore as Warren’s heavy foot came up and kicked him back, successfully releasing the axe from the armor. It was soaked in blood, but his awareness was focus on the other guards already swinging at him.
With quick reflect, the devotee raised his weapon to block, barely catching the blade before sliding the axe against his attacker’s weapon and stepping aside in such a way that the blade behind him caught the soldier in front of him square in the shoulder. The guard hissed in pain and yanked his sword from the block Warren had it in, stumbling back while grasping his arm.
“Damnit!”
Warren let out a yell, using his strength with powerful momentum to sink the axe into the neck of the guard that failed to damage him, watching as even more death clustered around him. The man let out a gasp, leaving the axe in the fallen soldier’s flesh while dodging the swing of a sword with a sudden roll. In his haste to move aside, his hand wrapped around the hilt of a blade and positioned it in front of him when he sprung to his feet.
Blue eyes studied the movement of the others around him, stepping when they stepped, watching as they watched him, waiting for the opportune moment. Then, quite suddenly, the sound of metal meeting metal behind him stole his attention as the Naerikk he’d been protecting was thrown onto the ground beside him. Warren was caught off guard it seemed, because there was an armored soldier behind him looking both shocked and angry. Just as the man was preparing to charge Warren, a sudden roar of pain and gush of blood from his face halted him. Surprised, the devotee took a step back, watching the man drop his sword to swat at whatever was attacking him.
Turning his gaze to the unconscious Naer on the floor, Warren had a sneaky suspicion that whatever was protecting him was a conjuring of her will, whatever it was. Pushing aside the distraction, Warren swung aimlessly at the blinded man, cutting a sloppy slash from cheekbone to shoulder before moving onto the next victim.
All throughout the fight, his invisible protector helped when it could by stunting his enemies in some fashion till Warren could skewer them none too expertly. When the last soul dropped, he could hear the sound of more soldiers pouring in from down the hall, along with the smell of smoke as the flames began to crawl.
“See to the fire!” Warren heard as he dipped down to sling the Naer woman up over his shoulder.
“Put that fire out, we can’t let it spread!”
Perfect, just the distraction they needed. Now it was time to leave…
Following from what he could remember of Farrows’ memory, Warren navigated through the halls till he came to the spot where he remembered the soldier last being. Down the hall a bit was another door to which the man eagerly ventured through, keeping his steps quiet and movements quick.
There was another, longer hall, though this looked fancier from the rest. They were actual walls, not rock like the walls of his prison. There were decorative pictures and glass cabinetry with old weapons and dated artifacts inside them. His brow furrowed, Warren crept down the hall silently, peeking around the corners to ensure no one would surprise them. This continued for what felt like breaks till the man stumbled upon a doorway leading out into a dimly lit area. Curtains welcomed him but he went no further as his gaze settled upon two fighters within the arena.
The Pits…
Around the pits were a number of tables where many individuals sat in fancy, decorative attire. None seemed to pay him any attention as their focus was solely on the match in front of them. Seated in front of the pits was a throne like chair where another man sat, bald and garbed in some kind of robes. What in the Immortals names was going on here?
Stepping quickly away from the curtain, Warren hurried down the other corridor which he assumed led out into the forests. Sure enough, there was a door at the end of the hall as well as two armored guards that became obviously aware of him with his quick approach.
“Shit…”
“Get in here!” One of the guards yelled, banging against the door before unsheathing his weapon and charging Warren.
“Shit, shit..!”
In an effort to defend them both, Warren practically threw Navyri to the floor below, reaching for the daggers he saw bound at her hips. He yanked them free and held them above his head in a criss-cross fashion just as the sword came swinging down upon him. With a cry of effort, the blond pushed against the iron blade till he was able to stand and push it aside. Gasping, his hand jetted out, dagger end pointed toward the neck but was easily blocked by an armored gauntlet as another swing from the sword swiped at him. He stepped back quickly as another soldier joined the ambush and soon, he was quickly overwhelmed.
“Navyri..!” Warren yelled out.
“Woman, wake the sard up!”
Adrenaline screamed through his veins as he blocked helplessly with the daggers until eventually, one was cast out of his hand. The guards knew they had him now and they smirked to show their satisfaction for such a victory. After all the effort Warren and Navyri had gone through to escape… He would never give up so easily.
And just as he was about to change at them, planning to be empale through the stomach if that’s what it took, one of the guards suddenly screamed out, pulling attention towards him.
“My eyes!” The guard yelled,
“My eyes!”
That was enough of an opening to take advantage of and with it, Warren plunged the only blade he had left into the face of one of the distracted soldiers. The last one took notice, becoming aware of how the tables had turned and quickly made for the door but Warren was already upon him. His body slammed into plate and, with great effort, went to work on silencing the guard.
With the two finished, his attention went to the one now blinded and fumbling against the wall. “Someone help!” He yelled down the hall. Warren jumped to action, having not the energy to carry on much more and wrapped the man in a headlock with callused palm crush to his mouth. When the guard tried to cry out, Warren hissed into his ear.
“Quiet!”
The guard whimpered, now frightened.
“Answer my questions correctly and I won’t snap your neck.” Warren whispered.
“Lie to me and I’ll know… Scream and you die… Where are we?”
After a few trills, Warren release the hold on his mouth as the guard gasped,
“Krome, Rynmere.”
Rynmere?! He was sent to Rynmere?! His lips pressed into a line as he shook his head.
“Who the sard is controlling this shit hole?”
“I-I don’t know—” The hold around his neck tighten, causing the guard to choke.
“I—… I don’t… know!”
“Then why are you here?!” He growled.
“My… Sister—” The guard choked.
“Black… mail!”
Letting up then, Warren released the guard and threw up against the wall where the guard crumbled, coughing.
“Blackmail..?”
Covering his bloodied eyes, the guard gritted his teeth, hesitating, before shaking his head.
“You’ve heard rumors of the civil war, no?” Warren muttered a simple ‘yes’,
”I thought I’d lost my entire family to that war, but it turns out my sister was kept safe. I was approached by a man with silver eyes who told me he’d rescued her, but would not release her until I promised my services to him when they were needed. I didn’t believe him until he gave me a little she’d wrote… I knew that chicken scratch was her’s, so I agreed…”
“If you have your sister back, why not run?”
The guard scoffed,
“And go where? We have no other home. Besides, they would just kill us like they did the others.”
“There were others killed?”
The soldier nodded,
“Other men have tried to run. Retired soldiers that thought they could flee. They’d disappear for a week till their bodies were found by rangers in the wild, eaten up in a way to look like they’d been mauled by wolves. But we knew the truth…”
Warren remained silent for a moment before turning to tuck the unconscious Naer in his arms. Rising to his feet, he made for the door before the voice of the guard stopped him,
“You should just slay me and be done with it. I’m dead either way.”
Hesitating, he turned back,
“What’s her name?”
“What?”
“Your sister, what’s her name?” Warren grunted, shifting Navyri to hold her better,
“If you’re to die, then I will make sure no harm comes to her.”
The guard laughed,
”You think I’d trust you to protect her? After you’ve slain my comrades?” He accused.
“Many innocent have died because of this place. I do not deserve to dwell here as much as you, but you cannot judge my choice of action when it was forced to such extremes. All you can do is learn from it with the time you have left…”
A moment of silence bloomed between them until the guard muttered quietly,
“Lianna…” His voice broke,
“Lianna Havenward.”
“By Vri, you have my word…” Warren swore, then turned and left the guard to his woes.
It was as if the graces of the Immortals themselves had shined down on him the moment his form moved through the door. Fresh air caressed his skin like a longing lover and he grinned at the prospect of freedom. It tasted so sweet…
Once more, his adrenaline spurred him forward and, with the last little bit of strength he had left, Warren sprinted away from the door and into the woods, taking note that it seems it was built into a rather large hill. Never turning back, Warren continued to run until he could not run anymore and carelessly, threw them both into a nest of leaves and grass piled beneath the roots of a fallen tree trunk. Warren threw his head back, gasping and covered in sweat and blood. His arms were heavy, his body even moreso and he was entirely too thirsty and hungry. Even moreso, he was tired. Nevertheless, his eyes remained glued open, waiting for dawn to come or the slightest noise of approaching enemies.
He would never allow himself to be captured so easily again…
