Fiat Lux II: Part XVIX

"There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise." Psalm 36:12

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As he and the soldiers rode up into the mountains outside of Penally, Ashevathallion noticed all did not seem quite right among these humans. When they stopped for a brief rest (at the very same ruins Ian and Skye had stopped at the previous day) his suspicions were further aroused by the way four of the men ostracized the remaining two. He didn't remark on the situation, but instead watched all of them, noting the expressions on their faces as they looked at one another or spoke amongst themselves. The larger group sat apart from the other two men, but several times Ashe caught scowls or mocking grins directed at the pair, who remained quiet. When it came time for them to move on, Ashe mounted his horse and then looked at the soldiers. "Which way do we go from here?"

The four pointed to a dirt path leading off to the left, while the other two indicated they should stay on the overgrown road they had been traveling all day. Ashe looked at all of them blandly. "It seems we have a disagreement as to how to proceed, gentlemen. Who am I to trust to set us on the right way?" He didn't mention he had already seen a map.

"Those two don't know what they're talking about, yer lordship" growled the largest of the group of four. "They're men who've never even seen a battle yet. The path will take you where you want to go."

Ashe swiveled in his saddle and regarded the dissenting pair. "Well?"

"Osbern's got the right of it, milord; we haven't blooded our blades as yet; but Tathan and I grew up in these parts, and we know those mines are a bit further along on this same road."

"Well then, Osbern, I think we'll stay on this road. Never you mind, if it's an honest mistake I can forgive it. After all, it's Tathan's and his friend's native country and the rest of us are all strangers here, hey? Come ride with me and we'll talk." Ashe motioned the burly mercenary up beside him, pretending not to notice the man's sullen look. The two Welshmen he told to ride at the rear, and then they set out once again., Ashe keeping up a running one- -sided conversation on the local animals and trees as they rode. Gradually, Osbern became noticeably tense, glancing back several times at his three friends riding just behind them.

As they came round a bend in the trail the road suddenly gave a view of a valley and the party came to a halt. There were people below them, and several bodies, and in the midst of all this, Ashe saw, Ian and Skye were confronting a man holding a child prisoner. Then, as the two Welsh guards shouted out a warning, Osbern tried to draw his blade. Ashe had positioned the human on his right as they rode, and done so for this very eventuality. Both he and Osbern were right handed and wore their swords on the left side. Before the mercenary had the chance to draw his sword and bring it up and back to his left at Ashe, the elf's blade was out and across in a swift backslash at the other's neck. Osbern's head flew off and struck against a boulder as his body slumped out of the saddle. Stunned at the speed of their leader's death the other three sat motionless as the Welshmen took their weapons.

"I said I can forgive honest mistakes." Ashe murmured. "It's outright treachery I will not forgive."

Osbern's helmet clattered against the rocks as the head rolled halfway down the hill before coming to a stop.

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Triumph faded from Gethin's face as he watched his henchman fall. Ian took a single step closer to him and the hostage as the horsemen began their descent to the valley floor. "Let the boy go, Gethin. There's no way out."

"We'll see about that. I'm leaving, Blackthorn; if you want this boy unhurt, you'll not follow." He pulled the boy around by the collar, and keeping his captive between him and the Blackthorns, scrambled around a rock and up a small path.

Skye swore. "Ian, we just can't let him take that boy!"