Spellbinder - 2000-02-08

revor nearly jumped out of his skin as a voice called to him no more than ten feet away.

His hand shot to his sword, drawing it in one smooth motion, it's blade ringing and shining in the light. He swung his horse around so his right hand with the sword could be brought to bear on the threat. His intense eyes searched for a target. All this happened in under three seconds.

He saw the Felana standing there in a non-threatening manner, arms across her chest. He scowled at her, his blue-gray eyes boring into the Felana's cat-like eyes.

"Who are you and what do mean by sneaking up on me like that? You could have been hurt. What do you want?" his voice raised in anger, releasing the tension that had built up inside him from the argument with his brother.

As he finished speaking he thought he heard something. As the Felana was about to speak, Trevor held up his hand. He cocked his head to one side, trying to hear the sound again. He was unaware of how comical he looked. He said, "Did you hear that? It almost sounded like a scream." He looked ahead, down the trail. There were dark clouds ahead, evidently a shower was building up there. He could see the rain in the air like a steel gray curtain.

Trevor shook his head. "Perhaps it was the wind." He was about to say something to the Felana when a sudden gust of wind carried with it the unmistakable sound of a scream. "It was a scream. Someone is in danger. I'm sorry, but I must go and see what the matter is." Trevor sheathed his sword and spurred his horse on, dust flying in the air and landing on the Felana, who growled in displeasure.

The Felana was soon lost to sight as the stallion pounded down the trail, nostrils flaring in the wind. Trevor felt the first raindrops strike his face.

Suddenly they were caught in a downpour, the wind and rain like a living thing, working together to thoroughly soak him. He put his head close to the horse's and spoke soothingly in his mount's ear. As suddenly as the rain had come, it was gone, leaving a drenched forest in it's wake. Trevor listened as best he could over the pounding hoofbeats and the wind. He heard another scream, somewhere ahead, the sound stronger than before. Some minutes later Trevor slowed his horse as he approached the area from which the last scream had been heard. Sullen gray clouds retreated like a vanquished army to the north, the ground still damp from the violent assault of rain. The sun began to make it's presence felt, warming the air and causing steam to rise like wraiths where it's rays of light touched the ground. He reined his horse to a stop and sat quietly, straining to hear over the wind and forest sounds.

A moment later he heard the unmistakable sound of metal on metal, coming from his right. Trevor urged his horse forward quietly, careful not to make any sound that might carry to whoever was ahead. The scream he'd heard was definitely a woman's and judging from the intensity, it was born of fear and desperation. After a short ride he began to hear voices, muted by the dampness and wind.

He dismounted quietly, drawing his sword with a dull, metallic hiss. The Knight moved stealthily, finally coming to the edge of the trees. He carefully parted some intervening branches that were beaded with moisture and peered out at the source of the voices. There were at least six of them, one of whom must be the leader, judging from the deference he was paid by the others. He was a big ugly brute and was leaning over someone that Trevor couldn't see at first, since the man had his back turned to Trevor. He was laughing and threatening the person with a big club. The other thugs were armed with a motley assortment of rusty swords, daggers, and clubs and were quite filthy and disheveled. Trevor's breath caught in his throat as the bandit turned and he was afforded a good look at the victim. She was beautiful and quite young, a teenager as near as Trevor could tell. She had rich auburn hair and though her clothes were muddy, she still looked regal, her figure petite. Trevor felt anger well up inside as he saw how she was being treated by the ugly brute. The girl had spirit in spite of her situation. She was trying to put up a good fight, but her arms were pinned to her sides. It was obvious by the way the bandits were acting and looking at the girl that they intended to have their way with her before they killed her. Trevor had to act and soon if he were to save the girl's life and honor.

Trevor pulled back as quietly as he could and returned to his mount, his mind swirling with ideas. Six to one were not what he called good betting odds, especially since the odds were against him. He had to find something to even the odds. He thought furiously for a moment, desperately seeking a solution to this dilemma. They carried rusty swords, which indicated they were probably amateurs. Maybe five to one odds now. They were not especially alert to any outside danger. All right, four to one odds. They were led by one man and didn't seem to have another leader or lieutenant. Take out the leader and the rest might scatter or at least be too confused to put up an effective defense. Three to one odds. Trevor was an experienced Knight of Torrigan, they would be up against the best of the best. Two to one odds. Surprise was on his side. Odds were now even. Trevor grinned to himself. Now those were odds he could deal with. He thought of how he might attack. Should he come in fast and take out as many as possible or should he concentrate on the leader? He had to get him away from the girl or at least distract him enough to give the girl a chance to escape.

Wait, the Felana! Had she followed him here and if so, would she be willing to help?

Trevor looked about, but could see no sign of her. He decided he didn’t have time to wait and began to work his way to the downwind side of the thugs. He planned on the wind carrying away any slight noises he would make, plus keep the other horses from smelling his. As he mounted his horse he recalled how much this situation paralleled the action he had been involved in with Lorelei’s family and the bandits he’d attacked, who in turn had ambushed him. He unconsciously felt for the place where the arrow had found it’s mark and nearly ended his young life. He smiled as he remembered Lorelei’s affectionate reward for saving her and her family’s lives.

Trevor shook himself from his rambling thoughts, forcing himself to concentrate on the present problem. He kept moving through the trees, their branches whipping his face like an enemy army intent on dismounting him from his horse. He could see gaps in the trees now as he closed on the site of the girl’s distress. He stopped when he heard the voices of the scum and the pitiful cries of the girl. He took a deep breath and drew his sword quietly. Time for swift, violent action. With a quick prayer to Arden he spurred his horse, who responded with a snort. Horse and rider burst from cover scant yards from the lead thug, who looked up in time to catch the flat of Trevor’s blade in the face, shattering his nose and a few teeth for good measure. He went down in a cursing, screaming flop. He dropped his club and grabbed his nose, trying to stem the crimson flow of blood.

Trevor wheeled his horse around and stopped between the girl and the fallen thug, his sword pointing at the robber’s heart. Trevor clicked his tongue and said, "Now, now, that’s no way to treat a lady. Have you no manners? Apparently not. Perhaps I can teach you a few." He looked at the stunned thugs, none of whom had even tried to attack him. He smiled to himself. It was working. He spoke to the girl without taking his eyes off the villains, "M’lady, are you quite all right? Can you ride?"

To the bandits he said, "Drop your weapons or I shall gut this scum like a fish."

The bandits looked at one another, seemed to make up their collective minds and scattered into the forest, every man for himself.

"Cowards!" Trevor called out to the retreating men, and laughing. He turned to the cutthroat who was still sitting on the ground, holding his nose and glaring hatefully at Ainsley.

"Well, it seems that their loyalties were only as deep as their worthless hides, wouldn’t you say? " Trevor’s grin faded as he spoke, "And as for you, I should indeed gut you like a fish for treating this fine young lady as you have." He moved the tip of his sword toward the man’s belly, the bandits eyes following it and widening a bit. "However, I don’t believe you are worth the effort."

Trevor glanced at the girl and said, "Is that your horse yonder?" indicating the hobbled stallion. She nodded, still in shock. "Here then, take my dagger and free him and we shall leave. No telling if these swine will change their minds and return."

She took the dagger hesitantly, looking in Trevor’s face for a moment. She was indeed young and very pretty in spite of her somewhat disheveled appearance. She hurried to her horse, looking about as she did so, fear giving her feet wings. She managed to slice through the hobbles and mount her stallion with some difficulty. The stallion seemed a bit too spirited for her to control. She smacked the horse and spoke angrily at it and he seemed to settle down somewhat. She joined the Knight and returned his dagger, her eyes on his face. She smiled somewhat coyly, and then she moved closer to the bandit and smacked him soundly with her riding crop and spat at him. Trevor laughed and said, "There now, feeling better? We must be going . These woods are not safe for travel anymore." He looked at the bandit, contempt in his eyes, "If I were you, I’d leave this country as fast I could. If I catch you here again, I won’t be as charitable as I have been today." He nodded to the girl and the two rode off as quickly as they could, this time Trevor’s senses alert for further trouble.

"What’s your name, by the way?" he asked the girl after he was sure they were clear of trouble.

Copyright (c) 1999-2000 Abigail Laughlin and the members of the Circle of Stone.