150 Helios (1/2)

”We are being followed!” a mercenary shouted from behind.

Helios turned his head. There were horsemen trailing them. Their pace was fast.

He squinted to get a more detailed description of their pursuers. The one at the front- Helios knew him. It was him.

”Delay them” he commanded. ”Form a rearguard and let us escape”

His order was met by silence and status quo. The mercenaries didn't bulge. He felt a heat of anger burst through him.

”Didn't you hear what I said?”

”Sire” The most senior of the mercenaries said ”We cannot. Look at the crest on their helm. Royal Guards sire and I ain't fighting royal guards outnumbered. Even if you pay me a thousand gold coins I wouldn't. We would die sire!”

”We should all go sire. We've seen your hands earlier and them Royal Guards would burn. Fight with us or we all scram” another mercenary said.

Helios ground his molars together. Cowards. All of them are cowards. Well what did he expect from mercenaries? The coward was right though. Royal Guards were tough. They were the best. Mercenaries were like flies to them.

But Royal Guards were still men- and men burn. Brave or cowardly they all burn. Royal Guard or not the all die. It will be dangerous to fight them head-on. But once again they didn't have a choice.

”Then we should all fight” he turned to Ivan ”Including you. They will catch us soon enough. Prepare your weapons. To arms! We turn our mounts together. On my count. Three... two... one...”

**********

The enemies turned their horses around. Leopold was behind Rupert when this happened.

His heart beat faster. He was afraid. He unsheathed the sword provided to him and pointed it forward. He doesn't even know if his posture is right.

The ones at the front clashed. The horses cried neighs of injury. The riders did too. A few royal guards fell from their horse. Some of them had been injured. Those who were able to escape injury searched for opponents. A mounted melee followed.

Three horsemen galloped towards his direction. One of them had burning hands. It was him. It was the old man Shadow was talking about.

The flame was scary. Any man would have been scared seeing the flames. But two royal guards and Rupert met the flame. They clashed with the mercenaries and the old man.

One of the two mercenaries fell almost instantly. A royal guard's sword was thrust on his chest. The other ran away but Rupert was able to chase the man and strike him down with a stab to the back just a little below the neck.

But the old man was triumphant on his side. The royal guard he faced burned. The guard screamed. It must have been painful. Of course it was.

Rupert turned his horse around and went for the old man. The old man presented a flame but Rupert didn't even bulge. Rupert angled his body a little. He crouched on his horse to avoid the old man's hands. And then he sprung with a thrust of his sword. The sword buried through the old man's belly. Rupert twisted the blade, ensuring the old man's demise.

”Helios!” a familiar voice shouted. Leopold looked for the voice. He knew that it was Ivan.

A few steps from the old man and Rupert, Ivan charged with his horse. He met swords with Rupert. The royal guard was able to parry each one of Ivan's strikes.

But Ivan's actions gave the old man time to escape. The old man pulled the reins of his horse and trotted away.

Leopold rode towards Ivan. His son was still fighting Rupert. It wasn't even a fight. It looked like a child throwing a tantrum. Rupert was going easy on Ivan, only defending and not attacking.

”Stop it Ivan. In the name of the Omniscient just stop this nonsense. Look around you. You have lost. Fighting Rupert like that is just embarrassing our family”

Ivan really stopped. He was panting and shaking from exertion. He looked around. Several mercenaries were able to escape. The others were already dead.

Ivan looked at him. There was pain on his expression.