The Four Swords

Chapter 24: Attack

Cali was standing near a gentleman in a dark cloak with the hood pulled up over his head. The man dropped the hood to reveal his raven hair and sharp angled face. He pulled out a bow and notched an arrow. The first arrow he loosed caught Balor's hat. The arrow hit a nearby wooden door frame with a resounding thud.

The screams began. The crowd panicked. Parents picked up their children. Some people ran into their houses. Others just found places to cover themselves. We were under attack.

Guards started to charge the man from horseback. The man was quick to notch his second arrow. He loosed it facing the carriage once again. As it left his bow, I made eye contact with the man. He smirked and I felt like I could hear his chuckle reverberate in my chest. In an instant, he disappeared leaving the vaguest hint of a puff of smoke behind him. Lucky for him, because I saw the flash of Cali's blade where he was just standing.

Gavin unfortunately had poor timing. He turned to see the commotion when the screams arose. He caught the second arrow. It lodged itself into Gavin's backward facing right shoulder. I heard the gut-wrenching thud behind me. The distinct noise of flesh being struck is not something easily forgotten. Gavin cried out in pain.

The horses startled. The future Swordsman lost his balance as the carriage surged forward at a gallop with Balor trying to maintain some illusion of control on the reigns. Gavin fell backward into Alina and myself. His yell pierced through thought.

"Gavin!" Alina screamed. Her hand fell instinctively to help right him onto his chest. There was panic in her eyes as her fingertips found blood. I pulled them both to the carriage floor. If our attacker can disappear that easily, he could reappear just as quickly. I shielded both of them with my body.

The King started shouting orders but I couldn't understand them. He tucked his wife close and she ducked her head to the center of the carriage. I was too focused on the situation inside the carriage.

Gavin was in shock. The arrow shaft still protruded from his shoulder. He looked at me in bewilderment. His eyes were wide with concern. He gritted his teeth, trying to hold in the pain of the jostling carriage ride. This was supposed to be a peaceful parade.

Alina had her wits about her. She was still understandably shaken, but she wasn't screaming. She was under attack, with a wounded soldier pressed up against her and still managing to keep her cool. Her father's orders and the cacophony of the chaos around us would have pushed anyone into hysterics, but not her. It was impressive.

"What do I do?" Alina looked to me for guidance.

I took a deep breath. Thankfully during a time where my father thought he could shape my training with my love of books, my father had forced into my hands books on battlefield medical treatment. I tried to clear my own head. I was not a doctor.

"Here" I pulled off my coat. "Help me keep pressure on the wound." I was not sure if I should remove the arrow or if that would cause more damage. Instead, we wrapped my coat around the arrow shaft. At least the blood flow did not seem to be a lethal flow.

With the limited space in the carriage floor, Alina's right arm could not get free. With my right hand and her left, we pressed down on the injury.

Gavin yelped. I should be doing more. This arrow could have easily struck me instead. Maybe it was meant me. I shook off the thought and tried to focus.

Gavin found his tongue. "Sir Jacobson, let me do that. Make sure the royal family is covered." Gavin was all about duty, even when he was just attacked. He pushed my hand away, holding my coat to his chest. His fingers touched Alina's. His gaze questioned her. I expected her to let go, but she was determined to help.

"You just took an arrow for my family. At least let me do this for you." Alina pleaded with her face flushed from the terror around her "Besides, what else is there to do down here?" A pained smile ran across Gavin's face and he did not question the royal request.

I sat up slightly straighter. Better covering the queen than I had before. The horses were almost to the castle gates. Fortunately, my parents' carriage was also right on our heels. Hopefully they were all safe. I was thankful for my family's covered carriage. Maybe my siblings would be spared the horror of what just happened.

I heard the dry click of the carriage wheels running over the iron track that the castle gate would use to slide into place. We were no longer in the open. We made it.

Guards rushed the carriages. Protecting the royals from every angle imaginable.

My head cleared enough to finally understand the king's orders. "Captain Gunnar, take men and sweep the city for a male intruder. Captain Marcus, sweep the castle and send someone to fetch the Swordsmen. Sir Walter, secure those who were in the parade until things settle down and fetch the doctor!" The king ordered.

The queen and king shuffled to get out of the carriage. I lifted Alina out of her wedged position and to the ground before going to help Gavin from the carriage. I gave Gavin a hand to help him stand. He nodded his thanks after an involuntary grimace through clenched teeth. Then tried to help him navigate the carriage steps without jostling the arrow too much.

I turned back to Alina to see her staring at her bloodied hand. She took deep breaths, unused to bloodshed. Although I had never been attacked before, the practice field made me familiar with the sight of blood.

Sir Walter, a knightly man that I had not met before rushed all of the carriage passengers, including my family, into a room inside the castle. My little sister looked confused and Abrin was crying. The illusion of safety was shattered for all.