The fighting quickly scattered across the plains, the group weaving and rolling through the horsemen's attacks to escape their cage. Simon's claymore had cut down one of the horsemen, leaving only a bloody pair of legs on the horse and another had been blown to pieces by one of Zetarnu's fireballs, both man and horse reduced to a flaming pile of burning flesh.
Rinero dodged several attacks and escaped into the open plains and began assessing the situation quickly. Three horsemen began perusing him, one with a axe, one with a lance, and another with a magic staff.
The staff bandit fired off a scattershot spell sending many sparking projectiles flying at Rinero. He dodged this attack only to come into the path of axe bandit's swing which crashed into him but got deflected off Rinero's brigandine. Rinero attacked with his saber which bounced off axe bandit's plate armor and he quickly countered with another axe swing which Rinero dodged.
Then lance bandit came charging at Rinero and Rinero rolled out of the way from the deadly lance's path. After dodging this attack the staff bandit fired off another scattershot which Rinero once again dodged once again putting him at axe bandit's range which eventually led him into lance bandit's path.
He was trapped in a brutal cycle of dodging and weaving through the attacks of the bandits, rolling away from one attack to the next. He was like a lamb surrounded by wolves, barely dodging one bite only to end up in the path of the next. But through the onslaught of attacks Rinero's keen battle instincts found the solution to escaping the cycle.
After dodging another spell from staff bandit and came in the way of axe bandit Rinero parried his attack and stood his ground instead of dodging.
"This is the solution, if I press the offensive and stay close to the axe bandit then the staff bandit can't shoot me and the lance bandit can't attack me without hitting their ally," thought Rinero.
Rinero battled the horseman, saber and dagger bashing against armor and axe. The two circled around each other while attacking each other. The two were locked into a battle until the axe bandit was suddenly thrown violently off his horse. The man came crashing down with several holes in his body.
Rinero looked around him and saw that staff bandit had shot the axe bandit to death. Soon after the lance bandit came charging at his which Rinero dodged. Staff bandit then began firing spells at Rinero who was able to avoid the attacks.
Rinero then began charging at the staff bandit. He weaved through the scattershot spells and slashed the legs of the staff bandit's horse before he could get away. Horse and man crumbled to the ground, staff bandit trapped under his horse's weight. Before he could crawl out of the horse's dead body Rinero's dagger slit his throat.
Rinero then whipped around to meet the lance bandit who was charging at full speed at him. He dodged the lance and charging horse and stuck his dagger into the horse's side. Blood spurt from the horse's side, then dropped to the floor. Lance bandit quickly scrabbled off the horse and held his lance like a spear.
Rinero rushed to meet the lance bandit in battle, the bandit holding still in a defensive stance. The jab came fast but Rinero was faster, slipping past the lance and quickly beheading the bandit. Blood burst from the bloody stump but quickly reduced to a bubble, turning his black scarf red before the bandit fell dead.
Rinero looked around him, scattered and chaotic fighting all over. Crimson was splattered all over the grey grass and shone under the pale moonlight. Noname and Zetarnu fought side by side, shooting spells and slashing with daggers. Simon and Lazarus fought alone slashing and stabbing in vain at jeering and and slashing horsemen.
Their numbers had been reduced to 18 now from all the fighting, butchered or blown to pieces. One horse man stood out, significantly faster and with masterful swordsmanship. He barked out orders all while laying down sporadic yet strong attacks. He was tall and well built, face hidden behind his black sallet and scarf and he wore a long surcoat over a chainmail hauberk and patches of plate armor with a cape of black beast hides.
Simon swung wide slashing the head off a horse and followed up with a thrust at another horseman knocking off the bandit from their horse. A demounted raider came at him from behind and swung at his with an axe. Simon parried the attack and followed up with his own swing which the bandit ducked.
Simon continue his attack with deliberate and methodical attacks which the bandit expertly avoided. The bandit suddenly surged forward and chopped sharply making a cut on Simon's shoulder. Quickly Simon's claymore came crashing into the bandit, ripping through chainmail and chopping into the bandit's ribs.
The bandit staggered back before having Simon's claymore thrusted though his chest, straight through his chainmail and slicing his heart. Simon whipped around to encounter another dismounted bandit who had a shield and war pick. The bandit's shield bashed into Simon's face, shattering his glasses and breaking his nose.
He dropped his sword and sprawled out on the ground. The bandit raised his war pick to the sky before getting bashed on the helmet by a long, thin blade. The bandit whipped around to see Price Lazarus, blade in hand ready to strike. Lazarus' blade came quick, a series of precise and swift slashes and jabs disarmed the bandit and struck his vital organs, slipping through plates of armor and rings of chainmail.
The bandit crumpled to the ground, not even able to make a single sound having his vocal cords slit and lungs punctured.
"Such swordsmanship! Its a miracle that Rinero was able to beat him," thought Simon as he got back on his feet.
The priest and the elf silently nodded to each other as they rushed back into the battle. Now numbering 12 the bandits fought harder and with desperate ferocity. Zetarnu and Noname had both been wounded while Simon was barely hanging on and Lazarus was beginning to be overwhelmed.
Rinero was dashing through the battlefield like a phantom in the night, cutting down bandits with ease. He was in a deep state of focus, a trance of senseless violence. Each sickening gurgle, each short cut shout of pain, each splatter of crimson seemed to scratch a dark itch which lingered at the back of Rinero's mind which had been locked away his entire life until when he killed his first man.
His eyes flickered red.
The fighting raged on, Zetarnu and Noname had exhausted their arcane energies and couldn't use their magic. Arcane energy flows through the blood and body and if the body is in bad condition then the energies can't flow properly. The many wounds that had been sustained throughout battle had caused the body to be tired out and the loss of blood.
The two fought desperately now aided by Simon. Daggers flashed and Simon's claymore came swinging in great, wide, arcs. Slowly the bandits wore them down, the group unable to land decent hits on the bandits. For three minuets the fighting raged on with only Rinero and Lazarus fairing well but were outnumbered.
Zetarnu and Noname had passed out from blood loss while Simon had suffered a mace blow to the chest and now was entirely immobile. Only Lazarus and Rinero remained. Two against what was now eight.
The duo, who only about an hour ago had fought a brutal deathmatch, were now fighting side by side. In the most desperate of hours men must put aside their differences in order to ensure survival. Both warriors were focused, adrenalin flowing through their veins and minds racing with information and strategy.
All of the bandits they faced were dismounted with the exception of one. Officer Krieger who sat upon his horse, his black armor without a single dent or scratch, yet his blade was dripping with blood. He move his horse forward in front of his men and looked at the two warriors who opposed him.
"You and your companions fought well. However this is the end of the line for you people. You will be brought to Commander Yegar and you will submit to him and be his slaves," the officer said.
"I don't intend on getting enslaved twice today," said Lazarus.
"I won't ever submit to a bunch of dirty bandits you bastard," said Rinero.
"If you surrender peacefully I may perhaps let you keep your legs and tongue," said the officer.
"I refuse to surrender!" the two shouted in unison.
"I'll take on the guy on the horse, you take on the rest of the bandits," said Rinero.
"Alright," said Lazarus.
Rinero dashed forwards, blades flashing in front of him and Krieger leaped off his horse. Krieger's horse was caught in the path of Rinero's onslaught and got carved to bloody pieces. Rinero whipped around to see Krieger swinging his longsword at him.
Rinero rolled out of the way and dashed again to strike down Krieger. His saber slashed and his dagger stabbed at lightning speed yet every attack bounced off Krieger's shield. Krieger's longsword thrusted out from the top of his shield which Rinero dodged. Not a second later Krieger's shield bashed Rinero's chest and was followed up by a swing which grazed Rinero.
Rinero slashed thrice with his saber at Krieger which were dodged and thrusted with his dagger which got blocked by Krieger's shield. Krieger swung wide then thrusted both of which got parried followed up by a rush of quick swings at Rinero which he was able to weave through to counter attack with his saber which bounced off Krieger's sallet.
Krieger's shield bashed into Rinero's face throwing him to the ground followed up by a downwards thrust which Rinero rolled out the way of. Rinero got up and took a defensive stance. Both Rinero and Krieger circled each other like two crabs.
Rinero and Krieger played an intricate game of feints and stabs, trying to draw one out into making a fatal mistate.
"Dam it! my saber and dagger cant get past his shield and armor!" thought Rinero.
Then Krieger made a swing too wide which left him open too attack. Rinero pounced on the opportunity with bloodlust. Krieger tried to hit him with his shield but Rinero expected the attack and dodged it.
Both Rinero's blades came crashing down on Krieger, thrashing him around and throwing him to the ground. Rinero ran to kill Krieger but got a boot to the chest from the fallen Krieger throwing him to the ground. The two warriors got up, Krieger had a few minor stab wounds and cuts and was furious.
"I refuse to lose here and fail my commander. If I can't bring him alive then I will at least bring his corpse!" thought Krieger.
Krieger withdrew from a pouch a scroll. He flung the scroll into the air as he chanted an incantation. Within the air the scroll undid itself and was surrounded with a ring of fire and levitated in the air. Rinero immediately sensed the danger and his eyes flickered red.