Part III

Into the night the battle ranged. All three survived, but only two were able to fight on. One of the patrolmen had had both legs broken and slashed, collapsing from lose of blood. The old knight and the other continued. They had whittled the attacking Bandar down to three, but it was evident it would not be long before they too fell.

The old knight felt something pass by his ear and instinctively lowered his head. Then he noticed the Bandar stop and turn. Something had caught their attention, with the sound of his own yells ceased, he finally made out the sounds of commands being given to fire and stop, then for another to do the same. The arrows were coming from three different directions, the Bandar were becoming confused, and were splitting their numbers. There was a chance now! With them divided they could be defeated.

He told the patrolman to look after his partner as he prepared to follow behind the closest Bandar.

Sounds of battle now rang throughout the forest in all directions. He prayed to Tyr, that his saviors survived. He also wondered who they might be, but there was time enough for that later. Just ahead he saw the exposed back of the creature he sought, it was standing beneath a tree trying to fend off an arrow attack. From that angle, the attack was useless other than to keep the creature on the ground.

After taking a few deep breathes he to ready himself, he sped straight for the beast. At the last second he jumped into the air, and with all his might he plunged his short sword into it's exposed neck. The Bandar fell dead before it hit the ground!

"My thanks, M'lord!" came a voice from the tree.

Instantly the old knights heart stopped! It was the voice of Tanny, the youngest of his squires!

"To the rocks with you!" he demanded before running towards his remaining squires.

As he raced to the next battle he wondered how they could be so insubordinate as to not obey orders! If they lived, they'd wished they'd not!

His heart sank, as he raced for the next battle. He heard only one! There should have been two. He didn't have time to worry about that now, there was still one squire out there who needed help.

As he crashed through the underbrush he almost ran into a stone wall! Too tall to scale, he quickly ran around it knowing the battle raged just beyond. As he rounded the wall, what he saw brought a lump to his throat. There in a corner standing guard over his fallen friend, was John, fending off both remaining Bandar! He knew the fight would be over quickly if he were not to cut the numbers fast.

He only had one arrow left, it would have to do. He loosed it at the biggest of the pair, but missed the soft spot! It did however have the effect of turning it! Sword in hand he raced into the fight yelling, "The neck! Go for the neck!"

The old knight and the big one advanced each other at a terrible pace. Just before he was within striking distance, he spun and rolled to the side. The Bandar missed and ran past.

The Old Knight jumped to his feet and ran at the other with the intentions of jumping onto its back like the first he'd dispatched. This was a short-lived idea. The big one behind him bellowed and the smaller one turned, giving him only the armored body to attack. Now he had one in front and another behind!

Once again he turned towards the biggest, its attack would be the most deadly. He raced again at it with no intention of diverting the attack. Maybe with both concentrating on him, the squires could escape.

He saw his prey had taken many wounds and was weak, though that was relative, it was still twice as tall and as strong as he. Still, with luck..

The impact of the old knight and the Bandar was terrific! Both were knocked to the ground. As he lay there trying to clear his head, he realized he was weaponless with another creature fast coming his way. He turned his head as he struggled to rise and saw his blade, embedded in the chest of the one he'd collided with! He knew he would not be able to retrieve it before he two was impaled by the Bandar's own sword-like arms. He only hoped John had had the time escape!

Looking back towards the advancing creature, he saw it was almost upon him!

"For the good of the Realms!" he yelled with his last breath.

The world went black.