“Cut that little freak down before he uses his magic on us!” said one of them.

  There wasn’t enough time to close the distance between them and there was no cover. Both of the archers let their projectiles fly at close range, each one’s aim striking the witch in the chest and abdomen. But instead of the witch clutching the impact points where the arrows struck him, the shadowy figure barreled on unfazed. Robert ducked the second swordsman’s swipe and countered by jumping and plunging half the blade into the base of the neck where it met the shoulder. A quick, wet “SHHICKT” sounded when it pierced the skin.

  “Gah!” The soldier yelped as he went rigid, toppling over. Robert continued his ferociousness by snatching the felled man’s sword before it hit the ground and sent it flying end over end at the first archer. It wasn’t to land a blow as much as causing a distraction to buy time enough for him to come sprinting after it. The second archer aimed again, driving a shot directly into the center of the cloaked being’s torso only to have the shot land with zero effect. The witch kept charging, the bats continuing to flurry about the soldier’s heads.

  And before either of them could ready another arrow, Robert was already upon them with lyythium well in hand. In a bold move, Robert pulled the hat from his head and whipped it out vertically between himself and the first archer to blind the man. In the split second that his next move was hidden, he followed it up by jamming the lyythium not only through the top of his own hat but the fatal blow into the face of the archer on the other side. The last archer let one more arrow fly, grazing Robert’s side before the rampaging shadow was upon him.

  “Call me a freak, will you? Let me show you what freaks like me do to dumb animals.” He hissed. “Tinder and Cinder!” he called aloud with an outstretched palm. A flood of fireballs came pouring out of his hands. “Tinder and cinder! tinder and cinder!” Five, ten fifteen, twenty balls of glowing magic poured out of him, engulfing the archer in so much fire so fast that a concussive gasp like the cough of a giant split the air. The man screeched and cried out, his eyes blinded by the growing blaze consuming his flesh. Still fueled by his war lust, Robert kept advancing, stabbing at the helpless man, jabbing at his legs and thighs until he fell in a wailing heap. When the body fell silent, Robert got close enough and spit on the fire just to watch the saliva sizzle. “You’re the ones who are animals.” He scowled as he replaced his hat atop his head. With no one else nearby, he looked to Loxo who stood over one soldier lying dead in the grass. The other was a young man frantically swatting his sword at the pirate to keep him at bay as he retreated.

  “Where are you going?” asked Loxo with a playful voice. “Your sparring lesson isn’t over, and your friend here is no fun at all!” The frightened soldier ran as fast as he could, looking even more terrified when the witch glared at him from afar. “Ah! Robert! Well done! Dispatched the rest of them, did you? You should have left a few more for me. Oh well, no use in keeping track of a body count when it comes to such ruffians. “Oh look. This one has a money pouch. I don’t suppose he’ll be needing this anymore. It’s probably for the best if I hold onto it. Spoils of war and all.”

  “We can’t stay here.” Robert huffed, calling the bats back to him. The flurry of winged creatures gathered about him and when he opened his cloak they vanished within. “More soldiers will come.”

  “What about my cart?” asked Loxo. “There’s a fair amount of valuables there and if left unattended then surely those ruffians will help themselves to it.”

  “Forget the cart.” Robert blanched and wobbled a little “We have to get…get back to the castle.”

  “Robert? Are you injured? You have arrows sticking out of the front of your cloak. I wasn’t aware that witches were immune. What kind of magic spell repels the effects of being shot with arrows?”

  “It’s not magic.” Robert said, opening his cloak to reveal the metal serving tray hanging by a belt looped over his neck. “It’s your greed with my cleverness. Archers always aim in the center of their targets. Wooden arrows can’t pierce solid serving trays. They didn’t know I had protection and kept making the same…” he wobbled a bit again. “Same mistake.” The arrows only clung to him by hanging from the thick fabric of his cloak. He yanked out the three in the front one at a time and pitched them in the grass before removing the serving tray. Loxo eagerly took it from him, curious to eyeball the indentations from the impacts.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “Well, it’s no longer fit for a fancy party, so I suppose there’s no use in holding onto it.” He said haphazardly pitching it over his shoulder. Mister Robert? It looks like you missed one of the arrows hanging out of your cloak.”

  “So I have.” Said Robert, looking down at his left side just under the armpit. He reached down and tried to pull it free but found it to be stuck. “Ow.” He said as he pulled a second time. “This one is pinching me.”

  “Let me help.” Said Loxo. “I’ll have it free in no time.” With one swift tug, the arrow came free.

  “Augh!” yelped Robert. “Be careful, you could have…” He stopped midsentence as both he and the pirate looked upon the arrow’s tip that was covered in several inches of blood. His hand disappeared beneath his cloak for a second only to emerge with his fingers and palm slicked with fresh crimson. “Oh.” he wobbled again. “That’s not good. We have to get out of here. I have to find…find my sister.” Before he could utter another word, Robert stumbled and fell over. It was only by Loxo’s quick reflexes that the witch didn’t fall all on his face. Loxo lowered him to the grass and opened the cloak to see if he could find the wound. Robert defiantly batted him away. “Don’t…” He said weakly. “Stop!”

  “Let me take a look at you, Robert. Get your hands down so I can see what I’m-“

  “I said…DON’T look at me!” The witch barked before slapping the pirate across the face and pulling his cloak tight around him.

  “I’m trying to help you!”

  “I don’t need your help! I need…my sister! Take me to Siouxsie!”

  “Fine, fine, if you say so, Mister Robert.” He said pulling him vertical again. “We should hurry. Those swordsmen and archers were likely only scouts.” Somewhere overhead a shadow passed between them and the sun. Loxo looked up to find a pair of cloaked silhouettes circled down upon them “Look! Look, Robert! You’re getting your wish! It’s both of your siblings! They’ve come for us!” Siouxsie and Ignatius descended quickly, their winklepickers crushing the grass as they ran to Robert’s side

  “What’s happened here?” demanded Ignatius. “What have you done, pirate?”

  “What have I done? Why, I’ve done nothing at all but help defend this young lad from swordsmen and archers! They were merely scouts and look what they did to my horse!” The witches peered over to see the animal carcass littered with arrows. “I’m trying to help him, but he won’t let me close enough to see how badly he’s wounded!”

  “Step aside.” Said Siouxise. “I’ll handle this. Robert? It’s me, open your cloak.” The witch relented and pulled the black flap aside to reveal the meshwork of belts and pockets and pouches.

  “It hurts here.” He said, patting at the area just under his armpit. Siouxsie poked and pulled at the straps to get a better look and Robert winced when she dug in too far.

  “Ignatius?” she asked. “I found the wound but can’t tell how bad it is.” The bigger witch stepped in and pulled at the material before leaning his head one side and to the other.

  “It’s a deep wound in the muscle of his flank. It’s not lethal but the flesh will require mending and we can’t do that here if there are enemies about. You should have left the arrow inside him. It was foolish to just yank it out. We’ll have to move him. Loxo, pick up Robert. We’re heading back to the castle.”

  “Me? Why am I carrying him?”

  “I don’t want him carrying me.” Croaked Robert.

  “This is not negotiable.” Said Ignatius. “Pick him up and carry him. Robert? No biting.”

  “Now see here!” said Loxo. “I think it’s unfair for me to have to carry him when you’re far more strapping.”

  “We’re wasting time.” Siouxsie reminded them “He’s still bleeding!”

  “You’re carrying him back to the castle and that’s final.” Scowled Ignatius. “Believe me when I say that the last thing you want to be to me right now is less than useful.” The look in his smoldering grey eyes was enough to deter any lingering reluctance Loxo might’ve held in reserve.