A confrontation

“Come, lay down.” Her voice commanded.

Aarni was a bit ****, he had been with a lot of women since he came of age, but he had never lain next to an older woman, and he had never laid down next to a woman whom he didn’t intend to have sex with, this was new territory for him. He still did it, there was no other sensible option. He told himself that scouts and soldiers did it all the time, paired up to keep warm, especially when the weather turned cold enough to freeze a man in his sleep. It was simple necessity.

He climbed under the shelter, slipped beneath the hide blanket that had been on the horse and laid next to her.

“By the goddess, don’t be a baby.” She said as he tried his best to keep from touching her too much.

Aarni inched closer, putting his chest to her back, his arm on her side, their legs touching.

“Better.” Her voice was a whisper now.

“Put your leg on top of mine, but careful, don’t make it obvious.”

Aarni again did what was asked of him.

“Good, now hold where you are, don’t let your arm or leg fall, no matter what, you must be strong, son of Astra.”

Aarni was a bit confused, but then the woman slipped out from under his arm and leg, from under the hide, and out of the shelter. He held himself still. It wasn’t easy keeping arm and leg still when they had nothing to rest on, but he understood why. She was free, and if she had escaped notice, it would look like she was still next to him. His mind was full of questions, but one thought stood out above the doubts, they must have been followed.

Aarni lay still, focused on keeping his arm and leg in position, holding the hide as if someone else was still inside. His arm was doing alright, but his leg was starting to burn, the muscles **** for a break. It hadn’t been long, and Aarni worried he wouldn’t be able to buy her sufficient time. He thought of Darya, imagined he was saving her by staying in position. It helped, for a moment or two.

The old woman needed to hurry; he couldn’t hold out much longer. He bit his lip, hard, the pain helping him focus. It worked for a moment as well, he was able to focus well enough that he didn’t at first hear the sound of fighting behind him.

“Aagh!” It was the old woman’s voice, and was followed by a thud. Aarni rolled out of the shelter, sprung upright and checked to make sure his sword was still with him. His leg was almost numb, but the adrenaline was sufficient to drive him onward. He ran toward where the sounds had come from.

“You thought yourself clever, Azhelin, now the boy will be alone.” The voice was feminine, but it wasn’t the old woman, and her words gave away her location. Aarni charged and gave a cry. He came to the top of a small rise in time to see someone fall, came closer as they pushed someone else off of them. He arrived in time to place his sword tip to their chest before they could stand.

“Yield or die.” He stated, projecting as much authority and strength as he could. The person on the ground held still, for a moment, then his legs were off the ground and he landed hard on his side.

“Aaargh!” the voice yelled. Aarni tried to see what was happening, but he had hit his head and the world was spinning.

“That should slow you down, now hold still, or you’ll get another.” This time it was the old woman’s voice.

Aarni’s vision cleared, his head hurt but he could function. In front of him was the old woman, carrying a mylnak, the light throwing spears throwers used. In front of her was a sister of peace, she had a mylnak buried in her right thigh.

“Now tell me who you really are.” The old woman commanded.

The younger sister spat, then grabbed the mylnak with both hands and ripped it out of her leg. She started to stand up.

“Shit.” The old woman said and stabbed at her with her remaining spear. The wounded sister dodged, impressively fast for someone injured.

Aarni snapped into action, grabbing his sword and striking at her chest. It hit the spear, this woman’s speed was impressive, he rebounded into a counter swing with no hesitation, stopped again, he kicked, she grabbed his leg, then dodged a stab and punched the old woman.

“You are fortunate they require you alive and unhurt young prince.” She threw him backwards by his leg, then turned to face the old woman.

Aarni had rolled his landing, he got his feet under him and lunged, stabbing at his enemy’s back. She twisted, and the blade narrowly missed. She didn’t even turn to face him as she blocked a strike from the old woman. Aarni had to do something, so he swung lightly at her head, leaning the wrong way to have any power in it. She ducked forward and he lunged low, throwing his shoulder into the back of her knee. His target crumpled, and fell, her chest to the ground.

“You bitch!” she cursed, and then started to convulse, trying to stand. He looked up to see the old woman pushing her other Mylnak into the woman’s back, driving it through her rib cage like a stake.

“Quick, finish her!” the shout was ****, the woman was starting to push herself off the ground, despite the spear and weight of the woman pushing her down.

Aarni got to his knees and started stabbing at the small of her back with his sword, trying to sever her spine. Her flesh was tough, her muscles like wood. It took four stabs to pierce through and hit the nerves in her back. Her legs went dead, she collapsed, coughing up blood.

The old woman rolled her over on her side, took out a knife.

“The will of Madaza. . .” her last words before their attacker’s throat was cut.

Aarni sat, trying to catch his breath and trying to will his head to stop throbbing. The old woman was worse off, she looked like she might have a broken jaw. She tried to get up, but stumbled and sat back down.

“Who was that?” he asked.

She just shook her head and pointed to her jaw. She signed Time and Go. The simple hand signs the Mnozimar army taught for basic communication when stealth is needed.

Aarni stepped over to her, helped her up and walked with her leaning on him. She was clearly in pain, her left leg seemed to be busted as well. He got her back to the camp, as much as he wished he could sleep, they couldn’t stay here. He laid her down next to the shelter and went to fetch the horse.

His body went through the motions, doing what he needed to do, but in his head one thought dominated his mind. That thing was too strong, too tough, too fast to be human, and it had been after him.