Ambush

They had picked the site of the ambush quite carefully. It was a stretch of road where the forest closed in, leaving just enough space for one wagon to pass through. They had felled a tree which blocked the road right around a sharp turn and now laid in wait. Flinch was right in the underbrush at the roadside with his eight fighting sons. He looked at them, strong and determined, they filled him with pride. Up in the trees the casters were hidden, ready to support with their magic.

Valery didn’t want to come; her ultimately gentle nature lead her to keep away from bloodshed if possible. Astra however insisted on joining in the attack. She was eager to prove herself and finally get rid of her restraints. Flinch was now confident he would beat her with the magic suppressing collar on, so he allowed her to come unbound and armed. She was waiting a bit up the road to block it once the ambush began and take care of those managing to flee.

Vix and Zip dropped down from the trees, “They’re coming, two minutes at most.”. “Good.”, Flinch said with a serious expression, “Join your brothers and sisters in the trees and wait for my signal.”.

Silence fell upon them like a heavy blanket as they waited. Eventually the rattling wagons became louder and louder. The first one took the turn, followed by another which soon stopped before the fallen tree. “Halt!”, the driver of the first wagon yelled, “Get this damn tree off the road and fast! We need to reach the village before nightfall.”. There were three wagons in total, the middle one being heavily reinforced with metal. Armoured knights jumped out of the first wagon, which looked more like a troop transport with the crossbowmen on top, and moved towards the fallen tree.

This was the perfect moment. Flinch whistled and the goblins erupted into action. With two quick volleys, Vix and Zip took out all the wagon drivers. “Alarm! Gobli- “, one of them managed before his neck was pierced. The fighters swarmed the warriors that had exited the leading wagon, quickly overwhelming them with superior numbers and speed, even matching the knights strength. The earth casters softened the ground below the reinforced cart, letting the wheels sink into the ground before hardening it. The healers took quick care of any injuries the fighters sustained.

Flinch himself rushed forward and struck the leading wagon with a flat palm-strike. The Qi he had channelled burst outwards and flipped the whole thing on its side. He quickly annihilated the few remaining knights that climbed out of it. Almost done already, only the rear and middle wagon remained, the middle one surely being filled with weapons and treasure.

His sons rushed past him towards the third wagon, when the middle wagon suddenly opened. Flinch froze for just the fraction of a second, but it was enough. He was too late. The six paladins surprised his sons, and before they could react two were slain. “NO!”, Flinch yelled in anguish before rushing forward. “Kill these wretched beasts! For the Goddess!”, the paladins leader yelled, and a vicious battle ensued. Three of the paladins fought the six remaining goblin fighters, while the other three struggled to contain Flinch. He was furiously pounding away at their shields and armour, deflecting their attacks whenever they came close, but they were strong.

With support from the archers and casters, the fighters eventually managed to subdue their three adversaries, but not without losing another brother.

Flinch was struggling. He had spent his Qi recklessly in anger it was catching up to him. He had knocked two of the paladins out, but their leader managed to strike a nasty wound across his chest. She kicked him onto his back, “You die today, nasty fucker!”, she raised her sword. It was too late for any of his children to save him. This was ****.

The **** of the impact threw the paladin off her feet and headfirst into the metal wagon, where she slumped down ****. Astra lowered her leg, which had still been raised from the mighty kick she had thrown. Flinch looked past her and saw she had obliterated the third wagon and its inhabitants. He sighed with relief. They had won.