Should that town really be on fire?

It was Vanya who had roused Dareios from his sleep by climbing into the back and shaking his arms.

Dareios was just about to make a lewd remark on her state of dress when he noticed the worried look on Vanya?s face.

What more, he realized that the wagon had been halted.

Scurrying up from his prone position, hand on his sword, Dareios threw out a ?What?s going on?? to Vanya while beginning to move towards the front of the wagon.

?You?d better see this.? Vanya informed him just before Dareios stuck his head out of the wagon, where Kandra and Jalee were sitting on the coachbox.

Dareios could now see that their wagon was stopped at the summit of a low hill, before which a large plain surrounded by trees and hills was stretched out.

Littered across the relatively even ground was a large town, probably somewhat more populous than Kirk.

The town?s size was less important however than the fact that a good part of it was currently on fire, smoke rising up from stone and wooden buildings alike as they were engulfed by flames.

Despite the fact that there was almost a mile of cultivated ground separating the hill were they were located and the outer brim of the town proper, Dareios could make out figures darting through the streets on horseback, while a crowd of tiny figures could been seen running head-first towards the woods in all directions, apparently fleeing from something.

Jalee, who was holding the reins, had appeared to become frozen by the scene of carnage taking place in the town, particularly following the sight of riders besetting the fleeing pedestrians in the field with her face grimacing in horror, while Kandra wasn?t looking any more prone to do anything other than to sit completely still and watch men and women be beaten down to the ground by the riders.

?Jalee,? Dareios tried to sound calm, and quickly realized that the effort was a failed one, ?turn the wagon around, and let?s get the fuck out of here!?

The command from Dareios seemed to serve its purpose of waking Jalee from her immobile state, as the black tit-queen now began to twist the reins in her hands, beginning the slow process of turning the vehicle around from a standstill.

The horses were also aware of the danger, and when one of them panicked and began to kick about it proved to be too much for the inexperienced Jalee to handle, the women letting out cries of unpleasant surprise when the panicky animals caused the wagon to tip over onto its side before finally breaking loose from their bounds to dart over the hill and back into the woods.

?Damn!? Kandra cried from her position on the ground were she had landed after being tossed from the coachbox when the wagon flipped over onto its side.

?It gets worse?, Dareios cut in as he climbed out of the capsized vehicle, ?look.?

Dareios pointed at a party of horse borne figures which were now galloping up the road towards their position, weapons brandished.

?They?ll be here soon?, Dareios drew his sword while Vanya helped Jalee up on her feet, ?so I suggest that you all start running.?

?And what?ll you do?? Kandra asked, having pulled up her shortsword.

?Stay here and hopefully give you enough time to escape?, was Dareios response, ?get off the road as soon as you can and try to head back to Kirk through the woods.?

The tone of his voice made it clear that Dareios were not prepared to discuss his decision, and it was with a simple ?I?ll find you if win this? that he saw the three women off as they began to stumble their way over the summit.

Shifting his fingers against the hilt of his weapon, Dareios prepared himself for the oncoming battle.