Chapter 3
by 
Abdulalahazred
What's next?
Phule Deserts
Phule hung back. The battlefield was alive with the thunder of hooves as the forces of Lord Liam rode out to meet the small invading party led by Lord Baird. Amidst the chaos, Phule, a seasoned mercenary known for his quick thinking and knack for survival, again found himself watching Lord Baird's troops firing their disrupters with awe. These were devices unlike anything Phule had ever seen before - and he held one as well.
As the battle raged on, Phule began to formulate a plan. He knew that the disrupters were incredibly valuable and could be put to good use for his own crimes. The non-lethal weapons erased short-term memories and incapacitated victims, making them perfect for robbery. They were also area weapons, able to affect multiple targets at once.
As Lord Baird’s forces advanced Phule made the choice to desert and steal his disrupter, slipping away from the main body of troops. The battlefield was a chaotic mess of men and horses, with arrows flying and screams of pain from disrupters filling the air. Phule spurred his horse and fled the one sided battle with a grim determination.
The horse galloped away down the dirt road. Soon the sounds of battle were distant and fast fading. Phule wanted to put as much distance between himself and Lord Baird as he could and he was not going to rest until he was sure he was safely away. Baird had promised unimaginable punishments for anyone that stole a disrupter and Phule did not doubt that Lord Baird would make good on his word - if lord Baird captured him. But Phule was confident that Baird would be too busy with securing Lord Liam’s castle to give immediate chase. His head start would be too great. Phuket knew he would get away with it.
Then there was an urgent beeping from the disrupter. Then incredible agony. Then darkness.