Chapter 5

'.....eight stride.....six...three...now' Kylian looked up as masked men casually peeped down the cliff. His uncovered eyes filled with horror and disbelief as he watched a sword cut through the air, aimed right at his neck.

Their pursuers were left aghast as they watched the assassin's headless body fall.

Seeing such a horrific sight Benn panicked and fell off the horse. Taking advantage of the confusion Kylian closed in and slashed at one of the horse's legs, the rider came crashing down along the horse. By the time 'Odor and 'Dicor were already making a move towards the mounted enemies.

'Hodor rushed towards the fallen assassin, who by then was struggling to get his feet under him. Without a second thought 'Hodor shoved his sword through the assassin's heart, his eyes brimming with shock.

Benn gasped in fright as he witnessed such horrific sight unfold. Panicked, Benn gathered every ounce of his energy to stand. As he finally managed to get up, he then realized the giant was already towering over him and was pointing the sword right at him. "..Ple..aseee... don't" Benn muttered as he looked for mercy in those pinkish eyes, hoping to make one last attempt at survival.

'Hodor just stood there, his gaze thoroughly scrutinizing the young man. Time felt like an eternity for Benn, and his shivering legs only made it worse for him to stay still as he pleaded.

"...Stay down..." 'Hodor spoke in his broken tongue as his eyes measured Benn one last time.

Benn pinched his hand just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. His mind eased a bit only when he saw the giant turn and walk away, "Thank you God, I am happy to survive this day." he whispered, but soon his expression soured and anxiety kicked in. What would happen to him when they were done with the rest of the assassins, has he spared him just to kill him or even worse, eat him alive. Such thoughts flooded Benn as he rested his back against a rock, just hoping everyone present forget about his existence.

Kylian carefully examined the battle, 'Odor and the other Jeyan were doing better than Kylian had expected, but he knew they won't be able to hold much longer. After monitoring his surroundings Kylian strode towards the tattooed assassin, who was staring at him from across the battlefield. Watching Kylian the assassin closed in too, his grip tight around his sinful looing daggers.

When both of them were just a few strides away, the assassin threw one of his daggers at Kylian aimed right at his chest. Kylian stopped in his course and with a twist of his wrist parried away the dagger, his expressions unfazed.

The assassin's uncovered eyes smiled brightly with amusement. He took out three throwing knives and directed them towards Kylian. The outcome was no different from earlier as Kylian blocked all three with a single swing of his sword.

Kylian then rushed towards the assassin, their blades clashed and rang as they whipped through the air. Kylian stepped away to evade the assassin's dagger aimed right at his shoulder. The assassin was fast and determined. The young warrior bent to avoid another swing from the assassin aimed at his head. He then popped back and sliced at the assassin's leg, barely scratching the man's thigh as the assassin somehow managed to pull back his leg.

Without giving his opponent any time Kylian rushed forward trying to ram the assassin, but he was quick and swept out of the way. Kylian moved his sword over his head to intercept the blade from his side that might have separated his head if he was late a moment or two. Seeing his attack fail the assassin lobbed a small knife at Kylian which he deftly deflected with a flick of his sword. Kylian then jumped up to the assassin, catching him in a flurry of attacks, even though the assassin evaded the attacks but he was slowing down, his smile slowly fading away with each strike.

Noticing the assassin was fully invested in blocking his sword, Kylian kicked his opponent in his gut.

There were no rules where your life was on the line, and Kylian was taught this the hard way in his past.

The assassin was surprised by the sudden kick and let his guard down just for a moment. A guard drop, this was what Kylian had been waiting for. He brought down his sword right at the assassin's unguarded shoulder. The blade connected neatly as it dug deep in the assassin's shoulder.

The assassin winced at the severe pain and took a step back trying to steal a second or two amid the battle. Reading the assassin's intentions Kylian rushed forward, he was in no mood to let his opponent off the hook so easily. With his working arm, the assassin tried stabbing Kylian but failed miserably as Kylian neatly cleaved the assassin's outstretched wrist. The assassin fell down in agony.

Everyone on the cliff came to a standstill as the assassin screamed in pain.

Ignoring the cries Kylian looked around him to see how others were doing. 'Odor was up against the last remaining masked assassin, and even though 'Odor had an upper hand but things were not in the giant's favor. He was bleeding profusely and there was a nasty cut on his right thing. Kylian was sure that in a prolonged battle the giant would succumb to blood loss if not by the enemy blade.

On the other side, 'Dicor was on the ground, his body battered, but there was an erratic rising and falling of his chest. Kylian looked for a moment at the Jeyan, after carefully examining 'Dicor he concluded that he was not in any immediate danger.

"YOU FOOLISH SLAVE, do you even know who he is ? Let him go fool and they might give you an easy death."

Kylian looked around just to find Thomas shouting, dread plastered all over his aged face. The veteran further continued, his voice filled with terror- "He is the successor of the Honourless guild, they will hunt you all down."

"Not if I get them first." Kylian whispered and with a horizontal thrust of his sword cleanly chopped off the tattooed assassin's head.

Thomas's expression turned ugly at the sight, before he could express his displeasure Kylian was already dashing towards him, his hands clenched around the sword in an underhand grip. Thomas took a step forward and raised his sword to meet the challenge but Kylian was too quick for him. Kylian Swirled under Thomas's raised sword and rammed his blade right through the veteran's heart from behind. The veteran fell to the ground joining the tattooed assassin in the afterlife.

The remaining assassin was met with the same fate as the rest of his squad

Kylian quickly looked around

"Let's spend the night in that village. Then we can go our separate ways." Kylian spoke pointing towards the settlement at the foot of their hill.

'Hodor nodded in agreement.

Being in two battles and climbing two hills had left everyone exhausted and, Kylian doubted if 'Odor and 'Dicor could survive without being treated. The group was in dire need of rest and camping in the open would only leave them vulnerable to further attacks.

"We .... five now." 'Hodor spoke.

Kylian looked at 'Hodor unsure what the pink Jeyan meant.

"Five"..., 'Hodor outstretched his arm pointing behind Kylian.

Kylian turned around only to find a puny-looking figure curled up against a rock with his back turned towards them. There was blood spread all across the person's back, obviously none of his. He was 'trying' to be still, to act like a corpse, but alas his trembling body gave away his facade.

With cautious steps, Kylian walked towards the man. He had been taught never to put off one's guard, there was nothing like being too cautious in battle. When Kylian was at a safe distance he poked the man with his sword.

"Please spare me I just got recruited yesterday. I don't even taste good might be poisonous.. no, no definitely poisonous... Please..." Benn spoke up in a single breath as his body involuntary stood up.

Kylian carefully scrutinized the young man for any hidden weapons, once sure he spoke- "Answer my questions and I might spare you. "

"Sure sir." Benn gave a slight salute and stood in an attentive position, just hope of surviving was enough for him to obey.

"Who are you and why are you with them, chasing us ?" Kylian asked his first question. It was clear that the young man was far from being an assassin, or even a soldier.

"My name is Benjamin, you can call me Ben-" Benn bit his tongue, giving an apologetic bow, and continued "Sorry, I am from Hartstone, a small village 20 miles from here... I was recruited just yesterday"

'You can pretty much guess which side my luck falls on.'

"I don't know why they asked, pretty much forced me to come in this chase."

Kylian carefully listened, his eyes looking for any outward signs of lies.

"Which one forced you ?" Kylian cross-questioned, trying to spot any fabrication in the story or his.

Benn looked around to spot the tattooed assassin but the sight made him nauseous and he looked away instantly. Earlier he had turned his back and closed his eyes shut, hoping they would forget about him.

Kylian looked at the shivering man who was almost his age. He wasn't sure if he pitted the man for being so weak or envied him for such an easy life he might have had.

"Which one," Kylian asked again with a stiff voice, it was more of a command rather than a request.

Benn realised it was better to face the corpses rather than to be one of them. He slowly turned his head around and all he saw were severed limbs, lifeless bloodied bodies, and a lot of blood splattered all over the cliff. The sight looked like an ill-tempered child had discarded his dolls.

He spotted the severed head, assassin's lifeless eyes staring at him as if blaming Benn for his misery. "There" he pointed and turned away from the gore. The sight was too much of torture for him and he instantly threw up.

Kylian gestured Benn to leave, there were more pressing matters and one of them was just beneath the hill.

"He Comes.... follow us..." 'Hdor spoke from a side

"You sure."

'Hodor nodded,

Sometimes it was impossible to understand the pink Jeyan. It was none of his concern, tomorrow he would be on his separate path from them, looking out for the 'mage' and his revenge.

On a side Benn was left dazed, he did not know what to expect from his life anymore. In just a single day he was seen and touched death more than he ever had imagined and the worst part was he was in no control of the situation. He cursed the pink giant, it would be impossible for him to survive along with slaves, which were being chased by the Honourless guild assassins and only if the giant's don't cook him first.

"We don't.... eat you..."

Benn was taken aback- "..You read minds.." he asked gathering every bit of courage left.

'Hodor gently shook his head and stood beside Kylian who was inspecting the settlement.

Benn looked over his shoulder, at the hill they had crossed earlier -'Can I escap-'

"....Follow..." called out 'Hodor

'He definitely can read minds.'- Benn did what was ordered of him as he had been doing all day.