Chapter 10:Surrounded

Ivon crouched low in the hidden passage as the heavy footsteps drew closer he realised he had been found. He could hear the clanking of Armor and the deep steady breathing of someone approaching. His pulse quickened. There was no time to hesitate , he had only word going on his mind — KILL HIM .. KILL HIM...

Ivon swiftly emerged from the passage, his eyes locked on the man —Village head. But the solider guarding the man was not to be underestimated.

As Ivon charged toward him, the commander's sharp eyes snapped towards him in schok. After first the commander assumed the archer that has been hiding is an experienced one at that , given the precise shot he made but now here was a mere boy , old enough to hold a bow..

The commander's instinct kicked in. He bent his knees, preparing himself,and then sprinted toward Ivon who was in the middle of nocking another arrow toward the village head.

Ivon feeling the sudden wind pressure , felt a chill in his spine immediately he lowered his head instinctively, he saw the knight who was 2 meter away was now near him.

Ivon felt the danger for the first time. His heart pounded in his chest as he took a quick step back , eyes wide, facing the knight head on.

Ivon standing face to face with the Knight although his height and experience may differ from the experienced knight but there wasn't a single hesitation in Ivon's eyes.

Ivon's hands moved fast, as he loosened and arrow directly towards the knight's legs and thighs. But the commander with a practiced flick of his wrist, the arrow was easily deflected . Ivon thought sank as he realised just how powerful this knight is. This knight is no a ordinary knight probably a— Commander .

Thinking of this, Ivon felt that he may not win, but then the picture of his parents mocked by then appeared in his mind , he took a deep breath and released it — to calm his mind and started thinking logically how to kill the Village head . He knows he cannot defeat the commander head on , he need to be clever .

He then moved his hand toward his arrows to count them — he found there was only 13 arrows , knowing this he immediately planned to use this arrows to distract the commander and try to shoot one arrow at the village head.

The commander sensing Ivon's hesitation, stepped forward with a confident sneer. " You think you can defeat me boy?" he growled his voice cold and mocking.

Ivon ignored the taunt. He mentally realised he couldn't afford to miss. The commander's presence is overwhelming but now his aim is to distract him , throw him off balance.

Slowly, almost imperceptible ,Ivon shifted his weight, positioning himself so that the commander could not predict his next move. Then in a flash he nocked 5 arrows one after another each at his joint and head but he knows the commander can deflect his arrows . So he shot and arrow in the sky , seeing this the commander prepare himself for the arrow but seeing the arrow still not arriving he realised that the arrow was for the Village head .

"PROTECT MASTER , THE ARROW COM..G .... SKY.."

The soldier protecting didn't get the time to hear clearly , they saw they arrow came from the sky instantly killing on of them , seeing this everyone got scared ...

Instantly they started to back away from there while covering their village head , as before the village head thought that the commander can easily kill the boy ,so he stood there to watch the boy's suffering but now he realised that he is still in danger .

" KILL HIM QUICKLY " Village head with scared voice , ordered them .

Seeing them back away , Ivon knew that his plan to make those soldier scared is successful , in that way they would make a slight gap for him .

Then again he lighted his arrows with fire and shot 3 arrows toward the corpses of soldier and beasts near the commander , making the corpse to burn , slowly spreading to various corpse surrounding the place , making a sea of fire .

Seeing this the commander was impressed by the boy's thinking but he knows he has no time . He has to move away this corpse near him , just the moment he moved his legs to kick the corpse he saw 2 arrows suddenly coming out of the arrow — he gets shocked , in an instant one arrow went through his leg making him bleed , while stopping the other arrow difficulty .

While Aron , just having 3 more arrow — saw that the commander was distracted , his target is to kill the Village head , thinking of this he fired 2 successive arrow with full length of the bow . And then the third arrow toward the Village head .

The commander saw that the boy is preparing to fire arrow , he immediately ran limping toward his master , but he realised he is still far to block the arrow —

Aron's first 2 arrow penetrated through the shield of the solider — KRKKK..

Killing the 2 solider very near to the village head , while the third arrow going directly towards the village head while Ivon rejoicing thinking he had killed.

In that moment , the commander made a move that Ivon hadn't anticipated, in one fluid motion , he threw his sword with terrifying speed , the blade cutting through the air and intercepting the arrow mid-flight . The sharp clang echoed in tha air as the sword struck the arrow deflecting it with brutal precision .

Ivon then saw his arrow and sword striked the ground far away — he then look towards the commander .

He saw the commander in a throwing position , Ivon understood that the commander threw his sword to deflect the arrow's direction , understanding it he get shocked , as for doing it need accurate precision .

Ivon heart sank , now he has no more arrows realising that he has no means to kill the village head , turning his head towards the forest he ran towards it .

The commander relieved that they boy ran away , fell on the ground as he had managed to protect his master .

The village head enraged by Ivon's attack , bellowed in fury . His face twisted with rage as he ordered his soldier "I need that boy dead, he almost killed me !!". His voice was cold and cruel. The Commander along with with a handful of soldiers carrying firewood to light their path in the dark night moved towards the forest to chase Ivon down .

Ivon panting heavily pushed through the thick bush, his heart hammering in his chest. He could hear the soldiers' footstep behind him growing closer . He ran faster , after an hour thinking he had lost them he slowed down to adjust his breathing . The adrenaline began to wear off as he realised that he didn't know the way through the forest .

After 10 Minutes of walking , Ivon heared the sound of clanking footsteps once again . He turned his eyes towards the sound he saw the soldier has caught up . They were moving thrpigh the trees with firelight illuminating their path.

Ivon panicked and ran once again , but then soldier pursued him relentlessly. The night seemed to stretch on forever as Ivon pushed himself harder , knowing that if they caught him it would be the end.

Hours passed , and the began to tire, but the sound of the solider pursuit never faded.

Finally ,Ivon stumbled out of the forest , he looked around only to find the path ahead blocked by a huge crack on the ground. The earth yawned open before him the abyss stretching far below into darkness.

It was atleast 30 feet across.. He stepped back , his heart leaping in his throat , but the rustling of leaves behind him reminded him that the soldiers were closing in .

Seeing no way out, his body tensed in terror as the solider emerged from the forest surrounding him . There was no escape .

The soldier laughed and sneered as they closed him. One of them mocked " Brat you had made us run for hours —like a rat , now there is no way for you to go . You're finished".

Ivon hands balled into fists, his eyes blazing with fury. He stared back at the soldiers hatred burning in his chest.

He could still hear the mocking words in his ear . The same people who had killed them were now taunting him, wanting for his envitable demise.

But Ivon refused to give in .

He looked at the abyss before him , it was deep , dark, and seemingly endless. If he fell, he might die but if he gets captured by them then he would definitely die at their hands. There was no choice .

He would rather face the unknown.

"I swear, if I survive this," Ivon spat through gritted teeth , his voice low but filled with determination," I will kill you and your filthy master ".

Saying this Ivon turned away from the soldiers and took one last look at the dark , yawning chasm before him , closing his eyes he leaped in it.

Seeing this all the soldiers get shocked and run towards the crack to see , whether he truly jumped it it.

Nearing the crack seeing the dark abyss they got scared and ran from there .