Rescuing Starks part-4

Indeed, the man revealed his face to show the old knight who'd give a small smile to the Surgebinder. A few of the Loyalists did keep their swords up, yet Jason waved a hand quickly. "Stand down. He's not with the Lannister's anymore."

"Seems my dismissal reached even your ears, Jason." The knight chuckled.

"I'm sorry you lost your title and place with the King's Guard. Still, without your help, we would most likely be dead or in chains."

"It was my choice and one I don't regret doing." However, he'd stop as orders were being shouted in the distance as the soldiers were regrouped for another attack. "Now is not the time for talk though." He'd gesture deeper into the house. "This way should get us around the soldiers. Hopefully, we can slip away to the harbour."

"How did you know we were heading there?' Jason questioned.

"It's the logical approach to escape. Again, save your questions for later."

The men seemed hesitant to follow along, though Thoros and Syrio were quick to follow.

"If there is one man I can fully trust it is Barristan," Beric spoke out, making small mutters of agreement follow up from his men. "Let's get moving!" Everyone began to file into the building, though Eddard and his daughters were let in first.

"Thank you, Barristan," Ned muttered respectfully, placing a firm hand on the man's shoulder.

"Later Eddard. I have much to apologize for once we have time to speak."

Jason soon followed along while Beric and his few men came in last, closing and barring the door behind them. Inside the house, the Surgebinder saw eight soldiers spread around the room, all of them unconscious. "Impressive work, even more without killing them."

"Death isn't a fair price for following their duty. Hopefully, they will understand their mistakes."

The two older warriors followed the group through the small house, leaving the simple dining and kitchen space to a hallway leading to the front door of the building. Thoros was the first ahead, opening the door and peeking out onto the main street. "Seems to be clear." He muttered as he'd step out first, the rest of the group following along onto the street.

"We are a bit exposed out here, but we now have a clear route to the harbour. Hopefully, we'll-" Barristan started before pausing as there was noise coming from the north end of the street, the stomping of boots of a nearing group of soldiers. "I spoke too soon."

"Keep moving! Whatever happens, don't stop!" Jason yelled out, knowing they'd need to be fast to reach the harbour. Already distant yells and horns were being blown as the soldiers had noticed them. Glancing back, he could see the small army of men giving chase further down the street, crossbowmen among the ranks even taking distant shots.

"Idiots!" Beric cursed as one bolt flew close by. "Seems they don't care about possibly killing the Starks!"

"Or have a lack of orders," Barristan remarked before hearing the clack of hooves. "They got riders!"

There were only six of them, showing the soldiers hadn't had time to mobilize all their forces. They weren't true cavalry thankfully, just soldiers armed with long spears on unarmed horses. Still, they'd easy run down the group and slow them down if they got ahead.

"If you have any bombs or flares left use them now!"

The remaining men fumbled for what they had left, throwing the smoke bombs back or blindly firing flares. All the noise startled the riders' mounts, halting their charge and even flinging one man off onto the street. The added smokescreen even provided cover, though a few bolts still flew by around them.

"There is the harbour…and the ship!" Syrio yelled out, pointing it out to the others. Davos' ship was active, the crew busy getting the anchor read and sails out to leave. On the far side of the docks though were more soldiers, a group from the southern side of the city who had been alerted of the Loyalists escape.

"Damn it, these soldiers are everywhere!" Beric cursed as the reinforcements started shooting at the group, forcing the Loyalists with shields and Jason to focus on shielding the front of the group. Heading down the sloped street to the docks, a small force of soldiers was charging upward to clash with the group get in the way.

Jason growled in frustration as three men rushed at him, yet a strong stormlight charge flung them away yelling out in shock. His vision blurred intensely, making stumble as that weakness hit him with the feeling now nauseating as he'd gasped for breath. Despite the shock of seeing their companions get thrown aside, the remaining soldiers continued their charge only for Thoros, Syrio and most of the remaining Loyalists clashed with them. Beric held Eddard up to support him while Barristan guarded Sansa and Arya alongside two of Beric's men. The oldest daughter looked faint from all the running and violence around her, yet she kept going on when her sister held her hand tightly.

Despite most of the foot soldiers being held back, six were able to break away to chase after the Starks while archers farther back took were in a position to give support fire. Already Beric and his two men turned to keep the foot soldiers back, forcing Barristan to support up Eddard and keep an eye on his daughters.

One of Beric's men didn't react enough to avoid a spear to the throat, yet his companion yelled out in rage as he gutted the soldier with his sword. It was short-lived vengeance though as two of the soldiers closed in, stabbing the Loyalists from both sides. It gave time for Beric to cut down one of the soldiers, yet he was outnumbered by the remaining four. He'd pick up a dropped sword, taking a more defensive stance, though it was obvious the man was exhausted from all the running and fighting.

By the time Jason had recovered from his moment of weakness, getting the energy to move once more. "Not yet…not when we're this close." Forcing himself onward, Jason rushed past the main battle, sword spinning about as two men tried to stand in his way. In one flowing dodge, he cut off one soldier's hand while he swung out before ducking under the next blow to flank the other soldier, delivering a spine breaking slash across his back.

Nearing Beric, the Surgebinder drew out his weighted chain, spinning it rapidly with one hand before flinging it out at one of the soldiers. The man was just about to attack, yet soon found his arms bound up to his sides as the chain coiled around him.

"What the- GAHHH!"

One powerful yank and the man was pulled backwards off his feet, landing roughly onto his back. Before he could even struggle to get up, he'd get his nose broken with a strong stomp by Jason's armoured heel. The surprise attack gave Beric a chance to react as he'd swing both blades wide, catching one soldier off guard with a slash across his chest while the other barely guarded himself. The other remaining soldier faced off against Jason, fear hinting his face as Jason whipped that chain lose from the unconscious man on the ground, holding the chain at his side with his sword forward. "Still want to do this?' He coldly threatened the man, though his attention focused on the other end of the docks.

A group of four soldiers had gone around the far end of the dock to block the way to Davos ship. Barristan had handed Eddard to his daughters while he drew his sword and a dagger, ready to face the men. He spoke something out, no doubt a warning though the men ignored it. Without pause, Barristan lunged in, dagger swinging out to parry one blade back before he'd turn about to avoid a jabbing spear which he snapped in half with his longsword.

The fight did distract Jason for the soldier facing him to attack, yet the Surgebinder casually blocked his slash and kicked him back before whipping he chain at his arm, sharply cracking over the limb and disarming the man. Before he could draw a dagger, he'd get punched across the face with a thin chain coiled over the Surgebinder's fist, knocking him out instantly.

Meanwhile, for Barristan, two of the men moved to try and flank him, yet one got a sword hilt slammed into the side of the head, stunning him for a powerful kick that knocked him off the dock and into the water. The guard behind him tried to stab out, yet even with his back turned Barristan deflected the attack with his dagger, twisting the small weapon about to suddenly disarm the man. A knee to the gut had him staggered and soon pushed off the edge as well. The remaining two men paled seeing the old knight's chilling gaze, making him drop their weapons and run as he knew Barristan's famed skill was no joke.

Beric at this point finished his opponent with a swift stab with both blades after breaking the soldier's guard. Jason hurried over to him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder before Beric nodded. "I'm alright…just need a moment."

Barristan relaxed as he'd lower his sword and sheath his dagger before turning back to Eddard and his daughters. Jason moved with Beric following close behind, though the Surgebinder noticed a surprising look cross the old knight's face while Ned gave out a pained gasp and shake under the support of his daughters. Sansa gave a terrible scream as her father slumped forward, revealing the arrow deep in his chest.

"Father no! Not now…not now!" Arya was pleading, trying to hold him up. Barristan was quick to support her father up as the girl's struggle, looking to at the Surgebinder and Beric with a serious look.

"He's still alive! Help me get him to the ship now!"

Berci was quick to hurry over, Jason hanged back as he'd quickly glanced around to see where the arrow could have come from. His sharp eyes noticed a dark hooded figure armed with a black bow stand up from a warehouse roof a far distance away. Only his enchanted eyesight to have seen the shadowy assassin. Whoever they were must have noticed him or thought his job finished as they slipped out of sight on the far side of the roof.

"Damn it…it's happening all over again…" He muttered, turning to Eddard who was wheezing for air, still holding onto life as he was carried off to the ship. Beric and Barristan handed Ned off to the crewmen who carry him away to safety before the old knight hurried back to the daughters. Sansa was crying and sobbing, while Arya was biting back tears as both were hurried onto the ship by Barristan. Jason glanced down the docks, seeing the rest of the Loyalists heading towards the ship. Thoros, Syrio along with a mix of wounded Stark and Beric soldiers. They had pushed the soldiers back for now but only have minutes before they regrouped.

There was no time for words as they'd get onto the ship which already creaked as it began to move away, dropping the gangplank behind them. Jason glanced out at the docks, watching as the soldiers were gathering up what archers they had to take shots at them, with the ship already drifting out of reach. They had escaped…yet at a high cost.