Chapter 16 – Bandits (3)

"Ender!" Ralph ran over to Ender that was laying down on the ground coughing blood. Ender's failure to kill the bandit boss backlashed. Ender's sword was not clad in ether so he could use what little he recover on himself to speed himself up and hide himself.

"Damn! KatisurI I thought you were covering me? Where did the damn brat come from?" the boss started cursing.

Katisuri answered with a frowning expression, "I don't know. The kid just appeared like magic but he is too young."

"Maybe you are just blind. Get some glasses," the boss ranted. "At least your attack mitigated the big guy's attack." The boss was rubbing the would he had received.

As the two were quarrelling Ralph was checking on Ender, "Ender how are you? Where were you?"

Ender replied, "Cough I went to make sure that everyone knew there was bandits and helped people run."

"Ender your too reckless. Do you know how worried your mother and I were?" Ralph asked. This time in a lower voice Ralph said, "Ender I need you to go into the house and run. These two men are too much for me to handle."

"But dad I can help…" Ender tried to interject.

"Shut up!" Ralph stopped Ender. "You need to protect your mother and the baby inside her understand. She is currently pregnant so go be a man and protect her."

When Ralph words enter Ender's ears it was like a explosion was set off in his head. All the connection of his mother's mysterious illness were solve and her cultivation plateau. Seeing his father Ender knew the seriousness of the situation. Nodding Ender promised to save Millie at all cost. Seeing that Ender would do as he asked Ralph got up and started running towards the two men in black. Ender started running towards the house that Millie was in not looking back. "Dad you better survive." Ender sent a prayer as he looked for Millie.

"The kid went inside," Katisuri noted.

"Leave the kid for now. No matter what he does he can't get away from us," the boss declared as he went for another clash.

"Fine," Katisuri gave up arguing.

…

Inside the house Millie was waiting worried. Then Ender entered the house running up to Mille and grabbing trying to pull her to the back. "Mom we have to hurry and run."

"But your father is not back," Millie who was usually strong-willed was more timid when she could not use her ether.

"Dad will follow afterwards at a meeting spot he told me to go to. But we have to hurry or he won't be able to escape," Ender quickly fabricated a lie.

Millie decided to believe Ender and escaped with him. Ender went his room and grabbed something from under bed. What was under was actually a spare sword he made while he was with Old Milton. When Millie saw the sword she asked, "What is this? Where did you get this from?!"

"Dad gave me this for my birthday. He said to keep it in case to protect you." Ender threw his father under the carriage once more like it was the right thing to do.

"If your father survives this ordeal I will kill him myself," Millie chastised.

Ender wrapped the sword to his side before he took his mother's hand and ran out of the back door. Ender decided to run further west by exiting the western village entrance. Ender's mother was actually weaker than she wanted to appear seeing this Ender's face grew solemn. He needed to do something. If Ender could carry his mother they would make more progress.

"I'm sorry mom," Ender quickly muttered before he knocked his mother unconscious. Picking his mother up he used his ether to protect the two from the rain and strengthened his legs to run. Ender picked up his speed to run towards the meadows. Not looking back Ender continued to run further and further. Any ether he recovered was mostly used to allow the pair to run that much further. The meadow soon turned into a grass plain and a road as well. Ender now had to decide which way to go North on the road, South on the road, or further East onto further plains.

"South… If I head south I should eventually meet a town… maybe… I just need to find someplace to protect mother." Ender chose what seemed to be the wisest choice at the moment. What he did not know was that there were no pursuers.

…

Ralph did not stop fighting against Katisuri and the boss. Every time they thought Ralph was at his limit Ralph stood back up. This continued until the storm passed. Tired Ralph finally tumbled to the ground.

"Boss we have to leave soon and cut our losses," Katisuri advised.

"Damn we have to let those two ran off. Lets call the boys and leave for now then," the boss groaned.

Ralph laughed and was happy. He was able to protect his family. Ralph then fell unconscious.

…

On the east side of Rotherhithe village was a carriage. Of the 50 people that arrived only 26 returned with some villagers in tow. Because the bandits had to cut their raid time they were not able to return to get more villagers. Plus seeing that nearly half of their forces were dead made the men scared.

"Damn was there a group of retired soldiers or something? Did you not say this village was easy picking." The boss turned towards Katisuri.

"I cannot guarantee anything. Maybe a wandering adventure arrived after my investigations," Katisuri replied while shrugging his shoulders.

The boss grabbed Katisuri's collar lifting him up, "What was that? Don't think I won't kill you."

Katisuri smiled back, "A fallen noble like you wants to threaten me? The only person that could revive your house?"

The two stared at each other for a while before the boss let go. "This better not happen again," The boss roared before turning around. "Take that man to be sold to a noble that goes to the coliseum. We will make a killing with him," the boss continued.

Katisuri answered evilly, "Of course boss."

Inside the carriage all the villagers were knocked unconscious and tied in either rope or chains. Ralph was thrown in a corner with cuts all over his body tied by chains.