Eastern Defense Battle

***

The world narrowed to a tunnel of churning emotions for Marcus. He had tasted it like blood in his mouth as the bandits roared their entrance. Now, the taste was replaced by the acrid tang of sweat and the dull ache in his shoulder – a souvenir from a wiry bandit's axe.

Across from him, one of the young recruits with eyes as wide as saucers moments ago had morphed into a whirlwind of steel. His sword danced with surprising grace. The confined space of the village entrance worked in their favor, hindering the bandits' ability to swing their larger weapons with full force to some extent.

The other, too, was holding his own in his battle as he continued to block and parry while counterattacking with precision, which left the bandit flustered.