here is another excerpt from my book.....
Turning around, they found their way barred by a group of about twenty cutthroats. Only two were mounted on steeds that were partially worthy to even have made it as far as they had. The pathetic creatures looked underfed and their ribs seemed to be struggling to puncture through the hides that were stretched across their body. The animal’s eyes were wide with excitement at having found two more horses. But at the same time, they held an insane hunger and thirst. If not for having gentle dispositions, they might have been the meanest animals.
The cutthroats smiled showing a smile full of crooked almost black teeth. They waved their swords threateningly. They supposed these two were headed to their treasure. From the looks of fear they gave Clureax, it was apparent that they thought she was a man well practiced in the art of sword fighting. When Tyla glanced over at her friend she saw why. Clureax was tightly holding her sword at her side. At the same time, she was giving the men a glaring look that should have stopped them in their tracks. But of course, being cutthroats, they felt they had to prove themselves to be the best.
Clureax glanced towards Tyla and whispered quick directions on what to do.
“Tyla, follow me with your horse. We are going to get those horses away from them if it’s the last thing I do.” Tyla nodded to let Clureax know that she understood, and then braced herself for the task at hand. She felt that Clureax was at an unfair advantage. She faced these sorts of adventures every day. She knew what to expect. Tyla could count the times she had fought on one hand. Now, she found herself wishing that she had paid as good attention as Clureax had to Captain Sartza when he had been teaching them how to fight.
The cutthroats gave a wild cry of anticipation and lunged towards them. Clureax jabbed her horse in the ribs and they jumped up the side of the ravine. Tyla’s mare nearly ran over the top of Clureax, for Tyla was crazily kicking at its sides. There was no way that she was going to get left behind. The two horses struggled higher up the side of the ravine. They were now on the opposite mountain from Shewah Peak.
The two cutthroats on horses urged their mounts up the mountain, heedless of their heaving sides and worn out bodies. The horses did the best they could in climbing up the mountain. They were quickly falling behind the much healthier horses. Suddenly, Clureax wheeled about and stampeded down the mountain to meet the attackers. Her sword was drawn out and as she drew close enough, she began to slash it at the cutthroats on foot, for they were beating the worn out horses. The men began to fall as the sword hit them. One by one they fell and lay still in the grass. After about seven men had fallen this way, the others began to retreat., hoping to save their worthless lives. The two on horses continued to stand firm, not fearing the rider that was coming towards them.
The first contender jumped his horse forward. He was ready to fight. His sword was drawn and the two weapons clashed sending a shower of sparks. That first hit caused him to back his horse down the side a couple of quick steps. Clureax followed. Their swords met once again. This time, they continued to slash at one another. The cutthroat blocked the blows well, but he sent blows back just as well as he blocked them. Clureax wondered if maybe they rode the horses because they were the best at fighting.
Slowly, Clureax backed the cutthroat down the side of the ravine. Swords flashed in the sunlight. Suddenly, the two were on the trail. Clureax found herself to be on the wrong side and found she was being backed down the mountain. As she warded off a blow, she turned her horse and kicked him sending him up the side of the ravine. She turned and found the cutthroat staring at her. Then she realized he was kicking his horse, but the animal was too tired to move. His breathing was short and shallow. Just walking seemed to be an impossibility.
A shout caused both to turn and look. Clureax stifled a gasp at the sight of Tyla trying to fight the other cutthroat. From the looks of things, the best thing Tyla could do was ward off the blows, but not deliver them back. The cutthroat was pushing her and her horse back up the opposite side. If Clureax didn’t intervene, her friend would soon be killed. With an enraged cry, she urged her horse into a gallop in one leap. They flew down the ravine and jumped the trail over onto the other side. The horse jumped its way up the side of the mountain.
Both the horse and the rider were panting when they met up with the other two. Clureax worriedly noted that the other horse had not been pushed as much and was not tiring as quickly as his partner had. Clureax lined herself up with the man and gave a vicious blow towards him. The man saw it out of the corner of his eye and flew his sword around to ward off the blow. For the time being, Tyla was freed from the fight.
Again, Clureax found herself in combat. She swung her sword this way and that and found it to only get warded off each time. The man, at the same time, seemed to be surprised by her energy. Suddenly, the blades caught and they slid down. One of Clureax’s exhausted muscles twitched and her sword fell. The other sword embedded itself into her shoulder. Clureax screamed out in pain. With some difficulty, the man withdrew the sword and then raised it to finish her off. Clureax’s eyes were watering from the pain. She could make out only a blurred figure. Weakly, she raised her sword in a last attempt to save herself. Suddenly, the man lurched forward with a grunt. He paused and then slumped off of his horse and fell to the ground. The horse simply stood their panting.
Clureax cleared her eyes and looked down at the dead man. She now saw the reason. A long arrow protruded from his back. She looked up and smiled. Tyla was brandishing her bow and holding the rains of the other cutthroat’s horse. Clureax turned to look for the other cutthroats. She found them all standing at the bottom looking lost. She realized now, that this man had been their leader and now he was dead.
The last thing Clureax remembered was the sight of Tyla hurrying towards her. Then everything went black. A scream pierced her unconscious thoughts.
Tyla was unsure of how to handle the situation. After Clureax had taken over for her, she had hurried down to where the other cutthroat was. He was still kicking madly at his horse in an attempt to move. The horse ignored him and continued to stand there with his legs spread apart and his head low to the ground, gasping for breath.
Tyla had drawn her bow as she had gotten closer. She took aim and just as she was about to unleash the arrow of death, the man saw her and jumped from his horse. He fled to join the others who all stood at the bottom of the ravine and watched their leader fight the fearless Clureax. Tyla remembered Clureax’s words and grabbed the reins of the horse. The men glared at her, but dared not go close to her with her bow.
Suddenly, Tyla heard a scream. Without looking, she knew who it was. She dropped the reins of the horse and notched an arrow. She knew it was the fastest she had ever done it. She aimed at the man, knowing that if she missed, she would hit Clureax. The man had raised his sword up, preparing to give the final blow. Tyla drew the string back as far as it would go and then let the arrow fly. It covered the distance very quickly, and then embedded itself into the back of the villain. With a grunt, he fell forward and died.
Tyla picked up the reins of the horse and looked up just in time to see Clureax smile and then slump forward and fall off of her horse. Tyla screamed and with much difficulty because of the horse, began to make her way towards Clureax. She found Clureax’s limp body slumped at her horse’s feet. The stallion was worn out from the skirmish. The other horse had moved up away from his rider and was grazing.
Tyla jumped from her horse and rushed to Clureax. She pushed the dead cutthroat away so she could kneel down at her friend’s side. Weeping, she placed her hand gently on the wound. She knew she had to lift Clureax up onto the horse and then get her back to camp. She searched wildly about hoping to find a repentant cutthroat to assist her. They had all fled. Tyla grew impatient with herself, knowing there wasn’t enough time to go back for help. Clureax could bleed to death by then.