Annaliesa stood masked and cloaked, her normally flyaway hair in two tight messy braids tucked under the worn grey hood. She stalked over to her brother, hissing, "Puts me in charge of farms? I'll show them how I take care of farms. Everything burns on that Watcher's land, kill them all."
Elluf flashed a feral grin at her, towering over his younger sister, resentment and envy glinting in his stone blue eyes, "Bitch, you're getting too used to giving orders."
She tilted her head up, her eyes of the same color glaring hard at him, "And they're my orders to give now. Ildrand gave me command. Shut up and let's go." They gathered their weapons, a motley of axes and stolen swords, battered and mismatched armor. Only Elluf held a shield, his long sword of a fine make and wore a breastplate of steel. They ran swiftly through the fields, emerging from their hillside hideaway to close in on the lone farm.
Hutwig sat with his arms folded, his leg out in front of him. Taking a rest after walking on it all day, his crutch now gone after he deemed it useless since he had been able to walk on it slightly again. Watching the ongoings of the farm, wishing he could be out there helping. The farmhands worked in the fields, while the volunteers did their usual patrol back and forth, chattering each other as the passed about on what seemed to be a quiet day.
Elluf led his thirty of them spreading out like wolves stalking their prey. Annaliesa moved around towards the back, skirting through the trees that bordered the rear of the farm, ready to catch any that fled and strike at their vulnerable backs while they are occupied with the frontal assault. Several of them half torches soaked in resin with coals ready to light.
Corrinne brought out a some of her berry flavored water, pouring a mug for herself and Hutwig.
Hutwig looked over to Corrinne, smiling slightly, pushing himself up and going over for a mug of the berry flavoured water, looking out over the fields. The farmhands worked on, a few of them growing suspicious of something though they kept on working hard.
Corrinne took a drink of water, gazing out at the half harvested fields. "Spring barley is nearly done, the winter is growing strong and green. Last of the berries have been picked, how are the carrot and tater fields doing?"
Hutwig nodded his head, "Good from what I heard, going to go dig some up later on by myself."
Elluf got on his stomach, followed by the rest of his raiders, their hungry eyes turned toward the fat little farm so snug in the setting sun. The golden and green fields rippled in the breeze, the purple shadows of the workers stretching over them. He signaled for five of his axe men to head off towards some of the guards at the edge, and another five to move towards path that would lead out to the main road. He waited, the sun sinking in the west until the light glared at the front of the house, perhaps making it hard for those in the yard or porch to see.
Annaliesa and her southern raiders followed suit, creeping as close as they could through the trees, watching the guards near the fence and waiting for her brother's signal. Elluf took his crossbow and those with bows aimed towards the militia and field hands, letting loose a barrage of bolts and arrows.
Hutwig squinted as the sun struck his eyes, placing his arm on his brow in an attempt to block some out though the golden glare still meets his eyes. Some volunteers have gathered in small groups of three, talking about this and that. Some look to the sky, and the army of black dots making their way to the sky. Some men raise their shields, though the simpler ones just look thinking they are birds roosting for the night, letting out screams of pain as arrowheads dig into their flesh and skin, a couple of the farmhands falling down into the long barley with bolts sticking out their backs. Hutwig got up at the screams, looking about to try and see what was happening.. the setting sun not proving much help.
Elluf jumped up after the first barrage and shouted in a deep harsh voice, screaming with the rest of his brigands as they rush towards the volunteers and farm hands in their path, axes and swords flashing in the golden light.
Hutwig heard the shouts, his eyes widening before he tried to usher Corrinne to the door. "In! Lock the door!"
He hurried out, looking over to the fields where the volunteers now lifted their weapons and got ready to fight the oncoming men. Many of them breathed heavily, scared and shaking in their boots. What they volunteered for, what they had boasted about in the Pony and amongst themselves was now a reality. A few others breathed slowly as they focused, eyes narrowing on the oncoming raiders. The farmhands lifted their sickles and pitchforks, looking about as they readied them, their eyes darting about the fields.
Corrinne dropped her mug, the ceramic crockery shattering with a spray of water and mushy berries. She screamed as she saw one man fall, a long arrow piercing his chest. She looked with wide dark eyes at Twiggy, moving as he pushed her into the house. Her face was frightened but grew determined as she slammed the door, forcing down the heavy board that locked it. She ran to get her grandmother, the hound barking like mad as Corrinne got the old woman hidden in the pantry. She grabbed her bow and quiver hanging on the wall and ran up the stairs to shove the window open, nocking an arrow, searching for a target.
Hutwig hurried over to the bench on the porch where he had set up his gear after training earlier today, heading the warning from Corrben of a possible raids following the attempted assassination of Billium Cutting, the leader of the Bree Defense militia, most of which were now stationed around Fenflower farm.
Elluf ran forward, his shield up and his long sharp sword already blood stained as he passed by a wounded farm hand, finishing him with a strike across the back. The other raiders brandished axes and knives, a few had short swords and spears, they rushed at the militia striking them like lightening.
The volunteers and farmhands braced themselves, the militia with shields at the front while the others remained behind a bit, reaching for them using spears and pitchforks. Hutwig now got into his leather gear, looking to the javelins he has nearby and picking one up. Reaching it up to be by his shoulder, his left arm straight out infront of him. Aiming for one of the raiders he then takes a quick step forward, his arm pushing forward to send the javelin flying through the air, straight into the belly of a raider coming closer to the steps. Reaching for another, his eyes darting about, trying to hide his fright by putting on a grim look.
Elluf slammed his shield into one of the volunteers, a husky built man who had muscle enough from working at a mill. Elluf though a lean wolf’s strength, from battle and rough living and he knocked the man back bring up his sword to slash his neck. One of his raiders screamed, the javelin piercing his stomach and he dropped his axe, grabbing at the spear as he crumbled to the ground.
Hutwig made his way down the steps more after having thrown another javelin towards another raider. Now with a sword and shield, he guarded the bottom of the steps of the house like a hound protecting his favourite bone, slashing out at any who came too near.
Elluf turned and stabbed at another volunteer, the rest of his raiders clashing arms with the guards. They pressed hard, forcing them back on their heels towards the house, screaming curses and threats, trying to make themselves more frightening. Elluf looked up as he felt a sharp pain and a trickle of blood on his cheek, an arrow that nearly taken him. He spotted the archer in the the window, a dark haired lass in a purple dress. He sneered and gave her a hateful look before focusing on the man in the center. He noted the limp and growled under his breath, rushing towards him.
Hutwig remained at the bottom of the steps, shouting out. "C'mon lads! These are just a bunch of lame dogs that are no use! Put them out of their misery!!" Hutwig lunged forward, his sword blade going into the shoulder of a raider, before pulling it back and slashing him across the gut. He looked to the man rushing towards him, lifting his shield up as he pulls his sword back.
Corrinne aimed an arrow, narrowly missing the man in the front wearing the chest plate. She fired once more, striking a female raider in the face, the arrow piercing her cheek and she howled in pain as she fell to the ground.
The volunteers and farmhand try their best to push back, though they seem to be overwhelmed. Though they fought their hardest! Falling here and there, screams coming from them as they went down. One large man trying to take down as many as he can with him, swinging a wood axe until a raider stabbed him through the lower back with a spear. He fell in a heap, dying with the axe still in hand.
Elluf threw himself at Hutwig, seeking to knock him off his hobbled balance by slamming his shield into his, his weight behind it while slashing at his thigh with his sword. The raiders pushed, some of them falling and some darting off to nurse their wounds. Annaliesa could hear the clash of weapons and she turned to her men gesturing towards the barns and fields, screaming out, "Burn them! All of it dies!"
