It had been a quick ride, Furley's horse, Calista, responding to his need for urgency, and he had almost clattered into the commotion on the road north, before stopping and doubling back, finally skirting round the tree-line, out of sight from the group.
Furley had his armour on, including his helmet strapped tight, and an expression mixed between a growl and sheer panic. Still, he kept his composure, as he held the horse's reins, ready to jump into the saddle, and had his sword loosened in its sheath.
Two figures, hooded and cloaked, had appeared on the road, blocking the rangers and the Bree-guard, who were escorting Deorla, their quarry, north to face her execution. Furley smiled a little, his heart fluttering in hope. Ida and Vanden may be some of the most dangerous people he'd met, but they were true to coin and their contract, and had intercepted the group. There was still hope she might walk free yet.
"Thank you for bringing them to us" Ida had begun, though he would never have guessed her identity under that hood if he hadn't hired her to begin with. "Your commander has given us strict instructions to take her from here. That'll be all from you. Thank you for bringing her this far". Sounded authorative, and the Watchwoman seemed stumped. The ploy may just work. Deorla could be about to walk away from it all...
But the Watchwoman's too smart for that, and the other guards and ranger-escort don't trust her words. After much debating, the convoy begins to walk north with Ida and Vanden in tow. Furley cursed inwardly, before mounting his horse and tracking them from the side of the road, Percyvael and Edelinia in tow.
Ede wasn't happy with him, and she couldn't seem to hide it, tears mixing with the raindrops on her cheeks. After all, Furley hadn't been truthful with her, and she didn't know what he had gotten himself into. Although, he didn't want to embroil her in all this, to protect her. He had accepted his fate long ago, but she'd never understand. He'd seen and done things, and shared in perils with Deorla that had opened his eyes. Now he knew what was truly happening, she had to walk away free from this, whether that cost him banishment, or indeed his head. He was prepared to pay the price.
She was angry, and he'd told her that he would tell her everything when it was all done. If I'm still alive, he thought. But nevertheless, she'd followed him here blindly, in the dark, still supportive. He wasn't sure how he could ever repay that.
Finally reaching Trestlebridge, the guard had departed, leaving Deorla alone with the rangers and Ida. Frowning, Furley knew his odds were thinning, and they'd know something was wrong. After all, those black magic b*stards always did. And once they crossed the Trestlespan, she'd be in their lands, and that put her in more danger. Her face betrayed her emotion, for she seemed to know it too. She almost looked afraid. Deorla, afraid? That's a new one.
Skirting around the town past the group, Furley, Ede and Percy managed to get beyond the bridge before their quarry. Turning his horse around, he stood in the trees by the side of the road, waiting to head them off. He assumed Ida and Vanden had been unsuccessful, and it was time to take matters into his own hands.
"Why do I get the feeling he's going to do something stupid?" Ede said, behind him.
"It's Furley, he's always doing something stupid" Percy grinned, and Furley couldn't help but chuckle, a little bit of reality being brought to him. His heart pounded and raced. Is this how I die? he thought to himself, unsure of his chances. Still, he knew he had committed to one outcome to this all. Deorla goes free.
As the group came into view, he suddenly noticed something. They had stopped, and Ida had removed Deorla's bonds. His heart surged; she'd done it. This was his chance. He heard Ida's whistle, which was the signal for him to emerge, and he did so, fingers loosely hung by his side.
"Oh, Furley" Deorla said. "Come to swing the sword on my head yourself? Should've known" she said, trying to joke, but her voice cracking slightly with fear.
"One day, maybe. But not today" he smiled at her, trying to communicate through his eyes. Dismounting his horse, he scanned the rangers around them, taking a mental note of their position. His heart sank, and he knew if he followed through with his intentions, he'd either be butchered or overpowered with ease.
Ede, forgive me.
Everything moved in an instant blur. Bending down, he hoisted Deorla onto his horse, smacking its rear, screaming at her to ride, frantically waving at Percy and Ede to follow her. Ida and Vanden saw their opportunity, sprinting away, their jobs done, leaving Furley to his fate. Drawing his sword, he prepared for his last stand. One last round. Father, I hope you're not too disappointed, he thought to himself over and over, imagining his late Da's face, wondering what he'd say to him when he met him beyond the veil.
The rangers charged for him, and he prepared to try fend off the first blow, but they rushed past him, leaving him stood there in the middle of the road as they frantically charged after their quarry. His heart stopped, his breath lost to him, the tension of the prospect of certain death flooding forth from him and then back in an instant, leaving him weeping and breathing hard, almost crumpling to the floor.
Forcing himself to focus, he saw them charge north, but made himself think. SHe's too clever for that. Where would she go to escape? Suddenly, he had it. "The river!" he screeched aloud. Charging as quickly as he could, he ran east to head them off and join the escapees, hoping that Deorla would double back to try lose her tail.
Making it just in time, he saw Deorla, poised by a cliff-edge, and saw her dive over. Gasping, he ran to the others at the edge, and looked over, seeing she'd hit water. Ede and Percy looked at him, stricken, but didn't say a word to him. The shouts and screams of their pursuers were close behind them, and he seemed frozen on the edge with fear.
"Dammit! Well, Furley, I hope you're proud of me, even if I can hardly swim!" Ede shouted, and ran straight for the edge, jumping into the water below. Astonished, watching her show such bravery, it snapped him out of his fear, and he took one look at Percy, the hooves behind them louder than ever, screaming in their ears.
Looking at one another, they jumped.
