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The Misfits of DametreosChapter 14: Past and Present
Barbod approached the bow of the boat, looking out to the sea. He stretched out his arms. Poor Drakko, he thought, losing his friend like that...but we must press on. There must be something we can do on this ship to keep his mind off his horse. Barbod looked around the cabin of the boat, and brought up three targets and a bow.
“Drakko! Falcon, come here.” Barbod called, and a moment later Drakko had arrived.
“What is it Barbod?” Drakko asked, looking to the targets.
“I am going to teach you how to shoot a bow, my friend!”
There wasn't much progress that day, for neither Barbod nor Drakko had proper form or technique. At least I got the lad's mind off Shadow thought Barbod.
The Misfits were now moving at a faster pace. Reno was at the helm, along with Barbod.
“What happened between you and the Falcons?” asked Reno.
“A long time ago, a there was a war…” Barbod muttered, “I don't want to talk about it…” Barbod rubbed an old scar running down his chest.
“Where did you get that scar?” Reno asked, looking at the scar.
“An assassin gave it to me, sent out to kill me by the king of the Falcons.”
Barbod's knees suddenly buckled and he fell onto the floor, but quickly stood up.
“What happened!?” Reno asked holding the Bull King's arm.
“Nothing…” Barbod replied, taking hold of the wheel once more.
I should not lie to this young boy... thought Barbod, the words echoing through his head. “I do not fail…” were the words that his attacker, who gave him that scar had said, standing over his body. The visions kept coming, of Barbod attacking the assassin's home, of Barbod killing the man but letting the young boy live... the boy would certainly want revenge....
“Reno,” Barbod called suddenly, “I want tell you the exacts of my past. You deserve to know.” Barbod paused before telling the whole epic.
“My father led the Bulls threw a time of peace in out country. We had many quarries and farms stretched as far as the eye could see. The Falcons had always been great trading partners with us and once the King ordered a large amount of stone from us for a pathetic price. When my father refused, the king was angry. He insisted on the stone or he would kill our people. We did not take them seriously. Our mistake.”
“The entire Falcon army marched through the borders and killed the villagers in the surrounding aria. My father brought all villagers to the Keep of Drannor, and all soldiers to the front. He tried diplomatic reasoning with the Falcon king, but the Falcons did not accept it. Even double the offering of stone. They liked having us scarred, on our toes. They marched to the keep to find a small army before them and they charged. Our army rounded the bend and took the element of surprise on the Falcons. They ordered an immediate retreat. The bulk of the Falcon army believed they could not take the Bulls while my father led them. The following day, a Falcon fur trader came to the gates of the keep. He said he was caught in the crossfire and wanted shelter. My father trusted him. Never trust a Falcon. Even though the lad was but forteen, he was a well-trained assassin. He killed my father with a saber through the neck and slipped past our defenses without a trace.
As soon as the assassin had cleared the hills, the bulk of the population of the Falcons marched in on our nation. The battle was fought bravely, and I led the villagers out the back gates of the fortress. A fleet was waiting for us there, led by the assassin. They killed everyone, and the assassin spared me. He laughed at the fall of our great nation, and soon after the soldiers were all gone. They had slaughtered tall our troops, and claimed the keep as their own. I went south after that; the last Bull.”
Barbod walked below deck. Reno stayed where he was, deep in thought.
Suddenly a pirate raft appeared from nowhere, the thickening fog obscuring it. Four pirates threw a ladder up to the ship, drew their cutlasses and boarded the Shadow. Only Reno was on the deck but Bjarn immediately came, followed by Barbod, Willem and Drakko. They all drew their weapons.
“ARRRR!!” a pirate growled at Reno. In fact, it was the same pirate who stole the pendant from Reno, Georgie.
Reno leaped at Georgie, slashing wildly at the pirate. The other pirates charged the rest of the group. The misfits easily dispatched the pirates and threw them overboard but Georgie and Reno were still fighting with their bare hands, their swords lying on the deck. Georgie suddenly drew a knife and held it to Reno's neck. Bjarn was about to fire but Barbod lowered Bjarn's bow and told him it was too risky. Georgie pushed Reno overboard, and Georgie followed. The misfits looked down to see Georgie, with Reno in his boat rowing toward the distant Hornet. The small pirate boat was still very near the Shadow and Lord Barbod was considering jumping, but suddenly a volley of arrows were launched from the boat by some other pirates that had stayed aboard. The Bull King narrowly missed being shot by throwing up his battered shield.
“Not more bloody arrows!” he cursed in anger.
Another volley of death sped through the air, this time in flames. Many arrows missed the ship completely but several sliced through rigged and set the sail alight. Pressing their advantage, the pirates armed a small ballista at the stern of the ship and fired several large spears into the captain's cabin. A screech of shattering glass and timber filled the air at the iron-tipped spears ripped though entire length of the cabin.
Running sideways to avoid the arrows, Willem snatched up a three-pronged hook and swung it around his head like a lasso. He let go at the exact moment and watched with satisfaction as the hook snagged the miniature ballista and pulled the weapon overboard. Raging curses at the Shadow, the pirates brought their ship about and continued sailed toward the distant Hornet.
The misfits had to rescue Reno, now it was personal.
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