When they had escaped the walls of Ecler, they thought that the Drolfs would overtake them. Having the speed of an ostrich one of those beasts could easily catch up to them, Jason and Ab were on the lookout for a place that could easily be defended.
But when they had turned around, nobody was pursuing them. The wide plains outside of Ecler were empty except for the four of them, when they looked up at the wall, Drolfs lined it. There had to have been around fifty of them, "Why don't they follow us?" Abraham asked.
Lydia glared at them, "Do you want them to come after us?"
"No! Definitely not! I was just wondering.."
Jason interrupted, "I don't think they can."
"What do you mean?" Lydia questioned.
"Look." Jason said pointing to the far right to a Drolf that was trying to throw itself off the wall, but then it seemed to be forced back into place. Every now and then, a one of them would bounce off the wall to try to pursue their quarry, but they would be thrown right back into their original position.
But as they continued, they saw a body of horsemen sally out from the gate and fly across the plane toward the group of escapees. "Hurry! We need to make it to the forest before they catch us!" Lydia cried out.
When they turned around, Abraham growled in determination. The outreaches of the tree were still a few hundreds yards away and all the while the horsemen were gaining on them every step. Fifty yards past by in a heartbeat, but the horsemen were steadily gaining. The tree line was still seemed impossible to reach before the horsemen gained them.
Sterling turned around and back pedaled and counted the number of riders. "30! There's 30 of them!"
With that, they all ran as hard and as fast as they could, Frodo just ahead of them. One hundred and fifty yards past, and they could hear the shouts and threats of their pursuers. They all encouraged each other and dug deeper, looking for an extra gear to get to the forest, when suddenly an arrow whizzed over head and struck the foremost rider in the throat and caused him to fall out of his seat. Before his comrades recovered from their surprise, a cloud of arrows sped through the air and each one found a target in a rider or horse.
The companions took immediate advantage of their pursuers distraction and they reached the shelter of the woods before the few remaining riders could regroup. When they had past the line, Jason, Abraham, Lydia and Frodo looked back to see the survivors of the ambush retreating. They hadn't known what had hit them, and it was a fool's errand if they had continued to the pursuit since they did not know the numbers of the archers. Whipping around, the remnant raced back to the town with arrows streaking after them, they had left two thirds of their force on the ground.
"Are you the one they call Sterling?"
The companions whipped around to find them confronted by a hooded man, and thirty some bows were trained on them. "What if I am?" answered Jason stiffly.
"Let's not waste time, because those soldiers won't give up that easily and will bring an even bigger force to attack you. So, please, tell me."
Jason looked and Ab and Lydia, who nodded, "Yes, I'm Jason Sterling. What is your name?"
"I don't think I'll answer that right now. Seize them!" When Jason and Abraham raised their swords and got into a combative position, he merely laughed, "Are you seriously thinking of resisting? It would be best just to come quickly and quietly and not have anymore blood shed." He nodded to the bows and arrows.
Jason nodded and motioned to Ab to sheath his sword. More hooded men bound forward and had them had over their make shift scabbards and swords, and the bow and a sheaf of arrows. Lydia frowned as the men asked to search her pack,"What do you think I have in here? I just have clothes and food!"
"Miss, just let us search it for precationary measures."
Lydia glared at them stubbornly, "Please, Lydia, just let them check real quick." Jason encouraged.
She sighed and relented, the fore-most man cautiously took the bag from Lydia, and quickly searched the pack and handed it back to her, Jason's and Ab's had already been searched and the one on Frodo's back was quickly scanned, despite his growls of warning. They finished the search and then the troop lined up on either side of the companions and they started off into the dense forest along a deer trail.
After fifteen minutes of steady running, they veered off the trail and ran towards the northwest where Jason remembered seeing a mountain range in the distance. Even with the cool night breeze fanning against their skin, the company was covered in sweat. The landscape wasn't flat, as they neared the mountains, the ground started to roll. uphill and downhill they ran.
Finally, the company spilled into a clearing where their were a number of horses snorting and chomping their bit and bridle. Impatient to be off. Now that they had a closer look at the man who was obviously in charge, they could make out his features more clearly. He was not overly tall, very broad, and had a commanding air. He had golden eyes that reflected the light of the stars, and when he spoke thunder rumbled in his chest, "I'm sorry for the unceremonious treatment, but seeing as how we had to escape as quickly as we could, I had to do what I thought best. My name is Eric March, and I am the leader of the army who is resisting the Skull! I am very pleased to meet you, Jason Sterling. And your companions are?.."
"This Abraham Johnson." Ab gave him his best diner nod. "This young lady is Lydia, she got us out of Ecler safe and sound." Lydia blushed and managed a courtsey. "And finally, this is Frodo." Jason reached down and rubbed his dog's back, who barked in acknowledgement.
Eric did a sweeping bow and replied, "Now, if you don't mind traveling farther tonight, I would like to reach the mountain range and my fort before dawn."
Jason looked at his friends, and when they assented, the company climbed into the saddle and rode off to Eric's base. As Jason thought to himself, 'We just took the first step of freeing this country.'
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