Along with a caravan: Part 2

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on August 29th, 2014, 7:51 pm

50 Summer 514

Another day on the road, another day closer to Syliras. After his time on with the caravan, Rykanis was beginning to see the monotony in it all. For him the day began at sundown, when he rose. After a bit of free time he went on patrol, and continued on in such a manner until sunrise. At that point preparations were made, and the caravan rolled onward, breaking camp.

They then rolled on, scouts going off, hunters gathering food, both mainly on horseback. They'd leave and come back, but by that point he was usually taking his rest in the wagon he'd been given some space in. Since he was a night guard his activity during the day was minimal, unless something unexpected happened, an emergency.

Unlike most of the guards, he only did night duty. The others traded off, working during the day and night, usually bargaining and trading shifts to work during the day. The day shift was the easier one, since visibility was better, and it was when most of the people were up in the general caravan. It also meant less stressful duty. But since Rykanis was new to the caravan, and was uniquely qualified for such night duty, he had been kept on permanent night duty. It meant seeing others less, only interacting really during the small bit of time before and after his shift.

Another unexpected event had been John being assigned to his watch permanently, as Rykanis patrol partner. He had an inkling that the caravan master had done this on purpose, as he believed Rykanis would watch out for John, the man's young nephew. Perhaps he believed having an able fighter by his side would mean he'd be safer, or perhaps he thought he'd pick up on things form the Akalak, and become better able to take care of himself.

Either way Rykanis was here to do a job, and would do it, even if it had the implied role of watching out for the young guard.

For the most part his other half was in control, after all he wasn't one for boring endless patrols, and doing lots of nothing. Only when he had to interact deeply with others, or where something exciting would happen, would Rykanis shift back into control. And oddity, as usually Rykanis was the one mainly in control, as he was the dominant and light side.

But it had only taken a few days of the general monotony of the road to shift this in the direction of his other half being in charge of their body.

Rykanis liked hunting, liked fighting, and liked talking. He didn't like waiting, or repetition. Those were however things his other side were fine with doing.

As he rose for another day, his other half took over, heading off to do their daily ablutions.

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on September 1st, 2014, 10:40 pm

Setting out for patrol, Rykanis checked himself over. He checked to make sure his belt was snug, his scabbards were situated on his weapons harness well, and his lakan drew easily and were not stuck in said scabbards. Then he checked his boots, making sure they were tied well, snug but not too tight.

With that he was off with John, taking a sweep about the camp. There were other guards that kept to one spot, guarding obvious directions where someone might try to enter the camp, and which gave them a good sight range. John and Rykanis were on the outside, checking the area surrounding the camp for any signs of someone nearing, or someone hiding.

Flicking closed his inner lids, his infravision activated, showing him a sight of the ambient heat around the camp and the various objects there. It was especially good for dark at night, and for noticing movement. People having traveled through an area left a bit of heat, and so likely there would be signs if he looked close enough. But such differences were usually not too different from that of the ambient temperature, which meant he was mainly looking for the changes in temperature which indicated a body or living creature was present.

Plus since he was not staying in one spot, but looking all about for signs, he did not have the time to concentrate on anything but a blatant indicator. Over the last few days, John had seemed to grow a bit more serious, at least when they were out on patrol. But he was still young, and he would often fall back to old habits of talking or such as they walked about. It usually didn't take more than a stern glare to warn him off from such actions which might give them away.

However at the end of each night, John would chide Rykanis over his suspicion and paranoia, at his over-preparation. Rykanis allowed him to do so, as it meant they had indeed survived another night, and their job had for then been accomplished. At least until the next day came, and their work was back to the forefront.

But it was not time for such things just yet, not until they'd completed their work. And their were still many bells of patrol and watch before that time came.

As ever Rykanis kept his right hand firmly placed on the hilt of his lakan, ready to draw it upward in a downward defensive grip. His left hand wandered, but if need be it would flick to his left lakan quick enough.

As always boredom ingrained complacency in his fellow guards, as nothing had happened yet on their trek. But while nothing had happened yet, Rykanis knew better than to grow complacent. He knew all too well how quickly ones luck could change. He wouldn't let down his guard, not to only be dropped upon by a horde of zith as he neared sight of the city. He wouldn't drop his guard until the entire caravan was safely tucked within the stone walls of Syliras.

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on September 1st, 2014, 11:03 pm

It had been several bells since the night watch had begun. Those who were on food duty had shut down, and most of the camp was in bed. Only a few wandering people were about, doing some task or other, besides the night guards who were on duty.

Once more Rykanis and John were on patrol, at this moment their route taking them close to the edge of the wood line, on that side of the camp. As always when he was away from the light of the campfires, he kept his infravision open, searching out and seeing by the heat of the land.

It was something he'd been doing for bells, and so he did not expect much. Almost before he realized why, he'd drawn his lakan, the right slicking out with the sound of leather on metal, held up defensively before him. At the same time his left hand had flicked up to his left lakan's hilt, ready to draw.

He'd seen a body, a large hotspot. Too large for a animal, except maybe a bear, and hidden within a line of bushes in front of them. Seeing his draw, John grabbed at his shortsword, and half drew it as Rykanis had instructed him.

Without thinking Rykanis emerged as in charge, and his other side fell back, focusing instead on what the two could sense. He lightly murmured in Rykanis thoughts, giving him advice and pointing out other spots of heat that were hidden nearby, in a rough arcing line.

Taking lead of the situation, Rykanis motioned for John to move forward at an angle, arcing around five feet to the right of the spot where Rykanis had first seen the heat. He himself moved forward, arcing so he'd pass the spot a few feet to the right of it. It was a simple enough tactic, attempting to appear as if he had not seen anything, and as if neither were approaching the person. As if it was a simple part of the patrol.

However he did his best to be silent, to not draw attention, being careful to use every bit of stealth his body could muster. He moved his feet carefully, placing the foot slowly from the toe and back to the foot, keeping light on his feet, so his paces would not make a loud noise. He kept his breathing shallow, in and out through his mouth in partial breathes that, taking in and letting out the air slowly so as not to let out a sound of breath.

It was only when he drew close, within a foot of stepping on the man, that something happened. There was a rustle of motion in the foliage, and a man jumped up with a dagger in his hand, moving to thrust it into Rykanis chest.

Without thinking his left lakan was out in a downward grip, and moving forward to meet the mans dagger. Then with a simple motion from his right lakan, he darted in with a thrust at the mans throat. There was a wet sound, and pressure as the blade was thrust into flesh. Then a lessening of pressure as the tip exited out and poked through the back of his throat, the hilt bumping into his neck.

Ryakanis stepped to the side and around the man, so he was almost behind him, and then yanked out the blade. As he did there was a spray of blood, only a small bit of which got on him due to his positioning. As the man crumpled to the ground dead, two other bodies rose, the two other hot spots Rykanis had seen. Seeing that their ally was dead, and knowing they could not silence the guard, they both made themselves known with a loud yell.

Before either Rykanis or himself could do anything, the yell was repeated from both sides, from other men, along with from far off, on the other side of the road.

Bandits had attacked, and Rykanis and John were amongst the line of them that were attempting to move into the camp by stealth through the woods.

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on September 1st, 2014, 11:19 pm

"John, too me!"

As Rykanis yelled, John turned, and began to move forward. At the same time he could hear sound from far off, something going on near the camp.

However he did not know their numbers, did not know the size of the attack in comparison to the caravan, and so did not know their chances. Not that it mattered, since John and himself were alone. All he could focus on was these bandits, and taking them out before they could reach the camp. However he was still thankful for one thing, that it had not been able to be a surprise attack. Instead the bandits had been forced to rush in, instead of attacking once their forces were amongst the camp itself, as was likely their plan.

Once John was at his back, Rykanis motioned for him to come, and headed for the nearest bandit. Two were approaching, one from his side, and one from John's side. But since John had moved to him, his side would be the first to fight.

The bandit nearing him was similarly garbed as the first, in ill fitting and worn clothing that was dirty and grime laden. Rykanis moved forward, lakan in either hand, meeting the man who held an axe in both hands. However he did not hold them both, instead tossing one right at Rykanis' head. He batted it out of the air, slicing at it with his lakan, and knocking it off to the side. The bandit then tossed his other axe to his right hand, and ran at Rykanis with a yell.

Using the same tactic as before, Rykanis blocked the blow with his left lakan. Then with a bit more finesse, he slashed upward with his right lakan, carving into the mans chest. The man pulled back, taking a step back, only for Rykanis to push forward, adding a thrust to the mans gut. Once it was inside, Rykanis twisted the blade, and then yanked it back out with a small spurt of blood.

For a moment the man stood, only to fall forward in a heap. As he fell, Rykanis heard the sound of metal on metal behind him, and turned to see John fighting another bandit, his shortsword meeting with a longsword, as the two pushed at each other.

However the bandit was bigger and stronger, clearly holding the advantage. Moving to the right along Johns side, he angled a blow at the bandit. But he could not get close enough without getting in the way, or endangering John. So instead of closing, he took a well aimed toss of his lakan, aiming right at the mans center mass, his torso. Even from so short a distance he wasn't quite on the mark, and instead of hitting on his chest the lakan smacked into the mans left arm. However the strike and pain startled the man, and gave John the chance to strike. He moved forward, and hacked into the side of the bandits neck as if he was chopping a log.

Yanking the blade back out there was blood from the side of his neck, and then he fell. Rykanis darted forward to reclaim his lakan, wiping it clean on the mans pants. Seeing this John did likewise, a far off look in his eyes. After wiping his blade clean mechanically, he just stood there.

"John! Look at me! We fight! Don't think now, just do! Come with me, and we will yet see the sun. Now come!"

Without waiting to see if he would come, Rykanis finished with his order, and then turned back towards the camp. Sure enough the shouted order was enough to break the boy from his revery, and he was following after Rykanis, doing his best to keep up with the Akalaks long strides.

Within a chime or two they were back at the camp, at a scene of combat.

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on September 1st, 2014, 11:35 pm

As they left the treeline, a battle unfolded before them. From the look of things, a group of bandits on horseback had attempted to attack the camp from the side, coming out of the woods and then charging down the road. Several had been lost to arrows from the camp, the guardsman and hunters and general members of the camp who had bows taking them out, and unleashing a flurry. Down the road to the left he could see bodies, several men dead full of arrows, one underneath a horse that was full of arrows, who had fell and killed its rider. Along with that the ground was littered with arrows.

Nearer to the camp were more dead, some bandits, some men and woman of the caravan. Most had fallen to blades, though some had fallen to arrows, wounded and dead from both sides. Though from the look of it, more were dead on the bandits side than on the caravaner's.

While the caravan had the weight of numbers, many of those numbers were not in a fighting state. Some were too weak, some were young or children, and some were old. Caravans after all were commonly a family enterprise.

Within the peripheries of the camp was more fighting, a few bandits still on horseback, but most on foot, fighting hand to hand against guards and men and woman. Some of the caravaner's had proper weapons, but he saw almost as many with other implements, cooking knifes, pans, and in one case a violin.

All of this was taken in within a few ticks as he scanned the sight before him. His other side mulled over the sight, remembering it, and pointing out a few salient bits. But most of it did not matter, all that mattered was the attack.

Letting out a ferocious roar of anger, Rykanis charged forward, coming at a pair of bandits from behind, who were fighting with a pair of the caravan, one a guard, one a cook.

As Rykanis yelled and charged, several people stopped and looked, finding out what this new threat was. The cook, female, took advantage of this moment, and clanged the bandit upside the head with a iron pot, who crumpled to the ground. Rykanis tackled the other bandit with his full weight, sinking a lakan into each of his sides as he did.

Yanking both out he rose, John catching up by his side, and then sighted his next foe. Both of them letting out a roar, along with the two they'd freed up from fighting, they pushed into the fighting, smashing into the bandits from the side, sweeping along.

Then it was a confusing mix of violence and fighting. Rykanis charged up behind another bandit, forcing him to turn and meet him. Like the last one, Rykanis tackled him, shoving him backward into the waiting blade of a guard with a dagger. Rykanis kicked the man in the knee, the sound of breaking bone as the man crumbled. Then the guard stabbed again with the dagger, this time in the head, and he was silent.

After all, Akalak did not only fight with blades, but also body.

By this point his small group of men and woman had split into two, coming at other fights from the side and overrunning them. Rykanis himself entered the fray, but at this point the tide was clearly turning.

by **Rykanis Dakshata** on September 1st, 2014, 11:46 pm

Within a bell the fight was over, the bandits dead to the last man.

Of the caravaners, five were dead, and eight were wounded.

Even with the size of their caravan, such a loss of life would be sorely missed, particularly while the wounded healed from their various maladies.

They'd be about for another day while they collected themselves, gathered what they could from the bandits. Weapons, horses, and what meager supplies they had.

Rykanis himself did not take much as his spoils, though he did take a sword from one of the men he had killed personally, a bastard sword he believed it was. Though he could have been wrong on its type, him not being too well versed in such weapons. But still, battlefield loot was just that, loot, and a bit random by nature.

In the meanwhile, Rykanis made a short prayer to Wysar.

"Wysar, I thank you for your aid in this battle. Thank you for giving me the focus I needed to press on, the conviction to fight for those I have sworn to protect, and the discipline to use well my blades with which I have so long toiled. I hope to further glorify you, and to hone both my body and my skill of arms."