Bruce dropped his sword and bowed his head as if resigned to his fate, then quickly tucked and rolled forward over one shoulder, coming back up on one knee directly in front of the soldier who had his thick legs spread wide for better balance. There was only one reachable spot which was unarmored on the giant and using both hands, Bruce rammed his sword upward between the soldier’s legs, the blade cutting through the thin fabric of his breeches and into the soft flesh which covered his belly and bowels. The steel met little resistance as it passed through the man’s innards, until the cross guard of his sword came up against the fellow’s groin. Bruce held the sword in place as the giant gave a strangled groan. The soldier’s fingers relaxed and his sword clanged onto the dirt behind him, then he grabbed his belly as Bruce twisted the sword and yanked it from the man’s body.

He rolled away from the man as dark blood and tendrils of severed entrails flowed from the wound to puddle around the soldier’s boots. With a look of shocked surprise on his face, the giant took one shaky step forward and then toppled onto his face. Sure the soldier was no longer a threat, Bruce looked quickly around to make sure no one else was coming at him. He saw that both Humphrey and Barker were holding their own, so he wiped the blood and offal from his sword onto the dead man’s surcoat, then got to his feet and headed back to where Isabelle was waiting with the horses.

Humphrey saw a flash of sunlight on steel from the corner of his eye as Bruce ran across the clearing. He knew where the squire was going and gave a quick glance to his right to see how the lad had fared in his battle. The dark knight gave a grim smile as he spotted the large, motionless body lying in the dirt and turned back to his opponents with renewed ferocity, forcing both soldiers back another few steps.

He knew well that it was far easier to attack while moving forward than to defend while moving backward, so he kept up a rapid attack against the two soldiers, repeatedly moving them a step or two back as he slowly advanced. With his longer blade and flashing dagger, Humphrey had little fear of a sword getting through his guard, but he decided it was time to end this dance of death. As a flurry of sword strikes moved the soldiers back another few steps, Humphrey suddenly lunged at one of the men, and Star Born’s sharpened tip tore through the man’s surcoat.

Humphrey had not intended for this strike to be fatal—he only wanted the soldier to jump back from his attack, which the man did. As the frightened soldier back peddled away from this madman’s sword, he tripped over a log which lay near the campfire and fell over backwards. Humphrey then turned his attention to the other soldier. The knight blocked one blow and stepped forward, swinging his own blade at the man’s head. That blow was also blocked, but Humphrey continued to push forward, forcing the other man’s sword arm down and away. When the soldier realized what was happening, he grabbed the knight’s wrist and tried to pull it back—which was exactly what Humphrey wanted him to do. With both of the soldier’s hands occupied, Humphrey brought up his left hand and shoved the dagger straight into the surprised man’s throat. Blood bubbled out around the wound and the knight ripped his dagger sideways, tearing open the right side of the man’s neck, then he shoved the body away from him.

Isabelle was frightened, but she did not panic as the man who carried her ran awkwardly through the forest, mumbling to himself. “Aye, an’ a ripe prize this one be,” he said, occasionally looking over his shoulder. “We jus’ need to find a quiet place, away from all this bustle an’ ol’ Jake’ll show her somethin’ special, he will.”