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Date Posted: 17:54:25 03/07/00 Tue
Author: Belamore
Subject: Benardo's Cabin Day 4-Arelle

Benardo's Cabin Day 4-Arelle

"Arelle!" Benardo tossed the last of ten thousand arrows into the back
of his wagon.
"What are you doing with that sword and dressed like that! Get back in
the house and back in bed, girl!"

Arelle was dressed in buckskin britches and a thigh length buckskin
tunic and soft leather hip boots folded down at the knee. She buckled
her own sword belt at the shoulder and waist and drove the sword into
the sheath. She buckled her dagger at her shin inside the boot and
hurried over to the wagon. "I am fine, father. I am rested and I have
taken the rest of Janora's remedy." She took one of the quivers of
arrows and a long bow from her father's wagon load and criss-crossed the
quiver across her sword belt on the opposite shoulder.

"Put that back! You are not going anywhere!" Benardo's words fell to
the ground as he watched his daughters pony-tail sway as she went to the
12 lancers.

Arelle looked at one of the lancers. "You, saddle the palomino and be
quick!" Then she studied the other men, who were rested and fed and
ready and anxious to rejoin the army at Canaday.

"Arelle, " Benardo tried again. "You are a lady in waiting to the
queen of Canaday. You cannot and will not dress as a man and go
anywhere with a sword. Now..."

"I can fight as well as any man and ride faster and better than every
man. I will join Belamore and fight at his side, father. Hang ladies in
waiting. I wait no longer! Mount up, soldiers, we fight for Canaday."
She took the reins from the soldier who brought Pax from the stable.

As she mounted, the others followed suit. They turned their mounts
toward Canaday. Arelle leaned down to kiss her father. As she did, an
arrow that would have found her heart flew just overhead and twanged
into a tree. Two of the lancers fell from their horses as a throng of
arrows flew finding their deadly marks in the necks of the two lancers.
Another was wounded on the thigh, the horse of another fell.

Benardo looked north and saw 50 riders charging, changing crossbow for
sword and shrieking the Tancan war cry. The nine-horsed lancers readied
lance and blocked Arelle, lowered their lances and charged toward the
Tancan scouting party. "Lady Dolomite! Ride for the castle as the
wind!" The wounded Lancer drew his sword and stood with Benardo.

"I'll not run..." Arelle started to ready her bow, but the lancer
broad-sided her horse's flank and sent Pax into a run-away gallop toward
the east down the central road to Canaday.

Benardo climbed into the wagon and had strung and fired three arrows,
dropping two of the Tancan lead riders. Ten of the Tancan broke off
from the pack and went after Arelle. Benardo fired five more arrows
into the charging enemy and found three targets hit in his hasty
aim...He helped the wounded lancer up into the wagon. The lancer
sheathed his sword and took bow and quiver.

The gallant 9 lancers now blocked Benardo's aim. Reins in hand he
slapped the horses' rumps and drove the wagon to the right in position
to defend the cabin and regain an uninhibited view of the enemy. His
wife ran from the doorway and he shouted for her to go back inside...she
did.

The lancers and the Tancan would soon close the gap between them.
Benardo watched as the Tancan who had taken after Arelle filtered and
weaved through the woods to cut her off. He could not get a clear shot
and was confident that his daughter could outrun them with her skill and
Pax.

Arelle regained control over Pax and stopped. She turned, determined to
return to her father's side when she saw the Tancan fast closing form
the woods. Quickly and with deadly aim she loosed two arrows and killed
two of the marauders, then turned with heavy heart to make for the
Castle to bring back help and prayed, not too late. With one last look
at her father she drove her heels into Pax and increased the distance,
quickly between her and the remaining 8 riders.

The wounded lancer missed with his shots, unaccustomed to longbow.
Benardo downed two more and ceased fire as the 9 magnificent lancers
charged into the swarm of Tancan. Each lancer unhorsed and killed their
target but were quickly overwhelmed and brought down by the horde.

The leader of the scouting party regrouped his men and faced Benardo.
He surveyed his dead and wounded..."To the Cliffs of Cree, this puny
prize is not worth the cost!" He wheeled his horse and the others
followed as they galloped off toward the western pass of Cree.

Arelle halted again, turned, fired an arrow and dropped one rider and
the horses of two others stumbled and fell over the fallen man. Arelle
turned again and raced for Canaday with the angry riders in furious
pursuit.

The leader of the small partied halted after Arelle continued to
broadened the gap between them. He had seen an easier prize off to his
left. A lone, dismounted rider.

Ezella looked up and saw seven Tancan warriors spreading out to trap
her...

Continued...

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