His horse nearly went down, but then regained itself and went on up the slope, but mine didn't. I kicked my feet free of the stirrups as it went tumbling off to the side. I landed in a ball of motion and rolled up to my feet in hopeful expectation of seeing a riderless horse nearby.
Instead, I watched a rider peel off from the back of the pack and head back for me. It was one of the scouts that I'd chastised. As if in slow motion I watched the arrow slam into his shoulder and knock him free from the saddle.
I rushed forward and swatted his hand away from pulling the arrow out that was lodged deep in his shoulder, "No, don't do that! You'll bleed out in seconds!"
The boy was crying and blubbering out, "I'm sorry sir! This is all my fault!" Over and over and over.
I pulled him back against me as he shuddered from both the pain of the arrow and his own anguish.
"Now you know what war is all about," I said, at a loss for anything else to say.
He passed out after a few more brief moments of struggle as he kept trying to pull the arrow out and kill himself in a suicidal bent of mind. I let go of my hold on him and let him ease down to the ground.
Raising back up, I turned to face the encircling column of enemy riders. What happened now was anyone's guess.
A Cronian Knight on a splendid coal black stallion separated out from the encircling riders and approached. He sheathed his sword and then, to my surprise, he removed his helmet. I watched him look about the scene of dead horses and fallen youth, until his eyes came back to mine and I acknowledged the ready intelligence to be found there.
His face was etched in regret as he said, "It is a sad thing to kill so many so young. You did well to deliver so many of them from certain death, but then I would expect no less from a warrior of your skill. I will take your sword now in surrender. There has been enough killing today."
Wordlessly I pulled my sword free and, turning it end for end, I handed it up to my captor and potential executioner. The man accepted my sword with a nod and then gesturing to the fallen scout he said, "Men, see to him and any other wounded that you find. We ride for the city of Orwa within the hour."
Turning to me once more, he dismounted. Approaching, he removed his gauntlet and offered me his hand. Feeling unsure of what was going on I left his hand untaken. His head moved to the side, "Surely there can be honor between fellow warriors?"