[IRP] As Firm as a Mountain

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume’s first impulse, naturally, was to argue with Cecily. She seemed to still be unconvinced that he wasn’t one of the bad guys. But it did sort of make sense. Is it because I’m Lycian? he wondered. If the assassins were indeed from Laus, it would stand to reason that she would hold him to a higher degree of suspicion, no matter the circumstances.

“Are you going to continue harboring me, or leave me to fend for myself?” she asked. “I can only give my gratitude in return, at this time.”

Satsume sighed and stood up. “Well, I can’t say I particularly LIKE your answer… but I suppose that’s all I should have expected,” he replied. “And unless you think you can fend for yourself…”

His voice trailed off. Satsume’s ears had picked up the sound of his father’s hammer in the armory out back. *clang!* *clang!* *clangclang!*

He shook his head. Did the hammer sounds just echo? Cecily was staring at him, as well – probably anticipating the end of his sentence. Her look changed from an expectance to bewilderment. Satsume listened again.

*clang!* *clangclang!*

That double-tap… it was not the sound of a hammer hitting hot metal. Satsume darted over to the window overlooking their backyard. “Dad?!” he shouted. “You okay?!” He was answered by the sound of something heavy slamming around inside the armory.

“Gods!” Satsume kicked aside the stool as he scrambled to get out of his house. Cecily was fixing him a look of concern. “Don’t move!” Satsume cried hastily. He sped out of the house as fast as his armor would let him. As he ran, he snatched up his sister’s shortbow from its hanging place in the living room. Satsume nearly took the front door off its hinges as he burst outside. Ray and Limstella were still loitering just beside the road.

“Stella, the armory!” he yelled. He tossed the bow at his sister’s head. “Dad’s in trouble, go! Now!”

“But, my quiver..!” Limstella protested. Satsume was already on his heel and headed back into the house. He knew someone was after Cecily, and she was certainly in no condition to fight. Hell, Satsume wasn’t even sure if she could fight. But he needed to keep her safe – if these people after her were really as good as she made them out to be, then running over to the armory would be exactly what they would expect him to do.

A sudden twinge of fear seized Satsume as he returned to his room. Fear for his father’s safety, no doubt. He tried to dismiss it with a shake of his head. Dad’s a tough one, he reasoned internally. And Stella is heading over there to help him. Ray was there, too. While the fact that he was present was a little surreal, he hoped that the young mage’s short temper hadn’t waned since they last met.

“Looks like your boys have found us, Princess,” said Satsume to Cecily. He turned and faced the doorway. His left hand settled on his spear and drew it. “And they’re trying to draw me away from you.”

Satsume could feel his heartbeat quicken, intensifying to a fever pitch. The fear he was trying to suppress was threatening to resurface.

“Keep an eye on the window for me.” Satsume touched the button on his weapon, and it shot out to its full length. He could hear the faint pitter-patter of footsteps lapping round the house. “Keep an eye on my family, Cecily, and I’ll keep an eye on you.”