[IRP] As Firm as a Mountain

[WyvernSlayer]

Satsume reacted quickly to the sound of Ray entering the room, shifting around almost immediately while keeping both the window and the doorway in his field of vision.

“Don’t mind me,” said Ray as he settled his feet on the floor.

“For once, I’m glad you didn’t use the door like a normal person!” Satsume replied. As the two of them took up positions around Cecily, he could hear a somewhat frail voice singing. It sounded sort of like a lullaby, or a chant. Satsume could feel himself bristling with energy. He had experienced this before – it was very similar to the fife players that dotted the old Ostian military ranks. They would play as a morale boost, but oftentimes it seemed to have a tangible effect on the soldiers’ performance.

Just then, a projectile followed Ray through the open window, barely missing him and sinking into the far wall.

“Sniper! Take cover!” yelled Ray.

“Stay away from the windows!” Satsume yelled over his shoulder. His ears were picking up everything now – the sound of footsteps around the house, the distant shouting and sounds of combat in the armory, even the labored breathing of Cecily. Satsume took a quick peek outside his room. Two men were cautiously moving about the house, checking in the occasional room as they came ever closer. Both of them bore wide, curved blades. And they definitely look strong enough to chop through my armor, he thought. We’ve got to avoid a battle of attrition.

Satsume waved his hand to get Ray’s attention. As their eyes met, Satsume put his finger up to his lips. “Two of them coming in,” he whispered. “Get a spell ready!” He ducked to one side of the doorway, safe from the archer firing through the window. Now to get the goons’ attention.

Satsume slowly reached around to the side of the doorway and knocked hard on the wood siding, then quickly retracted his hand and kept out of sight.

“Over there!” shouted one of the assailants. The footsteps became quicker and louder as the two men prepared to burst into the room. Satsume clasped his lance with both hands and jutted it out across the doorway at ankle height as the first foot crossed into the room. It took all of Satsume’s strength to keep the weapon level as his foe tripped and slammed into the floor.

“Toast him!” Satsume cried.