Lord Theodore's Favorite Ritual
Chapter 186: The Ambush.

Chapter 186: The Ambush.

Dear Critic,

.

Young misses yet-to-be spinsters, I wonder what the rush is.

Do you not believe in love? Then I recommend you watch the city’s lord and lady more closely as that is love and with enough luck with less evil you shall meet yours.

I shall refrain from mentioning names today but if any of you misses trying to hijack a lord away from his wife again, I shall have to describe your annoying hazel eyes, hats won’t cover it.

And where are my invitations? You do not have to seek me, if you wish for me I shall be there.

.

Yours Ever Present.

Muckraker.

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Travelers.

Border, Critic-Ishire.

************

As the royal carriage rumbled along the forested path, its occupants unaware of the impending danger, tension brewed in the air like a gathering storm.

"Theodore, I miss you!" Conan yelled from outside the couple’s carriage and just in time it stopped moving abruptly.

"What is happening?" Lydia asked, she didn’t understand but she knew that word held meaning as it suddenly sent chills down her spine.

Theodore noticed her nerves spiking so he tried a jab at Conan’s. "Although Conan is not famous for his intellect, he is not a dope either, we have been ambushed" he alerted Lydia easily, rather insensitively.

He started to leave. "Stay inside and do not come out, I will be back inside soon" he advised, she held his gaze for a prolonged moment her fingers wrapped around his dress shirt, he smiled and dropped a kiss on her lips but she couldn’t help the irrational protectiveness that washed over her.

"Theodore... the Royal guards could..." she trailed off when he gave her a disappointed look. He was a fighter and a lord; he couldn’t let his subjects do all the work.

"Okay," she whispered.

The royal guards had been right on their tale since they started the journey back home, Theodore ignored them and since they weren’t intending to drag them back but only offering security escort he had let them be and now perhaps their presence would be useful.

The lord stepped out of the carriage, the attacker must have shot an arrow to stop the cart. "Tom stand by the door" he ordered.

"I want to bring down the witches" Tom whined, he knew this was a serious situation but fighting was fun.

"Protecting my wife is of more honour," Theodore said curtly.

"Of course, lord Theodore" he grumbled before pulling out his sword.

Inside the carriage, Lydia cloaked in fine silks felt her heart trembling with fear, she clutched her hands tightly together, her heart pounding in her chest as she sensed the looming threat.

Suddenly, the tranquillity of the forest was shattered by a cacophony of battle cries and spells as a dozen pairs of witches and wizards materialized from the shadows, their malevolent intentions palpable in the air.

With a sharp cry unnecessary control of the wind and chuckles figures emerged and filled the area and then the carriage was suddenly surrounded, cut off from any hope of escape as the witches rushed to circle them.

But amidst the rush of witches, Conan and Theodore stood by the carriage, their faces set in grim determination. This reminded them of the old days only this time Lydia was with them and they had to protect her at all costs. Conan was a sworn knight to protect Theodore, while Theodore would only leave this place with his wife or dead.

Four men in royal attires came out of the shadows all dead on their horses.

Theodore clenched his teeth at the loss.

"Lord Theodore!" someone acknowledged, his voice cocky and loud. Theodore ignored the call his eyes scanning the area, he needed to know if they were more behind the tree, not like that would make him surrender but then he could plan wider. Blanc stood next to the horses with his own blade drawn. Tom by the door was ordered to stand while the rest stood too.

"It is a pleasure meeting you" he continued, his steps moving leisurely towards the lord’s group.

"Pretty words from an ugly creature" Conan retorted.

"We only want the lady" another announced.

"Whoever sent you should come and get her themself" Theodore invited.

"You are going to die today, might as well say all the wrong things you can before your head rolls" The witch taunted, his cloudy teeth on display from his wide grin.

"I am going home with my wife today" Theodore retorted affirmatively.

"Oh mate" Swisher laughed and the fight started just like that.

The clash of steel and the crackle of spells filled the air as the battle ensued, a whirlwind of chaos and fury between men and witches. They could stay on defence but that would weaken their stand.

"You’re playing with fire" one of them, commander Zamora’s right hand said and Theodore could already see the fiery orb forming in the speaker’s hands, he had to be a strong witch because he made the area darker and gloomier within seconds...

Nonetheless, Theodore was undeterred, he advanced despite the deadly warning, and he was a warrior.

He was on a mission and notwithstanding, this would not be his first face-off against the midst of other mortals, even though they possess the ability to cast spells and make his life miserable.

Striker was amongst the witches that were present, he ran and with a grin shot a ball of fire to attack Theodore’s face with incredible precision but the lord was quick enough to evade it and quickly had enough time to throw a dagger towards Striker who dodged it easily enough but only to realize that it was a diversion from Theodore to get closer to him and attack.

Striker became unable to concentrate on another spell fast enough and that was how he connected with the full force of battle-hardened knuckles, leaving him falling directly into unconsciousness. Theodore had delivered him a deadly punch.

The leader’s colleague, Looper witnessed this with sheer horror and before Theodore could brandish his sword for a killing blow, there was an array of different elemental attacks on him Tom’s eyes widened but again his quickness came into play as he ran past an unnatural quicksand, jumped through a maze of thorns, dodged several ice blades with enough wits to keep moving.

Four of the witches stood in awe as they watched Theodore move with a speed too deceptive for a mere man of his size and strength. They converged, deciding to focus their powers in one unified attack before Theodore would come any closer. He has took the place of the attacker suddenly.

They joined their powers and the result was an explosion, unlike anything the people of that time had ever seen. They had fired the force created towards the approaching lord. Relief first washed through their faces before any joy of victory ever could. The witches laughed; they were certain that they had seen the last of Theodore but just as a smile was about to appear on one sorcerer’s face. The smoky air cleared.

Standing tall and proud with not so much as a scratch for a man who had just withstood the blast of a fire conjured by four able practitioners of magic, was Lord Theodore, cool, calm and unscathed. He caught the eye of one of them and smirked.

The attack had done nothing to him and they were already two people short.

It was left for the witches to speculate, "Did you not give all of you?" one of them scowled, disappointed they couldn’t get the lord.

"What the hell do you mean?" his partner shouted back, she was female.

"I used everything in me, you were busy laughing" They began to throw accusing fingers at the other’s magical potency or to assume our character’s godhood. The latter would have been more accurate except the truth was something different, they didn’t know but Theodore’s instincts and mortal speed had saved him from peril and the same was at work now.

In their bewilderment, they had failed to notice Theodore coming closer, sword in hand, steps hastened with purpose. Taking out the first witch was easily done with a slice to the throat while the other braced for an attack, clumsy spells went out and their effects were futile against the sheer speed Theodore possessed.

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