"A Lucky Rock" | Professor, Sanctified

Written by Yankee Samarai

Middlemarch: 5 hours after the Sanctified Invasion
Baldwin plants a finger on the document “This is the last such correspondence I will here of, as of tonight, this operative must be eliminated. We’ve enough pressing issues to deal with as it is.”
His twenty captains salute the poing sur l’epaule. They will die fulfilling this command.
Scarface, le capitaine supreme, inspires his men with words that make them fear the consequences of failure. A posse of thirty men, armed and armored, sallies out the gates.
It is a short ride, no sooner do they breach the woods then they are greeted by danger. An ill-tempered kinsapling, desperate and thirsty, attempts to rob the posse of their drink. The riders volley lead deep past its bark, which causes it further anguish. This offers a distraction for a nearby observer. The enemy engaged, an escape attempt is made, darting through the woods on foot a short distance, before untying a horse and galloping off, camp supplies abandoned...
Nearby...
Dee dee da do, dumdedy deededy da!
Da dee da do, doodedy deedey dum!
Ohhhh! I aaam-!
Off where no one treads,
for good reason or not.
Without stew for bread
Cause I’m lacking a pot!
Oh! great lands! Oh! Great thrills!
Tales to fill the ladies with shrills!
Things I beg, “Do not cry!”
Cause they’re all just part of the plot!
Dum dum dee da, dumdedy dumbedy doo!
Do dee da dee, Doodedy doo-!
Gunshot. A bullet penetrates the tree trunk three inches from his face. He merely stares and blinks as the sawdust erupts in his face
"My heart!" grabbing his chest and making a violent thumping motion, falls face first in the underbrush.
He lies there a moment, listening for the predator. Another gunshot, so he opens one eye and peeks through the leaves and sticks. pow! another splintered tree. Then hooves on fast approach. He sees just one rider through the trees, lightly armored, orange tunic, headed straight for him. The horse jumps over where he lies, but just yards behind the Martyr, a company of some ten riders in blue tunics, same trajectory. His eyes widen and he reaches into his satchel, searching for a weapon in the mere seconds he has before being trampled.
His flintlock is not loaded, not to worry, he has found a sling. And a diamond the size of his hand. He grins, and stands up, revealing himself.
The riders do not relent, one draws his blade and raises it.
The diamond is put in the sling and is cast. The knight is jerked from the saddle as the stone collides with his head.
“I knew that rock would be handy one day,” remarks Professor Julian, although Julian is just one of his twenty given names.
The remaining knights continue after the Martyr, but one slows his horse, and turns to engage the Professor. He does not charge, he begins loading his flintlock.
“AH-HA!” The Professor pulls his own un-loaded firearm, and the knight ceases, believing he is about to receive martyrdom. Professor waves his weapon, when the knight bows his head to say his last rites, the Professor bolts for thicker woods.
The knight looks up, expresses rage at his stupidity and spurs his horse. He loads, and shoots. The bullet hits the target...square on the overloaded backpack. Julian falls over from the impact, a tad dazed. He sputs dirt from his mouth.
“Wow! Criminy!”
The knight shows fear and whips around, an approaching sound. Another horse, it’s rider clad in orange and steel, blade ready. The Sanctified knight has no time to load, and goes for his sword. He meets the charge, and blades ring. The Martyr shows seasoned skill, and dispatches his opponent swiftly.
“You knight folk are surely a curse upon me and my intention of getting home,” blurts the Professor.
“Was there another of my banner that passed through here?”
He points, one hand on his hip.
“HIYA!” the horse goes into motion.
“Better find my lucky rock,” and the Professor goes for his diamond.
To be continued...