Chapter Three: Into The Thieves Den

The man lunged toward Jethro, sword in hand. Jethro brought up his shield, blocking his attacker's sword. Jethro then charged forward, pinning his foe against the side of the cave entrance and caving in the man's chest. The man dropped his sword as he coughed up blood. Jethro released his shield from the man's crushed chest. The man fell to the ground with a thud, dead. Jethro walked past, and entered the cave.

Jethro made his way through the cave which walls were lined with torches. It was a small passage but wide enough for him to walk through without having to be sideways. He eventually reached a point in the cave that was much larger than the rest of the it. In front of him there was a rocky trail that led downward to an area where he saw five men sitting in a circle over a fire. He also saw a young girl in a cage. "That must be the Wallen girl," he said under his breath. As he walked down the trail the men noticed him and stood up. "Who goes there?" the man in the back asked. He wore iron armor and wielded a greatsword. While the other four men all wore leather armor and wielded daggers and axes. "I said who goes there?" the man asked again. "I'm the end of the line," replied Jethro. "Where's Bodo?" the man asked. "If you're talking about the man outside keeping watch, then he's dead," Jethro said. "And unless you want to join him I'd suggest you let the girl go and stop harassing her family." The man chuckled. "So Wallen doesn't have the balls to settle this himself so he sent you instead," the man said, "Get him!"

The four men charged at Jethro, swinging their weapons. Jethro brought up his shield, blocking all of their attacks. He then used his shield to push back the two men in the middle. He brought his sword and stabs the man on his right in the chest. The man falled to the ground, blood flowing from his wound. Jethro then took his shield and bashes it into the face of the man on his left. Crushing the man's nose and knocking him unconscious. The two men that he pushed back earlier were finally back and swung their weapons at him. Jethro dodged them and swung his sword horizontally, slicing their necks open. The two men fell to the ground clutching their throats as blood gushed from their necks.

Jethro walked past their bodies and approached the man in the iron armor. The man laughed and swung his greatsword at Jethro. Jethro brought up his shield just in time for the greatsword to bounce off. The force of the attack caused Jethro to slide back a few feet and slam into the cave wall. Jethro didn't have much time to recover as his attacker was already on him again, swinging his greatsword. Jethro brought up his shield again, blocking a brutal fury of blows. As he stood there up against the wall he noticed an opening in his attacker's armor where the right armpit was. He thrust his sword into the opening, causing his attacker to yell in pain. Jethro then shoved the man backwards. The greatsword flew off into the distance as the man fell to the ground, clutching his side. Jethro walked over to him and crouched down beside him. Jethro took his shield and bashed it down onto the man's head, causing it to cave in.

Jethro crouched there for a moment, catching his breath. He then got up and walked towards the cage that was holding Delilah in it. She saw Jethro and backed away to the furthest corner of the cage. Jethro saw that her face was bloody and bruised, and her clothes were torn. "Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you," Jethro said calmly, "Your parents sent me here to rescue you." Delilah stared at Jethro unblinkingly, and then spoke. "My parents sent you," the she said weakly. "Yes and they're desperately waiting for us to return," replied Jethro. Jethro saw the cage had a lock hanging off the side of the door. "The man over there has the key," the Delilah said. She pointed at the man that wore the iron armor. Jethro walked over to his body and searched for the key. He eventually found it and walked back to the cage. He unlocked the door and opened it. "Come on let's get you back home," said Jethro. He then reached out his left hand and the Delilah took it.