I stayed up many nights after that, trying to following other pulses as they passed me by. Three more I managed to reach, three more times I saw babies being born. I’ve started to notice some pulses are stronger than others, could this possibly indicate the amount of strength the baby could one day reach?

“Now Samos, no time for arguing.”

Finally, Yara pulled Samos along and they left the square. They disappeared into the crowds and Ralph tensed, focusing his breathing. Things had just taken a turn for the worst.

The first one appeared from the street they had just left followed soon after by four others. Two other groups of five each emerged from his left and right, their swords drawn and blinking in the sunlight. He did not have to ask to know all fifteen of them were Enhancers. On several rooftops, men carrying bows appeared. The arrows they knocked were aimed straight at him.

“Lord Aëron,” one of the men on the ground called out and he stepped forward. “The Warbringer would very much like to meet you, there are things he would like to discuss.” The man’s eyes flickered to the daggers at his belt. So that news had gotten out somehow.

“Little chance of that,” Ralph answered. “Only way he’ll get to talk with me is in private once the siege on Eresath is lifted.”

That earned him chuckles all around.

“You know very well that…”

The man’s words cut off as Ralph enhanced his legs and launched forward, his sword severing head from shoulders, a shocked expression forever engraved on the man’s face.

This will be a matter of who’s the fastest.

Not wasting time, he continued forward before the head even touched the ground. The four ahead readied themselves to intercept him. Four soft thwacks resounded and he changed course, arrows dully thumping in the ground as he charged to his right.

The five awaiting him there spread out in an attempt to surround him, their swords held up to parry any incoming strikes. Ralph changed his grip to a one-handed one and with his left hand he reached for one of his daggers. Using either of the daggers drained him of his strength quickly, but this was not a time where he could afford to hold back.

A Solidify seal burst out of the dagger’s tip and rushed forward, large enough to knock three of the five from their feet. The other two he charged directly. They were trained well, deflecting his strikes for two or three exchanges.

But Ralph was filled to the brim with power. It filled him to the last hair, surging through his body with a pulsating strength. Never had he been this outnumbered, never had he needed to Enhance his body to this limit. Part of the power he sent into his sword. It glowed brighter than it had ever before, nearly blinding both him and his opponents.

He focused the Enhancing on his eyes and filtered out the light, instead focusing on what lay beyond the sword. With a ferocious strike, he sliced his opponent’s sword in half. The force of the swing continued his sword’s path and it cut the man’s stomach, insides spilling out followed by a scream of agony.

Without a pause, he followed up the strike with another one, combining every next move in one fluid motion. These were basic forms he was going through, but with the power that filled him he was able to complete them in a matter of seconds. His second opponent fell beneath the fury of swings.

Again, the sound of arrows being loosed reached his arrows. He jumped left, towards the three he had knocked to the ground earlier. They lay dazed, the seal had been stronger than he had intended.

No time for fair fighting, he thought grimly.

With three quick slashes he killed them. They made no sound as they died where they lay.

Arrows.

He jumped back and turned to survey the square. The nine who remained came rushing towards him, their faces grim and determined. No more than five seconds had passed since he had decapitated the first of them.

Pain filled him as something pierced his left leg. There had only been three arrows earlier, the fourth one now impaled just above his ankle. Luckily, it hadn’t hit dead centre, only piercing flesh and a small part of his muscles.

He focused power on his legs, the pain slightly subduing. With a massive leap he jumped up towards the rooftops above and started traversing the buildings towards the first archer. Some of the men below followed his example and jumped upwards, giving chase.

Arrows came. This time though, they only came from the left or the front, his position on the rooftops hindering their advantage of having him surrounded. He stretched out his arm to the side, forming a Solidify seal the size of his body. Arrows stopped mid-air as if hitting rock and fell down, the arrows coming from the front he dodged nimbly.

Like wind made flesh Ralph surged forward. Without slowing down, he cut down the first archer and then the second. As he made his way circling the square, the other archers finally stood to run away seeing their attacks had no effect anymore.

Two more fell to his sword while the others ran. Not all of the archers were Enhancers, Ralph noticed. Those were the first to die as he reached them before they could cover any distance over the uneven roofs. Three remained. They loosed one last arrow before they ditched their bows and drew swords, readying themselves for the incoming storm. They had grouped together, hoping that teaming up would provide them with a better chance of survival.

Big mistake.

As he reached them, Ralph moved slightly to the right instead of charging them. For a moment, the three found themselves between Ralph and the square below them.

He drew his dagger again, sending a third Solidify seal from the tip towards the men. The impact knocked them backwards and off the roof. Three thuds followed the short screams they cried out.

As the seal was formed, the pain in his leg returned and he stumbled on his feet, rolling just in time to break his fall. He came to a halt on his knees and panted, surveying the scene. From where he sat, the square could not be seen, but plenty of screams confirmed at least four opponents awaiting him there.

Five others were close to catching up along the rooftops, having followed him as he took down the archers. They would reach him in a matter of seconds. With a quick look towards the harbour, he noticed plumes of smoke rising up from the docks.

The ships.

Had they known they were coming?

Power still filled him, but the recent effort had strained him. Did he still have the strength to face these five on the roof and then four more on the ground? Plus there was the arrow stuck in his leg.

No, he could face them.

He was Son’Sha, this was what he was made for.

The five reached him, the lust for blood painfully obvious on their faces. Ralph closed his eyes and held up his arm. With a sudden burst, a blinding Light seal sprang to life. It wasn’t big, but its light was brighter than any other light he had ever summoned. For a second, he smirked to himself. He had never before considered using one of the basic seals in combat like this.

It had its intended effect as he heard stumbling and cries of surprise. He let the seal go and the light disappeared. Opening his eyes, he saw the five just before him stumbling around, their hands held to their eyes.

Not giving them the time to recuperate he moved in between them, his sword finding flesh with every strike, not a drop of energy wasted. Their bodies fell and again, Ralph fell to his knees on the brink of exhaustion. Four left.

He heard their shouts coming below, his position not visible from where he kneeled. They would jump up any moment.

Ralph cursed to himself, he had used too much power in the rush of being so outnumbered. What’s done is done. He pulled himself up, using his sword as support. He let the remaining power fade away, a plan taking shape in his head. Slowly, he moved towards the roof’s ledge and looked down upon the square. The remaining four cut off their cries and looked at him with mouths agape.

Let’s hope this works.

“I have a message for the Warbringer,” he boomed, forcing himself to stand up straight and sound confident. The looks on their faces seemed to show that it was working. “Tell him if he wants me, he’d better come get me myself.” He pointed his sword at them, hoping it would look intimidating enough.

Silence ruled the square for a moment, but eventually they sheathed their swords and disappeared into the crowds in the adjacent streets. The people there let them through without a word, their gazes clearly avoiding the square and the corpses scattered around it.

Once he was sure the four were out of sight, Ralph collapsed onto the rooftop. The wound in his leg was throbbing, blood slowly but steadily seeping out of the wound. For a brief moment he simply laid there, his breathing returning to its normal rhythm.

When the sound of guard approaching reached him, he forced himself to get back up and move away from the square. Once he would have welcomed the idea of recovering in the governor’s palace. Now though, avoiding anyone even remotely linked to the governor seemed like the better idea. Even if the governor wasn’t complicit with the attackers himself, there were certainly people around him who were.

Avoiding as much pressure on his left leg as he could, he slowly moved from roof to roof and away from the square. Where had Samos and the others gone? The smoke coming from the harbour had only increased, their ships no doubt beyond saving now. Where had Rey gone? Alvina?

He stumbled and fell again, the last trickle of power leaving him completely. He needed rest. But first…

He broke of the arrow shaft sticking out his leg. Luckily, the serrated arrowhead had pierced his leg completely. With a jerk, he pulled the arrow out in one go. The pain consumed him for a moment, his head turning with dizziness. Ripping of a piece of cloth from his sleeve, he bound of the wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding. It would do for now.

Looking around and noticing he would be out of sight from everywhere, he lay down on his back. Exhaustion took over and he drifted away.