BY the time the bandits’ numbers decreased to only two or three men, Yuki suddenly heard voices at her feet.
“Pursuers?” Nearly startled off her branch, she quickly realigned her feet on the branch to keep them out of sight.
“It’s too late to hide. Don’t worry. We’re not thinking of attacking you. We actually came here to help out.”
A man with long, black hair tied back in a ponytail smiled up at her. A handful of men stood behind him. Scars and fresh wounds on the men only added to their war-hardened look.
“Are you after the bandits then?” Yuki asked searchingly, unsure of whether the men could be trusted.
The man shrugged, seeing through her skepticism and not caring. “We came here to pick up a doctor who was on his way to this area. Are we right in thinking you’re a member of his party? Tell us what he looks like so we know who not to fight.”
They’re here for Vigo? Are they the people from Rvydom who live in Adolunde?
“You’re right. Um, he’s wearing a white robe. Also…he has a thick beard,” Yuki shouted down from the tree limb.
“Is that right? I take it they’re in the direction you were shooting arrows toward? Dispatch men!” the long-haired man ordered.
The men behind him raised their battle cry and ran toward where Vigo’s battle was unfolding. Yuki watched them with her mouth agape as they made it to the battlefield in no time and beat up Vigo’s enemies with their bare hands and legs.
“You should come down from that dangerous place too,” the man said in a soft tone with a commanding edge.
Yuki instinctually answered, “Okay.”
With the battle practically over, she put her unused arrow back in the quiver and secured the bow on her shoulder before slowly descending the tree. She freed her upset horse from a nearby tree and rode to where Vigo waited.
Carefully angling her horse around the bodies to find Vigo, a sudden sharp shout had her pulling on the reins.
“I thought I told you to run away?” The fury in his voice caused her to flinch. Fearfully looking over her shoulder, she found Vigo standing dauntingly behind her with the group of men who joined his fight.
“I-I ran away! Like you said to…” her voice trailed off. She averted her eyes from the stabbing glare. “But I couldn’t stop worrying about you… I thought it’d be okay if I climbed a tree.” The words slipped from her in a mumble, the same as any excuse.
A loud laugh from the long-haired man cut into her explanation. “You must be something, little lady! I’ve never heard of anyone worrying for Sir Vigo. Especially against weaklings like those bandits.”
“What?!”
Did he just add Sir to Vigo’s name? Are they acquainted? Yuki looked questioningly to Vigo.
“Are you…Touta?” he asked, surprised by the other man.
“Indeed. Long time no see. Never did I think the doctor we were expecting would be Sir Vigo. I feel like we wasted our time coming to get you to make sure you arrived in one piece.”
“Were you the ones who helped out?”
“Yup,” the young man answered with a boyish smile. “It appears there is still a battle going on at the bottom of the hill. Is Lady Selena possibly handling things there?”
“Ah!”
Selena! We left her in the clearing at the bottom of the hill! Is she okay? Sweat trickled down Yuki’s back at the thought.
“Vigo! We have to hurry back to Selena!”
Selena told them to come back when they finished taking out the bandits waiting to ambush them from behind. Yuki readjusted the quiver on her back and kicked her horse into a fast gallop.
“…Is that girl worrying about Lady Selena too?” Touta asked in exasperation, the irony in his voice not reaching Yuki.