Chapter 70: The Chase

The pounding of hooves echoed through the forest as Aiden led the group through the winding trails. The captives, many still weak and injured, clung to their horses, eyes wide with fear as the urgency of the situation settled over them. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig made their hearts race, knowing that the bandits were closing in behind them.

Gabriella rode up alongside Aiden, her jaw set with determination. "How far do you think they are?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the sound of their horses galloping.

Aiden’s eyes darted around the trees, searching for any sign of pursuit. "Not far. They’re tracking us, maybe a mile or two back." He glanced at her, his expression grim. "If we slow down, they’ll catch us."

Gabriella bit her lip, knowing full well that some of the captives weren’t in any condition to keep this pace for long. She glanced back at the group, her gaze lingering on Lily, who was slumped in her saddle, looking exhausted but still clinging to her horse’s mane.

"We won’t make it to the community before they catch up," Gabriella said, her voice tense. "Not at this rate."

Aiden cursed under his breath, pulling his horse to a slower pace. The others followed his lead, and the group came to a stop near a small clearing surrounded by thick underbrush. Aiden quickly dismounted, grabbing his sword as he walked over to where Andrew was helping one of the injured captives off his horse.

"We have to make a stand," Aiden said, his tone flat but resolute. "If we keep running, they’ll pick us off one by one. Here, we can use the terrain to our advantage. This clearing will give us a little space, but not enough for them to surround us."

Gabriella nodded, her eyes scanning the forest around them. "We don’t have much time. We need to set up whatever defenses we can."

Robert, who had been riding quietly at the rear with Lily, now approached. His face was tight with tension, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We should have killed them all when we had the chance," he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

Aiden shot him a sharp look. "We didn’t have the numbers for that. Right now, we need to focus on surviving this."

Robert opened his mouth to argue but stopped short, his gaze drifting back to Lily, who was too weak to dismount by herself. He sighed heavily, nodding in reluctant agreement.

"Alright," Gabriella said, taking command. "We need archers on the high ground." She pointed to a small ridge overlooking the clearing. "The rest of us will form a defensive line here, where the trees are thicker. If we can slow them down, we might just make it out of this alive."

Andrew, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. "I can take the archers. We’ll rain down arrows on them as they approach." His injury still gave him a limp, but his eyes were sharp, and his bow was ready.

Aiden gave a quick nod. "Do it. We need to buy as much time as we can."

The camp was a flurry of activity as the group began to prepare for the impending attack. Aiden and Gabriella moved swiftly, instructing the captives who could fight to take up positions near the tree line while the weaker ones were hidden in the thick underbrush, protected as much as possible from the coming assault.

Robert stayed close to Lily, his hand resting protectively on her back. She was trembling, though whether it was from fear, exhaustion, or both, Robert couldn’t tell.

"I’m here, Lily," he whispered softly. "I’m not going to let them hurt you. Not again."

Lily nodded weakly, but her eyes were glazed, distant. The trauma of what she had endured still hung over her like a dark cloud, and Robert felt a pang of guilt that he hadn’t been able to save her sooner.

The minutes dragged on like hours as the tension grew thicker. Every rustle of the wind, every crack of a branch sent the group on edge, until finally, the unmistakable sound of hooves pounding through the forest broke through the silence.

"They’re coming," Andrew said from his position on the ridge, his voice barely audible.

Aiden crouched near the front of the line, his sword drawn and ready. He could feel the adrenaline pulsing through his veins, his mind sharp and focused. "Archers, ready!" he called out.

From the ridge, Andrew and his small team of archers raised their bows, waiting for the first glimpse of movement through the trees. Then, with terrifying suddenness, the bandits appeared—rushing through the woods with swords drawn, their eyes wild with bloodlust.

"Loose!" Aiden shouted, and the first volley of arrows flew through the air, cutting down several bandits before they even realized what was happening.

The initial wave of bandits faltered, surprised by the sudden attack, but it didn’t take long for them to regroup. They pushed forward with renewed fury, their eyes locked on the clearing where Aiden and the others stood waiting.

Gabriella and Robert took the front line with Aiden, their swords drawn as the bandits crashed into them. The sound of metal on metal filled the air, punctuated by the shouts and cries of the fighting men.

Aiden ducked beneath a wild swing from one of the bandits and drove his blade into the man’s side, twisting it before pulling free. He moved with deadly precision, cutting down each attacker that came too close. But for every bandit they killed, it seemed two more took their place.

Robert fought with a desperation born of fear and anger. His strikes were brutal, almost reckless, as he hacked at the bandits with everything he had. The rage he had been holding back since Lily’s abduction was unleashed in full force, and for a moment, it seemed as though nothing could stop him.

But then, from the corner of his eye, Robert saw something that made his blood run cold. One of the bandits, a tall man with a scarred face, had broken through the defensive line and was heading straight for Lily, who was crouched behind the tree line.

"No!" Robert shouted, breaking away from the fight and sprinting toward his daughter.

Aiden saw Robert go, but he was too far away to stop him. "Robert, wait!" he called, but the words were swallowed by the chaos of the battle.

Robert’s feet pounded the earth as he raced toward Lily, his heart thundering in his chest. The bandit was almost on her now, his sword raised high.

With a roar of pure fury, Robert launched himself at the bandit, knocking him off balance before driving his sword deep into the man’s chest. The bandit gasped, his eyes wide with shock, before slumping to the ground.

Robert stood over the body, panting, his eyes wild. He turned to Lily, who was staring at him with wide, frightened eyes.

"It’s okay," Robert said, his voice ragged. "You’re safe now."

But the battle wasn’t over. More bandits were pushing through the trees, and Aiden could see that they were starting to get overwhelmed.

"We can’t hold them!" Gabriella shouted, her face streaked with sweat and dirt. "There’s too many!"

Aiden gritted his teeth, knowing she was right. They were outnumbered, and if they didn’t retreat soon, they’d be overrun.

"Fall back!" he called, his voice rising over the din of the battle. "Get the captives out of here! Now!"

Gabriella and the others began to pull back, grabbing the wounded and helping the captives onto their horses as quickly as they could. Robert scooped Lily into his arms and ran for the horses, his eyes never leaving the treeline where the bandits kept coming.

Aiden held the line as long as he could, cutting down bandit after bandit, but even he knew they couldn’t hold out much longer. With one final strike, he disengaged and ran for the horses, mounting up just as the rest of the group began to move.

They rode hard and fast, leaving the bandits behind, but the sense of dread clung to them. The victory had been narrow, and the bandits were relentless.

As they raced toward the safety of the community, Aiden’s mind spun with thoughts of what was to come. They had escaped for now, but the fight wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

And when the bandits came again, they would be ready for war.