A sudden release of pressure and Lumiel was freed. She looked up and saw the sturdy Falco behind her. "Thanks." she muttered as she quickly collected her two daggers and her sword and followed Falco carefully to behind a fairly large boulder. She knelt down on her feet, not wanting to give herself rest, she still needed to stay sharp. She mentally took a count of everyone and their condition. Lira was unconscious but awoke soon enough, somewhat bleary. Anson looked shaken and anxious but was doing his part, helping Lira. Gorby was keeping an eye on their perimeter, where brigands on horses still circled, with his bow in hand. She had seen Finewen not far off. Eswen was near and in good condition. But where was Falowik and Uien? She clenched her mouth for a moment and sighed out her sudden wrench of fear. Where ever they were, they would have to take care of themselves for the moment.
Eswen checked their wounds as she was the most skilled among them in medicinal arts. While Lumiel's face appeared fairly bloody, the wounds were minor, though they had bled a lot only because they were on her face. The cut on her shoulder hurt, but it was not serious. The gash on her stomach had begun to coagulate. Her right hand was bloody and had already started to swell with black and blue marks appearing. Eswen wrapped her right hand and Lumiel thanked her. "I can still fight with my left hand nearly as well." She was hurt, yes, but she had now had a chance to catch her breath so to speak, and she would not abandon the fight.
She listened carefully, tracking the movements of the riders. How many are there? she wondered. At that moment, she heard Eswen tell Thornomir of her plan. Indeed, it was risky, but it gave them a better chance than hiding behind a boulder. She gripped her sword tightly and leaned in close to the rock but stayed in a position where she could still watch the brigands. She had silently nominated herself to stay with the hobbits. Valiant as they had proven themselves, they were still in danger if several bandits decided to ambush their hiding spot, and a well-used sword would greatly increase their odds.
Eswen called the horses and they came swiftly yet stealthily. Esgallhugwen mounted her horse and rode forward. Lumiel assisted in helping Lira quietly onto her horse. She turned her head in surprise at what she heard and could barely believe that it was still Eswen. Her voice, already deep, became a sonorous boom, carrying with it a threat of power.
"Oi! Who be you then?" she heard somenoe ask in fear. She wondered the same thing. Eswen had changed in an instant in such a way that Lumiel could barely believe it. Yet her plan was working and Lumiel could find no fault.
"You dare to question me?" Eswen roared in the night. The air was filled with tension and Lumiel knotted her brow in concern. And then Eswen gave the the signal for the ambush.
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