Circumstances of a Fallen Lord

ho had fainted–and the direwolves around them.

     After he’d left the duchy, he’d galloped like a mad man, trying to forget the lingering attachment he had for the duke.
Frustratingly, he could not move as quickly as he wished, for the group carried a lot of luggage.
Suddenly, though, the first prince’s messenger had followed behind and relayed to him the order to escort Luisen to the capital.

     Looking at the sky and the field, he was consumed with the thoughts of Luisen’s visage, so the sudden change in plans was a windfall.
He quickly turned around and went back the way he came on the road.
He didn’t even take notice of whether or not his men followed.
He traveled fast and thought he would soon come upon the duke’s party, but instead he arrived to see Luisen being dragged away by the direwolves.

     He never imagined such a reunion; why was Luisen in danger every time he saw him?

     Carlton rushed after the young lord–that was the current situation.
He’d roughly grasped what had happened.

     ‘He was a spy all this time, and he’s controlling these monsters.’ He had no idea how the other was controlling the monsters, but Ruger’s betrayal came as no surprise to Carlton.

     “You son of a bitch, I’ve been suspicious of you for a long while.”

     “A subject knows nothing of the heavens.
It’s not your business to interfere.”

     “What do you mean ‘not my business?’ It’s my duke’s business.” Carlton fixed his grip on his sword and blocked the way in front of Luisen.
Ruger glared at the mercenary with piercing eyes; he glimpsed bloodthirst and deep grudge within.
The way Ruger held the sword and his aura were all unusual.

     “You seem sharp for an attendant –you must have been hiding your skills.” If Carlton was ignorant until now, that meant Ruger’s swordsmanship was excellent.
The desire to win boiled within the mercenary; Carlton was always thrilled to win against strong opponents.
Even more so when his opponent was one who had always condescended him.

     However Luisen was behind Carlton.
It may have been fine if he were alone, but it was dangerous to fight while protecting another.
Furthermore, he had a hunch that these monsters would run away with the young lord if he started combating Ruger.

     Then, there was only one thing Carlton could do.

     ‘Let’s run.’

     Quick judgement made, Carlton immediately acted.
He flung his sword at Ruger.
In an effort to stop the mercenary movements on his horse, Ruger sidestepped the sword and attacked Carlton’s horse.
Simultaneously, the direwolves attacked Luisen.

     It was all as Carlton expected.
Carlton quickly dismounted his horse so that it could more easily avoid Ruger’s attack.
Then, he quickly ran to Luisen and slashed at the approaching direwolf’s neck.

     A gap formed in the wolves’ formation; Carlton held Luisen in his arms and threw himself through that crack.
Cleverly, Carlton’s horse followed its owner, briefly slowing down and allowing the mercenary to mount.

     First, he slung Luisen onto the horse, and then Carlton mounted.

     “Do you really think I’ll let you run away!?” After realizing he had been tricked, Ruger roared.
Carlton didn’t think the other could catch up; after all, he had no horse.
But, something unexpected happened.
Ruger climbed on top of a direwolf and began to chase them.

     ‘Monsters allow people to ride upon their backs?’

     He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen such a scene with his own eyes.
The more he saw, the more unbelievable it was.

     The hunt took place on the hillside; the terrain presented an overwhelming disadvantage for Carlton.
The horse could hardly speed up because of the many obstacles and underbrush.
On the other hand, the direwolf ran around the hillside as if it were in its own territory.
Over and over again, the wolf’s teeth nipped at the horse.

     Ruger swung a long spear; Carlton ducked by flattening his body.
The timing was right for a counterattack, but he couldn’t afford to attack–not while holding the reins with one hand and Luisen with the other.

     ‘We’re all going to die if this continues.’ Carlton desperately wracked his brain.
With his sharp senses, he detected the fishy smell of water and the sound of a waterfall.

     ‘Direwolves are weak in water.’ Carlton made his decision.
He stroked the horse’s neck.
“I’m sorry.
I don’t think I can take care of you too.
Survive on your own.”

     Carlton galloped faster.
Then, analyzing the perfect moment, he took out a dagger and threw it at the direwolf.
Carlton’s aim was accurate; the blade dug precisely into its eye socket.

     Carlton’s body, however, tilted from throwing that dagger.
Because of that, Carlton’s horse staggered as well.
The direwolves, excellent hunters in their own rights, did not miss that opportunity.

     Carton hugged Luisen tightly and threw himself in the direction he had scoped earlier.

     Below was a distant waterfall.

     The direwolves, who leapt to attack the mercenary, floundered in the air in bewilderment; however, it was too late for them to return to safe ground.
Following Carlton and Luisen, several direwolves fell down and were trapped in the waterfall.

     Splash!

     Ruger, who had followed belatedly, looked down the cliff.
Carlton and Luisen had already disappeared beneath the white bubbles.

     “How dare that peasant bastard……” Ruger’s anger erupted like a volcano; he beat the direwolf he was riding to death.
Even though one of their kin was brutally murdered, the remaining wolves simply watched, trembling.

     Soon after, Ruger finished venting and left to search the base of the waterfall.
The fog lifted and the hills returned to its tranquil state, as if nothing had happened.
Even the cries of the injured horse, calling after its lost owner, were quietly buried under the roar of the waterfall.

TL: Nooo!!! The horse!!!

Footnotes

like chloroform etc