Post by Elizabeth Sinclair on Aug 5, 2016 16:59:12 GMT -5
Elizabeth silently blessed the gods that the knight seemed to understand her unspoken intentions and thoughts. As the far more ambulatory person, not to mention skilled in arms and their use, he was far better suited to handling the majority of the bandits, including those who were not in line of sight. She felt somewhat confident that she could handle the one coming closer and in doing so, protect herself and Toria while the knight dispatched the other bandits and their leader.
She was not a squeamish woman, fortunately, and thanks to her brother and cousin, knew how to use the small blade concealed in her hand. The specially made saddle that allowed her to ride also ensured her seat was secure, even if she leaned far to one side. That, Lizzie suspected, would be necessary to make most efficacious use of the dagger. A glance at Toria saw the poor woman was nearly ashen with fear, a gasp escaping her when the knight delivered a death blow to one, then charged towards the leader.
Lizzie snapped her attention back to the bandit coming between the women just as Toria made use of her knowledge to force her horse to rear up. Impressed by her companion's thinking, she took advantage as the man sidled closer to her own steed. Killing was not something she intended to do, but there was a solid pommel on that dagger and Tyber taught her to use it for incapacitating an attacker, where to strike the head to render a man unconscious. Leaning to the right side, she snatched the purse back and instead raised up the dagger, inverting it so it descended swiftly, hilt first, to crash against his skull.
Feeling it connect solidly, she snapped out, "Ride, Toria. Get to safety and fetch the watch! Go now!" If there were others in the woods, they were likely only just starting to move, giving Toria that brief window of opportunity to flee.
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Rowan Gardiner, @toriaharper