"Can't we dodge round the stabber?" I ask frantically as Ramon spurs the pony onward, right toward our attacker. My ears throb as several more bells add to the tolling, blanketing Deshawn City under the racket.

"Its the shortest route to the city's exit." Ramon grits out, "And the gendarme has been alerted. Going down the side streets again would just risk being cutoff, even if we manage to lose the Stabber."

"Damn it." I curse, watching the Stabber run across the side of the row of townhouses lining the street as he steadily approaches us. Ramon already has a fresh pistol in his hand, ready to fire. But at the speed the Stabber is moving at, I doubt Ramon will be able to score a hit.

"HALT!" there's a commanding bark coming from behind us, accompanied by the thunder of hooves.

I risk taking my eyes off the Stabber for a moment to perform a glance backward. And what I see almost makes me want to flip out in rage. Gendarme elite, resplendent in their peaked caps and blue double breasted blue jackets swarm out of the corners, brandishing long spears that double as lances. But what really gets me worried are the horses used by the Gendarme Elite, powerful beasts that have been trained as chargers.

"The nobles are here." I comment to Ramon tersely.

"More reason to stay the course." Ramon shoots back.

I nod silently to myself. Unlike our earlier flight from the Stabber, Ramon's pony has no way of outrunning the steeds of the Gendarme Elite. Their horses are simply faster and stronger than what the pony can handle. I see that same confidence reflected in the faces of the pursuing Gendarme Elite, the self assurance of someone who knows that the battle is already won. The chargers gallop after Ramon and I at an even pace, the exertion barely affecting their enormous stamina.

The Gendarme Elite recruits solely from the ranks of the nobility. They might not be able to use magic, but most nobles receive an education in combat as part of their upbringing which is further polished by training with the gendarme. The most important part of that upbringing being lessons in riding. A commoner would not have that privilege. Neither would the wealthier classes have the free time needed to truly master such an art.

There's a difference in using a horse to just get around, compared using the animal for sport or war. And Ramon's handling of the pony is making that exact point. Compared to the Gendarme Elite, Ramon's horsemanship is downright amateurish. My guess is that even if the steeds were exactly equal, the Gendarme Elite would catch up with Ramon sooner rather than later.

The crashing of heavy wheels against the cobblestones snaps me out of my reverie, as several open air carriages bring up the Gendarme Elite's rear. Each carriage is packed with several gendarme and pulled by a pair of sturdy workhorses, selected for endurance rather than speed or grace. In a well trained maneuver, the carriages settle at a set distance behind the Gendarme Elite, forming a pair of wings covering the spearhead. The Gendarme Elite also carefully maintain the pace of their own horses, making sure not to pull too far ahead of the carriages coming to reinforce them.

Huh, the formation actually looks phallic from this angle. It would be funny, if only the gendarme wasn't bearing down on Ramon and I, ready to fuck us in the ass.

"What's going on?" Ramon shouts in alarm as he opens fire on the Stabber, forcing our enemy to summersault out of the way.

"More gendarme, packing heat this time." I yell back over the wind, "Musket men."

"Drat." Ramon swears as he kicks at the pony to go faster, "Why is the gendarme sending so much firepower our way?"

"I might have dismembered a few Robeur knights earlier today?" I say, swallowing hard at how quickly things had escalated, "But it could be worse though."

"How can this be worse?" Ramon blares out incredulously.

"We could be facing Royal Magic Knights?" I suggest, "Point being things can always get worse in such a situation."

I barely finish what I'm saying before Ramon pulls hard to the side, avoiding a throwing dagger sent our way courtesy of the Stabber. As we dodge the bolt of iron death, the knife shears through the stem of a nearby lamppost, before staking itself deep into the surface of the road. The damaged lamppost crashes to the ground like a fallen tree, sending sparks flying.

"He threw that knife hard enough to cut through metal." Ramon blurts out, cold sweat flowing off his back.

"You get used to this kind of stuff once you stay around magic knights long enough." I comment, desperately looking for a way out of our predicament.

We're trapped between the Stabber and the gendarme. Things are bad, to say the least. And even if they do nab the Stabber, I'm not keen on being detained by the gendarme either, given the fact that my real problem has not been solved. That being Mills and whatever bullshit he's pulling behind the scenes against me. I might even be treated to take two of that murder attempt Mills pulled against me. I would be foolish not to expect something like this either, since Mills had clearly spent a good deal of effort to lure me to my death and replace me with this pretender, the Stabber.

Surrendering myself right now is the worst of all possible options. I do not know what's going on and what plot I've inadvertently become a part of. There's no way for me to protect myself in this situation. Before I consider anything else, I have to get out of Deshawn City and escape the immediate crisis.

The Stabber keeps closing in on Ramon and I, soon he will be able to pounce on us from the side of the townhouses. And once that happens, the gendarme will catch up with us as well. With the Gendarme Elite thrown into the fray I have no idea how I would fare against the Stabber. But I have no doubt that Ramon would very likely end up very dead by the time the fight is over.

"Hand me a gun." I say to Ramon, "And whatever happens, keep riding for the city's gates."

Ramon slides me a pistol and I can see him tremble from the tension. I bite my lips in nervousness, readying myself for action. If the gendarme wants a fight, I'll give it to them.

But there's no rule saying that I have to be the one staying behind to do the fighting.

"Mac!" Ramon shouts in alarm as the Stabber performs a dramatic dive off the row of townhouses, streaking right at us with his weapon drawn.

"Keep going!" I urge and focus my magic, taking a flying leap off the pony right in the direction of the Stabber. I see the Stabber's eyes widen in surprise and he swiftly adjusts the angle of his short sword to run me through in midair.

"Surprise." I snarl, levelling the pistol at the Stabber's face as I close within a heartbeat of the Stabber's blade, my finger heavy on the trigger.

There's a flash from the pistol's muzzle as the lead shot is spat out at a range that is impossible to miss. The Stabber's head snaps backward, a thin trickle of blood flowing from his forehead from the impact of the gunshot. There's an annoyed sneer plastered over my opponent's face, only natural, since we both know that guns are minimally effective against someone with magic.

That's why I follow up by bringing the pistol down on the Stabber's head in a massive hammer blow, backed by all the strength enhancement I can pack into my good arm. There's more than enough force in this blow to stun a magic knight for a good few seconds. Providing an opening for me to catch up with Ramon and for the Stabber to be run over by the gendarme in pursuit behind us.

"Not so easy!" my doppelganger howls and brings up both forearms around his face in a block.

The pistol snaps in two as the force of my strike sends the Stabber plowing straight to the ground. But with the force of my attack blunted, the Stabber manages to land squarely on his feet, the cobblestones shattering underneath him from the impact of his landing. I feel a sharp pain to my chest as the Stabber punts me with an elbow, forcing me several steps backward. My enemy's short sword flashes in the darkness and I manage to avoid a thrust to the heart, aware that the gendarme is about to breathe down both our necks.

"No time for this now." I mutter, performing a vault over the Stabber's head. The longer I tarry here, the more difficult it would be to catch up with Ramon.

There's a flash of pain around my ankle and I feel the Stabber's fingers dig into my reinforced skin like nails. With a triumphant cry, the Stabber slams me hard face first against the ground, knocking the wind out of me. As I blearily spit the mud out of my mouth, the rain pummels my body mercilessly, soaking me to the bone. I squint, looking for Ramon and the pony, but both of them have disappeared somewhere ahead in the downpour.

Its too late. I can't catch up to Ramon like this. My magic would run out first. The only way for me to catch up is with a horse.

If only I had a horse of my own.

Shouts of confusion rise from the Gendarme Elite as their neat wedge ripples and to peel away like a banana. Something is forcing its way through the formation, without regard for the riders. This intrusion causes several riders collide into each other, causing the wedge to break apart completely. With the Gendarme Elite's momentum disrupted, the carriages carrying the gunners runs into the swirling morass, adding to the chaos.

I notice the Stabber turning around to check out the commotion before a huge bulk smacks straight into him, dashing my enemy to the side of the road. An annoyed huff is all the explanation I receive as a huge, bad tempered horse glares at me accusingly.

"Loaner?" I mumble stupidly, totally lost at this unexpected sight. Loaner merely rolls its eyes and makes an impatient noise in response.

"Got it." I woozily mount the beast and work the reins, directing it to begin sprinting out of Deshawn City.

Loaner has other ideas though. The horse rears up on its hindlegs with a neigh, before smashing down both forelegs on to the Stabber as he begins to get back to his feet. The Stabber promptly finds himself on his back again, gazing at the night sky with a glazed expression on his face.

"Well done! Serves that asshole right." I congratulate, holding on tight as Loaner bolts down the road.

Straight toward freedom.

......

NOW LOADING ...

Hint: Remember that you can summon your horse whenever you are outside.