The journey

James, Cletus, Joy and Dorcas were waiting for the escorts to arrive and after a few minutes, they heard the sounds of men approaching the house and then a horseman who led the escorts arrived with his men and a chariot. Immediately, they got into the chariot and put in their load in the chariot and after a few prayers by Father ugu, they got in the chariot and started moving towards the Dead desert using a different route so as not to be discovered.

The four began to discuss about some issues like whether Chanchan will ever regain freedom from the Snake nation. A horseman told them that Marcus and some senior officers might also go to Fadian to try to join forces with their army to try to crush the Snake army.

The journey was a pretty quiet one with Joy just hugging James tight throughout the time they were in the chariot. As they were moving eastwards, there were sounds of horses approaching their convoy.

"I think some men are approaching us really quick sure." The chariot rider said with a loud voice.

"May the gods help us." James said as he drew his sword and the other soldiers drew out their swords and some pulled out their bows and arrows and continued to move as quickly as they could and as they kept moving, James told Joy and Dorcas to stay low while Cletus kept looking out for any one who might attack while holding his bow and In a split second, an arrow with fire on it hit their chariot from the hills and more arrows followed after and then more men attacked with their swords and James immediately threw Joy and Dorcas out of the burning chariot and immediately James got out he threw his pickaxe at a soldier approaching them. Cletus then fought by his side shooting arrows at anyone approaching while covering the ladies. The chariot then exploded and immediately the force of the explosion threw them all back and an opposition soldier stabbed Joy on the arm and James in a fit of rage pounced on the soldier and stabbed him multiple times screaming "Don't you dare touch my woman you bastard." He then ran to Joy and brought out ointment and applied it on her armwhile Cletus covered for them.

"Are you okay my love?" James asked

"As long as I am with you." She said in a weak voice while smiling

" Shut up we have to stop the bleeding you naughty girl."

James then told Dorcas to watch her and with rage building in him, he started running towards the hills. The leader of the convoy called him and told him to stop but he was so filled with rage and resentment that he didn't care anymore and he started fighting the opposition soldiers standing in his way with all the strength he had and when he finally got to the hilltop, he saw some archers and immediately attacked and attacked blindly and was still striking when he was attacked with a bow by an archer and immediately, he lunged at the archer with his sword and he dodged it with ease and then James ran at him and tried to hold him and immediately the archer countered his attack and tripped him and then kicked him till his sides hurt and he couldn't stand properly. The archer then stepped on his face and immediately his nose started bleeding and he was kicked several times on his face.

James was very weak and was already having blurry sight and was in intense pain.

"You still have a lot to learn in combat my boy but I guess you will have to learn it the hard way and probably use it in your next lif.." He was then interrupted by a hit on the head with an arrow and another arrow followed and immediately James picked a rock and smashed his head with it.

"Did you actually think you could win a fight like that?" Cletus said smiling as he appeared with Joy and Dorcas while holding his bow.

He then went to help James get up and immediately, James fell unconscious