Another Way Out

Kim spun around, dodging the attack directed at her while simultaneously swinging her sword at her opponent. She hadn't expected soldiers to be trying to prevent anyone from leaving through the main entrance. They'd already pushed her back one through the main doors before they closed them again, like they were just trying to keep her in there.

Not that she had any clue as to why. However, it did give her a moment to catch her breath. Which was more than enough for her to take down five more of the men outside the door. Which was like a drop of water in the ocean from what she could see.

An arrow flew by her, barely missing her head as she did her best to see how far the sea of enemies extended, but another swinging sword drew her attention before she could even say 'one.' Maybe if she had someone else to help occupy those trying to keep her in the building, she might have been able to get an actual estimate of what she was facing.

Yet, at the moment, while she parried another swinging sword, she had a feeling that she should let them 'push' her back into the manor. She doubted that she'd be able to deal with this many opponents the same way that she'd been able to hand that goblin army. These were much better fighters than those goblins were.

Though, she didn't plan on making it that easy for them. If she just retreated, she suspected someone out there might get the idea she might try to go somewhere else, which would complicate what she had in mind. Which was to see if there might be another exit that would allow her to find a way out to seek help of any kind.

She took a step backwards as another opponent swung their sword and Kim stopped that strike with hers while seeing the opportunity to counter attack, her sword biting through the man's other arm, severing it, his shield falling with it.

While Kim would like to pick it up and increase her defensive capabilities, she didn't think those attacking her would be so accommodating as to give her a moment. Although, one did seem to have the presence of mind to kick the severed arm and shield at her as she tried sidestepping another swing of a sword, where it got entangled in her legs and she nearly fell.

A quick roll back inside seemed to keep her from becoming a prone target, but it didn't seem to be enough for the shield to remain inside as they closed the doors once again. Which meant that if she didn't go back out right away, then they might suspect she was trying another way. Yet, she didn't see the point in just heading out into the fray immediately again.

That would likely just end up as it just did. With her facing overwhelming odds just to try and gain a few inches past the door. Maybe they'd think she was giving into despair, but she didn't think she'd get that lucky. An idea came to her as she noticed the arrow sticking out of the banister at the stairs that led to the living quarters of the manor behind her. The arrow that had nearly killed her.

If she went out again, then let them force her back in while she pretended to be seriously wounded, they might believe she was actually down for the count and not be suspicious if she tried another route. Although, that plan did depend on several maybes to the point she wasn't confident that she wanted to try it again.

However, she was sure that if she didn't head out again that they might think she wasn't going to try again. Which meant she'd need to go out soon to keep them from considering surrounding every possible exit, if they hadn't already.

Kim closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. Then as she opened her eyes again, she stepped towards the doors to try again, but stopped as she heard footsteps behind her.

She couldn't say how she knew those approaching from behind weren't her enemies, but she wasn't alarmed. She turned and was a little surprised to see many of the guests from the party approaching. Near the front was Lance, who was carrying his sister wrapped in a curtain.

"We need to get out!" one of the guests cried, and tried to rush past Kim as he noticed the doors.

The man was older and looked like he should be retired and living in the countryside to Kim, but his demeanor said that he didn't have any experience with any kind of violence like this. His was definitely a sheltered life, like Elin's certainly had been.

"You head out that way, you'll be killed the moment you step outside those doors if not the moment you open them," Kim warned, grabbing the man's arm as he tried to rush the doors.

"Let go of me!" he cried in desperation and Kim wondered if the situation had caused him to start losing touch with reality.

"You'll be better trying to find somewhere else to leave though," Kim said, wanting to do everything she could so she wouldn't have the death of a man on her conscience. While she didn't like them, she didn't believe they should just die. Everyone had the right to live, even if she herself despised their mere existence. Though she was conscious of others already walking towards the doors as if in a trance.

Kim knew she couldn't hold all of them off, unless maybe she barred the doors herself, but she didn't want to go to that much effort. If anything, it would mean she'd have that much more work to do when she went to try and go out again.

The man turned back to Kim and looked like he might try to attack her when she heard someone from behind her speak. Someone she recognized. Jonas.

"I know of another way," he said, making everyone who had been heading to the door pause. "It's the way I got in when this all started."

"What way is that?" one of the women who were halfway across the room to the door asked, her eyes showing her uncertainty in the firelight from outside the doors.

"It'll take too long to explain," Jonas answered. "I can show you if you'll follow me."

"Like we'd trust you to not lead us into a trap!" another of the guests snapped, a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties and too wealthy for his own good, in Kim's opinion.

Then before anything else could be said, he opened the doors and stepped outside, where his screams could be heard as he was quickly killed by the waiting attackers. Kim didn't like the fact that it happened, but was happy that it at least seemed to dissuade others from trying to leave through the front doors, including the man who hadn't been happy that Kim had kept him from reaching the doors first. Although, now he looked at Kim with gratitude, which honestly, she could do without.

Though she did let go of his arm. Since he wasn't going to continue to try and head out those doors, then there wasn't a reason for her to continue touching him. If nothing else, it would allow her more energy to deal with finding a way through this.

"Lead the way, Jonas," Lance said, his eyes full of determination.

"But won't they just cut off all possible ways out?" one of the other guests called out, so deep in the crowd, Kim couldn't tell who it was, just that it was a feminine voice.

"Only one way to find out," Lance replied.

"Mind if we help you keep them occupied here?" Guy asked Kim, startling her.

She had been about to head back out the doors and try and continue the hopeless battle, but she hadn't expected to see anyone willing to head into the fight. She looked at Guy and saw a few of the men who had been at the inn that morning, all with swords, though none had gotten any armor. Which Kim was a little surprised to realize that she wasn't surprised at all to learn that about them.

"Get some armor and I'll consider it," Kim told them.

If she was going to lead anyone into battle, then they were going to wear protective gear. Otherwise it would weigh on her conscience when something happened to them.

Although, having allies with her certainly had its appeal. Much like when she'd fought with her team against the army of goblins. Together they were able to take out so many more than they would have been able to on their own.

"I'll wait five minutes before heading out again on my own," Kim informed them. "If you can bring a suit of armor here before then, I'll wait for you to put it on. Otherwise you can join me when you get it on."

Kim suddenly couldn't shake the feeling she was in a video game where she had to kill so many enemies in a limited time period before being sent back to the start. She couldn't say where the feeling came from, only that it as there. And it was quite an annoying sensation to have.