"[i]I dun think you have what it takes, woman. If I can even call you that.[/i]" Light beckoned over the horizon. Fires began to spark up in the direction of Lowburg, only now did they realise the full extent of the attack. Freda felt more alone than ever tending to these two comatose women and a dog. The damn dog.

"[i]Yeah. Me and Jack 'ere think we don't need you. These... pretty ones should jus' stick with us. We'll treat 'em nice and propa'. [/i]" One of the filthy Ralyian's spoke up.
  
"[i]Aye! We got 'em. So pike off, fat arse.[/i]" Jack wafted his hand, tapping the pommel of his sword. "[i]Don't make us use 'em, eh?[/i]" Like most stupid men, confidence over-came skill.

This was the last threat she would suffer. She reached for the hilt of her own weapon, already having prepared her cavalier's heater shield - which was strapped to her off-arm. "Back. Off." The initial hostile reaction was paid and before long the two men began to back off with drawn swords, though the prospect of these two women in their 'care' was more than an enticing fight for them. Thus, another needless battle begun. Freda threw up her shield to take the first blow yet the other sword that was swung at her hit her right thigh. Hard. It tore into flesh to create a nasty gash that was only amplified on her recoil; her gambeson skirt saved her the leg, at least. In that second she felt defeat coming.

Before long, she had unleashed her broadsword and lunged at her opponents. Yet, being outnumbered meant staying manoeuvrable and she had already lost that. A swing came from both sides again, yet she was more than prepared for it this time. She ducked, clashing with one sword on the down swing and then letting the other swing over her shield, slashing through the hard wood and grinding over the hard metal of his friends blade. She sprung up swiftly, throwing her shield out in a one-two combination. Her shield slammed into the man's face without any warning, breaking his jaw and sealed his fate. 
Her sword dripped with crimson blood as it pierced the Ralyian's torso, tearing through him in a fatal second. She knew revenge would come. Jack the Scout roared out in anguish, yet Leia chose her side. She lunged at the man, grabbing at his ankle as he strayed too close to the unconscious North-woman. The dog was met with a firm kick but it was a swift enough distraction for the wounded Phoenix to limp forward and swing her blade with all her force behind it. Blood splattered the dog and both the women, a guttural, blood-curling gargle followed as the fiery warrior finished. She followed the line of blood-soaked metal to the man's punctured head - her blade sank through inches of skull and brain. Jack the Scout flopped to the ground moments after, he had died instantly. The other Raylian still grasped to life, the blow he received was fatal but death would meet him in hours, not seconds. 

Leia barked quietly as her aggression subtly faded. She shook her ragged and now bloody fur before starting to lick her master's face, attempting to'clean' it off. Freda lowered herself down to a knee, dropping her shield down to the ground to inspect the gash on her leg. A low whimper  followed at the pain welling up in her limb. The sound of the dying man's crying grew to sicken her. She was never fond of killing but it was not her choice. The crunch of bone and flesh followed as her blade rend into the man's back, right through his heart. A clean kill if one ever existed...

Freda doffed her weaponry after tearing her blade from the Raylian's back and sat in the middle of the sleeping, half alive women, knowing she needed to deal with the corpses but her wound took precedence. 

[u][i][b]Later, Early Morning...[/b][/i][/u]

A basic fire for basic men, she concluded. The bleeding had stopped, thankfully, but her howling was joined by wolves from the cauterizing. She just prayed it didn't draw any unwanted attention, these two were not very mobile after all. The Ralyian's were blackened now, but she was not happy until ashes were produced; even scum like these deserved to have themselves reborn anew one day - she just hoped it was as a slug. There was little time for such thoughts and a lot of ground had to be covered. Especially with two girls that refused to wake up. And the damn dog.

She trotted her way calmly with a heavy limp over to the blonde one, looking to cuff her chin to raise up her head and hopefully see a spark of life; perhaps fire would help? 
"[i]Fair woman. Are you awake? I need assistance here. We will all perish if you -do- not awaken. Come back to the world of the living, the Holy Flame beckons thee.[/i]" She squinted her face, the response she received was a weak hand on her wrist - a very weak sign of life and a gasp of air that almost sounded as a plea for something. Swiftly, Freda produced a skin of water for her to sip on, helping it down with tilting her head backwards - hopefully to bring back life that she saw. The blonde haired woman finally started to actually seem alive, yet remained in immense agony. Touching her felt odd, Freda thought. Sooner or later the flaring in Freda's back was enough to just let go and wince, having flared up from touching the void spirited girl. She took the skin and wandered over to the rugged traveller to do the same, repeating the same words to get a similar response. Avoiding the protective dog was difficult, but a piece of meat distracted him long enough.
"[i]W-.. What?[/i]" Was all she received before the same feeling rippled through her at the slightest touch, yet she endured to at least keep them hydrated - giving her the other half of the skin to consume. A kind smile followed, happy to actually see them coming back to life. The Knight stood up to collect her equipment with a momentary sigh. Morning beckoned over the horizon to reveal an immense battle being fought out in the distance. Thousands of troops clambered up ladders or rammed at the gate where hundreds fell; fires burned and death took its toll. The sight filled her with dread and worry, could she arrive in time to save the town? She assumed not at the state of the battle. Would the King perish? There was more questions than answers that only the Flame could truly know.

[u][i][b]Later...[/b][/i][/u]

"[i]No. There is little time for introductions or thanks. We move. Lean on me and we will make it. If you must rest, say so.[/i]" Freda spoke to Miriam first, she was at least the most coherent at this point though it was obvious that if nothing was done for the withered two they would surely perish. "[i]My Order has healers. One to heal those afflicted with the power of foul sorcery. We are two days away.[/i]" She nods, looping her arm around her shoulder to haul her up - which was met with a heavy cry of agony then a loud bark and growl from the protective mutt. "[i]Shush, dog.[/i]"

"[i]H-Hey. Don't you bad-mouth Leia.[/i]" Freda already knew this duo would be more trouble than they were worth. How vows ruined her. She turned into the silent guardian again and sought to scoop up the other woman, yet she was far more gone than the others yet wide awake - almost if she had entered a trance of sorts, perhaps she experienced what she had? Was it sorcery? No matter, she picked her up and threw the blonde girl over a shoulder, the weight of the withered woman was inconsequential. 
"[i]Fort Royal? Isn't that place full of Undead?[/i]" Miriam inquired. "[i]Well, not anymore. I guess.[/i]" She lowered her head, having taken the least amount of the wounds amongst the trio. She could walk with a lot of aid. Even eat, which Freda forced on the ailing woman.
"[i]It was empty when we arrived. There was one survivor amongst the fallen whom we saved upon arrival. What undead -were- there had moved on long ago. Yet, I feel they did not go far. Look.[/i]" She pointed out at the huge, black cloud piercing the landscape just below the cloud layer and above the Black Marsh. "T[i]he Undead under enthralment from magic cannot survive in the Sunlight for long. Their masters create a thick, black fog that blots out all life and sunlight to keep them from withering. It is the work of the Death's Hand. Necromancers of Old that had originated from the Black Marsh in times long forgotten. My Order's founder, Grand Marshal Cedric slew their black leader and brought an ushering to the first Era. Or so it is in my land. And most of the south.[/i]" Freda prayed that conversation could distract the woman from her ailments, or make the journey through the huge woods less painful.

"[i]Uhuh.[/i]" Miriam nodded, munching down on some dried venison with a ravenous appetite. It seemed to be doing her some good, but it was clear the girl was still suffering from unseen wounds.
 
"[i]Sounds fun.[/i]" She would of shrugged if her muscles worked like she remembered, but all her strength had been sapped. Leia barked happily, jumping up around Miriam - he was still ecstatic to see her awake, much to Freda's dismay.

"[i]Your dog is... unique. It defended you even in the darkest hour. Such loyalty from a low creature. Not... to make offense, I simply did not expect it. She has my respect.[/i]" Freda nods, not that Miriam noticed, she was too busy staring at the ground and dragging her feet.

[i][b]It was going to be a long, arduous and dangerous journey. [/b][/i]