Black Powder Bomb XVI

[Much]

Much left the gang and made his way up from the kitchens to the courtyard corridor. Once he saw the light he stopped. He was to stand ‘guard’ at some point in the corridor. So he found an important looking door, and stood in front of it. The view of the dungeons clears enough and a quick enough access to the courtyard to throw the black powder.

It was all far to simple. It always was though. Yet they always seemed to win. God knew how, Much supposed, and fidgeted slightly.

He could not mess this up.

Guard after guard walked past him, the occasional maid. One smiled at him, he simply nodded back. He had Eve, he didn’t need a kitchen maid. He wasn’t Robin.

Now all he had to do was keep acting natural, and wait for Djaq to get Will the hell out of here. Or if he heard anything, throw that god damn powder.

(Short and crap, but it gives you somewhere to post!)

[Luke Scarlett]

Luke's heart started to pound in his chest as they drew closer to the other side of the quiet kitchen. So far it had been all too easy, the fight with the guards, although terrifying, had happened before they'd retrieved Will so they hadn't had anyone to protect but themselves. Their good luck at not running into any guards through the deserted corridors that led back to the kitchens would not hold now that they were approaching the courtyard. There were always guards on patrol, he just hoped that, whatever black powder was, it was enough to get them out of there safely.

Out the other side of the kitchen and shuffling down the final gloomy corridor before they reached the courtyard Luke paused before they could push on. "Will," Luke said, twisting his head so he could look at his brother. "Promise me that you won't fight when we get out there. You're already hurt, you're in no condition to fight." His face was set in a determined grimace and he looked to Djaq for support, knowing that if anybody could influence the stubborn nature of his brother it was her.

He slipped out from under Will's arm and put a hand on the door that closed them off from the chaos that was sure to break out as soon as they walked out into the courtyard. Luke took a couple of deep breaths, trying desperately to calm the nerves that were threatening to incapacitate him, and pushed open the door. He blinked, disorientated, as light blinded him for a moment. Even in the early evening of dull England it was far brighter in the courtyard than the darkened corridors.

A couple of guards gave them an uninterested glance. Then, slowly, realisation dawned and the cry went up. "Outlaws!" One burly guard shouted, drawing his sword. "Stop them! Block off the exits." Luke stood frozen, terror gripping him. What was he supposed to do? Should he fight, or remain by his brother's side? The longer he waited the less capable he seemed at making a choice. He was going to die here, run through by the guard's sword, and be remembered as the little boy who couldn't keep his own fear at bay long enough to be any help.

[will]

"Will, promise me that you won't fight when we get out there. You're already hurt, you're in no condition to fight." that was the last thing Will was thinking about. He was putting all his energy in to keeping himself awake. Fighting right now wouldn't probably be the best idea even if he had energy to spare. His ribs felt like horses had ran over him. Breathing alone was hard enough to do. Turning his head to Luke he nodded "I promise" he said with a tiny smile before unhooking his arm from Luke so his younger sibling could open the door.

"Outlaws!, stop them! Block off the exits." hearing that made the brunette outlaw raise his head and look forward. Turning his head he caught a glimpse of an almost frozen Luke. "Close the door!" he said raising his voice a little higher then he meant to. Because of doing so caused a coughing fit to rake his body. Due the coughing made what tasted like copper enter his mouth. Not wanting to warn Djaq or Luke instead of spitting it out he swallowed it.

[Anni]

Djaq was glad that they had made it to the courtyard. Finally they were all most done and could be rid of this horrid place. She heard Luke ask Will not to fight and she nodded in agreement. Before she could say anything, Will promised he would not and a smile came over Djaq's face. Now all she had to do was protect herself and Will if the guards were to notice them.

Unfortunately just that happened and soon she heard guards coming up from behind. She ran to close the door, but unfortunately it locked from the inside. At least the door was closed and it would cause a small obstacle for them. "Where's Much?" Djaq asked, looking around. They needed to get out of there soon or they might all be dead.

[Luke Scarlett]

At Will's weak shout Luke finally snapped out of his terrified daze, he turned to see Djaq slamming the door back towards the kitchens closed as a group of guards tried to rush them from behind. He jumped as he heard them begin to bang against the wood, the door shaking violently in it's frame. It wouldn't hold them for long. Luke's attention snapped back to his brother as Will broke down into a coughing fit, worry about his injuries intensifying.

Wringing his hands he peered about the courtyard looking for Much. He had to get Will out of here, so whatever distraction Much had he better use it now! Clearly Djaq was thinking the same thing as she asked somewhat frantically "Where's Much?"[/b] He didn't get the chance to respond as the guard that had been advancing finally reached them. Luke stumbled backwards as the guard swung at him, narrowly avoiding being hit. How was he supposed to fight, he didn't have any weapons he'd given both the axes to Will.

The guard bought his sword downwards, slashing at Luke again and he only just dodged backwards in time. The blade connected with the ground and Luke took his chance, kicking the weapon from the burly man's hand. It clattered across the stone out of reach and Luke gave a small smile of triumph. It was short lived however as the guard came at him with his fists. He took a blow to the shoulder, thankfully, though, it glanced off as he was already backing up.

Luke looked desperately at Will, who thankfully seemed to have recovered from his coughing fit. His brother reached for his belt and Luke shook his head, Will had promised not to join the fight! But when the elder Scarlett brother drew the larger of the two axes, instead of joining the fray, he tossed to Luke. Reaching out he caught the axe in both hands, fingers circling the wooden handle and gripping it tightly. For one terrible moment he'd thought he was going to miss and have to watch his brother's prized weapon skid across the floor too.

The guard kept coming at him, even though he was now armed he clearly didn't seem like that much of a threat. Luke side stepped, letting the man stumble past him, off balance when his blow didn't land as intended. He lifted the axe and brought the butt of the handle down on the back of the guard's helmeted head as hard as he could. A clang rang out through the courtyard and Luke felt the force of the blow reverberate up arm. Not waiting to watch the guard fall he looked to Will instead, looking for his brother's approval, a small amount of pride swelling inside him. He'd managed to fight, to win.

(OOC: I asked ashkins first and she said having Will throw Luke an axe was all fine by her ^_^. Also I skipped Much because Jen said she was gonna post after Luke.)

[Much]

Much stood by his ‘important door’ as he heard some shouting. He looked won into the courtyard. He saw three figures, two in guard’s uniforms, and a prisoner he recognised instantly. Will! They’d gotten him out. His constant worrying and praying to the Holy Lord had helped. Or so he liked to think. He saw the guard advance and cringed slightly, smiling as Luke fended him off. That boy deserved a medal.

Much grabbed the flints from his pocket and the black powder ‘bomb’ from the other. He crouches striking the flints against the fuse, it sparked and lit. He grabbed it he had a matter of seconds before he was rat fodder. He reached the edge of the corridor and launched to the other side of the courtyard to where Luke, Djaq and Will were stood. Better distraction there wasn’t.

He ran along the corridor now, his footsteps heavy, hand on the hilt of his sword about to draw it. Another guard came running towards him, he was ‘heading towards the noise’ he wasn’t out of place yet. Not until he started attacking guards anyway. He headed down the steps along side the guard he’d met at the top of them, and pulled out his sword heading towards Luke and the others.

”You go that way! came the gruff orders of the guard he’d been running with. He could do that. What was the point, he sharply took the hilt of his sword and made contact with the guys head. He could have done it. But he’d rather help his friends and blow his cover.

”Let’s get out of here!” he shouted across to the others running through the smoke, crashing swords with the next guard he met. A few dodged attacks and another hilt to face later and he was heading towards the portcullis. Robin and Marian were no where to be seen. He’d worry about it later for sure, but for now he could get out of there. He knew his master could take care of them both. They’d be back before the day was out.

He felt the collide of a shield in his side as he made his way to the portcullis. He swung his sword at the man, and disarmed him. Giving a short smile he ran further. Checking that the others were following. They would fight it out until the end. He knew that, he just hoped they didn’t do anything stupid.

He ran out of the courtyard, past the peasants that were looking towards the castle at the explosion, and doubled back on his-self. The horses were by the kitchen entrance. So he ran down a few alley ways, dodging everybody he met. A few weird looks here and there, but he kept running. He hated running, but he had to do it. He should probably help Djaq and Luke with Will, but he was too far gone now. He assumed they would be okay without him. The distraction would have hopefully proved big enough.

(Yes he ran away XD)

[will]

After a couple deep breathes he finally was able to recover from the coughing fit. Will couldn't help but watch as the door to where they were was busted open. Watching a guard go for the younger Scarlett sibling Will reached back and grabbed his long axe. Knowing he himself wouldn't be able to do much he tossed it towards Luke. Who in turn grabbed the axe and used it against the guard. Catching eyes with Luke the brunette boy smiled and nodded. Will guessed all the teaching that he taught Luke how to handle an axe was useful after all.

Hearing an explosion made the ground beneath them shake a little. Looking at Djaq and Luke he raised a brow "Time to go?". ”Let’s get out of here!” as if on cue Much came running through the smoke taking out a couple guards along the way. Will couldn't help but notice that Robin wasn't behind him. Where was Robin? Will suddenly questioned it to himself but quickly shook the thought out of his head. Robin was more then likely not that far behind.

Once they made it through the courtyard it didn't take them long to get to where the horses were waiting. With the help of Much's hand he was able to sit behind him. Will turned his head for second to see Luke get on the other horse behind Djaq.

[Anni]

Djaq suppressed a smile when she suddenly saw the black powder in use. Much came through as she knew he would. When Will suggested that they go, she did just that. She assisted Will as they hurried their way out of the courtyard where the horses were waiting. She mounted her horse, hoping Luke was right behind as she watched Will get on the back of Much's.

Then she remembered Robin and Marian. They should be there soon, she hoped. They had one more packet of black powder for just in case, but after that, they would have to gallop like a hurricane was at their tails.

[Luke Scarlett]

Luke had little time to celebrate his successful defeat of the guard. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a guard lobbing something in their direction and it took him a couple of seconds that the guard was in fact Much. Then an explosion went off a few feet away and Luke let out a yelp of terrified surprise. Fire and light consumed the area and the force of the bomb blew apart several wooden boxes sending splinters of wood in all directions and cracked the stone slabs of the floor. Chips of stone joined the shrapnel flying through the air and they stung at Luke's face as they pattered down all across the courtyard. For the first time he felt glad for the armour protecting his body.

Several of the guards that had been standing closer to the explosion had been knocked back and were now lying prone on the floor. Nobody had told him the black powder was some kind of witchcraft. If he's known the gang planned to do something as dangerous as dabble in the dark arts and try to summon some kind of devil from the pits of hell itself he would have protested more to it's use. A thick white smoke filled the air and he moved instinctively closer to Will, hoping for some kind of protection from his big brother as his heart pounded in his chest.

”Time to go?”[/i] Will asked and Luke nodded frantically. Much ran past, cutting down the guards that had recovered as he went. The three of them followed in his wake, Djaq aiding Will and leaving Luke with the task of knocking back the few guards that had not been felled when Much charged through. They reached the horses and he could see that they were as jittery after the explosion as he was. They had their ears pinned back and one of them was stamping it's hoof repeatedly on the ground.

Much mounted one, helping Will up after him. Luke watched his brother carefully for any signs of distress, he didn't really want to leave his side although he knew there was no way he could ride and care for his brother at the same time. He scrambled awkwardly onto the horse behind Djaq instead, one of his arms wrapping tightly around her waist, his other hand still clutching the axe Will had lent him.