What's wrong with being (over)confident...

[Artigas]

Artigas was aware of distant sound of voices, or at least they sounded far off, but his head was pounding and whenever he opened his eyes he struggled to focus on any one image. On the very edge of consciousness every time his body jolted a fresh wave of nausea threatened to engulf him but nothing ever came of it. The boy was aware that the canvas bag was no longer covering his head, it must have fallen off of his head in his escape attempt. His arms were now bound behind his back instead of in front of him and he was slung over the shoulder of an Azgeda warrior and there was no hope of escape this time. His head was so foggy that he couldn't formulate a plan even if he tried anyway.

Suddenly the warrior hoisted him off of his shoulder and dropped him carelessly into some sort of trap, the next thing Artigas registered was landing on his side with a grunt of pain. It was so disorienting and as he kicked out his feet to push himself into a sitting position a small groan escaped his lips. He was aware that Klara was in the trap with him and he heard her question. How do you feel? Nodding his head, he winced and felt the need to lift a hand to where the throbbing pain in his head was coming from, but his hands were bound and it was impossible to do so "I'm good" he muttered, his words meant to reassure his companion that he was fine. At her next words, his brow furrowed in confusion "Cut the rope? And then what?" he demanded "We're stuck in here, our window to escape has passed, how do you propose we escape unnoticed now that we are in their camp? They'll cut us down before we've taken a single step" he told her, shifting uncomfortably on the floor as he was now aware of the dull pain in his wrists where the rope had been rubbing and digging into his skin.

Klara

[Klara]

Klara noticed a little hint of reproach in Artigas' voice maybe he was a bit mad at her because she didn't move when he tried to escape earlier but he was just coming back to him so maybe he wasn't that mad at her. She had no idea of what she could answer to him, she tried to find a plan to escape since they got caught and she still had no ideas... Wait a minute... Some plan was coming to her mind... "They bring us here to torture us to get information, right? And if I had to torture someone, I'll do it in some tent isolated from the rest of the camp and with the least witnesses as possible. So we have to find some sharp object, then we wait for them to come for us and when we will be in the tent with only one or two enemies, we will cut our attachments and we will fight and then escape by skirting the camp...". She looked at Artigas, he seemed to have followed her reasoning. "We definitly have to find something to cut the rope!" she said before getting back to her researches.

Suddenly, she thought about the fact that the warriors didn't search her so her dagger was still in her jacket interior pocket but she couldn't take it because of her hands tied in her back. So she came next to Artigas. "Can you try to take my dagger in my jacket interior pocket?" she said smiling to him because she was happy that the warriors didn't search her.

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

"Unless they want to publicly execute us" Artigas muttered bitterly at Klara's words, he didn't see how she could look so pleased at the idea of them being tortured. He winced at the idea of having the warriors using their sinister methods to get information about his clan from him. Azgeda was known for their brutality. Listening to the scouts words, his brow furrowed, a part of him thought that she was crazy, the other part of him knew that her plan was their only chance for escape because they were not going to get out of the camp alive otherwise. "Okay..." he mumbled "say for a second, that they don't publicly execute us... That they do take us somewhere secluded to torture us and we do manage to get free and overpower the guard, how do you suppose we escape undetected, this camp is crawling with Azgeda warriors" their situation seemed hopeless, they were prisoners, they would probably die within the camp and be unable to warn their clan that Azgeda was trespassing on their territory for some unknown reason.

As Klara mentioned that she still had her knife on her the boy was nothing less than surprised "What kind of idiot forgets to search their prisoners for weapons?" he hissed at her as he tried reaching into her pocket for the knife. He was a little suspicious at how easy this could prove to be, his weapons had all been confiscated however so it could've just been a simple mistake on the warriors part for forgetting to search Klara. As his hands gripped the knifes hilt, he carefully took it from her coat, holding it as best as he could in front of him. He didn't understand why she was smiling "I wouldn't smile... Just yet" he grunted, trying to adjust his grip on the knife to avoid dropping it "we're not free yet..."

Klara

[Klara]

"They won't publicly execute us, they need information so they will torture us otherwise we will probably already be dead. Now, we have to try our luck to get out of here when we will have a good opportunity!" Klara said trying to motivate Artigas. And when he asked about how they were supposed to escape, she understood that he was totally not motivated, the determined warrior that she met had become a desperate child who didn't seem to want to fight anymore, and they will never get out of there if he didn't help her... "Hey! We will get out of here, I promise! All we have to do is get ready to fight and attack when they will be most vulnerable." It didn't seem to conviced him so Klara continue "Moreover, we are in a trap which means there must be tunnels under this camp and we could use them to escape." That was logic, if there was a trap, there were accesses to it and the warriors will probably not go after them in these tunnels or if they did, Artigas and Klara will have more chances to escape.

About the dagger, it was true that it was weird that the warriors didn't search Klara and so didn't take it but it was hiding in a discreet Pocket of her jacket so they didn't see it and they were too busy with Artigas trying to escape. "Azgeda warriors aren't known for their intelligence, they probably just forgot to search me.". When she saw that Artigas succeeded in taking her dagger, she smiled to him but instead of being happy like her, he was very pessimistic so she tried to provoke him to see how he will react... "Do you really want to be a warrior? Because all I can see right now when I look at you is a kiddie who feels sorry for himself instead of a warrior ready to fight for his life!" She looked at him and then she turned back to go sit down in a corner. "I thought you will become a great warrior... maybe I was wrong...".

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

He listened intently to her words and although the boy wasn't completely sold on the idea of trying to escape the crowded Azgeda camp, he was aware that it was their only option. Nobody back at Tondc knew of their capture and they weren't expected back for a while, by the time anyone grew suspicious of their absence it was likely that they'd already be dead. "I am willing to fight..." he muttered with a scowl "But it would be foolish not to doubt our chances... We've only got one shot at escape and if we are discovered we die" Artigas didn't want to die, it was right down at the bottom of his list of things he wanted to do, but he was well aware of the risks of attempting escape. "This can end one of two ways Klara... Either we sit here and wait to be tortured until we tell Azgeda what they want to know, which I have no intention of doing... Or we attempt to escape, at least if we attempt to escape we'll have a chance at survival" he told his companion with a sigh, neither option seemed particularly hopeful in his opinion. Both had a great possibility of death.

As Klara walked away from him and sat in the corner Artigas couldn't help but glare at her, the one thing he couldn't stand was somebody doubting his ability as a warrior. "I am a great warrior!" he hissed at her "or at least... I will be once I complete my training! I would willingly lay down my life for my clan and for my Heda" his voice remained low as to not attract the attention of the warriors that were likely guarding their prison but he was obviously upset by her implications as he shuffled a little in her direction. "You aren't even a warrior, you don't know anything about fighting for your clan, you didn't choose that life! Now please would you get over here so that I can cut your bonds and you can free me!" Artigas gestured hurriedly to his hands that were still bound behind his back and the blade he clung to desperately. He couldn't cut his own bonds, if he attempted to reposition the blade he risked cutting his own wrists and the position it was in at that moment was useless to him, his only hope of getting free was if he cut Klara's bonds first so that in turn she could free him.

Klara

[Klara]

Klara was happy about how Artigas reacted but she was also a little bit hurted abou what he said to her. "No, you're right. I'm not a warrior but I do know what it is to fight for a clan, my father died for our clan and I'm fighting for my clan as well or I won't be here right now! We just don't fight the same way!" Her voice was becoming louder so she stopped to take a deep breathe. "Okay, now that we told each other what we have on the heart, let's calm down and go back to how we're gonna get out of here..." She said more to calm herself than Artigas.

When he asked her to come so he could cut her bounds and she could cut his after, she tried to figure out what they will do when their bounds will be cut... "And what will we do when both of us won't have bounds anymore?" She asked him quietly to see if he had a plan. "Because if both of us are free when they will come back, they will understand that we are armed and all we will win will be that they will take the dagger..." Klara gave him some time to think about this. "Our only chance is to surprise them and to do that, one of us at least need to keep his bounds..."

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

Artigas felt slightly guilty after speaking to Klara the way that he had, however he was frustrated that several minutes had now passed by and he was still helplessly tied up. He wanted Klara to hurry up and cooperate so that they could both be free and the rope that bound his hands together would stop cutting painfully into his skin. As the boy watched the scout impatiently he felt the knife slip a little in his grasp and he hurried to get a better hold on it. At her question Artigas became confused "once our bounds are cut we can make a plan... At least when our hands are free we can put up a fight" he told her irritably. The floor was damp and cold and it was doing nothing to improve his mood, he wanted to get out of there are quickly and as efficiently as he could, preferably without sustaining anymore injuries.

At her words Artigas let out a sigh "When they come back it wouldn't be that hard to overpower them... We have a knife, they don't know that we've got it, we could take them by surprise" he reasoned with her an almost desperate edge to his tone. He knew that there was a great risk of one or both of them being seriously injured if they tried to take on the guards when they returned, however Artigas was willing to take risks if that was what it took to escape their prison. The boy had not yet completed his training, he either didn't understand that some risks weren't necessary or he just didn't think that the Azgeda warriors were strong enough to overpower them again. Wincing at her words Artigas glanced over his shoulder as if he could look at his hands and by doing so he'd magically be able to free himself "By that someone... You mean me" he guessed, reluctantly accepting that Klara wanted him to remain tied up when the guards came back, it was not something he was eager to agree on. He didn't like to feel helpless and without his hands to hold a weapon he couldn't fight, he shot a glare at Klara at her plan, of course he'd agree to anything that might give them a chance to return safely back to Tondc, but this wasn't the way in that he'd seen their escape going.

Klara

[Klara]

"No, in fact by "one of us", I meant me..." Klara knew that there were risks and that they probably won't be able to get out of the camp without one of them being seriously injured or killed and she was ready to sacrifie herself by keeping her bonds because keeping them meant being an easy target but it will let more chances to Artigas. And he deserved to had these chances because he was younger but also because she felt like becoming a great warrior was his destiny. "You've been trained to become a warrior, you're a better fighter than me..." She wanted to explain to Artigas why she meant herself by "one of us" without being too pessimistic by speaking of the risks even if he seemed to be aware of them.

"So when they will come back, I'll ensure that they come to take me first so you can attack them. When you will have surprised them by attacking, I will try to get the sword of the nearest guard to cut my bonds and help you! I think I don't have to tell you that we need to be quick but precise, because nobody knows that better than warriors do." While saying this, she came to him to take the dagger. "I think that's our better chance... At least you have a better plan which I will be happy to listen to if it's the case!" Klara hoped he had a better plan because she was totally aware that hers will probably not work, it just seemed too crazy but she tried to stay positive. But she had to stay focus on cutting Artigas' bonds. She gave them few cut and that was it, he was free and she gave him the dagger back.

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

Artigas was surprised when Klara spoke of her true intentions, he hadn't expected her to willingly stay tied up when they tried to make their escape, she'd be vulnerable to attack and he couldn't guarantee her safety. These warriors were much older than he was, they had more experience, he hadn't even finished his training yet, a fact that he was very much aware of despite his claims of being a capable warrior. "I may be a better fighter than you, but that doesn't matter if I'm not better than them" he told her grimly, these warriors would have swords and other weapons at there disposal, he'd only be armed with a knife.

As she talked him through her plan, the boy could not help but doubt her. How was he supposed to keep the guards busy whilst she freed herself, it would be like dancing with death. Despite his doubts however, he knew that this could be their only chance at escape, he'd rather die with a weapon in his hand than get tortured until he eventually broke and told them information that they could use against his clan. Not that he knew anything that would be of particular value to Azgeda, he was a boy, he was not entrusted with his clans secrets. "I know what I have to do" Artigas spoke after only a moments hesitation after Klara had finished her explanation, he trusted her, more than he trusted himself with coming up with a sensible plan. As she cut through his bonds and he felt the rope fall from around his wrists he spent a moment cradling his hands to his chest, massaging the wounds the rope had made when it had dug into his skin. After a couple of seconds had passed, he took the knife from Klara with a wary smile "I don't have a better plan... I wish I did" he told her as he got to his feet and pulled her up after him. He felt more confident with his hands free and a weapon in his possession, but there was no telling how long that confidence would last.

Klara

[Klara]

Klara was very worried about what will happen but she didn't let it see because Artigas seemed to really doubt about his capacities to keep the warriors busy while she will free her hands and she didn't want to let him know that she didn't have the situation in hands at all. So Klara tried to give him more self confidence. "Don't worry, you're a great warrior, I can feel it! You are the best person to do this! You've been trained during years to do this, here is the opportunity to show how hard you've worked!". She smiled at Artigas, by this smile she was trying to show to Artigas that she trusted him.

After her explanations, Klara felt that Artigas who didn't seem very convinced, had now more confidence in her. It was a good point because if they wanted to get out of there, they needed to trust each other otherwise their plan will never work.

When she cut his bonds, Klara saw how happy Artigas was to finally have his hands free and how it had motivated him. And when he helped her to get up after taking the dagger, she understood that he was ready to carry out their plan. That was a good thing because few seconds after they got up, she heard the noises made by the warriors who were coming for us. "You're ready?" She murmured to Artigas as she signed him to go to a corner of the place and to hide his free hands.

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

At her words Artigas offered a small smile, he couldn't help but hang onto what she said. He had trained hard, most of his life he'd spent training to be a warrior so that he could fight for his clan and now he had the opportunity to do so, to fulfil what he viewed as his purpose in life. This was not the time to start doubting himself, if he started to doubt his capabilities then his doubts would cloud his judgement in battle. Shaking his head hurriedly as if trying to shake the thoughts from his mind he dipped his head to Klara, she trusted him to get her out of this alive and he was not about to fail her. "We'll get out of here... The plan will work" he muttered, the words were meant to reassure himself as well as his companion as his grip tightened around the blade that he held in his hand.

He started slightly at the sudden sound of people approaching their prison and he sent a worried look in Klara's direction. One thing was certain, he wasn't going to go down without a fight, if his life was to come to an end in this prison then he would be sure to take at least one of the guards with him. As his companion signed for him to go a corner, he scooped up the discarded rope that had once bound his hands together as it would've given away the fact that he was free and retreated to the corner. Holding his hands behind his back so that it looked like he was still tied up, his hand shifted on the knife that he held as he awaited the guards to enter their prison.

Klara

[Klara]

Klara was happy and a little reassured to hear these words from Artigas's lips even if they were probably destined to reassure himself but they really helped Klara too because she was totally scared about what was going to happen to them but she knew she wasn't alone, he trusted her, so it gave her some courage.

Once she made sure that he went in the corner and that the fact he was free wasn't visible, she went to the farthest corner from the door and sat down. She took a deep breathe and waited for the guards to enter, her eyes fixed on the door. She was trying to concentrate herself on the plan even if the worst scenario was invading her mind...

Few moments later, the door opened and two Azgeda warriors came in. And they began to walk in Artigas direction so Klara stood up to draw their attention and apparently it worked because she was barely stand when one of the warriors rushed on her and the other had turned his head in her direction. Perfect! Klara thought. They just did exactly what she wanted them to which gave to Artigas the opportunity to attack.

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

As the door opened and a pair of Azgeda warriors entered the room, Artigas couldn't help but tense as they started to walk in his direction. Maybe the plan wouldn't work, maybe they had been foolish to think that it would. However as soon as the warriors started towards him Klara got to her feet and they rushed her instead, turning their backs on him. Seeing this as the opportunity for him to attack, he dropped the rope that he had been holding in his hands and ran at the guards, knife in hand. They didn't turn around until it was too late and he was upon them, driving the knife into the gut of the nearest guard before tugging the knife free from his victim and following up the attack and slashing at the mans throat, the spray of blood told him that the blade had found its mark and he took a couple of hurried steps backwards as the dying guard made to grab him before his mind had registered what had just happened.

The dying guard let out a panicked gasp that brought no air into his lungs as he collapsed to the ground still grasping at his throat as the life slowly left his body, the blood the coated Artigas' face didn't bother the boy as the second warrior forgot about Klara after the surprise attack and enraged by the attack on his friend withdrew his sword and charged Artigas, the young second barely managing to dodge the attack, he'd lost the element of surprise after taking the life of the first guard and although the fight was now a bit more levelled out, he knew that it was only a matter of time before he slipped up and met the sharp end of this warriors sword. He risked a glance at Klara, quietly willing her to hurry up and get out of her bonds so that she could help him defeat the warrior that was now trying to cut him down, he was only managing to evade the deadly blade that he held as his smaller size allowed him to duck and dodge each of the attacks, but he would soon tire and his attempts to dodge the blade would become clumsy and then he wouldn't stand a chance against the stronger warrior.

Klara

[Klara]

As soon as Artigas attacked, Klara saw the warriors get away from her which was exactly what she wanted. Now, she had to get ready to go taking the sword of the guard who Artigas attacked first. So she began to move in the direction of the dying guard as quietly and discreetly as possible so the second warrior won't see her. When Artigas attacked the second warrior, he got him turn back so he couldn't see Klara as she was trying to take the sword which was very hard when your hands were attached.

As she was trying to cut her bonds as fast as possible, Klara saw Artigas who was winning as much time as possible by dodging the warrior's attacks but the enemy was clearly stronger than him and without a weapon or some help, he won't be able to continue for a long time. His glance at her gave her more determination than ever to cut this rope because he trusted her so she had to go help him.

Seeing that her bonds didn't want to sever so all she was cutting was her wrists and that Artigas was getting tired of ducking the attacks, Klara chose to change the plan. She took the sword, stood up, rushed to the enemy and gave him a kick in the legs in which she put all the rest of her strength causing him to fall down. Then, she quickly came to Artigas to give him the sword so he could kill the warrior.

Tag: Artigas

[Artigas]

Artigas was growing tired from ducking the warrior unrelenting attacks and just when he thought he wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer, the warrior buckled and dropped to his knees. The boy skidded to a halt as he realised it was Klara who had made the warrior fall, but it appeared as if the plan hadn't entirely worked as they had thought it might because she still had her hands bound and the ropes were now stained with blood as if she had caught herself with the blade as she attempted to cut herself free.

As she handed him the sword that she held awkwardly in her bound hands he wasted no time before he dispatched the warrior. "It worked" he muttered, sounding surprised that they had actually pulled it off. Stepping towards Klara he used the sword to quickly cut her bonds "you grab his sword and then I suggest we get out of here before anyone starts to suspect their absence... If they were coming to get one of us then it won't be long until somebody misses them" he told her, gesturing towards the two guards that now both lay dead upon the floor.

Klara