As the rider drew closer, Tristan let another arrow fly. The first shaft had buried deep in the man’s thigh, but he thundered on with steely determination. This second shot thumped into the horse, throwing the rider.
Standing and holding a broken arm, he limped forward.
Tristan loosed another, which found its mark in the oncoming man’s shoulder. He span, cried out in pain, yet pressed on. Staggering to the tower door, he was finally dropped by an arrow to the chest.
Tristan looked down in amazement as the bloody and broken man dragged himself to his feet.
“Corporal Tristan, I have been sent to inform you, your wife has gone into labour.” The rider held up an official leave document, then collapsed.
James Hancock is a UK writer of thriller, horror, fantasy, sci-fi and bizarre comedy. Some of his short screenplays have been made into films, his stories read on podcasts, and he has been published in print magazines, online, and in anthology books.
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