William

I held my breath for a moment as the torch fell into the hole but I didn't hear any screams or see anyone come rushing forth. I looked around at the ground and found a trail. One pair of feet heading off in a direction, zigzagging quite a bit but still barely perceptible.

I was following the trail when some more soldiers found me.

"It's him," One of them whispered. "The demon soldier."

I stood up straighter, trying to avoid a fight but then I noticed the trail ended abruptly and I couldn't have them bringing people back here.

I dropped the staff and burst into motion. I leaped into the air and came crashing down on top of the first soldier. They were taken completely offguard. There were seven more and they hadn't even drawn their weapons.

I roundhouse kicked another and heard a crunch as it connected. My fist caught another in the throat and he couldn't breathe. The rest had managed to draw their swords.

I began to dodge as two of them advanced and I tripped one with my leg and came down into his chest hard with my elbow and I felt the damage. The other one tried to take advantage of my being on the ground and he swung down. I rolled onto my back and caught the sword with my feet, pulled it from his grasp, and slammed it deep into his chest.

The three remaining charged as I jumped to my feet and finished them off with ease. However, my wound had begun to bleed again. I walked over to the cover of a tree and tore off my other sleeve and, combined with the first sleeve, used it to stop the bleeding. I rested there for a little bit to catch my breath and let my arm get a break.

This should be a good time. I could smell the smoke from a fire and they'll have to go around it or wait for it to burn through, but I couldn't rest here for long, the fire would be here soon.