The Anvil (9 page)

When
the
time
came
they
walked
over
and
Alex
,
leaving
Tom
at
the
tree
line
,
went
to
the
edge
of
the
clearing
and
said
loudly
“
Bandits
I
give
you
two
choices
!
Either
surrender
and
go
to
prison
or
try
to
fight
me
!”.
All
the
bandits
laughed
then
one
of
them
shouted
“
You
and
what
army
?”
Alex
said
“
I
don
'
t
need
one
I
am
a
Guardian
Dragon
!
Give
me
your
answer
!”
the
same
voice
said
“
I
think
we
'
ll
fight
even
if
you
are
a
Guardian
Dragon
”
Alex
shrugged
and
hefted
his
sword
then
ran
at
the
bandits
.

Even
before
he
got
there
some
of
the
bandits
fell
with
bolts
sticking
out
of
them
.
Alex
then
hit
the
bandits
and
swung
his
sword
,
fire
consuming
everything
it
touched
.
Tom
was
still
shooting
in
the
trees
when
he
saw
some
bandits
swinging
around
to
attack
Alex
from
behind
.
Tom
shot
his
remaining
bolts
at
them
to
get
their
attention
then
grabbed
his
axe
and
shield
and
ran
at
them
.

Tom
noticed
as
he
ran
a
stream
by
the
bandits
and
turned
it
on
them
the
water
washed
over
them
and
swirled
around
the
bandits
,
slowing
them
and
drowning
three
of
them
.
Tom
released
his
grip
on
the
water
as
he
got
to
the
bandits
.
He
swung
his
axe
at
the
closest
one
and
hit
the
bandit
'
s
shield
.
He
shoved
the
man
with
his
shield
.
Tom
turned
just
in
time
to
block
a
bandit
'
s
mace
and
swing
his
axe
into
the
new
man
'
s
neck
.

The
man
fell
and
Tom
blocked
a
sword
strike
and
slammed
his
axe
into
a
man
'
s
helmet
,
the
axe
sheared
threw
the
metal
and
got
his
head
.
The
bandit
fell
on
him
as
another
bandit
swung
a
sword
,
but
the
dead
man
blocked
the
sword
.
Tom
took
the
axe
and
swung
it
hard
into
a
man
'
s
side
.
The
man
blocked
the
strike
with
his
shield
but
Tom
jammed
his
shield
into
the
man
'
s
neck
.
Of
the
ten
or
so
that
had
been
in
the
group
only
four
survived
and
they
shot
at
him
now
that
they
had
a
clear
shot
.
Tom
blocked
three
of
the
bolts
with
a
pillar
of
earth
and
blocked
the
last
one
with
his
shield
.

He
ran
at
the
archers
as
they
reloaded
their
crossbows
.
He
ducked
behind
a
tree
as
they
shot
and
heard
four
thumping
sounds
as
the
bolts
hit
the
tree
he
started
running
again
and
the
archers
realized
they
didn
'
t
have
time
to
reload
so
they
grabbed
their
knives
and
daggers
and
started
running
at
him
.
When
they
hit
Tom
rammed
one
with
his
shield
and
chopped
at
another
.
The
man
he
rammed
went
flying
and
the
man
he
chopped
at
fell
dead
.
Tom
turned
on
the
other
two
and
hit
one
in
head
with
his
shield
.
The
man
staggered
and
Tom
got
him
in
the
neck
then
the
man
that
he
had
rammed
with
his
shield
got
up
and
ran
at
him
.

Tom
dropped
his
axe
and
grabbed
the
running
man
swinging
him
around
him
to
block
the
other
bandit
'
s
knife
.
As
the
last
bandit
pulled
his
knife
free
,
Tom
made
balls
of
dirt
and
rock
float
in
the
air
and
launched
them
at
him
.
They
each
hit
him
in
the
head
and
smashed
his
helmet
.
The
bandit
crumbled
as
Tom
sank
to
his
knees
.
Tom
wept
,
he
couldn
'
t
remember
the
last
time
he
had
cried
,
but
it
was
not
because
of
pain
but
because
he
had
killed
other
men
.

Chapter
6

             
Tom
came
around
and
he
heard
yelling
,
screaming
and
roaring
.
He
realized
that
Alex
must
still
be
fighting
the
main
group
of
bandits
.
He
grabbed
his
axe
and
shield
and
ran
to
help
.
He
saw
Alex
,
as
a
huge
purple
dragon
,
fighting
.
The
whole
area
was
in
flames
from
Alex
'
s
sword
and
fiery
breath
.
Tom
starting
running
towards
Alex
and
the
bandits
.
He
swung
his
axe
at
the
nearest
bandits
cutting
them
down
quickly
before
they
knew
he
was
there
.
Suddenly
he
heard
a
voice
in
his
mind
saying
“
Put
up
an
earth
wall
around
just
you
,
now
!”
then
Alex
stood
on
his
two
back
feet
and
blew
fire
towards
him
as
Tom
put
up
the
wall
.