As expected, unfortunately

Jp between Cindy, Winteroak and Bandorchu
Soliam Farm

The soldiers led by Sir Zane were given the order to move in quickly and gather everyone outside the huts that dotted the living quarters of the farm.

Some of the farmers grabbed whatever weapons they could find, but an old woman in a red shawl tried to keep them from making any stupid moves.

The group saw that three children were standing close to their mothers. There were around 10 adults nearby with angry and confused looks in their eyes.

Sir Zane approached the old woman as the others spread out to check the huts whose doors remained shut. Loud cracks followed as some of the soldiers broke down wooden doors.

"We have someone at the Keep that ties this farm with an outlawed cult." Sir Zane raised his voice to address everyone. "Last night the Arbiter took another one of you into custody. He did not make it alive to the Keep. A man with a boar's mask came for him."

Murmurs and looks crossed the crowd. "We are here to take you to the Keep. To tell us all you know and of your involvement with the Creed of Slivikhi." He announced to angry shouts.
"Those involved have left in the night..." The old woman told the day, spitting on the floor in front of the Knight. "That first winter you did not come and see us when we were starving...." She said with an accusing tone. Sir Zane ignored her and gave the order.
"Take them..." And at those words all hell broke loose and a few of the men moved to attack the soldiers...

Alexis sighed inwardly. Of course this wouldn’t go down peacefully.
Seemed like the people felt like having been left for death by the keep when they first arrived. Not a good basis for trust, that, if that was how it went down.

But even if she could somewhat empathise, the attackers needed to be dealt with. Alexis readied her weapon and shield to meet them, though if she had any say in it, her shield and both the flat side of her blade and its hilt would be her weapons of choice rather than its edge.
She aimed to disarm and subdue, not to actually harm.

The mercenary tried to keep an eye out for Islana, as well. She assumed the young woman was capable, but she also said she had never had to take part in something like this before. So, just in case…

Islana was realizing she probably could have come up with a better plan, than being on the ground with the soliders. Or at least at more of a distance she could use her bow. Not knowing swords or hand to hand left her at a disadvantage.

She readied herself, as she tried to decide what to do next, hoping beyond hope things wouldn't get much worse.

Alexis could see it in the other soldiers’ faces.
No one wanted this. But here they were.

She received her first attacker in an defensive stance, a lanky guy with a sickle in his hand and murder in his eyes.
She made it a point to broadcast calm determination in contrast.

With an enraged cry he swung at her face, but met her blade instead. She wedged her sword with the curved blade of the sickle and pulled, hard.
The man had not expected that and lost both his footing and his weapon, as he got a face full of shield for his troubles.
Now dazed it was not much of a challenge for the mercenary to trip him to the ground.
Checking if she had any immediate attackers, Alexis swiftly pressed the man down to the ground face first with her knee and bound his arms behind his back.

“Sorry.“
She quietly said.
“But don’t be an absolute idiot now and stay down.”

Islana was small and fast and used that to her advantage, as she didn't feel much like just standing there, not really able to defend herself.

Already standing behind some of the soliders, the young huntress took the opportunity to back off more before turning and running towards a grove of rather tall trees.

Making quickly up one gained her a decent perspective of the fighting. Some of the soliders and farmers were far too close together for her to shoot at them. The idea was not hit anyone but just shoot arrows from the various trees near or even not near the farmers, giving the impression that there were archers, with the soliders, in the trees.

She had camouflaged herself enough with her brown outfit that it would be difficult to see her without intently looking for her, especially with how fast she was moving.

Finding an opening, she shot two arrows in succession. Not hitting anyone but still noticable.

Then the huntress moved quickly two trees over and shot two more, once again missing anyone. From her vantage point she could see a few people looking towards the trees. She made another move three trees over. This time she shot one, towards a few birds that weren't near anyone, which just made them scatter. It was at this point that her view of Alexis showed her that the older woman had just put one of the farmers on the ground. Islana got off one more shot, to an open area and then moved again.

Looking around, Alexis could tell that this was going to end soon.
It was to be expected when farmers tussled with armed and trained soldiers.

Not quite yet though. She saw two of her compatriots wrestling down a particularly hunky fellow. A spindly guy obviously planned to make use of their distraction with a filthy looking dagger. To no avail though as a well placed arrow right before his feet spooked him into jumping back, where Alexis was already fast approaching.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him around, mercilessly ramming her knee into his gut, knocking the wind right out of him.
The mercenary proceeded to roughly throw him to the ground and stepped brutally on the hand holding the dagger, forcing him to let go.
At that point one of the soldiers that had been his aim took notice and moved to take over, his stormy expression not boding well for the would-be sneak attacker.

Islana kept moving shooting mostly two or three arrows in succession. Purposely missing everyone. Near feet was a good target, as it made it seem like someone was trying to hit the farmers. Those who were outside still looked to the trees but apparently didn't spot her.

The young huntress would just keep going at it until there was no longer a need.

Finally, it was over. Mostly, the soldiers had succeeded in keeping the damage within reasonable limits.

One of the farmers seemed have gotten a lucky hit hin, the soldier holding his bleeding side while the farmer’s blood seeped into the ground beneath his fallen body.
Clearly this one would not get to celebrate his short-lived victory.

Alexis pulled up her own charge and pushed him towards where the Soliam Farm residents were being rounded up. She passed Zane wordlessly, her stony expression doing the talking for her.

Islana could clearly see the conflict was over and the people were being rounded up. People that she thought were likely innocent. People that had every right to be upset over being left to starve, only to be rounded up for what amounted to protecting their village. Feelings of guilt, once again. Would it have been better if she had never investigated anything? Had her curiosity and need to stop the cult caused this?

Thoughts of how easy it would be to just stay up here. Maybe, head back to the woods. After the murderous cult was rounded up.

The redhead climbed down from the tree that currently held her. The residents too busy being rounded up and the soliders too busy rounding them up for anyone to notice her, or so she thought.

Islana stood back watching and wishing things were different.