The Glade
A gentle breeze came flowing through the glade bringing a
brief respite from the oppressive heat. Hidden in among the ferns Finraer
hugged the ground as if it might yet be his savior. the momentary coolness
did nothing to relieve him of the sweat rolling down his frightful face.
He had the look of a hunted man, wary of an endless flight.
How could he have been so stupid? He had known that leaving
the inn without his companions was a bad idea. If only Jaheria could see
him now! It had been her fault in the first place. He had stormed out
after a "discussion" about the leadership of the group. If it hadn't been
for the timely intervention of Khalid, it may have come to blows.
His body stiffened as he caught the scent of the band again.
The smell of the black talons' armor had become all too familiar recently.
The forest around him fell silent.
How many were left? He had dealt with half of the initial
ambush. His fireballs and magic missiles had probably been expected but
they had seemed surprised by his fighting prowess, a legacy of his earlier
cleric training. With a silent prayer he loosened his war hammer once
more.
A branch to his left cracked, betraying his attacker.
Unthinking he used his remaining magic missiles at the startled hunter and
leapt out of his hiding place. Ignoring the anguished death screams of the
elite he scanned the glade for the rest. He was tired of running. It would
end here.
Istvan jumped at the sound of Karavash's screams. This
mage was proving to be a handful. Of the ten talons sent out to find and
eliminate him only three were now left. He regretted ever accepting the
strangers money. This Finraer was no easy kill.
Three talons spread out and converged on the sound of their
dying companion, bows at the ready. Istvan saw him first, standing
surrounded by a glowing purple nimbus. His arrows flew true but they
seemed to deflect their course at the last minute to fall harmlessly at
the accursed mage's feet. He snarled and drew his sword, he'd yet to meet
a mage immune to cold steel.
Finraer grinned as the arrows failed to penetrate his
shield. Drawing on all his power he sent forth fire to burn one of the now
charging hunters and raised his wand to smite another with lightning.
The hunters had chosen the wrong mage. With power coursing through his
veins and anger at his own stupidity boiling in his blood, he was ready
for anything.
He barely had time to meet the third attacker, dancing forms
he had learn't in his youth, he engaged his foe. War hammer met sword in a
shower of sparks and for a second he looked upon the cold features of his
attacker.
Istvan saw fear and a strange resolve in the mages eyes, he
was strong, not as strong as Istvan himself but another day he may have
been glad to offer the mage a place in his band. There was no such chance
now , however. He could no more renege on the deal with the stranger, than
take his own life. That second thought made him shudder, even as his sword
evaded Finraer's defense and hit him in the shoulder. The mage staggered
back a pace but then seemed to straighten and jump back into the fray. Was
there no stopping this man?
Finraer felt the healing wave flow through him and a new
vigor enter his tiring limbs. His opponent was strong, stronger than he,
but he would not die easily. Raising his glowing war hammer, he begun to
rain down blow upon fearsome blow at his opponent and as the hunter
retreated surprised by the ferocity of the assault, the talon
tripped!
Seizing the advantage, Finraer delivered a final crushing
blow. As the hammer discharged its electricity into the fallen opponent
Finraer felt a surge of elation. He had survived!
Istvan screamed as the pain flooded through his body. The
world shone bright than a gentle blackness took away all the pain as he
finally died.
A gentle breeze came flowing through the glade bringing with
it a brief respite from the oppressive heat. Slumped against a tree
Finraer felt tears start to course down his face. He had killed again
today. He didn't want to think when or who would be next. Why did it never
end? |
