Dryad Eyes, prt 2.
A continuation of my previous post. :)
"Where the hell did she go?" The first of the men to enter the alley demanded. His name was Erek. He and his brother, Endek, who was right on his heels, were long time mercenaries that had recently signed on with the army at Keeper's Gateway. He swore as he peered down the dark side street the girl had vanished down.
"Just our luck," Endek, the bigger of the two, rumbled. "So much for this being a simple task."
Their companions, Roech and Jerod, joined them and the four men milled about as they tried to figure out what had become of their quarry. Treyp, crouched low on a rooftop almost directly overhead, allowed herself a small frown as she studied them. These men were too well armed, and armored, to be what she had thought they were. They looked as though they were seeking combat, not the company of an unwilling woman.
'Oh well,' she thought, though in her head the voice was that of her uncle, Geran . 'May as well oblige them.'
Rising to her feet, she stepped off the edge of the building she had been hiding on and dropped feet-first, on the top of Roech's head. She would never learn his name. Springing off his stunned and toppling form, she caught the big man, Endek, with a solid boot to the chin as he spun around to see what the commotion was. His jaw gave way with a loud snap, and he went down still trying to drag his sword free of its sheath. Treyp kicked him again for good measure, then turned and bounded across the ten feet or so that separated her from the next man.
They may have been soldiers, and hardened mercenaries, but they had not expected her speed or her strength. She struck Jerod with a right hook that Endek would have been hard pressed to match, then turned again, just in time to catch the cudgel Erek was swinging with her hand. The force of the blow stung her palm, but she gave no outward indication of this nor did she let go. Instead, she yanked the weapon from his hands and reached out to grab his leather armor with her free hand. With a mighty heave, she slammed him into the nearest wall.
"Sorry, friend. I'm keeping my charms to myself tonight."
"Dryad bitch!" He spat. "Unclean -thing-! I'd not have you even if you were willing."
"Oh." She was right, then. Their purpose was different than she had first guessed. "So you just wanted to be a bigot? You could have shouted some insults and saved yourself the embarrassment."
"Said the dryad whore whom has wormed her way into our King's confidence!"
"The King? Lencu Geran?"
"The same." Erek growled. "You may as well kill me, Whore. I have been tasked with removing you, and I will do so. And I will be ready for you next time."
"I'm not--AAGGHH!!!!"
Pain, white hot and undeniable, lanced into her shoulder from behind. She fell against the man she had been holding, twisting so that she could see behind her. The big man, Endek, was made of stouter stuff than she had expected, it seemed. He was back on his feet and reloading his crossbow. She cried out again the knife Erek had been waiting to use glanced off her ribs.
Acting on pure adrenaline, Treyp hauled Erek around and threw him at Endek. The two men went down in a heap of tangled body parts and weapons. Forcing herself forward, she ran as hard and fast as she could, disappearing into the night.
Previous>> || Next>>
"Where the hell did she go?" The first of the men to enter the alley demanded. His name was Erek. He and his brother, Endek, who was right on his heels, were long time mercenaries that had recently signed on with the army at Keeper's Gateway. He swore as he peered down the dark side street the girl had vanished down.
"Just our luck," Endek, the bigger of the two, rumbled. "So much for this being a simple task."
Their companions, Roech and Jerod, joined them and the four men milled about as they tried to figure out what had become of their quarry. Treyp, crouched low on a rooftop almost directly overhead, allowed herself a small frown as she studied them. These men were too well armed, and armored, to be what she had thought they were. They looked as though they were seeking combat, not the company of an unwilling woman.
'Oh well,' she thought, though in her head the voice was that of her uncle, Geran . 'May as well oblige them.'
Rising to her feet, she stepped off the edge of the building she had been hiding on and dropped feet-first, on the top of Roech's head. She would never learn his name. Springing off his stunned and toppling form, she caught the big man, Endek, with a solid boot to the chin as he spun around to see what the commotion was. His jaw gave way with a loud snap, and he went down still trying to drag his sword free of its sheath. Treyp kicked him again for good measure, then turned and bounded across the ten feet or so that separated her from the next man.
They may have been soldiers, and hardened mercenaries, but they had not expected her speed or her strength. She struck Jerod with a right hook that Endek would have been hard pressed to match, then turned again, just in time to catch the cudgel Erek was swinging with her hand. The force of the blow stung her palm, but she gave no outward indication of this nor did she let go. Instead, she yanked the weapon from his hands and reached out to grab his leather armor with her free hand. With a mighty heave, she slammed him into the nearest wall.
"Sorry, friend. I'm keeping my charms to myself tonight."
"Dryad bitch!" He spat. "Unclean -thing-! I'd not have you even if you were willing."
"Oh." She was right, then. Their purpose was different than she had first guessed. "So you just wanted to be a bigot? You could have shouted some insults and saved yourself the embarrassment."
"Said the dryad whore whom has wormed her way into our King's confidence!"
"The King? Lencu Geran?"
"The same." Erek growled. "You may as well kill me, Whore. I have been tasked with removing you, and I will do so. And I will be ready for you next time."
"I'm not--AAGGHH!!!!"
Pain, white hot and undeniable, lanced into her shoulder from behind. She fell against the man she had been holding, twisting so that she could see behind her. The big man, Endek, was made of stouter stuff than she had expected, it seemed. He was back on his feet and reloading his crossbow. She cried out again the knife Erek had been waiting to use glanced off her ribs.
Acting on pure adrenaline, Treyp hauled Erek around and threw him at Endek. The two men went down in a heap of tangled body parts and weapons. Forcing herself forward, she ran as hard and fast as she could, disappearing into the night.
Previous>> || Next>>