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[i][b]CLANG[/b][/i]

It was an awful sound, of metal against metal. Lathilos was strong. He was more physically imposing than Marlowe could ever hope to be. How many times had he fought Lathilos now? It seemed like the old man had been a constant enemy since his first days in Dun. He was bullheaded and a zealot. A card carrying true believer that the Order was doing the right thing. If they weren’t on opposite sides of this conflict, Marlowe could probably grow to have a begrudging respect for the old man. But he took the side of murderers and psychopaths, and Marlowe would not allow him or his people to harm anyone else. 

[i][b]CLANG[/b][/i]

Marlowe’s footwork almost slipped as he was pushed back by Lathilos’ heavy swing. At least with a weapon like Hard Edge Marlowe had a better chance of standing up to him. Before he’d been knocked easily aside by the Warhammer. Now? Now he could defend himself. 

[i][b]CLANG[/b][/i] [i][b]CLANG[/b][/i] [i][b]CLANG[/b][/i]

Each strike was heavier than the last. Marlowe knew he was on the defensive, but on the bright side all of his bones were still unbroken. [i]For once.[/i] Being on the defensive wouldn’t work though. The Order sent out teams of threes, and while Delios was busy with Viera and Lathilos with him, he knew the girl would still have another pursuer. The Order was difficult to understand, but their tactics always seemed to remain the same. He had to figure out how to get out of this conflict and now. He didn’t have to beat Lathilos; but Delios was a problem. He was a ranged attacker and could track them easily. He watched as Viera pushed the man back; at close range the man was put out of his element. He could draw his saber, and fight with two weapons, overpowering Lathilos; but holding his sword in one hand would leave him unable to hold back the larger man’s strikes; it would put him off balance; and leave him with a caved in skull. He could use his scrap gun—the weapon he kept at his side. Marlowe slid back and reached for it; only to find it missing! Shit! He probably left it back at the tavern, not bringing it on patrol with him. 

Now things were looking bad. He would beat the man in a fair fight. But that’s when the idea struck his head: [i]Fair.[/i] When had The Order ever fought fair against them? He had spent so much time believing in honorable, gentlemanly combat but every time he tried to put up the heroic act, it led to him getting beaten down. Using the scrap gun, hitting enemies low; those were unfair moves but those were what won him his battles. Marlowe dashed back, away from Lathilos. 

“Running away? I never pegged you for a coward. Stupid, but not cowardly.” 

“What can I say?” Marlowe quipped back, keeping a few feet away from him and Lathilos. “There’s a first time for [i]everything![/i]” He dug his sword into the dirt, kicking up detritus, flying into the un-expecting face of the larger man. Marlowe used this moment to push forward, with the blunt of his blade; to knock Lathilos onto his back, plant a foot square on the man’s face, and jump towards Viera and Delios. He raised his blade upwards, aiming to hit the sniper square in the face; to stop him; but the older man was smart enough to pull back. Metal tore through flesh, but only slightly, grazing the man’s skull and cutting around his left eye. 

“Viera! Let’s move!” He roared, running away from the two, and in the direction of the girl. They just had to find her, and get her away from them now. There was no need for a victorious battle today.