[b][i]Flame Brooks[/i][/b]

Flame saw the older youth join him in combating the cultists, before asking whether he was telling the truth. He nodded, then added, "I'm with the Art Fortyes for now, yes. And I'll take the front, then - Good luck to you."

Curt but sincere were what Flame was going for as he instinctively went to the front, guiding the people to the guards as the latter presumably moved in the direction of the Noble's District (?). Speaking of Nobles, where was Gris Art Fortye, anyway? [i]Or did he lie about coming to the Magic Show?[/i] 

A chill went through his spine as he realized that the Oni Nobleman might have sent Flame off to distract him from his hunt for Ashton. [i]Damnit, I should have kept my cynicism longer![/i], were more thoughts.

[b][i]Ashton Andrews[/i][/b] 

Ashton knew better than to underestimate Belrigger, but the apperance of a magical golden sword with a magical chill that boded nothing good for him was unexpected. Now the older man had a further reach advantage as well as a weapon, but Ashton's mind was clear, clear enough to see that Belrigger will win in a frontal assault regardless of whether he was direct, cunning, or used a mix of the two. 

So he used another Flash Step, his magically-enhanced speed allowing him to dash to Bellrigger's left once more - He knew from his training sessions that his 'master' was ambidexterous, able to use both sides of his body with ease, but that just meant that left and right were equally unsafe. 

Using the Gladiator Master's superior height against him, Ashton ducked under the man's arms and guard, striking at the man's leg and knee with his daggers, carefully avoiding the sword as much as possible. Knowing that to stay in one place too long was a death sentence, Ashton darted back and attempted to roll to Belrigger's behind once more, one dagger raised to parry any turnaround or counterattack, the other - his right - ready to cut at the larger man's back legs. However, Ashton left a way out for himself - He had learned that locking himself to one course of action only resulted in calamity.