DrowsyPangolin

When the Flames Die

Jezin was shocked by the man's reply, and more so by his ability to speak without moving his mouth. He cursed as his attack failed, feeling the sword knocked towards the ground. He was used to the reach a polearm granted, he was out of his element entirely. He saw the counterattack coming, and lept backwards, but he was too late. Though the longsword missed it's mark, it's tip did manage to strike upwards into Jezin's chest. The scale mail offered some protection, but the bodyguard felt a sharp sting. The tip of the blade had found it's way underneath one of the scales and into his chest. He stumbled back a few feet, blood dripping from the hole in his damaged armor. A drop hit the floor. He clutched the wound for a moment, eying his opponent. No, not here. It was not his time yet. He had to protect Sophia, it was the oath he had sworn. His blood, his body, his very soul were in service to the Empress and her family, he would not allow this man to do her any harm. He gripped the hilt of Tyler's sword. Awkward or not, the blade would taste blood. He had fought someone with two weapons before. He struggled to remember any lessons the fight had taught him. He charged forward, rearing the blade back for a full on thrust, but just before making it he twirled around his opponent on the side of the dirk, just out of the weapon's short range. He used the momentum from his spin, swinging the blade with all the force he could muster in a horizontal swing towards the back of the man's knee. A crippled man couldn't jump.

When the Flames Die

Jezin cursed as the man lept over his kick, rolling out of the way of the man's plunge, but feeling the blade of the longsword strike his armor as he did so. He rose to his feet, glaring at the man, throwing a parting glance to the others as they made their way through the window. He carefully circled his opponent, hate in his eyes. "Who... what the fuck are you?" He snarled out the words, gripping the hand-and-a-half sword tightly. If only he had his weapons. He darted forward, making a feint stab and backstepping before darting forward again, swinging the blade swiftly towards the side of the man's head. Sophia had gotten away, but the man's words made him nervous. He had no idea what was going on, but none of that mattered. He had to kill this man.

"GO!" Eva shouted, rushing after Gareth and practically throwing the Princess out the window behind the squire. For a brief moment, Sophia could've sworn time slowed down. She saw Jezin fighting the man's and felt herself being propelled through the air. And instant later her back struck the ground. She rolled over and rose shakily to her feet. Eva turned and gave Jezin one last look before leaping from the window as well. She landed on her feet, helping the princess rise. She looked up. at Gareth. "Good work Gareth. We've got to move. Quickly." She grabbed Sophia by the arm again, rushing after the squire. Sophia threw one last glance back. "Jezin..." She whispered as the three of them fled the scene.

When the Flames Die

How can Waldens be real if we aren't real?

When the Flames Die

Jezin backstepped an instant after striking, but he still felt as the dagger whizzed by his face. A few strands of hair fell to the ground. It had been close, too close. He had inadvertently managed to dodge the attack from the man's sword. Thankfully, as it would've nearly certainly been fatal. The sword was still gripped tightly in his hand. It hadn't managed to find it's mark it seemed. He looked at the man for a moment, appalled at his ghastly appearance. The bodyguard took another step back, flourishing the blade around in his hands. It was awkward, but not overly so. Even in such a short encounter, Jezin could tell the man was a skilled fighter. He glanced towards the squire, whose attack had also missed it's mark. "Gareth. Listen to me and listen well. If I get him out of the way, you take Sophia and Eva, and you run like your life depends on it. Get the Princess as far away as you can, and I will hold this... thing off." Jezin took a deep breath. This man would not have the princess, not while he was breathing. He rushed forward with great speed, raising his blade, but just before he struck he ducked to the ground, throwing a swift sweeping kick at the man's legs, while holding his own blade between the man and himself to provide some defense while trying to knock him to the floor.

Sophia watched as the scene unfolded before her, her eyes wide and her face pale. Eva's grip tightened on her arm. She was sure it was bruising, but she couldn't even feel it. Her worst nightmares were coming true. She felt her handmaiden pull her forward again, before noticing the woman's orange eyes looking back at her. "If we get a chance, we run. Understood?" Sophia shivered. "But... but Jezin." Eva shook her head. "He knows what to do. If we get an opening we run. Do you understand?" Sophia nodded, still shaking. Eva gripped her dagger tightly in her hand.

When the Flames Die

But how do we know the other Walden is the real one?

When the Flames Die

:(

When the Flames Die

Jezin's eyes widened as Walden dropped to the ground. A flaming glare crossed his face as he saw the man standing behind Walden's body, bloodied sword in hand. The sword in his own hand flashed to the ready as he took a step forward. Damn it all, of all the times for something like this to happen, it had to be when he was without a spear. His eyes locked with the intruder's. "Not a fucking chance." His fist clenched tightly around the hilt of the weapon as he took a step forward. He didn't bother to question the man. The time for that had been bypassed entirely. He glanced over to Sophia. They were blocked in the room unless he could get the man out of the way or kill him. He took another step forward, sword raised. He darted forward, making a sharp jab towards the man's chest.

Sophia shrieked when the blade pierced Walden's chest. In the same instant, she felt herself jerked to her feet. Eva still gripped her arm, but had placed herself between the intruder and the Princess. The Tauran woman's face was surprisingly calm for what she had just witnessed. She yanked the princess to the far corner of the room, gripping the dagger in her hand til her knuckles shone white. A tear ran down Sophia's cheek as she realized what had just happened.

Uldor, Land of Glory. (High Fantasy)

Everyone notices the hat and not the big rusty harpoon.

Uldor, Land of Glory. (High Fantasy)

Fitch, surprisingly, had remained silent through the frantic search for coin, primarily because he was flat broke. Thankfully, the woman that Louis had noticed before saved them from having to barter with the waitress. Fitch caught himself staring at the woman as she introduced herself, noticing the wings. Being a dirt poor fisherman hadn't led him to meet many people from outside Dorthan, and this fact was apparent on his face. Louis thanked the woman after eventually returning the money. Fitch, always one to appreciate a favor, decided to thank the woman. With a lack of grace that would impress a bull in a glass house, he blurted out. "Aye, thank you Miss Arisu. Reginald Fitch The Second. Fitch for short. I like your hair." He grinned widely, tousling his own crimson mop, and managing to interject his opinion both without being spoken to, and in a manner that interrupted his captain.

When the Flames Die

Jezin looked back and forth between Gareth and Walden. The half-elf seemed to agree with him that moving from their current position was dangerous. Something didn't feel right. When he had spoken to Thomas, the Commander had mentioned returning to their quarters, not coming to Gareth's, and certainly not going to Bernard's Holdfast. Jezin looked at Gareth with a look that seemed to indicate some kind of mutual agreement that things were awry. He cautiously took a few steps forward, placing himself behind Walden. His grip on the hand-and-a-half sword tightened, but he made no motion to raise it. "Sir Walden, I spoke to Thomas earlier, and he made no mention of this place. Shouldn't we have fled there in the first place if it was safer?" His voice was slightly less friendly now, his eyes locked with Walden's. He hoped desperately that his gut feeling was wrong.

Sophia looked confusedly between Gareth and Jezin. They seemed to think something was wrong. She felt a hand grip her around the arm. Looking to her right, she saw Eva's hand, which had previously been patting her, wrapped tightly around her forearm. The woman had stopped tapping the dagger in her other hand on the ground, and now held it tightly. The Tauran looked towards Sophia quickly, before turning her eyes back to the situation at hand. The princess couldn't find words. She saw nothing wrong with Sir Walden's proposition, but both Jezin and Gareth didn't like the idea.