#eiade

The four of us reunited and returned the shaken Sovereign to his palace. Essedri, being the most proficient in the Toiaun tongue, told him the details of our various encounters with the Serpent’s Fang and what he could expect to find. He was far more receptive to our tale than I would have expected, but after being betrayed by one of his closest and rescued by total strangers, he seemed to be…

Crashing http://wp.me/spU4W-crashing

Even dulled by the loss of blood, the pain of the second wound brought the world back into sharp focus. I had suffered in silence the first time, but now an involuntary scream escaped my lips. Reasoi twisted the blade as a sadistic smile twisted his features. And yet even as the pain grew sharper, I had come to far to give in now. Moving without conscious thought, I tightened my grip on Aesur’s…

I pressed the assault, utilizing every advantage I could think of. Sa’Lithra had several advantages. Advances in spellweaving made it less draining to use magic through it, and the extra length and familiarity of the sword did wonders for my confidence. And due to the unique spells on the blade, my blows were powerful enough to contend with even Reasoi’s enhanced strength.

However, Reasoi was a…

A Duel of Daggers

I lashed out with my foot, planting a solid kick in Reasoi’s chest. He sprawled backward, but quickly recovered. His knife flashed blue and he rolled to his feet. We stood there for a frozen moment, sizing each other up. Reasoi must have been reassured by what he saw, for he launched into a full offensive. In a red flash, he closed the distance between us without seeming to travel through the…

Essedri – Evasion

Essedri made a beeline for the nearest building, scampering up a stack of crates onto the low roof as easily as running up a flight of stars. None of the buildings here were taller than a single story, and so she reached the roof in mere seconds.  With the knife she held, she might be able to keep him distracted until backup arrived. If it arrived.

Puila, however, had different plans in mind. He…

Essedri – Hunted

In one hand, Essedri clutched her enchanted dagger, in the other, she was dragging the Sovereign of Toiau behind her like a mother with a disobedient toddler. It wasn’t the strangest moment she’d had in her career, but it was one of the most intense.

Rescuing the Sovereign hadn’t been an easy task. The man had been practically petrified with fear, and she had a hard time getting him to pay…

Traitor http://wp.me/spU4W-traitors

I stood in shock as the assassin and the captain went to work on the surprised bodyguards. Caught woefully off guard, the soldiers began to fall like wheat caught between two grindstones. The assassin, Puila, struck with tremendous strength, snapping blades with his hands, reducing shields to splinters, and sending men flying through the air as if tossed by a giant’s hand.

As dangerous a foe as…

Traps http://wp.me/spU4W-traps

Two days went by. I gradually got the hang of our duties, but I I was always careful never to become complacent. It was difficult work, always on your feet, always having to remain alert, and especially for me, since I didn’t actually speak Toiaun with any fluency. It was a miserable couple of days. Little sleep, unappetizing meals, and the constant threat of mutilation. On top of all this, I…