Folly and Fortune pt. 6
‘For someone that tall, you were a righteous pain to locate, you know that, Shadow Raven?’ scolded a male voice at, the now prone, Talendos.
‘Aww, it shouldn’t have been that difficult stranger. I mean I was practically all out in the open.’ retorted Talendos as he started to slowly get up from being knocked down.
‘Out in the open? These alleys are open ground only to sneaky rats like you.’ spoke a female voice. ‘I doubt anyone will find you here.’ she concluded.
‘You’d be surprised at the sheer amount of traffic that passes by these particular alleys. Lots use them for shortcut traffic. And we’re being quite visible and audible. It’s almost like you catching me here all surprised-like was planned ahead.’ smirked the Shadow Raven.
‘You’re saying you surprising us instead of the other way around? I know you’re good, but you’re not that good, Shadow Raven.’ contradicted the male. ‘You were caught unaware.’
‘One thing you should know about me, friend. I am never unaware.’ continued smirking Talendos.
‘All that bravado, yet you’re also outnumbered.’ added the female.
Talendos just smiled at his two assailants, brandishing his feral teeth as he did. ‘I’m also never alone.’
‘By Cadic, you’re as noisy as ever, Raven.’ as an individual stepped out from the darker corners. The individual appeared to be a Legionnaire in his thirties, donning a cape denoting his time served in the latest Crusade. Brandishing the sigil of the Watchful Hunter and carrying two sheathed blades and a lyre upon him.
‘The Twilight Lyrist, what are you doing here?’ reacted the male. ‘How the hell do you know him, Elorii?’
‘Twilight Lyrest? I’ve known him since the days we called him “Twinkles”.’ boasted Talendos as he chuckled.
‘Hey, Raven, borrow my sword. I insist.’ gestured Vincens as he made the motion to hand off his weapon to the Osalikene.
‘You and that blade of yours, you’re obsessed!’ chided Talendos.
‘HEY! You better start paying attention to me!’ demanded the female as she lunged into attack the Elorii. Talendos dodged her strike, drawing out his blades in the process.
‘What did you do now, Raven? I can’t take you anywhere can I?’ taunted Vincens as he blocked the male’s attack on Talendos.
‘No clue. They could be mad at you, probably sour after listening to one of your performances.’ Talendos taunted back while dodging another attack from the female.
‘Seriously, I truly insist that borrow my blade. Besides, they were both attacking you.’ he pointed out non-chalantly.
‘I said PAY ATTENTION TO ME!’ yelled the female as both assailants rushed in to attack Talendos and Vincens. A series of weapon clashing against each other, both the Elorii and the Val slid back-to-back of each other from the push of their opponents’ barrage.
‘Short sword and steel whip here. You?’ asked Talendos
‘Sword and board.’ replied Vincens.
‘Trade?’
Vincens nodded .‘Trade.’ As both turned about to face their newly exchanged foes.
‘New dance partner? Fine by me.’ the female addressed Vincens as he formally introduced himself to her, bowing with a sweep of his hat. He readied himself with one of his swords and waved at her. ‘One bladed against both of mine, aren’t we the arrogant one.’ she mocked. Talendos lunged at the male, his passing strike bouncing off his opponent’s shield. He quickly spun about to face the male. ‘I was warned that you were pretty swift, Elorii. She told us you were going to be problematic to confront. Frankly, I was looking forward toward it.’ the male stated as he stood ready for the Osalikene’s next attack.
‘Your source appears to like to have her battles fought by someone else, merc. Still, you do have an unfair advantage as you know something of me, but here I am at a loss at who you two are and why I am your quarry.’
‘Money and I get to be a royal pain the ass to someone. What more could a mercenary like me ask for? As for who I am … that’s none of your BUSINESS!’ the man boasted, lunging toward Talendos, blade ready to thrust through the Elorii. Talendos spun about, stabbing both weapons into the man’s side, quickly spun again slashing once more as the merc charged past him. He turned to face Talendos, his arm and clothes stained with blood from the wound just received.
‘Nice hit, elf. I thought this was going to be an easy, boring, assignment. I am glad I was wrong. Show me more, elf … show me MORE!’ he yelled as he dashed again. Talendos followed suit and ran toward his opponent, setting his blade for a passing strike. ‘Not this time!’ the merc shouted, stopping abruptly as he swung his shield. Talendos tried to quickly adjust, but it was too late as the edge of the metallic wall knocked him off his feet.
The female merc didn’t waste any time as he launched barrage after barrage between her sword and steel whip only to be thwarted as Vincens parried her attacks and riposting in the end of each series.
‘Hey! You’re not supposed to hit a lady!’ she complained.
‘You have yet to display any lady-like qualities.’ he politely replied, standing in stance, readying for her.
Talendos quickly got up as the male lunged at him again, this time they locked weapons with each other.
‘How did that metal taste, Elorii?’ he taunted.
‘Nowhere near as good as that gash on your side I wager.’ Talendos retorted back.
The female began her series of strikes on Vincens, but this time they were a little slower and more forceful than before, causing the Sword Saint’s weapon to reel back a tad with each hit. Yet, it still wasn’t enough as Vincens was still able to parry her strikes and again riposting her final one. Anticipating the riposte, she stepped in closer in an attempt to throw Vincens off. The Twilight Lyrest took advantage of her mistake and sliced deep when he riposted, leaving her open to a follow up attack. As he performed the move, she swung desperately to counter his. She missed terribly, Vincens’ blow bit deep into her arm and even cut through an armband she wore there. The force of the hit spun her in mid-air and launched her back several feet.
‘Ralisa!’ reacted the male, weapons still locked with the Elorii.
The woman looked at her armband. ‘What have you done?!’ she yelled with trepidation. A burst of energy violently emanated from the bracer and from one of the darker corners of the alley and eerie, cold, laughter pierced the area. Several, dark, tentacles shot out from that corner wrapping around the legs of both mercenaries, dragging them both into the darkness. Their screams echoed from the void …
… to be continued.
_________________ Talendos, the Shadow Raven 3.0 Expert, Soldier of Retribution, Assassin "When you do something right, it's as if you didn't do it at all ..."
Echo B-lister, Super Human, Brawler "Bringing the noise!"
Last edited by EddieS on Wed Jun 22, 2016 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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