It took a moment for the shock to ware off. All the goons in the area were simply staring in amazement. Urberer understood the awe. It is rare to see a person dispatched in such, artistic and ruthless fashion. Very, very rare is it to survive such an encounter and see it twice. Those that could use shadow magic were few and far between. Some became skilled in such things as illusion, some become skilled thieves, learning to use darkness and magical enchantments to sneak into places a normal person couldn’t. But a few become something all together different, an assassin. A bringer of death.
To get a contract with one meant finding an associate. Finding that associate and passing word along was only part of the process. To have the money to hire them was a whole other issue. There have been times an assassin would take up the blade for a reason they found was just. Only a few, whose monikers would last the test of time, would do such a thing like the legend Starlight.
All these wonderful details I’ve learned after nearly surviving an assassin attempt. To imagine I’d see it again. You Urberer, are a lucky man. From seeking a few basic abductors to getting yourself in who knows what mess. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t try to kill me for seeing her abilities. Damn. I should have just stayed at the Inn.
“It’s Dusk Walker. She’s more valuable than the monk! Get her first and don’t let him escape!” Said a man who had been in the background. The cloaked man then pulled an shimmering green orb from his cloak and looked up to it. He started talking. He was too far to hear what he said, but it could have only been one thing.
Reinforcement’s, he’s calling for reinforcements. I would too. But where are they even coming from? How have they been hidden in the city this long without us noticing them? Something is up. Urberer thought to himself as he took in the area. There were now some thirty men in the space. They had fanned out to block escape routes, while the bulk of them moved towards Dusk Walker and some hung back around Urberer, yet to engage. And how are we going to get out of this without scrapes and bruises and minimum deaths?
He looked back to Dusk Walker. A solid nuynmber of men had surrounded her. Glances at their fallen commander betrayed their fear of stepping to her more than their hesistances to take a swing. When one did he was soundly dispatched and so did the one who stepped in after that. Nothing the errors in their ways they started to attack in groupsm gaining much more progresss, forcing Dusk Walker backwards, to where he and her had originally started to fight.
I need to go help her. Urberer thought, making his way towards her. In mid-step he saw Dusk Walker, notice his approach. She shook her head in in such a way that he knew not to get involved.
Well, I guess I’ll watch the show? I’m sure I’ll feel sorry for these ol’ chaps. Urberer thought to himself and let out a chuckle. He leaned on his staff and watched the forces timidly converge on her. As they got closer in range a number of them would rush using their numbers and were dispatched. Many of them attempted to swing their small maces and flat-jacks paddles, best for making someone unconscious, but she was too quick for them. They stroke and she simply guided their attacks away, sending them flying using their own force against them. She would use that energy to help propel her into al sorts of twist and turns in a beautiful display of acrobatic dance.
And as he watched Urberer’s thoughts drifted back to memories long repressed. A woman with brown hair and green eyes, in basic leathers. She took on any who came her way too. Fast and smart. Bold. Fearless. A feeling of lunging entered his heart.
“Amber.” The words escaped his mouth like the glass filled just slightly above the brim. He was shocked at himself and missed the incoming attack from his rear. He was hit on the side of the head. Too the surprise of the attacker he did not go down. The blow having landed Urberer responded in on based reflexes. He hoped away granting him enough space between the assault. He whipped the mans head with one end of the staff, and then the other. He followed with a twirl of his weapon and then landed down on the goons weapon wielding hand. He finished with a downward strike to the mans foot, crushing his toe. The man fell right there where he stood.
Urberer had dispatched the man with such haste that he didn’t even realize what happened until he was done. Rubbing the side of his head he yelled down at the man “Sorry about that. You surprised me there.”
The man, laying unconscious did not respond. Nor did the other two men who were going to assist them. They instead slowly backed up to the outer permitter that they had belt to stop escape. One of them going so far to say “eeehh he did say not to focus on the monk for now … just not to let him escape. Let’s do that from right here.”
Well, that’s what I get for letting my thoughts linger too long. I’m sure my father would have yelled my head off. Yelled, being lectured me until I couldn’t take it anymore. Perhaps he had some points on keeping my head out of the clouds. Urberer thought to himself, still idly rubbing the side of his head, the pain of the blow beginning to subside.
What he turned back to see was Dusk Walker, still in the middle of the fight. There were numerous bodies at her feet, and goons would drag other goons away from the fight. Despite the body count, there was a noticeable difference.
As Urberer watched closely he could read the tell-tale signs of fatigue. As graceful as her perioits were, they were slower than before and he was sure on the verge of getting sloppy as she narrowly dodged a few well timed blows. Instead of her eyes taking in the scene, her head was snapping back and forth. He’d seen it before, done it himself, a technique to keep one’s vision from narrowing on just what’s in front of you, a common response to the stress of fatigue and fear; the twin killers on any battlefield.
His father always did tell him about the dangers of the twins. He remembered the lecture as he watched the fight. The voice was aged and very serious,“Boy, when fighting one man, look to fight his friends coming from your sides. They’re called fatigue and fear. Most people realize fear first, he’s a huge gruff barbarian whose’s howl of war barriers a axe into your heart and hobbles your will to strike. And then there is fatigue. She’s small and beautiful. While you stare at her, she attacks you, but you think little of it. Your turn your back away, and she stabs you in the back of the knees. She embraces you with a hug tighter than the bear of a monster, Fear, you’re fighting. You can turn to face her, but every time you look away, that you don’t keep her at bay, manage, she becomes stronger. And while she becomes stronger, her brother Fear continues to wreak havoc on you. Daring you to try.” Urberer remembers his child voice simply asking “Who’s more dangerous father?” The response he got was seasoned and salty from a man who had lived it “Fatigue my body, Fatigue. Everyone will have to fight a bear of a creature that is Fear in their mind. We always face fear. We know fear when it hits. Every battle, any war, to things as simple as speaking to a maiden or giving a speech to council, Fear shows up. He makes your stomach quiver upon his arrival, way before the real battle, and causes your hands to shake when there is no good reason to. But Fatigue my boy, Fatigue. She is beautiful in how she works. Like the best woman in the world she constantly works, always unnoticed, never given attention to. Until it’s too late. And then like a dark house, with love, with your children, your dogs, she takes all your resolve, all your energy with her, your home, just a darken box without her. And you find yourself desperate, wanting to run after her to get it all back, to tell her you should have paid her attention before, but its too late. She and everything you love are gone. And unless a friend, or a friend of battle comes to save you, you will die in that house just liked you’d die on the battlefield. Always pay her attention. Always train to meet her, to spend time with her. Learn how she walks, talks, and thinks. Learn to love her. And you will find that instead of her being a threat, she will be your best ally. For you and her will have a unitied front, and even her brother, Fear, won’t be able to outlast you two. Does that make sense.” Urberer’s child’s voice responds “Yes father. Is that all father.”
The voice of Urberer’s father rings through his head once ore, a small mention, but just as important. “No my son. You must rememberer that Fatigue is as beautiful as she is dangerous. And a person can spend years with her. But once again, balance. If they over use her blessings, they will fall in battle. If you see this and you are able, you must go help. Think of it like a couple not getting along. Sometimes one side needs to go and take a ride. Be the friend to help them take that ride away from the battle, and to come back when refreshed. Does that make sense.” Urberer’s child voice responds “I - uh, I think so. A little confusing. But help when I can.” The sound of discontent could be heard in the voice as the father simply says, dully “yes … yes help. You’ll understand in time. The person you help may not even understand. But you will. You’ll see.”
It did make sense to him. He watched Dusk Walker abilities go from predicting blows, sending people tumbling to the ground and redirecting attackers into each other to the simply, blocking.
And more people are coming in. She’s fearless, no question. But Fatigue is taking her toll on her. Well, I guess I’ll help. Right father?
“Well, she’ll probably hate me for this, but that’s fine. We are on the same side, after all, I think,” he launches off in her direction, the tip off his staff trailing on the ground behind him.
****
Smack!
Crack!
Ca-doing! The sounds of heads being cracked as Urberer cleared the space with his staff like a broom cleaning the floor. He found his way to Dusk Walker. She turned to attack him instinctively. Urberer jumped and brought his his hand and staff up. “Woah woah. I’m on your side. And I rather like having no new holes in my body. So if you’d be so kind enough not to stab me, I really would appreciate it.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Go away-“ Dusk Walker said, annoyed, and her labored breathing becoming clear.
“Behind you!” Urberer yelped, and thrust his weapon to her side, impaling an attacker on his staff. The man let out a gush of air and fell to the side, just another body to add to the growing circle around them.
“See,” Urberer said, “I’m here to help you. You can’t keep this up by yourself. You need to take a ride out of here.”
“I can take care -“ she brings a her forearm up to her head blocking a severely strong strike from a blunt object. A small grunt escapes, and she returns the attack with a thrust of her dagger, and repeats that action thrice more in the same space, creating a large whole in the attackers side. He stumbles off in pain, and as he does, she says “of this myself.”
Maybe I need to try a different strategy here. Hmm. Very capable person. Trained in an assign art. Did not seem to liked to be called Girlie or thought less of. Ah, I know … time to smooth talk in the best way I know how, of a person who doesn’t get the respect they deserve, in her case, it’s because she’s a woman.
“Listen. I know you don’t need my help. You are quite powerful. I know of no one who can do what you’re doing. But I’d be honored if you’d let me join you. Plus. I’ll help you find Abby.”
The two keep an eye out on the foes surrounding them. She doesn’t respond. But Urberer knew that was a response in of itself. He then thought to himself, Now a person who could ambush me like she did most be strategic. So, let’s try this.
“Would it not be prudent to utilize the resources at your hand. Or would you prefer to waste them?”
“You can help. But know, that I am not done with you yet. Nor do I trust you. If you get in my way, I will cut you down.”
Negotiation succeeded. Urberer thought.
“I would expect nothing less.”
The two now worked a team. Covering each other backs. Urbererer stabbed at many a foes who’d come near with his staff, hitting soft spots on their bodies like the gut, groin and and knee caps. His staff whistle as it went through the air. On occasion he would glances at Dusk Walker, who was still holding her own. The additional support gave her the ability to focus on fewer opponents, managing her energy output. She began to parry attacks again and keep opponents at bay. Except there was one problem, there were still more men coming and they were focusing on her side of the battle.
Shorter weapons means she has to be close to damage. That means they can use their numbers to try and overrun her. We could try to team up but - Urberer thought to himself, having to pause to fend off an attacker who was going to hit Dusk Walkers blind side. He went back to contemplation, mid battle. No we haven’t trained together enough. Nor trust. We’ll get in each others way. It’s the same lesson I taught to Gricrir in the beginning about forming new teams. And they… Urberer grits his teeth, as he whips at thugs who continue to flood his direction. They keep coming. He thought.
So focused was he on the battle at hand that he nearly was decked by a projectile that came over head. He glimpsed it at the last moment, side stepping.
Arrows? He thought to himself.
He looked at the location, and there was no arrow shaft with feathers in the ground. Instead was a minor crater about the size of a fist, smoldering with red embers popping out and black smoke.
Shit.
He yells out “mages”. His voice was more commanding than before and a tinged of seriousness. He knew that in the battlefield a change in conditions needed to be commujncivated to the troops as soon as possible. Word would pass down from the hierarchy and be repeated amongst the leaders of groups to confirm it was understood. They would then do such with their subordinates and so forth. Communication was one of the keys of battle. It was training hard wired to him in truly dangerous situations.
“Mages.” He heard back in response from Dusk Walker. He was surprised that he had yelled out as he had. But even more surprised that she knew to respond. He glanced at her, still in the fight, and couldn’t but help crack a smile, feeling a little more settled within.
“Ms. Dusk Walker. I’ve got an idea.”
“I’m listening. But be quick.” This time she spins out of the way of an sphere of ice. It hits the ground and immediately freezes a small area around it. She barks out “Spit it out.”
“You remember that drink I took before you’re attack,” as he fends off strikes and works to keep a number of men backwards.
“Yes. Disgusting way to live.”
“Yes, yes. If it were what you thought it was, which it usually is. However, it was not booze, but a holy water, with a few special ingredients.”
“And…” as she doges out of the way of attacks.
“Well let’s just it can help us. Help me get back to where our fight started.”
“Fine. We are easy marks for the mages here. Let’s go.” She ducks below an attacks and comes up doing a back kick, both feet snapping into the goons chin. She does a few more until she is right where Urberer is. “Follow. I’ll only be able to keep this up briefly.” She bent her knees, stared over the tip of her nose and concentrated. Then she uttered the words “Shadow Art Wraith’s pursuit.” Her body glowed once again with that dark mists. She nodded once to him and then moved with great speed towards the cistern and through the bodies in front of her. She stuttered stepped, faked directions, and and hit targets on her way. The moves were not enough to get people completely off her trails, nor were the attacks strong enough to incapicate, but they were enough to create movement forward through the crowd without being hit and a small path behind her. Urberer followed directly behind, twirling his staff on either side of him in an attempt to stop any follow up motion. And soon the cistern was upon them.
******
They arrived at the cistern, where their start originally began. The object gave them something to briefly protect their back.
Dusk Walker swiftly twirled around faking strikes at the group that followed them. Urberer rushed past her, promptly getting behind her and the cistern.
“We are here. That little trick took up a lot of my mana reserves. So. What’s your plan Monk?”
“Yes, yes. Just hold them off for a moment. I need to concentrate. Just don’t let them hit me and I’ll get us out of here in no time.” He sits down, legs crossed and staff held out in front of him.
“Are you serious? We ran here and now you’re just sitting down?” Dusk Walker responded.
“I give you my word, mostly, that it will work.”
“I give you my word that if it doesn’t, you will pay.”
Urberer shuddered at her words. Or mores his memory of what her keeping her word meant. I’d prefer not to be stabbed in the dick today, thank you. He shakes the thought as quickly from his head as he can and says “You’ll see. I mean. You won’t hopefully. Well you will. Just uh-“
Dusk Walker continues to keep the attackers at bay. “Just what?” We do not have time for you stumbling over your words.”
“Just promise not to stab me in the crotch. It’s really hard to focus when I’m worried about that.”
“What? Sure. Fine.” She said as if it were nothing.
“Or any kind of harm to my crotch-ial region.” Still uncertain about the future of his nether regions.
“I won’t intentionally cause your crouch any harm. Now how about yo focus on getting us out of here.”
“Woo. Alright. It’s hard to focus when you’re worried about -“
She turns and glares at him “Hurry up monk.”
“I’m on it.” He closes his eyes and thinks to himself, She really has no idea how disheartening to see a man stabbed in the crouch. But she is a woman of her word, so I doubt I’ll have to worry about that. More important, I’ve gotten her to give another concession. Little agreements lead to bigger agreements later on. And I’d prefer a woman like that helping us versus a threat.
“Are you almost done.”
“Hold!” Urberer yelled back. “Holy arts aren’t easy to just do on a moment’s notice.” His thoughts then turned inward again, At least not if you’re a man like me. I’m surprised I’ve been blessed even with this meager level of holt blessings. But if that’s what I’m graced to have, until I’m done. I’ll use it. Now, let’s try out this special combination art.
Urberer utters the word “Holy Arts” and the staff held in front of him glows a faint white aura. He then twirls the staff around overhead, as the aura becomes stronger. He then twirls the staff on the left, and then on the right of his body, crossing sides repeatedly, the staff barely missing the ground he sits own.
A twirl of wind kicks up around him, just enough to pick up small debris. As this happens, soft white light starts from the middle of his body and creeps both to his head and down to his rear. As the light hit the ground it banks like a white fog.
“Combination style: holy glyph.” He then traces the air in front of him with his staff, as if he were writing. The tip of the staff started to glow a bright white, like the moon reflected off the sun. As he finishes scribing in the air, he opens his eyes to see the ground beneath him.
All throughout the plaza there were now glowing runic marks, in a circle, and separated by various lines, with Urberer at its center. There was a moment of pause amongst the fighting as everyone took a moment to look at what was below them.
“What in the abyss is this.” Dusk walker yelled at him, a bit of shock in her voice.
“Remember what I said about you seeing. But not. Just do us both a favor and closer your eyes. Now!”
She shut her eyes.
He now yells out each word with vigor “Holy Art: Holy Light. Rays. Of. Justice!” And slammed the tip of his staff down on the ground. A beam of light from the heavens came down, sticking his staff as if it were a lightening rod, and then branching out throughout the markings of the glyph. He closed his eyes as he knew what was to happen next.
*****
Screaming, wailing and money. These were the sounds that told Urberer all that he needed to know. His trick had worked. But to guarantee, all he had to do was listen to the words. He heard them from many “my eyes. Oh gosh, my eyes. I can’t see. I can’t see.”
Urberer opened his owned. He looked around to see many men in the crowd holding their eyes. Others however had an issue all together different. Some of them had burnt limbs, and the smell of heated flesh and hair was evident in the air.
“What did you do? Can I open my eyes”
“Open them. This is our chance”
Dusk Walker opened her eyes. Her eyes jumped back and forth between the change in scene she saw. She let out a simple “hmph” and faced Urberer.
Urberer had gotten up and was pushing his back against the lid of the cistern. He waved her over. “Help me to push this. The blinding is temporary. They’ll be able to see any moment.”
She moved over to him quickly, still taking a glance at area, noticing that some of the men were indeed recovering, but still having to deal with the shock of seeing their comrades blinded or burned.
“Why are we pushing the lid of the cistern? Is this not the time in which we should be running away?” She eyed him curiously.
“Yes. And this is how we’ll go. This cistern is out of use. It was turned into a service tunnel and then forgotten. We can use it to escape.”
“Is this how you traverse to have your dealings with nobles, monk? She turns and puts her back to it.
She still doesn’t trust me? Seriously? What reputation do I have out there?
“We all do what we have to do right? But I don’t have to hide in a tunnel to meet with nobles to hear their confessions, after they insist I be there. I just got the gate and they let me in. Much, muuuch easier than trying push over a cast iron lid every night.”
“Sure.”
Mildly irritated, Urberer just shrugs and pushes. They both put their backs into it and the heavy lid falls to the ground with a bang. Urberer quickly turns over to look into the cistern and then pats heavily onto a ladder that had been built in.
Dusk Walker looks over the lid of the cistern inward. “Dark, dank tunnels. Not my style, but it will do.”
“Sure it will. Let’s go.”
“After you … monk?”
Urberer rolls his eyes. “Fine.” Urberer holds onto the lip and swings a leg over. He stops in his tracks as he hears what was the last thing he wanted to hear.
“Uncle Urberer!”one voice resoundingly bassy and a bit slurred and the other female.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
*******