by Sam Ferguson
Erik lunged forward, bashing his shoulder into the newcomer and slicing the man’s forearm with the flaming sword. The new Blacktongue screamed horribly as his arm fell to the ground, still holding his sword.
The axe-wielding Blacktongue came to his comrade’s rescue, but Erik had expected as much. Erik quickly pivoted on his back foot, and with a flick of his wrist positioned his sword tip directly in front of the charging axe-man. The Blacktongue’s eyes shot open wide as he ran directly into the flaming point.
Erik withdrew the blade and finished both foes with a strong, sideways chop at neck level. The two bodies fell lifelessly to the ground. Erik looked up just in time to see another body falling from the roof of the inn.
“Three down,” Erik muttered to himself. He couldn’t see Al, but he could hear his heavy feet pounding and punishing the wooden roof as he battled the last Blacktongue. Erik studied the back of the building for a moment. There was a four-pane window next to the rear door. Above that was a small window with iron bars crossing the glass. It would be difficult, but it was just close enough to the gutter that it might provide Erik a quick ascent.
He quickly moved the sword toward the scabbard. As he did so, the flames extinguished themselves and the metal was miraculously cool. He bolted across the grass, ran up the side of the wall, launching himself upward from the window sill. He reached up with both arms and latched onto the iron bars on the window higher up the wall and pulled himself up to the gutter. He found himself mentally thanking Lepkin for all the pull-ups he was assigned in the past. He had done so many that pulling himself up and over the gutter was almost second nature to him, despite the fact he was in Lepkin’s body.
He scrambled to his feet and saw Al somersault between the Blacktongue’s legs, punching up into the assassin’s groin with his hammer as he went. The assassin stiffened onto his toes and jumped into the air slightly. Erik rushed forward, pulling a knife from his belt and tackling the assassin from behind. The two of them flew over the roof’s apex, slamming hard into the old, cracking cedar shingles, knocking many of them loose as they tumbled over each other.
Erik slashed the assassin across the chest and then brought the dagger down into the assassin’s left shoulder. The Blacktongue growled and struggled to move his weapon into play, but Erik was stronger. He pinned the man down, holding one wrist to the roof, and disabling the Blacktongue’s other arm with a few more quick stabs.
“Who sent you?” Erik asked.
“Don’t waste time talking, just finish him!” Al yelled out.
Erik didn’t take his eyes off the assassin, but he didn’t move to slay him either. He wanted answers. “Who sent you?” he repeated.
A pain ripped through his left thigh. He recoiled reflexively and the Blacktongue wormed out from under him just enough to bring his knife to bear. He slashed out at Erik, but Erik managed to deflect the attack with his thick leather bracer and roll out of the way. The roof shook violently with every move he made. Shingles tore loose from their place and cascaded out over the edge, threatening to trip Erik and send him crashing down to the street below.
The assassin was back on his feet and pulled a long, slender instrument from a peculiar sheath on the side of his leg. He flicked his wrist and sent the steel dart arcing straight at Erik. Erik ducked and shifted his weight to the left. The roof creaked and groaned under his weight and started to crack. Erik could feel his footing giving way so he jumped farther back to increase the distance between him and the Blacktongue, who was already advancing quickly.
He landed on shingles that held only for a moment before slipping out from under his foot. Erik lost his balance and crashed down to the roof, sliding down and over the gutter. He reached up with his left hand and grabbed hold just in time to avoid falling to the street below. A series of gasps and shouts erupted below him as people in the street spotted the action.
The Blacktongue leapt through the air, knife glinting in the sunlight as the assassin deftly turned it over in his palm, preparing to bring the blade down into Erik’s skull. Erik knew he had two choices. He could drop to the street below, likely breaking one of his legs, or he could allow the Blacktongue to end everything.
A hammer spun into view and crashed into the Blacktongue’s skull with such force that the assassin’s trajectory was altered. The Blacktongue’s eyes glazed over and he spun head over heels to the ground below, crashing in a sickening lump on the cobblestone. Erik froze, staring at the dead Blacktongue below.
“I had him all locked up,” Al grumbled from above.
Erik looked up to see the dwarf scooting on his rump to the side of the roof. Al planted his sturdy boots in the gutter and reached a hand out for Erik. “Sorry, I thought I could get some information out of him.” He jerked up and reached out to grab Al’s hand. The dwarf heaved him up and dropped Erik on the roof beside him. Then he patted him on the back.
“Still,” Al started. “That was a good hit. Had you not tried to interrogate him you would have won.”
Erik reached down and rubbed his thigh. He pulled his hand back when he felt the warm liquid. “What did he hit me with?” Erik asked.
“He had a hidden blade in a sheath next to his knee. It’s fairly common among Blacktongues. They can activate them with their feet somehow, and then it helps them get out of tight encounters.”
“I should have listened to you,” Erik said
Al nodded. “Yes, you should. You should also be more careful. That isn’t your body you are flingin’ around on rooftops.” Erik chuckled a bit at that and went to the back of the roof. Al called out to him. “Seein’ as how I saved yer butt, how about you go down and get my hammer before someone takes it? I’ll go back and see to my apprentice.”
Erik stopped and shrugged. “Sounds fair,” Erik said. Going down was definitely more difficult than climbing up had been. Furthermore, a crowd of rough looking men had gathered around the body on the ground below. None of them said anything to him as he walked toward the corpse and retrieved Al’s hammer.
Erik nodded to a nearby gawker, and walked back toward the alleyway.
“Hold, there!” someone shouted. Erik felt a chill run down his spine. He turned slowly, maneuvering the hammer in his hand, readying himself for another fight. He saw a pair of men walking toward him. They were each dressed in yellow tunics that covered all but their chainmail sleeves. The closer of the two wore an open-faced steel helmet with a red plume sticking out from the top. He looked at the body on the street and then up to Erik.
“Blacktongue,” the man said to the other.
The other guard nodded. “What happened here?” he asked Erik.
“We were attacked by several of them,” Erik said, motioning to the dead man at his feet. “We acted in self-defense.”
A commotion sprang up through the crowd behind Erik. A couple of men shouted and grumbled as they tripped backward. Erik turned to see Al barreling through the crowd to get to him. “Captain Rufus,” Al started. “Don’t you know who you are addressing?”
The man with the plumed helmet looked to his partner and then back to Al. “I might have known you were behind this, dwarf,” Captain Rufus said.
“Bah,” Al huffed with a wave of his meaty hand just a moment before swiping his hammer back from Erik. “Say what you will about me, beanpole, but you watch your tongue while you are in the presence of Master Lepkin,” Al thumbed at Erik.
Erik turned his hip slightly so Captain Rufus could see the sword hanging from his belt. Erik saw Captain Rufus’ eyes flash wide in surprise for a moment before he quickly regained composure.
“It makes no difference,” Captain Rufus said. “We are responding to reports of a burned building and open violence in the streets. We will have to take you in.”
Al laughed. “A little late for my shop,” he said. “Seems to me you were a little slow in attending to your duties.”
“Watch yourself, dwarf,” Captain Rufus said.
Erik could see that the other
guard was watching everyone carefully. It occurred to him that perhaps the other guard was not as set against them as Captain Rufus was. He decided to play his hand at acting as Lepkin would. Erik folded his arms across his chest, cleared his throat, and glanced from the guard to Captain Rufus. “If you wish to take us in, you may try, but I doubt you will fare any better than the assassins who tried to ambush us while we were peacefully going about our business.”
Captain Rufus’ face reddened. “Peacefully?” he shot back. “Four men are dead!”
“Interesting,” Erik said as he turned a sidelong glance to Al. “There is only one body here, how do you think Captain Rufus is counting up bodies?”
Al nodded and snorted. “Either his math is lousy, or perhaps he threw in with the others.”
Captain Rufus bristled. “Arrest them,” he ordered his partner.
Erik looked to the other guard, and carefully examined the confused expression on the man’s face. “This one is innocent,” Erik told Al. “But Rufus here has made a deal with the wrong side.”
“I have done no such thing!” Captain Rufus shouted. He looked back to his partner. “I told you to arrest them.”
The guard turned and regarded Captain Rufus curiously. “Sir, how did you know there were three others? You only told me that there was a fight and someone had burnt the blacksmith shop.”
“I don’t need to tell you all the details!” Captain Rufus shouted. “Arrest them, or I will have you court martialed.”
The guard stood tall and backed away from Captain Rufus. “I asked you how many were involved, and you had told me you didn’t know.”
Captain Rufus gripped his sword so tight his knuckles blanched. “This is ludicrous.”
Erik turned to the crowd. “Time for everyone to leave. Any man still here after I count to three will be presumed to be with the Blacktongues, and I will not stay my hand from bringing forth justice.”
“You have no right to presume such authority,” Captain Rufus bellowed. “Fifty gold as a reward to any who help me apprehend these vigilantes.”
“I am the Keeper of Secrets, appointed as the dragons’ representative to the king. I do have the authority to denounce traitors to the crown.”
“Well played,” Al whispered to Erik.
“I am no traitor!” Captain Rufus shouted.
“I am answering a summons from the senate. I was ambushed by these men. If you have thrown in with them, then you most certainly are a traitor. Stand down, or I shall cut you down.” Erik drew his sword and the black blade responded with roaring flames across its surface.
The guard drew his sword as well and turned to the crowd. “Disperse, by order of the guard!”
Captain Rufus sneered. “You have sealed your fate, dragon lover.”
Tumult rippled through the crowd. Some tried to scramble away while others struggled to get closer. Erik went back to his training with Marlin. He called upon his powers to identify friends and foes. He side stepped closer to Al. “You deal with Rufus, I will handle the crowd. Not all of them are against us.”
“Better I handle the crowd, your flaming sword can do a lot more damage than my hammer,” Al replied.
Neither got the chance to move before a loud crack of thunder ripped through the air, sending most of the people to the ground. Al and Erik managed to keep their balance by leaning into each other.
Erik looked around and saw a thin, wiry man with a long, narrow chin underneath a pointy nose step out from the doorway to the inn behind them. His leathery lips stretched into a wicked sneer across his face.
“Master Lepkin, it is an honor,” the man said in a nasal voice. Erik noticed the necklace hanging around the man’s neck. A golden triangle around an open eye. It matched Tukai’s necklace.
“Warlock,” Erik said simply.
“Now!” Captain Rufus shouted from behind. Al barreled into Erik, knocking him several yards away as a flurry of arrows glinted off the stone road. Men shouted and screamed as a few were caught with arrows, and the others tried to scramble out of the killing zone.
“Rooftop!” Al shouted. Erik looked up and saw numerous men armed with bows.
“Go for the warlock,” Erik said. He then turned quickly and sprinted for Captain Rufus. “Traitor!” he shouted. He brought his flaming sword down and it cut through Captain Rufus, chainmail and all, as though the man were a bundle of kindling.
Arrows zinged by him, narrowly missing him while he dealt with a couple of poorly trained mercenaries that advanced on him as the remaining gawkers dispersed. Erik felt a sting as one arrow grazed the back of his right shoulder. He somersaulted away as a pair of arrows sailed right through the space where he had been standing and sunk into another mercenary that had been charging at him from behind.
Erik looked up and saw Al throw his hammer at the warlock. The hammer stopped short of the man’s face. Caught in a spell it hung in the air and harmlessly continued to spin. The warlock waved his other hand and Al went flying through the air to crash into a wooden barrel on the other side of the street. The wood splintered and the iron bands snapped as Al’s body blasted through the barrel. Water burst out and spread quickly over the road.
Erik took to his feet and rushed the warlock.
“I will enjoy this,” the warlock promised. The thin man pointed a finger at Erik. A bolt of purple lightning leapt out through the air. Erik cut through the magic assault with his flaming sword and kept charging.
“You will have to do better than that,” Erik growled as he leapt through the air. He swung his sword to the left, aiming for the warlock’s chest. The warlock simply raised an eyebrow and disappeared. Erik’s sword sliced through the doorway and scorched the inn’s wall.
“Over here,” the warlock taunted from the end of the alleyway.
Erik was about to charge again when he caught a glimpse of motion out of the corner of his eye. He jumped inside the open doorway and rolled to the left. Arrows twanged into the wall and floor nearby, their shafts still quivering for a few seconds after the heads had bitten into the wood. Erik sighed and jumped up to his feet. He peered out the doorway and ducked back as another pair of arrows flew at his face. One missed, but the other sliced his left cheek. He stumbled back in shock and put his back to the wall. He looked around the room he was in for the first time and saw several people cowering under chairs or behind overturned tables.
“There is a rear exit,” a plump lady called out to him from one of the tables. “You can get away through there.” She pointed her flabby arm to the back hallway.
Erik nodded, but he couldn’t bring himself to run. Al was still out front, he had to find him. He inched closer to the doorway and took in a series of deep breaths.
The warlock appeared in front of him and flashed a dagger at Erik’s throat. Erik reflexively dropped to the ground and struck out with his sword. The warlock disappeared again before his blade could connect.
Erik knew he would have to move, or he would be killed. He ran forward and grabbed a chair, then he turned and sprinted for the window to the right of the door. He threw the chair through the glass, sending shards of razor sharp glass out to the street. Then he dove through, covering his face with his arms and tucking into a roll when he hit the ground. As he rolled away he searched for the warlock. He spotted him appearing and disappearing around Al, who was frantically trying to lash out with a long knife as the warlock materialized.
The other guard had taken an arrow to the knee, but was still managing to fight off the few mercenaries still in the battle. Erik rose to his feet, quickly analyzing the warlock’s pattern and then let his sword fly through the air at the next spot he figured the warlock would appear. To Erik’s dismay, his sword sailed through empty air and crashed into a building a few yards away from Al. Al jumped and looked back to Erik. The dwarf’s mouth dropped open and he pointed frantically. Erik turned to see the sneering warlock behind him.
“Now you have no weapon,” the thin man said. He raised his ar
m, but the purple lightning fizzled off his finger and fell to the ground like a worm shriveling in the hot sun. The warlock lurched forward, his jaw slack.
Erik didn’t know what was happening, but he didn’t wait for an explanation. He lashed out with a savage right hook that whipped the warlock’s face to the left and spun the man’s whole body to the ground. Only then did Erik see the pair of arrows protruding from the warlock’s back. Erik looked up and saw Al’s apprentice in the alleyway. He was propped up on his good leg and holding a dual action crossbow.
Erik saluted his thanks and then turned to dash across the street. He slammed up against the wall where Al was crouched. Al held out Erik’s sword.
“You really shouldn’t throw this weapon around,” Al scolded.
“You’re welcome,” Erik replied sourly as he took the weapon back. Something thumped into the wall next to them. Erik peered over Al and saw the wounded guard.
“This is not how I thought I would be spending my day,” the guard said.
Erik nodded. “How many are still on rooftop?” he asked.
The guard shrugged. “Six or seven, I think.”
“How are we going to get to them?” Al asked. “They have us pinned down pretty good, and we are out of allies.”
Just then Al’s apprentice hobbled into the street and let fly a pair of arrows.
“How did he find that?” Al asked.
A body fell from above and slammed into the stone road in front of them. A bow followed a couple seconds later and landed on top of the body. Erik rushed out, grabbed it, and ripped the quiver from the dead Blacktongue’s body. He furiously strung an arrow and wheeled around to let fly at the first foe he could find. His arrow struck true and slew another enemy.
Al bounded past Erik, somersaulting halfway through the street. As the dwarf spun up he turned around and let his hammer fly. The weapon sailed end over end and slammed into a Blacktongue’s skull.
