The Courtyard

The Courtyard

All around the final battle was joined, but that would not be a distraction for the hunter. He saw his prey step out from the ruined fortress and proceed to call out orders. The Breath of Pelar readied his bow, but his prey turned and walked into the courtyard of the fortress. The Breath of Pelar hung his weapon over his shoulder and crept closer towards his prey, where he watched it walk into the midst of five robed chanting shaahesk. The hunter had seen this before and knew what it meant. He moved as swiftly as he could without being seen before the barrier was completed. The Breath of Pelar was inside the courtyard when the arcane barriers arose behind and opposite him. He heard his prey call for the magi to return to their Warbands and they did so on the wings of their magic. His prey stood no more than twenty five feet away. The Breath decided he would end his hunt up close. He unsheathed his icy blade and took two quiet steps forward and then there was darkness...

Srasihhs, bodyguard of the Voivode, stood observing through the first floor window facing the courtyard. One of the Glitterdust traps had gone off and an elf appeared dazed and stumbling. Srasihhs watched, and "Saahaa"'ed to himself as Kasseshisrath walked up and cut down the elf. Dra'Kho had warned them something had been following them for days. That was one threat dealt with. Perhaps today would not be so bad after all, he thought. The Voivode would turn the battle around and they would be victorious. With all the casualties, maybe he would need new Warlords, trusted individuals, like himself. That was a pleasing thought, to be the one shouting out orders. But Srasihhs's focus had wandered and the shaahesk had stopped paying attention to the courtyard. He now noticed the Voivode in combat with two humans who had somehow passed through the barriers. A gurgle to his right side caused him to turn towards Rhissayr, who was stationed with him. His partner fell to the floor, blood pouring from his neck. Srasiihs, alarmed, stabbed his spear into the darkness of the abandoned hallway. He felt the blade under his snout and up through it and then there was darkness...

Cleaning the gore off his blade, Zatir gazed out the window. The Drangonari assassin recognized one of the warriors Kasseshisrath faced, Warmaster Kiff. Aware now that the Voivode was in danger from the two humans, the agent for Grantir decided to get involved for risk of not getting the kill he craved. Yes, he was being paid a large sum, but that was secondary to his need to match his rival's accomplishments. Once he slew Kasseshisrath, the slaying of a Voivode could be marked off his list and there would be no doubt that Zatir was equal to the feared and lauded Keltham of Tharqualan's Talons. No, not equal. Greater. Kasseshisrath was a hundred times the target of any of the pathetic former Voivodes. And Zatir had bested Keltham before in personal combat. Zatir had arrived at the middle of the courtyard now, but so had a number of soldiers from within the fortress. Short sword and dagger in hand, Zatir stepped out of the shadows to stab the two shaahesk who were at the angle he wished to use to strike at Kasseshisrath. The Voivode stood in between the two humans and Zatir, while the three spread their attention between their target and the last of the soldiers in the courtyard. Zatir studied each of them. Zatir had been told that the Voivode was old and not particularly skilled in martial combat. But what he may have lacked in youth and prowess, the magical equipment supplied to him by ruling Drotid and from that nation's conquests had left him an enemy to be feared. No, Zatir could not risk removing one of the humans from the contest. To his right, two Kukris came into sight. Where had he come from? Zatir turned to face the newcomer, Keltham. "We're trying to kill the same person", he heard from the other Drangonari. "There's no reason I can't kill you both" was his answer. The smirking kukri wielder only replied "I hoped you'd say that" and Zatir lunged at him. As Zatir pressured Keltham towards the north east corner of the courtyard, Kasseshisrath slowy retreated up the outside stairs to the second floor pathways above with both humans in pursuit. Keltham kept talking, making a joke of the encounter. Why was he in such good humor when this was the end for him? To land one blow, that is all Zatir needed. This time he'd make sure Keltham was dead. Minutes into their fight Zatir perceived an opening and flicked his dagger to the side, nicking his enemy's wrist. Moments passed by as the intense fight continued, and then finally Keltham began to slow as the poison did its work. Seconds, he thought, and he could turn his attention to ending Kasseshisrath. "THE VOIVODE IS DEAD!", came the Warmaster's call behind him. Zatir only half turned his head and Keltham pounced, his blades everywhere. Zatir stumbled to his knees, counting and evaluating his wounds. Nothing lethal he said to himself and then there was darkness...

Keltham sheathed the Kukri whose hilt was guilty of knocking Zatir unconscious. The Drangonari leaned against the inner wall, ready to vomit. Earlier he'd taken the antidotes for the poisons he knew were Zatir's favorites. They were not sitting well together just now and on top of that he'd allowed Zatir to get in a few more strikes to convince him of the ruse. Thorfinn approached him he spoke briefly, telling the Warmaster and Speaker that he would take the assassin to Tharqualan and from there get Zatir to confess to the High Disciple that he framed the Talons for the murder of the High Priest Kall Lomus. In the aftermath of the battle, he found some T'Nanshi soldiers to watch over a bound Zatir while Keltham sought out some medical aid. A headache had joined the violence in his stomach. He entered the tent of the field hospital and then there was darkness.