[maikafanawen]

Ani Dao’s specialty was stealth and agility. The former would be of no help now, but she would need the latter here. The elf stood not three feet away from her comrade Durin, who held his axe bravely in front of him, his eyes burning with excitement. The elf gave out a wild laugh and lunged forward. It was a mock attack however and when the guard leapt to meet her, she had stepped aside and sent him crashing head on into the wall. She quickly unsheathed a knife and pinned the unconscious man’s shirt to the wall, securing him there. Kneeling down and spinning to avoid the sword that swiped the air above her she gave out a low kick that sent the second guard sprawling behind her. The fall had done him no harm, however, and he was up in a second and after her. The elf took out her own sword and slashed at the air between them. The man stepped back, and his eyes strayed behind her. Ani Dao took the hit and leaned sideways just as another sword joined the fight. Kicking it with great force to the side, she hammered the back of the guard’s head with the butt of her sword then did a round house kick to take out the dumbfounded guard before her. The assassin turned quickly to meet more guards. But none came.

A figure moved from the shadow of the Inn as the dwarves moved to aide her and Durin. A sarcastic smile flickered across the elf’s face as she saw who it was.

“Tr Dalon,” she whispered. Tr Dalon had been a nefarious mercenary in Umbar. She had met him on a travel, and secured him in a prison there. He must have escaped for he stood now before her.

“Greetings old friend.” The mercenary spit on the floor between them, but Ani Dao kept her eyes on the man before her. He settled his sword on his shoulder and announced, “They told me you headed north to the Shire.”

“They?”

“Yes. The prison guards before I slit their throats.” He demonstrated for her slowly, yet her gaze did not waver. The elf’s hard blue eyes bore into him like a drill. Detecting a hint of fear, she quickly propelled a knife that landed right on the drop of the mercenary’s spit. His eyes glanced down and Ani Dao took that moment to attack. She had fought with him before, and her false attack move would not fool him. So she lunged true. Thrusting her sword at his chest she was knocked away by his deflection. Nodding sarcastic approval, she turned fast causing him to jolt. In the instant he realized her bluff, she changed her mind and sent a high kick into his jaw, sending him careening out the nearest window. Leaving the sounds of continued fighting behind her, she leapt through the new exit to meet the mercenary. Tr Dalon was on his feet in a second and threw a knife at Ani Dao’s head. Deciding that ducking might cause it to kill someone else, she attempted to shatter it with a heave of her sword. It worked, and Tr Dalon cursed.

“I swore that when I got out of that cell I’d find you and make you pay for the gold you cost me right along with my ship and the years of time I spent wallowing in that pitiful town of Umbar!” The mercenary’s eyes blazed red and came at her with the fury of a storm. Caught off guard, Ani Dao’s sword was knocked away and sent spinning across the yard. Trying to dodge the maddening swings of his swords, she was slowly backed up to the wall. When the elf was three feet away, she turned and used the partition to flip over her opponent. Succeeding, she gave a hard kick to his neck that sent him writhing in pain on the ground. The grip on his sword weakened, and Ani Dao kicked it away.

“Alright down there Tr Dalon? Want me to get you a drink.” A dark hate shadowed the mercenary’s eyes as he groped for the dagger at his side. A knife from the elf girl’s hand stopped him, making him scream as the blade cut through his wrist. “How many men did you bring with you, demon? How many did you promise part of the gold only to later decide to slit their sorry throats?” Ani Dao fell to her knees beside him and gripped the collar of his shirt in her hands. She could feel his throat swelling with blood and him gasping helplessly for air. Leaning down close to his ear she whispered to him, “It took me three years to heal from that slice you gave me. My friend was not so lucky. The town you burned still lies in ashes, along with the bodies of its people. So, my friend, I believe you owe me.” His eyes brimmed with tears of helplessness and he choked out, “Anything … take anything!” He suddenly realized the mistake of his offer. Tr Dalon’s eyes widened. The man began to correct himself, but his life was suddenly taken from him. Shutting her eyes, tears of relief, running through the creases, Ani Dao stood, remembering the innocent town he had burnt to find the treasures hidden there. Wiping them away quickly, she hid the body behind a compost pile, resolving to attend to it later, if there was a later. She had avenged the ravaged town outside of Umbar, and spared others in line.

Smiling triumphantly, almost oblvious to the true horrors of death, she returned back to the stair landing to aid her friends ...

[ March 03, 2003: Message edited by: maikafanawen ]