|
As soon as they entered the dark, dank tunnel, the outside world became muted. All feeling of rain and wind disappeared, all that was in evidence of the dreary weather was a hollow echo in the pipe and the soaked companions crawling upwards through the pipe. Lumiel's heart pounded anxiously as they slowly made their way in. The grime and muck clung to her hands and feet, and she avoided contact with it as much as was possible. Not so much because the smell and feel bothered her (though it certainly was not pleasant), but more because the slime would hinder her movements once they were within.
They paused near the end. She could see two pair of feet outside. It was amazing that the guards didn't hear them. Confined and waiting, every noise seemed amplified dangerously. Finally Thoronmir gave the signal and they burst forth from the tunnel, one after the other, blades drawn.
Before she could fully take in the situation they had leaped into, Lumiel saw Furman attempt to take down one of the guards with only his bound hands. His years spent in the wilderness had strengthened him so that even bound, he was dangerous. But still, he could not take on another fully grown, armed man by himself. The guard clutched at his throat, since Furman had thrown his arms around his neck and was now attempting to choke him, and reached one hand down to a dagger at his side.
Before he could raise it for a lethal blow to Furman, Lumiel rushed forward, silent except for a sickening squish of her boots. The man glanced toward her with wide, fearful eyes and let out a strangled gasp as she plunged her sword into his gut and wrenched it upwards, killing him instantly. Furman released his hold on the man and Lumiel stepped behind the dead guard to avoid the blood now pumping out of him. Taking a dagger from her belt, she quickly cut Furman's ropes. Reaching down to the dead body, she pulled the sword from its belt and shoved it into Furman's hands. "You'll have better luck with this." she whispered to him with a faint smile and quickly turned to the rest of the skirmish now taking place.
Falowik was dealing with the second guard and Lira was near another dead body. Whether the third guard had been summoned or merely had walked in on the situation, Lumiel didn't know. She only hoped that their essential element of surprise was not entirely lost.
|