After Luindal’s offer, Marreth directly confronted the Elf. He sneered incredulously and quipped, “You lie, Elf. You plan to strip our sails and then slaughter every one of us while my ship lies immobile. Dirty vermin never keep their promises. I demand that you send a messenger and instruct your crew to hand over both the Palantiri, or I will slice your head in two.”
Marreth spit on Luindal’s right boot and gave him a sneer of utter loathing, as if a fire was burning a hole straight through his belly. Luindal returned Marreth’s challenge by lunging forward, wielding his two-sided broadsword with strength and agility. Marreth parried the blow with some difficulty, but scoffed at the Captain's attempt. “You Elf swine really ought to stick to bows,” he chuckled. Burning with hatred and desire for the Stones, Marreth lashed out with his rapier towards Luindal, his blow aimed directly at his foul heart. The Elf jumped nimbly out of the way and answered with a return thrust.
Back and forth they parried. Yet, as the fight continued, Marreth slowly gained the upper hand. Luindal had spent years learning how to read the magic of the forest and to build the tall-masted ships. Marreth, on the other hand, had given all his effort to learning how to raid and fight, and the difference was beginning to tell. The Corsair smiled as he realized that Luindal was not as experienced a swordsman as he himself was.
Gradually, Luindal's blows began to lose momentum; the Elf's grip on his sword slackened for a single instant. Marreth pounced on the opportunity and swiped a blow at Luindal’s body, nipping his upper arm with great force. As fast as a great eagle pouncing on his prey, Marreth sprung forward to the kill. His rapier flew to the Elf’s throat, tracing a cut across the side of his neck. Luindal dropped his broadsword and fell to his knees, grimacing in pain.
“Now,” growled Marreth triumphantly, standing over the fallen Elf. “Give me the Palantiri if you don’t want to be switching bodies anytime soon.”
In the background, Marreth could vaguely hear the sound of a single rat scuffling over the floor of the garbage hold....
|