Hi, darned writer's block and the plot bunnies are no help at all…. Who got snow? We got eight inches!!
Chapter 31--To The Last
"Surrender, Drow or you'll get hurt!" one guard sneered. He gestured with his sword, carelessly letting down his guard.
"You'll get hurt worse," Drizzt retorted and stabbed him through the heart.
Sarez lunged even as the guard fell, but suddenly Guenhwyvar leaped. Six hundred pounds of muscle slammed into the doppleganger's back and knocked him forward.
Drizzt barely jumped aside as the tangle of panther and doppleganger tumbled past, knocking over two other guards. That was what Drizzt needed, an opening to get to the heart of the problem. He dodged the tangle and went straight for the guild master.
The two personal guards moved in front of Kiel to intercept him. One slashed at his numb arm. Drizzt parried it aside, but winced as the other guard struck his good arm, cutting it deeply. Drizzt slashed at him, but he jumped back out of the way.
The bodyguards were used to fighting together and circled, keeping him between them. They struck at random so there was no pattern to take advantage of.
"Enough! Take him down now!" Kiel shouted. The guards lunged as one.
Drizzt saw a chance and he took it. Summoning a globe of darkness around him, he dropped to the floor. There was a thud as the two men collided, hopefully skewering each other. He scrambled out of the globe and before Kiel could react he had a scimitar at his throat. "Call off your men or I'll give you a second smile," Drizzt demanded.
"Enough, back off--back off I said!!" Kiel said.
Guenhwyvar picked up the statuette in her mouth before coming to Drizzt's side. She nudged open Drizzt's belt pouch and dropped it inside. Afterwards she fetched the weapon belt with his scimitars and returned to his side.
Sarez staggered to his feet, trying to ignore multiple wounds. "If you harm our guild master we'll hunt you down and kill you," he warned.
"I've no intention of hurting him if you all cooperate. All of you get rid of your weapons and don't even think of trying to conceal any. I know all of the tricks for that," Drizzt said.
Assorted weapons hit the floor with loud clattering sounds then a woman walked in. "Guildmaster Kiel, the item is--" she topped short when she realized what was going on.
"You must be the mage I've heard about. Don't try to cast anything. If I even think you're chanting I'll kill him," Drizzt said. His eyes were grim and determined.
"You'll never get out of this place alive, Drow," Kiel warned.
"If I don't then neither will you," Drizzt promised. "Now stand up slowly. I might slip if you move to fast."
"You'll pay for this. I swear it," Kiel growled as he obeyed.
"Shut up. I'm not interested in your threats. All of you go over by the walls, you too, mage and don't try anything. I have nothing to lose," Drizzt warned.
The guards obeyed though Sarez's glare promised death later. "I'll track you down and kill you," he threatened.
"I'm not interested in your threats either," Drizzt snapped. He made Kiel walk ahead of him. Guenhwyvar stayed next to the guild master while Drizzt kept the scimitar pressed to his back. They made it through the double doors without incident and they closed behind them. Drizzt winced as tingles shot through his numbed arm then he found he could move it again. He reached with his free hand and took his weapons belt from Guenhwyvar. "Watch him, Guen," he said and dropped the ordinary scimitar to the floor then strapped on the belt and drew Twinkle. Using a pike from a decorative suit of armor and the scimitar he'd been given he used them through the door handles so it couldn't be opened from inside.
"So now what, Drow? Are you going to kill me?" Kiel demanded.
"No, you're taking a nap," Drizzt said with that he hit him with Twinkle's hilt, knocking him out. He pulled a bulging belt pouch off Kiel's hip and looked inside. It was stuffed with gold and silver coins. "Spoils of war," he muttered and fastened the pouch to his belt. He and the panther hurried out. They had to get out of the city fast as they could….
So you like? R/R!!!