The Tale of Negrath Chapter XXV.

The blade-traps inactivated at a frantic cry from a bandit leader eager to get away from them, they chased after him gleefully, in utter disregard for the archers at the platforms on the side of the room, and Aerie only stopping momentarily to Missile the mage that somehow had managed to maintain his calm, at the other side of the last trap.

Soon finding themselves at the top of yet another staircase, they looked at each other with anxiety; they had no way of searching for traps…something there were bound to be a few severe ones of this far in.

Carefully spreading out at the bottom of the stairs, they proceeded to move forward one step at the time…Too soon, something clicked underfoot, and Minsc was spirited away in an instant, just as opponents appeared all around. Aerie calling up her shield and Jaheira her cloud, they could soon concentrate on the two at the top of the rooms other staircase, and someone whose largely ignored words bore the quality of a royal upbringing.

Knowing that a fight was unavoidable, Negrath rushed towards him with both blades drawn, hearing Keldorn climb the other stairs to get at the archer there. As Aerie and Jaheira sent in their helpers to take care of the downed opponents in the other end of the room, Minsc popped back, looking around himself confusedly, before storming to Negrath's aid, Keldorn hot on his heels.

Cursing as yet another of his combinations were blocked, the Kensai dropped a katana, to concentrate on the other…he had always been better with just one, anyway, as the empty hand would be free to manipulate the environment as only hands could. With the aid of Minsc and Keldorn, his opponent would at least not have a chance at striking back at them…Negrath had the feeling that the blade the man wielded, were quite deadly in his hands…quite possibly specially crafted to him…

The business corner of his mind concluding that they at least would get a nice price for it, he could only watch as the blade, which quite possibly could have paid for a complete refurnishing of the Keep, fell apart as it were a moment to late to properly deflect Minsc's terminal swing. Aimed at the throat, the strike where redirected diagonally upwards, lodging the blade deeply in the mans skull.

Watching the worthy opponent fall, the ranger sighed;

"What a shame. That head would belong in the Hall of Honour."

The two others looking at him in shock, he explained;

"There is a group that has it as their goal to have the actual heads of the worlds greatest fighters…he has probably had a pedestal and preparers ready for years."

"No doubt. I -do- doubt he'll be our hardest foe, though…"

"Too true." Jaheira commented, sitting at the bottom of the stairs they'd come down, nipping at a potion, studying the gradual effects with interest.

"Mages do not count." Minsc objected.

"…In that case, we'll only find a more worthy fighter in some warrior-gods avatar." She allowed.

"He was an enemy! Why do we care?"

Turning to look at where the thief-archer had appeared, they saw Aerie looking down at them with a mixture of confusion and annoyance.

"Minsc know when he meet foe worthy of praise. This one was. He fended off the three of us all at once."

"Improved haste combined with Protection from Magical Weapons or a blade made with the intent of fending off other blades. Has happened before." Jaheira suggested casually.

"Anyone see him use magic?" Minsc wondered looking at the two other warriors.

"There was a glimmer of something, but I can't say if he made it happen or not." Jaheira commented, turning her spear in her hands, seemingly disappointed that she hadn't been given a chance to use it.

After a lengthy while, the groups Resident Rodent made some noise, and Minsc nodded;

"Boo is right. It does not matter. Head is ruined. We continue now?"

"No, we'll wait while Aerie does whatever it is she does to refill her abilities, if not to remove them, then at least being able to -see- the damn traps." Negrath decided, settling down on the stairs beside Jaheira, and looking up at the Avariel that still remained at the top of the other;

"It's up to you how soon we continue."

"Then we continue now." Were the unusually calm reply, as she descended the stairs as one who knows their worth is immeasurable.

Once she sat foot on the floor, she flung off a spell she probably had prepared before ever entering the district…and two traps flashed into sight as two separate circles of red on the floor.

"Thanks. Keldorn?"

The Knight nodding at the far end of the room, where a door with yet another staircase could be found, the group set itself in motion, careful not to go anywhere near the magical, red marks.

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Last modified on September 2, 2001
Copyright © 2001-2003 by Hans-Olav Bråtun. All rights reserved.