Chapter 5
Meeting Again
As Derek walked back to The Sleeping Dragon–one of the inns many inns at Santiok–he felt more than saw he was being followed. He passed the inn and continued down the street. The footsteps hurried on behind him, getting closer all the time.
A dark alley opened up to his right, but Derek didn't turn down that way. Instead, he turned and faced the person who had been following him. Or more correctly-people.
Several warriors–all dressed in black–had come up and now overtook him in the street. Derek was getting thoroughly tired of these warriors following him everywhere.
"You know this is getting really annoying." He told them.
The lead man smiled thinly. "We have our orders," was all he would say. "Now, you can come with us and stop this foolishness–or continue and die."
Clashing swords threw sunlight around the brick walls of the narrow alley as they fought. But ere the fight had truly begun a sword hilt slammed into the back of his head, and Derek crumpled to the ground.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Derek awoke later with an aching head and numerous pains. But he was lying on a bed in a large, sunlit room. Off to one side he glimpsed a familiar figure reading a book. She looked up and smiled at him.
"So, we meet again Doran," Marilyn said. "How are you feeling?"
Derek slowly moved his shoulders, then his arms. "A bit sore, but otherwise fine."
Marilyn nodded. "Good to hear. Now," she set aside her book, "if you don't mind my brother, his trainer, and myself have something to discuss with you."
The serious look on her face made him feel apprehensive. "What?" he asked.
"Why are you being hunted?"