Stop! You have been sentenced in the name of the imperial law to a fine of 500 gold coins for thieving, violence and bad temper. Cough up immediately or I'll have to take you away.
Edward stared in disbelief at the strange being in front of ... man was wearing a suit of armor wrought out of what looked like tarnished gold. Drapings stuck out here and there, giving the whole a rather comical appearance. The worst of it all, however, was the man's helm. It looked as though he'd chopped off someone's head, carved it empty and stuck it onto his own with a metallic crest.
Ed stiffled his laughter. No wonder people where misbehaving everywherre he looked! If all the guards looked like this, they must appear like some kind of joke.
Just then, the guard took out a nasty-looking mace from his belt. Suddenly, everything appeared much less amusing.
You have not obeyed. Do so immediately or I shall teach you how to respect our god Vivec's law!
The alchemist stared at him blanckly for a moment then did the only sensible thing he could: he ran. He ran faster than he had ever run, not wanting to hear the shouts of the guard he'd just fooled, not wanting to look back in case the damn thin... man was faster than he'd expected.
Sprinting like mad, Ed reached a bridge overlooking the waters that surrounder the city's blocks. Just in front of it was another guard. He didn't seem to have realized yet that a criminal was coming towards him, but it would be instants before his colleague's shouts came to him. Edward's mind sprinted even faster then he as he closed in on the man, and then it struck him.
At the instant he reached the opening of the bridge, he stopped and turned back to face his pursuer. As he had hoped, the peacekeeper was only steps behind him, and he didn't have time to realize what his prey was doing. He crashed right into him with an almighty BANG... or rather he should have. Instead, he stumbled through nothingness and toppled onto his fellow guard, bringing them both down. Ed had stepped aside just before the collision.
Not wanting to be chased again, the Fullmetal Alchemist quickly grapped one of the spiked maces and slammed it hard onto both guards' necks. They fell limp. Comforted, Edward stepped away onto the bridge.
* * *
Somewhere above him, two shadowed figures backed away from the railing from which they'd been observing the whole scene.
He's perfect. Just what we need to get rid of this damned Nerevarine.
I don't know... We're not even sure that bloke is the Nervarine. For all we know, he might just be the house-cleaner.
Oh come on! He's been inside with that Vivec coward for almost ten hours now. They're talking strategy and you full well know it. Our master won't like this. We have to get our hands onto this newcomer. Find out what he wants most. Tell him we can give it back to him. Show him your skills, he'll trust you.
Without another word, one of the figures lifted a hand and disappeared completely in an instant. The other stood there, his eyes still following the small silhouette that was making its way towards the Arena block.