|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 12, 2010 22:11:35 GMT -5
Trent kept his eyes on Lani for another second and frowned before he turned and straightened himself.
"Treason?" He made his way over to the soldiers in a wobbly line. "What treason?"
Trent was still feeling the effects of the alcohol as he did his best to lock gazes with the guard.
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 12, 2010 22:20:46 GMT -5
"Plotting the break-in and kidnapping of a prisoner," said the soldier, deadpan. "Conspiring with a devil's mother to plot the break-in and--"
"Shut up!" shrieked Lani. She whirled on the someone standing behind the soldiers. "You betrayed me."
Tam, her sister, shrugged. "You were stupid."
The soldier dangled two pairs of handcuffs. "Come peacefully or die."
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 12, 2010 22:29:58 GMT -5
Trent shrugged. "Actually, that was all her. I'm not planning anything." He looked at Lani then the woman with the trio. Related perhaps?
His eyes narrowed dangerously. "But I'm sure as hell not going anywhere peacefully with you three idiots so you might as well kill me."
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 12, 2010 22:39:34 GMT -5
Lani darted a glance from her hired man to the soldiers. Three to one, and one was drunk. She couldn't die. Jon needed her.
"Stop," she said, stepping forward. She gripped the merc's arm, shot him a pleading look. "We surrender."
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 12, 2010 22:57:08 GMT -5
Trent felt the grip on his arm. Surrender? Out of the question. He wasn't getting thrown back into prison so soon just after he managed to get out. He looked around for an opening and found one.
"You want to save your boy?" he asked, still facing the soldier.
Without waiting for her reply, Trent smashed an elbow into the nearest guard, crushing his nose. As he cried out in pain and clutched his face, Trent stuck out a foot, tipping the soldier off balance.
As he fell, Trent grabbed Lani's arm and made for the opening.
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 13, 2010 18:39:07 GMT -5
Lani gasped as the merc pulled her forward. A soldier shouted, and she twisted just in time to feel a blade whoosh past her ear.
Her head spun. The merc clutched her arm and lunged out into the street. She heard a cry behind her, a familiar shout of "Sister!," and when she glanced behind, two soldiers were following. The third--with a broken nose--was loading his crossbow.
"Watch out!" she yelled. The soldier let loose.
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 13, 2010 21:29:14 GMT -5
If he killed them, then blood would be on her hands as well. Eventually, they'd be tracked down, and captured. Executed.
Well, her at least. Trent knew he could manage dropping off the grid if he did decide to kill them. But he knew the woman wouldn't get far without his help. Why he cared about this fact, he didn't know.
So he ran and dragged her along with him.
Adrenaline pumped through his veins, sobering Trent up. He heard the crossbow click before Lani had screamed. The bolt flew through the air and Trent pulled Lani in close, out of its path. He grunted as it impaled itself in his left forearm.
Oblivious to the pain, Trent kept his grip on Lani's arm as he maneuvered through the streets and into the shadows.
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 13, 2010 22:50:34 GMT -5
They found themselves in another alley lined with warehouses, and Lani broke free of the merc long enough to catch her breath. She couldn't stop shaking. She grit her teeth and listened, really tried to listen, but all she could hear was the hammering of her heart in her ears. Was anyone following?
She couldn't tell. She turned, squinting down the alley, and then she looked at the merc. Something gleamed on his arm.
"Oh god." Lani caught her breath. "You're bleeding."
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 13, 2010 23:53:03 GMT -5
Trent lifted up his good arm to keep her quiet. He stopped, listened. They were safe for now.
He could hear her panicked breath, which only added to the throbbing headache that suddenly manifested itself. Trent gritted his teeth as he checked what the damage was.
It was bleeding, but not badly. He wiggled his fingers and was relieved to find that he still had movement in them. Trent hissed as he pulled the damn thing out and let it drop to the ground.
He wiped the blood on his shirt then began looking through his pockets for coins. No luck. Angrily, he stalked toward Lani to check hers.
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 14, 2010 0:02:37 GMT -5
Lani backed up and stumbled against the wall. Her glance dashed from his arm to his face. Did he blame her for what'd happened?
If only she could stop shaking. She gripped the knife inside her coat and found her hand remarkably steady. The wall was cold against her back. He kept coming.
"What do you want?"
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 14, 2010 0:09:06 GMT -5
Trent saw her pull out the knife and held it out. He smelled fear on her, but also the intent to get violent if need be. He slammed his eyes shut and stretched his neck.
"Damn it, woman." Without warning, he reached forward and snatched the knife from her hands with lightning speed.
"Got any coin on you?" He examined the blade. "I need a drink."
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 14, 2010 0:15:20 GMT -5
Lani watched him turn her knife over in his hands, the blade glinting in the darkness. She swallowed and tried to speak. Then she tried again.
"My son."
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 14, 2010 0:26:20 GMT -5
He stopped and lifted the dagger to point it at her face. Trent's mouth twisted as he clenched a fist. This wasn't going to end was it.
He sighed, grabbed Lani's hand and returned the knife to her grip.
Trent's arm throbbed as the alcohol wore off and more blood seeped from the wound. He gestured with a bloody hand.
"Well then, lead the way madam."
|
|
|
|
Post by awesomepossum on Sept 14, 2010 0:36:05 GMT -5
His returning the knife surprised her. She tucked it back inside her coat. Then she looked at him, and she looked at his arm. She beckoned.
The alley opened into a small square of apartments. Lani paused at the corner, scanning both ways. She couldn't go home. Tam might be waiting. Instead she turned left, taking her laundry route towards the river that cut through the city.
They entered a second square, and a third. In the center of the third was a dry trough.
Lani drew water from the well and poured it into the trough. She turned to her companion. "Show me your arm."
|
|
|
|
Post by crickety ricket on Sept 14, 2010 0:48:31 GMT -5
"I'll live."
Irritated, he walked over and cleaned himself off, rubbing wound then his face with a clean hand. He ripped off a piece of his shirt and started to bandage his arm. As he did, Trent thought he caught a glimpse of someone at the corner of his eye.
"So tell me about this boy."
|
|
