by Dan Gillis
Then Shien spotted where she should be, but only detected the back of a large cloaked man. He pressed closer until he could make out the person with greater clarity. He was shuffling more than walking and appeared to be carrying something. Shien carefully edged his way nearer the man. When he came within a few arm spans, he saw the head of the man tilt and watched his lips moving slightly. In the noise of the crowd it was impossible to detect what was being said.
Shien moved past another Terlan and was near to Firah’s location. Suddenly, a blur of motion shot out at him from the crowd. He made to dodge the attack, but his groggy reactions failed him. Slamming into the ground, he felt the weight of heavy limbs upon his body. He looked upward to stare into the dark eyes of a strange creature. It was almost animal like, but it had certain features that made it oddly humanoid. Its long teeth were clearly bared for his inspection. A string of saliva spilled from its curled lips upon his cloak. Shien did not know if he could tangle with the beast, but the girl was moving away, even as the creature pinned him to the cold dirt. His mind worked as furiously as it could for a solution. Gratefully, he found a way off the ground.
Shien clenched his fist about some dirt and in one motion cast the cloud of dust at the creature even while rolling away as it recoiled in pain. Shien started to unsheathe his weapons, only to recall what the law of the city was. Could he make a claim of self-defense if had to use them here? Intuition dictated that he would never be able to win against his feral opponent without them. Firah’s survival was paramount, and so he determined to deal with one problem at a time. Slipping out of his cloak, he chose Isil. Kuros had a tendency to become overzealous and he truly needed a sound defence on this occasion.
There was never a battleground like the one he encountered now. People milling about struggled at the last minute to make way around the small circle that was formed around them. As a result the street was nearly blocked off completely and it would not take the local authority long to sense the blockage and come running. Especially as onlookers stopped to witness the spectacle and jeer loudly.
The creature had recovered from the temporary blinding and snarled harshly, crouched low upon all its limbs, edging toward the young swordsman.
Shien maintained his counterguard stance at a less than respectable distance while Isil lay cool and confident in his grip. His mind seemed to be clearing somewhat, which Shien deemed a gift from the sleek weapon. How he treasured her calm and quiet strength.
The beast growled out and snapped at the blade as he kept it extended toward the creature to forestall a leap. The crowd reacted in startled surprise and then shouted in elation.
The two contestants felt out the other in a tentative calm, and then the creature moved with dazzling speed.
Shien barely got Isil up in time, as he nearly fell for a feint by the dog-spawn. It snarled as it barely missed his neck and slipped away from his own lunge. The people began to hush, as they were quite startled at the quick exchange. Shien uttered a small prayer to the weapon. He could feel Firah slipping away.
He was running out of time.
In his mind, he cursed his inability to save her. He lashed out angrily at Zyr for leaving them. He should have been here. Where was he now?
Shien steeled himself and drew back slowly, giving an opening to the creature. It considered the opportunity for a split second. Then it shot forward into his waiting trap.
At the last second, it shifted its movement to latch onto his sword arm. In pain, Shien hammered his fist into the side of the beast’s head even as the teeth sunk deep into his wrist rending flesh and veins and splintering bone.
It shifted its weight quickly and tried to haul him to the ground.
Shien knew instantly that he could not give way or the fight and his life would be over. In one last desperate move he heaved himself upon the creature, in a counter to its strategy. He planted a foot upon its extended limb and heaved with a furious holler of rage.
With the paw planted, the bone gave way in a disgusting crunch.
The creature released its iron grasp and retreated in a roar of pain, its back leg all mangled with a bony protrusion spiking out of its flesh.
Shien’s wrist was badly savaged, blood spilling fast from the wound. With a quick shift, he sent Isil to his left hand and began a flurry of attacks against the partially crippled animal. He thrust and swung low and high, his area of riposte giving no quarter or chance of counter. He pressed the creature back, into the crowd.
At last the beast came up against some unwitting citizens who desperately tried to move out of its way. The people collapsed in a heap upon themselves and the retreat was cut short. Shien moved deftly, swinging Isil wide and then inward in a furious arc.
The creature, cornered and crippled, snarled out as Shien removed its neck from its shoulders in one clean slice.
He stood dazed for a moment, Isil lowered and blood dotting the sand at his feet. Then in alarm he reached out across the unravelled link toward the girl …
Firah was gone.
Discover the first thread in the Sapling series
The Blade of Ahtol
Check it out at Goodreads and Dan’s author site
https://halftoe.wordpress.com
About the Author
Dan Gillis resides in Alberta, Canada. Creativity runs rampant in his family of six and at any given time someone is singing, writing, drawing, or creating.
Dan has enjoyed many years as an educator in the public system. Humanities and the Arts are his passion and joy.
He credits University for being the catalyst for his successful career, but also for the stress that sparked his writing outlet.