* * * * *
Jannda moved away from Dex quickly, wanting the two groups of stalkers to stay separated. If they ganged up on them, she knew their chances of survival would have decreased significantly. Luckily, the group at the far end of the room followed her movements and stayed with her as she came around the table at the other side of the room. She held a dagger in both hands. She usually fought with a dagger and her magical club, but these creatures would not be bothered by a strike to the kneecap or sharp blow to the elbow for they had no bones to break and they could not easily be crippled. No, if she was to be victorious, she needed to cut through the shadow stuff.
The four stalkers walked over and stood opposite her across the long room. They made no sounds and wore no expression that she could see. They only waved their shadowy blades in anticipation. The halfling hated to keep them waiting.
She planted her short legs and charged, pumped her limbs as hard as she could. The stalkers watched her only for a few seconds then ran towards her, their much longer limbs covering the distance quicker than she could.
Jannda seemed intent on meeting all four creatures head on, with only two small daggers for protection. That’s what it appeared and the stalkers thought that as well, but as they neared, as their dark blades whipped around to cut her head from her shoulders, Jannda dropped and slid underneath the legs of the stalker in front.
As she slid across the ground, she dragged her daggers across the stalker’s inner thigh. The blade parted the black substance and wisps of darkness immediately started to leak from the wounds. The creature staggered forward but did not fall. If it had been a real man, the wounds would have caused him to drop to his knees and howl in pain. Instead, the creature just turned and hobbled after her.
Jannda hoped to her feet, coming to a stop right in front of two other stalkers, who wasted no time and swung their blades down at her head. Using her smaller size as an advantage, Jannda jumped to the left then right, easily avoiding the dark blades. When they leaned back to attack again, she came in close to the one on her right, almost hugging his legs. Being so near, the stalker would not be able to attack her effectively, but that did not stop the other one from swinging in her direction.
When Jannda saw the creature swing, a smile split her face. Then she was twisting out of the way, looking forward to seeing the stalker’s black blade plunge into its companion.
Unfortunately, her smile quickly gave way to a groan for the blade did indeed plunge into the stalker’s leg, but instead of cutting into the shadowy flesh, it seemed to merge with it, causing no visible damage. When the stalker withdrew its blade, the area was unmarred.
“That’s not fair,” Jannda said with a frown. Now she had to change her entire strategy.
Four blades came streaking toward her as she contemplated what to do next. She quickly moved away, stopping only when she felt a chair at her back. The stalkers thought they had her and all four moved in for the kill, but Jannda once again dropped to the floor and scrambled underneath the chair and back into the protective darkness of the large table.
The stalkers did not let the chairs hinder their pursuit. They grabbed them and tossed them away, seeking their tiny adversary. Jannda, barely having to lean over to fit underneath the thick wood, waited patiently under the table until they leaned over and came at her. When the first sword sought her out, the darkness obviously posing no hindrance to the stalkers’ sight, she parried and struck, darting in and out of combat like a snake attacking a mouse.
Her needle like daggers shot out over half a dozen times as each stalker tried to catch her. Each time a few more wisps of shadow were dancing in the air, but the wounds were small and appeared to be having little effect in slowing the stalkers down. Once again, if they were normal men, the multiple wounds would have already caused two of them to slip into unconsciousness, but they were tireless and continued their assault unabated. It was only a matter of moments before one of those blades found her flesh and once that happened, the rest would surely follow.
After she parried another strike, Jannda did not attack. Instead, she scrambled down the table, heading for the far side of the room. It took a few seconds for the stalkers to see what she was doing for they had all gathered too close together and their arms were blocking their view. When they finally realized their target had moved, they went to follow.
Jannda emerged from underneath the table a few yards away. When she came out, she immediately started to sing, to call forth bardic magic that would aid her in defeating the stalkers moving at her.
She sang of a mighty warrior, beset on all sides by murderous orcs. They had wounded him severely and surrounded him and they were tightening the circle and moving in for the kill. All seemed lost for the strong warrior but he held true to his faith and called on the gods for aid. They answered his called, filling his body with holy strength and healing his wounds with divine light. With renewed strength, the warrior rose and set his wrath upon his would be killers.
The magic from the song filled Jannda’s body with strength and renewed vigor. It cleared her mind and set her limbs moving faster and made her feel like she could take on four giants as well as four simple shadow stalkers. As she continued to sing, her voice filled the room and the music settled over the stalkers. They reeled from the beautiful melody and staggered as the magic assaulted their evil nature. Their movements became sluggish and their bodies were slow to react to their demands. Jannda, still singing, took immediate advantage of their ailment and launched her daggers at the closest one.
The weapons sailed true, slamming into the neck of the stalker just a few feet from Jannda. Normally, her assailant probably would have been able to block or avoid the missiles, but the magic in the music was too much of a hindrance and they made it through the creature’s defenses.
Though the stalker was composed of nothing but shadow and had no veins or jugular to cut, two blades proved to be too much and it sank to the floor, wisps of darkness wafting from its entire body. The creature started to shrink in size as the shadow stuff dissolved. In a few moments, the daggers clattered to the ground and the stalker faded away, leaving nothing behind but a dark stain on the floor.
The remaining creatures in front of Jannda let out a hiss as their companion died. As they shambled towards her, still stumbling from the words that continued to pour from her mouth, their forms wavered just an instant, but quickly became solid once more though they moved even slower and with less enthusiasm. What was it Druzeel had said about these things? Jannda asked herself. If she remembered correctly, the young wizard had said these creatures were connected somehow and if you kill one, the rest were quick to weaken. Well, she was not about to let her momentum slow.
Jannda charged at the next closest one, hoping to take out another of her opponents before the other two came forward. As she neared, she whipped out two more daggers and swung, but the stalker must not have been as weakened as it let on for the creature dodged one of her swings and parried the other. Then it was returning the attack, with a strong thrust that almost took Jannda through the eye. She just managed to duck and turn away. Amazingly, she held her song, still filling the room with her sweet voice. The creature let loose another hiss of frustration and pushed its attack.
After trading another few blows, Jannda found herself besieged by another stalker. She twisted and ducked another dagger and sword. Her evasive movements were proving to be successful, but the third stalker was almost upon her. So far, her size and speed helped her avoid the multiple thrusts and swings the stalkers sent her way, but the third stalker would be upon her soon. When it joined the battle, she would be surrounded and her advantages would be gone, but just as the third was running up, its blades flashing through the air, a tremendous crash shook the entire room and all four combatants suddenly stopped, startled by the noise.
Jannda prided herself on her concentration, on her ability to block out every type of distraction while singing or playing music, but when that g
iant chandelier smashed into the ground, it was too much for even her to overcome and her song faded into the clamor.
When the commotion died and silence descended on the room, Jannda looked over at the wreckage. She saw a twisted pile of steel and crystal and two dark stains on the ground, all that was left of the grand fixture and two of the shadow stalkers that had been facing Dex. Her three opponents suddenly let loose a hiss of pain and staggered back as two more of their companions perished. She went to finished them off but had to spare a quick glance across the room, to see if Dex was all right.
At first, she didn’t see him, but suddenly, he was standing on one of the tables, facing his final two stalkers, who also looked to have been severely weakened from the death of their companions. Not only did they look hurt, but they were slowly backing away, as if they knew they were no longer a match for the man in front of them. Jannda turned back around to face her three stalkers to see them acting in a similar manner, but before she could move in, a loud thump sounded from the door at the end of the room. It sounded as if someone was trying to break it down.
“Open up in the name of the Pillars!” came an angry shout from the other side. It appeared that the Pillars they had left in the other room had finally noticed their absence. That or the chandelier exploding had alerted them.
Dex and Jannda looked toward the door but quickly turned back to their opponents as the stalkers let out a growl of annoyance. The creatures started to back away into the shadows, the fight no longer in them. Their bodies slowly became transparent as the darkness started to swallow them.
“No you don’t!” Jannda cursed, not wanting to let them go. She ran forward, swinging into the darkness, hoping to hit something, but the stalkers had already faded away, leaving only Jannda and Dex to answer for the destruction.
After three more hits, the door gave way and crashed to the floor. A group of Pillars ran into the room, weapons out, eyes searching for danger. When the man in front, a mouse-like fellow with beady, dark eyes, an unkempt beard, and pale skin, saw the broken chandelier, his angry glare quickly settled on Dex. He found Jannda next as she walked over to join her companion.
“What’s going on here!” the man asked, looking at the shards of crystal and warped steel that was a chandelier. His eyes darted all around them room, “Where’s the merchant that came in here with you?”
“My chandelier!” came an angry voice before Dex or Jannda could respond. The two Knights looked beyond the Pillars to see a group of people gathered around the doorway, trying to see what had caused the commotion. The crowd suddenly parted as Grenda shoved her massive bulk into the room. “What have you done to my dining hall?” she asked, her eyes finding the only two people that could be held responsible. “Where is Brend?”
“We were about to–” Dex began but the lead Pillar cut him off.
“Get these people back!” he shouted, motioning for the men around him to push back the crowd and escort Grenda from the room. After a short shouting and shoving match between the Dryad’s proprietor and a half dozen guards, the Pillars managed to get everyone out and block the doorway. The man who was obviously the leader of these particular Pillars turned back to Dex and Jannda, impatience showing on his face.
“Well?” he asked. “Explain yourselves and tell us what you have done with the jewelry merchant.”
Dex narrowed his eyes at the man in annoyance. He did not like the guard’s tone but did as he was instructed. They had been in enough trouble already and he knew it would be better for everyone if he just told the truth and held his temper in check. When he was finished, the man fixed him with a look of disbelief.
“Shadow thieves again?” he said in annoyance and anger. “You people have an explanation for everything.”
“It’s what happened,” Jannda said simply.
“I’m sure it is,” the man replied sarcastically. “I don’t know what happened in here but I highly doubt that your ‘shadow men’ caused this much destruction. Until we find out what really went on and where the jewelry merchant is, if he is still alive, you are both under arrest for destruction of property and under suspicion of murder.”
“What?!” Jannda and Dex blurted out at the same time. Is this really how the Pillars worked? both of them wondered.
“Take them into custody!” the man barked. Three of the Pillars behind the man moved forward, two of them holding manacles. Jannda and Dex both stepped back, trying to decide what to do. Jannda began to raise her daggers, intent to fight her way out of the room if necessary. She would not be put into chains for something so frivolous. She would have thought that Dex would have moved to stop her but he looked just as angry and ready to fight as she did. Luckily, before the guards moved any closer, a voice split the air.
“Stop!”
All eyes moved to the doorway and to the man shoving his way into the room. The guards had tried to stop him but with the help of Grenda, who had threatened bodily harm should the Pillars not stand aside, the man was able to make it inside.
“Brend!” Jannda said with relief. The jewelry merchant looked a little disheveled and out of breath, but appeared to be unharmed.
“Everything my two friends have said is true,” the merchant said, walking to stand with his companions.
“What?” the lead Pillar asked in frustration. “You just now entered the room. How can you possibly know what they said?”
“You are leader here, correct?” Brend asked, speaking to the Pillar that had ordered Dex and Jannda arrested. When the man nodded, Brend proceeded to tell him what had happened, mirroring his companion’s words exactly. When he was finished, the guard only narrowed his eyes.
“They still have to answer for the destruction and disturbance they caused,” the Pillar commented. “The Dryad will need reparations and if they can’t pay then–”
“A private matter that has already been resolved,” Brend said, cutting the man off. He tipped his head toward Grenda. The guard looked over at the woman in confirmation. When she nodded and held up a large sack that jingled with coin, the Pillar turned back to the jewelry merchant. His eyes narrowed.
“And they in no why harmed you?”
“Harmed me?” Brend said in disbelief. “My good man, these two saved my life. Without them I would be but a red stain on the floor.”
“Well,” the Pillar said, flustered, “their assailants still need to be found, so they’ll have to come with us to–”
“Come now,” Brend said, flashing a few pieces of golden jewelry. “Surely you don’t need them to finish your investigation? Perhaps we can work something out.”
The Pillar met Brend’s eyes then his gaze settled on the expensive pieces of jewelry. With hardly a thought, he ordered his men out of the room. He told them to secure the area around the Dryad and look for the so-called shadow men that the three had described. When the room was empty of everyone but Dex, Jannda, Brend, and the lead Pillar, the guard took the jewelry with a frustrated swipe and walked toward the exit. Before he left the room, he stopped and fixed Dex and Jannda with an angry glare. Then he turned and left the room.
“Well,” Brend said, clapping his hands together. “That was fun.”
“Are you all right?” Dex asked.
“Oh, yes,” the merchant replied. “Fine. I apologize for taking so long. Couldn’t find my way out of the alleys. Like mazes they are.”
“Who was that horse’s ass?” Jannda asked, referring to the guard that had just left.
“Eighth Pillar Ricus Gildric,” Brend replied. “An impatient, bully of a man who has an extreme dislike of outsiders. He prefers to manacle first and ask questions later. It was a good thing I arrived when I did or you two would probably be back on your way to the dungeons.”
“And a few pieces of jewelry are all it takes for them to look the other way?” Jannda asked no one in particular. “So much for that honor and discipline I heard so much about.”
“Make no mistake,” Brend said, leading the two
from the room and back out to the street after they had gathered their things, “most of the Pillars are disciplined and follow a strict code of conduct, but every barrel of apples has a few rotten ones from time to time. It was actually a good thing that Ricus was the one to find you. If it had been one of those honorable guards you love so much, I may have been joining you in the dungeons for even suggesting a bribe.”
“Thank you for your help,” Dex said, shaking the man’s hand. “With both the guards and the information you gave us.”
“A pleasure,” Brend said. “Haven’t had that much excitement in quite some time. Feel free to stop by my store so we can do it again.”
“Not anytime soon,” Jannda responded. The merchant let out a hearty laugh and shook the halfling’s tiny hand. The two Knights then retrieved their horses and said goodbye to their friend.
The two Knights rode down the street, heading for the Wilted Rose. They would meet up with the others, share what they learned, and hopefully have a new path to follow. Unfortunately, they would not be going alone.
As they left the Dryad behind, Dex noticed that a group of Pillars was still following them. He just sighed and shook his head. A small part of him was actually grateful that they were trailing them openly for he knew that after the encounter with the stalkers, the assassin would still be watching them and he was far less revealing than the Pillars. But much more dangerous.
* * * * *