Kalila’s tail cracked against his ribs, nearly lifting the murderer from his feet. Despite his preparation he hadn’t anticipated just how fast this Dhani was. She was nothing like Bones, a quick and spry contrast to the musclebound monster. In a moment, she had vanished into the foliage, leaving the youth to pick himself up from the ground and hiss quietly. His blade was dropped in the chaos, and he grabbed it, fingers closing over the hilt as he picked himself up. Skin and bone ached where the tail had lashed across him, and now that she was gone, it felt as though she had been more scared of him than he of her.
Good. Just as well.
“Cowardice, Kalila? I expected something more of you,” Shroud mocked into the forest, pivoting different directions in the small clearing, trying to catch a glimpse of her. “You come to Sunberth expecting what…exactly? A city of anarchists, thieves, and cutthroats and your choice is to play nursemaid to them.” He grinned, “Not exactly the smartest choice for a snake.”
He turned again, hurling Djed into his eyes, seeking her among the gloom. It was a mistake. The moment he tried to concentrate on more than a few leaves or a bush, his head exploded into pain. Bright images, the smell of flowers, decay, growth, it assaulted him, staggered him for a moment as he desperately pressed the Auristics away. Still not of use to him yet, still too green at this magic.
Instead he focused on the concept of reimancy, gathering a trickle of Res into his palm. “The Crimson Edge, ruled by a hedonist barbarian, his pet mage, and more women than men.”
A turn. “Is that what you are then, snake? Are you a toy for them? Are you their scaly night delight, a whore in healer’s clothing?” He laughed, the concept was not exactly impossible to grasp, “Dissuade me if you must, but what use is a girl in Sunberth if not for petching?”
He opened a palm at the forest around him, emitting strands of Res he converted into wind, blowing throw delicate leaves, exposing patches of earth. He searched for her.
“Perhaps I’ll forgive you if you lay with me tonight…” Another grin, sadistic, calculating, “I wonder if you’re as cold blooded inside as you are outside?”
Good. Just as well.
“Cowardice, Kalila? I expected something more of you,” Shroud mocked into the forest, pivoting different directions in the small clearing, trying to catch a glimpse of her. “You come to Sunberth expecting what…exactly? A city of anarchists, thieves, and cutthroats and your choice is to play nursemaid to them.” He grinned, “Not exactly the smartest choice for a snake.”
He turned again, hurling Djed into his eyes, seeking her among the gloom. It was a mistake. The moment he tried to concentrate on more than a few leaves or a bush, his head exploded into pain. Bright images, the smell of flowers, decay, growth, it assaulted him, staggered him for a moment as he desperately pressed the Auristics away. Still not of use to him yet, still too green at this magic.
Instead he focused on the concept of reimancy, gathering a trickle of Res into his palm. “The Crimson Edge, ruled by a hedonist barbarian, his pet mage, and more women than men.”
A turn. “Is that what you are then, snake? Are you a toy for them? Are you their scaly night delight, a whore in healer’s clothing?” He laughed, the concept was not exactly impossible to grasp, “Dissuade me if you must, but what use is a girl in Sunberth if not for petching?”
He opened a palm at the forest around him, emitting strands of Res he converted into wind, blowing throw delicate leaves, exposing patches of earth. He searched for her.
“Perhaps I’ll forgive you if you lay with me tonight…” Another grin, sadistic, calculating, “I wonder if you’re as cold blooded inside as you are outside?”
