Desperate Situation

While her team battles Gelden's forces, Sophia attempts to rescue the Losasidhe royals.

19.

Desperate Situation

 

 

In Gelden’s hide-out, battle was about to begin.

The Faesidhe were upon them at once, but Khord and Ant jumped in front of the others; their weapons already spinning in the air.

Ant killed one Faesidhe guard with a sudden thrust of her longsword, but it was Khord who was ferocious.    Two Faesidhe guards died and a third one was seriously injured in the first few moments of the attack as the Drow managed an incredible two weapon attack against separate opponents.

The Faesidhe backed away from him, despite their superior numbers, spreading out to make room for one of their own - a wizard with a magic wand.     He flicked his wrist and a bolt of blue energy shot forth and slammed into Khord, knocking him backwards.

Yet he didn’t fall, though the impact had knocked one of his swords from his hand.   But with lightning reflexes his free hand snatched up a throwing dagger sheathed at his side, which he flung at the wizard, then immediately retrieved his dropped sword.

The Faesidhe elf dodged the dagger, but by doing so, his next bolt of energy from his wand went wild to the right, hitting Mutt in the right shoulder.    The Goblin yelped in pain, thrown off his feet by the force of the blast.

A Faesidhe swordsman about to engage him in combat seized the opportunity and brought his sword down onto the Goblin’s neck.

There was a flash of light that startled everyone and Mutt vanished.

“My God!”   Tadd yelled out, “Was that an Autocaster ring activating?”

No one answered him, for all were too busy fighting off Faesidhe who were determined to escape arrest.  

Tadd had no time to ponder what happened to his friend.   Several elves thought that getting past him was the easiest path to escape since he was the smallest of those barring their way.

They hoped that their size and legendary agility would easily overwhelm the Halfling.   From three sides they pressed him and he knew he had no chance of beating them by skill at arms.

He jumped and ducked, weaved and dodged, avoiding their sword swipes except for a few nicks.   But they were pushing him away - slowly- from the others and he knew that if they got him cornered, his fate was sealed.

None of his friends could help him for they were hard pressed as well.    Muld had always told them to try to think outside of the box, and Tadd’s mind raced for any Cantrip that might help him.

One of the Faesidhe’s swords scraped his cheek, drawing blood.

He was running out of time.   

The Faesidhe wizard with the wand sent another bolt of energy, this time at Rick.    The bolt hit him squarely, sending him to his knees.   But Jevon and the Orc girl leaped in front of him from each side, shielding him from the advance of the swordsmen.

One of them managed to score a slash across Shel’s mid section, causing her to cry out and stumble.

But before the Faesidhe could deliver a killing stroke, there was a roar from Rick and he sprang like a panther onto the elf.    With his sword raised over his head to strike the injured Orc, the Faesidhe man was unprepared, and Rick’s larger body knocked him backwards.     Rick ignored the Faesidhe’s arms and weapons, grabbing his neck with both arms and twisting savagely until there was a sickening snap.

As he released the elf’s corpse, the fury of his companions fell full force on Rick.    One Elf stabbed him deeply through the side, while another one chopped at his opposite shoulder.

Rick was berserk with rage, not feeling the serious wounds.   He rammed his fingers into the eye sockets of one of his attackers, clawing out the elf’s eyes as his companion hacked at Rick to try to get him to break off his attack.

With wild strength, Rick swung the elf around with his fingers still poked into his eyes, then flung him at the other elf.    Both Faesidhe slumped to the floor.   Rick lunged at a third elf, advancing toward Shel, but the Faesidhe wizard with the wand sent another bolt of blue energy into Rick’s chest and he sank down to his knees, then pitched forward on his face.

Jevon howled with rage, seeing his friends fall around him and he now matched Rick’s former fury, using his mace in both hands.     Flailing all about him, he knocked aside four Faesidhe as he attempted to reach the wizard with the wand.

Tadd knew he had to act immediately.

For the time being, he was ignored by their adversaries, so he quickly chanted the short Alarm spell, which they used frequently to make arcane alarm systems for chests or locks on doors.

This time though, he touched the wall of the receiving room, setting the parameters quickly as he did.   “Loudest setting, one hour duration, maximum volume!”   He said, finishing the spell as the attention of the elves began to turn to him, “Message as follows:   HELP!!! POLICE!!! GUARDS!!! MURDER!!!! MURDER!!! MURDER!!! HELP!!! HELP!!!  End!  Continuous repeat.   Activate!”

He managed to get the spell activated seconds before a Faesidhe kicked him down, and then kicked him again, this time in the head, sending his senses reeling into darkness.

 

***

Khord and Ant were halfway across the room from reaching Jevon when the alarm spell began sounding.     Tadd had made the entire northern wall of the building into the alarm before falling and he’d done very well.    

 A piercing loud arcane voice yelled, “HELP!!! POLICE!!! GUARDS!!! MURDER!!!! MURDER!!! MURDER!!! HELP!!! HELP!!!” over and over with such volume that the walls shook.

This startled the Faesidhe that was poised to finish off Jevon and it was all that Khord needed.     His long swords were black with blood already and he sent three more down before the elves began to resume their attack on Jevon.

Ant had followed his lead, killing two Faesidhe of her own.

 

Their numbers rapidly dwindling, the remaining elves intensified their attempt to break through and escape before the Alarm spell pulled in the city guard.

The Faesidhe wizard sent a bolt from his wand toward Ant, striking her in the chest, but she stayed on her feet.    Jevon tried to renew his attempt to reach the magic-user, but he was bleeding from multiple wounds and weakened now.   He swung feebly at the Faesidhe nearest him, but the elf batted away his blow then chopped at his shoulder.    Jevon’s chainmail absorbed most of the damage but the force of the blow sent him down and they pounced upon him.   One kicked his sword away and crushed his hand beneath his boot heel while another one raised his sword to use his body weight to drive the tip of the weapon into Jevon’s gut.

But he never got the chance.

A throwing knife embedded itself in the Faesidhe man’s left eye and he fell screaming to the floor.    His partner turned in time to see Ant fling her second knife at him.  It struck him in the windpipe, not killing him, but he sank to his knees gurgling blood.

The Faesidhe wizard pointed his wand once again at Ant and a second bolt of energy struck her.   This time it was too much for the Changeling and she gasped once then collapsed to the floor, leaving Khord as the only one fit enough to stop the dozen Faesidhe remaining.

Feeling that they had a definite advantage against the sole Drow, three of them rushed him, foolishly coming in together as a group while the wizard tried to yell above the sound of the blaring Alarm spell for them to get out of the way so he could finish him with his Wand of Missiles.

Khord allowed them to advance and backed up as if giving ground to them.   But even this had purpose, for he hoped this would inspire some of the men’s companions to join them in the attack and further frustrate the wizard’s aim.

The others were cautious, and they heard the wizard, so hesitated.    But it bought him a bit of time, and Khord hoped the Alarm spell would soon bring the city guard before they surrounded him and killed him.

Then the three elves attacked, and he had no option but to neutralize them.     It didn’t take him long, for though they were fast and skilled with the sword, they were young and c**k-sure.     Two fell before they knew what they were up against.   The third man deflected Khord’s attack for a few moments before one of his two swords cut into his forearm.   It was over for the young Faesidhe moments later.

But now he had no shield from the wizard.   With no course left to him, he rushed forward toward the remaining nine men, but the wizard was too quick.

Another bolt of energy hit him, jolting him so hard that his hands constricted at the surge of energy, causing him to lose both of his weapons.

Numbly he bent forward to try to pick them up, knowing full well that he would not be able to recover in time to defend himself.   Khord heard the elves running to attack him, but as they neared, there came the sound of the doors behind him that Sophia had wizard locked earlier, being smashed open.

The Faesidhe stopped, wide-eyed upon seeing who had crashed into the room.    They looked about like trapped animals and then turn and fled toward the doorway leading toward the lower levels.

The wizard hesitated longest, but still did not wait long before joining the others to try to escape underground.

Khord turned weakly to find guardsmen rushing toward him and behind them, King Eleazar himself in shining plate armor.

“Khord, those in your group…”   He said.

“They need immediate care, Your Majesty.    Sophia is rescuing the Losasidhe royals now; we tried to confine the Faesidhe guards and wizard but they outnumbered us.”

“You did well, Khord, rest, we’ll finish this.”

Already the guardsmen were engaging the Faesidhe who massed around the door leading to the lower levels.     Sophia had wizard locked it as well and they had not been able to break through before the city guardsmen attacked.

“Usurper of our people!”   The wizard screamed at the top of his lungs at Eleazar as he advanced toward the scene at the other end of the room.

Raising his wand, he aimed it at the King, but at the same time the door downstairs suddenly swung open, the tip of a staff was thrust through it from the other side and a ball of lightning materialized at the tip, then shot forth to strike the wizard in the back.

It wasn’t an actual Lightning Bolt spell, but it gave him a nasty jolt of electricity which caused his body to dance and jerk, the wand falling from his hands.

With foes now on both sides of them, the Faesidhe had no choice but to throw down their arms and surrender to the guards.

Through the doorway rushed Sophia, leading a dazed Losasidhe couple.

“Khord!”   Sophia called, pushing through the mass of guards and prisoners to get to her husband.

“I’m alright, Sophie,” He smiled at her, pointing to the others, “It didn’t go well though - hurry, they need immediate healing.”

She nodded, leaving him to go check on the rest of their party.

“Your Majesties,”  Khord bowed to King Eiolmoel and Queen Synthaeia, “I am very glad to see you free and well.”

“Thanks to your heroic actions, Khord,”   The King replied.

“Khord?”  Synthaeia asked, “Our daughter and Muld - are they safe too?”

“I don’t know, Your Majesty, but I do know they have strong help, so do not worry.”

Queen Synthaeia nodded gravely and turned to assist with the wounded.