She studied his face, his features intently for a few moments, letting silence linger after he'd finished his statement, a small smile curling up onto her sunkissed visage; brightness was visible even through the haze of exhaustion. After all, she'd been on her feet and in motion for practically all of this bar's waking hours, not to mention chores she did before it's mid-morning opening. The silence, though not noticeably long, was long enough for her to digest not only the day's mundane events, but this new plot-twist for the town.

"I didn't do anything, sirrah," she began, making the tiniest of sounds when she had to hoist herself back into the posture that both her femininity and corset dictated, "From the looks o'vit, you handled it all yourself." Finally, a hero? In this town? she thought as she sank below the bar, collecting the clean glasses from the lower rungs and hanging them in the higher rungs for easier access. But.. he's so scrawny.. As she re-emerged, she tried to make sure that her long, curly fringe obscured her eyes, which, in their crystallized, translucent green - the lightest of hues, almost white-green -- continued to assess him.

Once the glasses were in order, she sighed and tucked the free-waving red curls behind her ear, parting her fringe down the middle and letting it frame her face. With a smile, she held a pint handled pint glass up, empty for now, in her left hand, displaying it to Road.
"One, any one, on the house."

Road stared at the empty cup. "I couldn't possibly..." He was never much of a drinker. Most of the names of the wines and beer were so strange and unappetizing and, being a trickster, he had his experiences with drunks. They were never intelligent or charming. It was too easy to fool them, and Road liked to stay on the competent end.

At the same time, his battle against the Talon was doing a number to his health. His wrists kept catching the corner of his eyes. He didn't have a good dish to eat for nearly the entire day, let alone a drink. Suddenly his hunger gnawed at his insides and his throat became parched. Just thinking about food was mouth watering.

"Thank you, your offer is kind, but I can't take anything for free. It's a bit late, and I hate to be an annoyance, but can I have something to eat? Ah, and some water. Just water." Something was making his speech strange, but Road couldn't quite place his finger on it.

"And, well, I didn't do much, actually. I nearly got myself killed." Against underlings, no less. "But someone saved me and I simply took advantage of an opening. I was going to try and drag those scum to the jails myself, but they were so fat. Even if I was at full strength, I probably would collapse half-way," he said jokingly. Jests were getting harder to make.

As he spoke, she blushed faintly; she should've known he was mal-nourished and tired, he didn't need alcohol. Quickly, she hopped behind a door, the same door that her father had thudded off to bed through. Melody was still within earshot, though, her vocals resonating off the wooden walls. A giggle, childlike, before her response:

"'ats'it, huge on the outside but empty on the inside, innit?" she said amongst the sounds of scraping cutlery and moving food. When she emerged, between her hands rested a rather round plate of mashed potatoes, lightly laden in gravy, a hearty, recently grilled piece of meat that shone with deliciousness. Setting it down in front of him, she smiled warmly, apologetically, as if she felt like she should have given it to him sooner.

"Hope you like it," she uttered demurely, before disappearing behind the bar once more, moving to turn on the drinkable water system that her father had rigged up for the bar when she first started working in it. Her hand snaked up moments later, trailing her fingers across the bartop until she felt the cool, smooth touch of the pint glass, grabbing it and also making it disappear.

Although he tried to be polite about his eating, his famished stomach refused any decency. Road already had a mouthful in by the time Melody asked if he enjoyed it. With a hearty swallow, the trickster grinned at her. "Definitely," he said, and returned to devouring his meal.

He needed more of it. Not more food (well, maybe more food) but more simple pleasures to keep his spirits high. Road was glad he went to Melody instead of returning to his cabin, where he'd likely be wallowing in his own self-pity. His nervousness faded along with his hunger. But now came the question of whether or not to ask for seconds.

Road's thoughts turned to Eaon. The archer was cold, arrogant, selfish. The trickster couldn't help but wonder if it was because he insisted on being alone. Always travelling, always killing to put food on the table. Bounty hunters probably don't make very many friends on their assignments. If there was a way to warm him up, Road couldn't think of it.

He glanced at Melody in the back. Maybe he could introduce Eaon to the barmaid.

Road's mental frame collapsed. Seeing someone as hospitable as Melody with someone as prideful as Eaon didn't work. The two conflicted to the point where imagining them talking together is impossible. In the same room, it's possible. Eaon sits down, minds his own business, and Melody gives him a plate and stays away from the obviously dangerous customer. But actual connection between them was too bizarre.

Melody was returning with his water. Shaking his head, Road eagerly accepted. "Thank you, Melody."

She resurfaced from behind the bar with a sparkling pint glass filled with water; it glistened with life underneath the candlelights set throughout the pub, and was perhaps even more inviting than alcohol would ever had been. She mentally admired his choice, and beamed when she noticed the empty plate and heard the thanks.

"Not a problem, mate, want s'more?" She was overtaken with a sort of motherly instinct at the sight of his fragility, though she respected him as the man who overtook the three rude men who never paid for their meals or drinks. She felt the need to baby him, and wouldn't quite consider him a masculine man until the day she would see him in his prime - in daylight, up to his tricks -- she was sure she'd see him again, she wouldn't have it any other way.

Someone else had come up asking for some cider; Melody held one finger straight up, gesturing to Road to hold his thought as she served the customer.

Road patted his coin pouch. The trickster was severely lacking in wealth. The silver coins he stole off of the Talon grunts was his largest find in a while, and he gave it away to Jang for her assistance. It was not to say he regretted it; she saved his life after all. But a small boost in cash would soon be needed. Until then, Road had to manage his spendings carefully.

Which meant no seconds.

He shook his head sombrely. "One plate's 'bout as much as I can take," he said, although he could easily fit in another. "It was delicious. Thank you." Road began drinking his water. Clear and pristine. Just the way he liked it.

Another person came in. Road's thoughts again turned to Eaon and where the archer was planning to sleep. Unfortunately (or fortunately, Road couldn't decide), the man was not the proud bounty hunter. The barmaid held her finger up.

Road arched his head upward, then realized that wasn't what Melody was gesturing for. He grinned a little at his foolishness.

He rotated his arm around and stifled a yawn. It was getting late. Road finished his glass and waited for Melody. As soon as she came back, he would ask for the bill and a room.

Road smirked at her cheeriness. "Actually, I was hoping I could rent a room here. Do you have one available?" He removed his coin pouch from his belt and began to count coppers. "Provided it isn't a master suite, I should have enough to pay for it." Road plucked out coins one by one for the late dinner bill. If only he could afford to tip her. It seemed shameful not to, especially when the waitress was so warm and welcoming.

Eaon walked the other direction, and hearing Roads parting comment, a small grin actually met his lips. He would join Road in the jail tomorrow, but Eaon did not think Road would be pleased to have him there after the interrogation began. As for the goons, they certainly would not be pleased. Eaon moved through the woods once again, and found his hidden clearing. His fire was not burnt down much, as Eaon had not been gone long. So he simply sat, and watched it die down.

After the sun had set, and the fire was no more than just smoldering coals, Eaon took a flask of water out of a pack near his bedroll. He emptied it on the pit, and then replaced it. He took out a pair of thick gloves and rolled up his sleeves. He went to his fire pit, and cleared away some of the soot. He found the large stone he had built the fire on, and tilted it. With one hand holding the stone, the other snaked inside a small hole that had been hidden by the stone. He pulled out of that, a roll of cloth, before resetting the stone.

He sat back against his tree, cross-legged, and unrolled the cloth out in front of him. On the cloth sat a coin pouch, and two other objects. One was a steel pin that Eaon picked up, and began to chew on as he held the other item in his hand gently. It was a blade much like a dagger, but the edges were curved in a peculiar way. The blade was not meant for killing. It was made for tearing. Flesh. Eaon placed the device, and the pin, in a pocket in his cloak. Before returning the rolled cloth, and a slightly more empty coin pouch, under the fire. He pulled his cloak off and lay in his bedroll, his hand inside the cloak pocket he was using as a sheet, softly caressing the blade. No-one would be glad to his him tomorrow, but he would get what he needed to know regardless.

“Thank you,” Road said as he accepted the room key. His smiled at Melody, completely aware he was taking charity, but decided against arguing. “Sorry if I kept you up. Have a good night.” He departed to his room.

Alone again. Road lit the lamp, and sat on the bed. It seemed a bit odd to be sleeping at an inn, especially when he had a cabin in town. But Road felt he needed to adapt to changes. His little life was shifting rapidly. No matter what he tries, he can’t act like everything is normal.

Besides of which, the bed here was more comfy. Road squished around and flopped completely on it. Much comfier than the one back at home, which was unexpected considering how many people have slept in this one.

His first move on the Black Talon was tomorrow. The underlings will surely have some information, and with any luck, one of them will have eavesdropped on Hawk. Road began to plan questions he would ask. The magic bombs took priority. If he could clear those, Tylin would be become that much safer from the gang. Then the hostage. Road thought of Sarah. Ross didn’t actually tell him it was her. But if it was, Grandma Mary gave him a key piece on Hawk’s possible hiding place.

After that would be information about the Talon itself. How many members it’s composed of, how operations are being handled and orders given out. That would be vital for the actual counter-attack.

Suddenly, he recalled his conversation with Eaon. Two slits, he said, was all that was needed. Eaon’s tactic, though below the belt, was quite possibly the only move they can actually make. But slaying a man in his sleep…Road shuddered. Dishonourable and cowardly. But if that was what must be done, so be it.

Slaying a man at all…Road sighed. Would he have to do it? He was able to avoid reaching that point when fighting the footmen. Jang did it without blinking. Eaon likely would have as well, had Road not mentioned an interrogation.

You are not of them. And you should not try to become one.

Either Eaon didn’t realize it, or he didn’t care. Slaying Hawk would cause a power struggle. The Talon would collapse from the inside. But the end of the Talon will give rise to new gangs. Fights would break out on the streets as the opposing sides battled for dominance. Random murder would be left as “messages” and robberies committed everywhere you turn. Murdering Hawk and Hawk alone would not be enough.

But then, what would be enough?

---------------

He awoke with a start. An ominous feeling shook his body coldly. Warning signs were flashing at every corner of his mind. Something was wrong, and Road had no idea what. His heart beat thumped loudly in his chest. A nightmare, perhaps? But the trickster recalled no dreams.

Early on as a boy, Road trained his intuition to a phenomenal level. He started out gambling, playing his life on chances, and developed a keen foresight. Even after he learned sleight-of-hand tricks, a trustworthy instinct doesn’t simply disappear.

Strangely though, Road was suspicious of such a startling awareness. It seemed so unnatural. To follow it would be descending into the naivety of ghost stories and child fairy tales. At the same time, the trickster couldn’t remove his premonitions. The sun barely breeched the horizon, but Road wasn’t going to wait. He hurriedly dressed. He leapt out of the inn without so much as a backward glance.

As shameful as it was to leave Melody like that, Road knew something was wrong.

The performer reached the Sheriff’s office. Being a small town, crime was non-existent, but there was always the off chance of some theft would be committed. As a safety, a hastily constructed station was made. It was a small building; the entrance led to a desk and the two-man jail cell straight across. No one ever expected the cell to be filled.

Already from afar, Road knew his instinct was right. The door was hanging open, swinging gently in the morning breeze. It creaked in the most eerie, unsettling way. He dashed inside and cried, “Sheriff!”

Blood.

“Sheriff!” he cried again and rushed to his side. The man was out cold, but still alive. Road, however, experienced little relief at this.

Inside the jail cells...Inside those sickening cells lay the gruesomely slaughtered bodies of the two Talon grunts.

His chance for information, his vital opportunity on Hawk.

Gone.

Road carried the sheriff and as softly as he could, placed him onto the chair. His arms were shuddering all over. No doubt he was paler than the moon.

But even in his panic-stricken state, the trickster’s logic started calculations. To have killed his henchmen meant Hawk doesn’t tolerate failures. To have left the guard alive meant he stays true to his word. To have realized their failure immediately meant the Talon had extensive surveillance on their movements. And to have been able to respond so soon meant several, disheartening things.
One of which was that the murderer was still close-by.

If the murder was done in the night, then the farthest the killer could be was half-way to a neighbouring village. Only if, however, they left instantaneously after the kills and toward the closest town. If they head toward the capital, they wouldn’t have any stops along the way, and that was a two-day journey. So, how was it possible for Hawk to have sent –

“You gonna stand there looking at that all day?”

Road’s eyes nearly burst out of his head.

He gradually turned around. There she was, a girl no older than himself (maybe even younger). Her black hair was vivid and lively, tied in a ponytail behind her head. Her eyes lit darkly, their shadowy contents hidden to every observer. She wore deep blue armour, with emphasized leg guards and shoulder pads. Her broad sword looked enormous, especially since the girl was petite herself.

“Honestly, Hawk likes watching me sweat. The nerve of that ass, sending me to do Vulture’s job...” her voice youthful, almost sweet. “Got my sword dirty too.” she began to scrub a spot on her blade. Most of the blood was already wiped, but smudges remained here and there.

Road only stared. Her nonchalant attitude was unrealistic. She looked nothing like a vicious, violent murderer. A chilling vibration crawled up his spine. Instinct again. It didn’t matter what she looked like or how she acted; she was dangerous. Something was telling him she was no ordinary warrior. His sense begged him to run, to cry for help and to escape. But he only stared.

“Psh,” the girl made an annoyed sound. She stopped scrubbing, and gave Road cut-eye. “What, are you gonna stand there and stare at me all day?” She raised one arm behind her head and pushed her chest out; a pose meant for him. “I am very beautiful, but looking’s not gonna get me.”

Run, run, run. Instinct urged him on. Road didn’t listen. He stopped gawking, and summoned enough courage to hide his fear. “Shouldn’t you be running out of town?” he said coldly and sarcastically.

She crossed her arms. Her broad sword was hanging from her left hand. She didn’t need both to hold it. “Why, you’re terrible! You didn’t even ask my name. Although, playing hard-to-get is a tactic, I suppose. My name is Karea. Because I know you wanted to hear it.” She had a smirk across her face.

“Shouldn’t you be running out of town?” Road persisted, completely ignoring her comments.

Karea scoffed. “Actually, since you’re dying to know, I wanted to see the only resistance in person.”

Only resistance. His shock, his feelings were all raging inside of him. But Road remained passive.

She raised a hand, a gesture for explanations. She enjoyed moving her limbs about, that was obvious. “You didn’t really prove anything by defeating those idiots. But since I’m already here, I deserve some fun.” Karea raised her sword, pointing it straight at Road. “Ready, rat?”

The trickster didn’t flinch. Wherever he was drawing his stone-like courage was an absolute mystery. “The name is Road.”

“How lovely.” With that, she charged at him with a crescent swing.

Reactively, Road ducked and rolled outside of the building. He slammed the door just as another axing swing fell. The broad sword tore through the top half of the door. Soon, the entire thing collapsed as Karea smashed it down. Her blade was by her side, ready to slaughter.

Road was knocked off his feet by Karea’s aggressive approach. He recovered to a crouching stance and silently slid a knife out. Judging by her giant weapon, it would have been best to keep the warrior inside the small office. The sheriff, however, would prove an obstacle. Road knew he was outmatched; the last thing he needed was someone to worry about.

((OOC: Karea is to be treated as if she is my character. This means battles with her are tournament style (no auto-hitting) and you are not allowed to control her in any way.))

Eaon woke just before the sun began to rise. He always did. Wide-awake in seconds he rolled off his bedroll, and stood up stretching, and putting his cloak back on his shoulders. He was in a good mood as he slung his bow and quiver onto his back. He would get progress in his mission today, soon not only would two of Hawks men be dead, he would know a lot more about his goal. He pulled a small chunk of dried bread out of his sack, and began to head into town, while eating it.

When Eaon got to the town, once again he was met only with an eerie presence. No one roamed the street, no children, no dogs, everything was normal. Except the Sheriffs door swinging open. As soon as he saw this Eaon dived out of the street and behind a house. "I swear by the Gods.." Eaon said under his breath moving around to the back of the sheriffs building. "If Road lost my only leads I'm going to kick hi-" Eaon was cut off by someone talking inside the office. He was under a window on the side of the building, but didn't dare look in.

"To know, I wanted to see the only resistance in person.” Eaon caught the last bit of a women’s sentence. Strange. Was she talking to the grunts? Did Road actually find more help? The rest of their conversation proved otherwise. The Women was one of Hawks. Sent here to dispose of the Goons. "Dammnit.." Eaon mouthed. This could mean any number of things; the worst being his mission was compromised.

Eaon thoughts were cut off as he heard the Women attack Road, and the slamming of a door. He strung his bow, yet by the time he had done that, their fight had moved out into the streets already. In plain view of any more of Hawks spies. He had a clear shot at the Women in blue armour, who was advancing on Road. But should he take it and give himself away? No. He would remain hidden, and watch to see how things turned out. He would use this unfortunate turn of events to his advantage.

Karea’s blade sliced through the air, stirring dust clouds in its wake. Though the fighter was graceful, her weapon shook with brutish force at every swing. Wide slashes rose powerful winds, falling cuts battered the earth. Soon, it would be the trickster, if Road did not think of anything.

It was taking all he had to keep up with blue warrior’s agility. Just as he thought she needed to recover, she would spring her sword right back up. Just as he thought he escaped her range, she closed the gap in an instant. Her predating eyes were locked directly on him.

Another axe swing. Road sidestepped the attack, but Karea broke into a return slash. Using his knife, the performer parried the blow. His stance, however, was ill-suited to hold ground against a heavy assault, and Road was thrown back onto the ground. Seeing her chance, the warrior rushed for the kill. With a backward somersault, Road barely avoided a finishing strike. He bounced off the ground and leapt back to gain distance.

Unexpectedly, his predator did not pursue him. Instead, she merely looked at him, a wry smile on her lips.

Blood dripped onto Road’s eyes. The swing had just graced the top of his head. Annoyed, his hand wiped it away from his vision.

Karea pulled her weapon close to herself. “Are you seriously thinking of taking us on like that? You haven’t even tried to attack me,” she taunted, blatantly showing disappointment. “Why are you fighting against the Talon? You can’t hold your own at all.”

Road only hissed in response.

“I was right to give you my real name. You won’t be alive long enough to make use of it.” She dragged her broad sword onto her shoulder. “It’s not because I’m a girl, now, is it? Too many men have died against me because of that.”

Road stood straight up, but still said nothing.

Karea’s brows furrowed in irritation. “Whatever. None of it’s important.” She dragged her blade back around and poised the blade at Road. “Now, get rid of that pansy-ass attitude and fight me seriously. Come on!”

“What’re you waiting for Road?!”

“Sorry, I’m not coming.”

“What? Well…Suit yourself, I guess.”

“You aren’t going to join them?”

A sigh. “No, scuffles aren’t my thing. I mean, I don’t really see how it’s fun to topple over each other like that…”

“Heh. Do you think you’re better than they are?”

“What? No, no, of course not.” A pause. “Well, maybe in some ways, but not…”

“There is no need to keep me company, Road. Go ahead and play with them.”

“I said I didn’t want to and I meant it. And it’s not only that. Fighting…isn’t fun. It shouldn’t be fun. It’s not just the bruises and cuts that hurt.”

A thoughtful gaze. “Most use violence as their first solution. To see the faults at your age is impressive. You’ll amount to something one day.”

“You really think? I don’t know…I mean, you talk to any of the other boys, and they’ll have a plan. One’s going to be a master treasure hunter, the other’s going to save princesses in castles and, and everything! But me? You ask me, and I’ll say I have no idea. I’ve been saying I have no idea for years. And, and, uh…You’re a Royal Knight, but uh, can you keep this between you and me?”

A nod.

“Well, you see, everyone has fathers and mothers. They’re blacksmiths or farmers or something like that, and they never worry about coins. My friends never have to worry about food. But me? I gotta worry every day. I’m an untrustworthy child in most’s eyes. Capital’s maybe a big place but no one’ll hire me for anything. So I gotta…I gotta gamble, you see? Take risks left and right. My li- my life’s on the line every second of the day. I, I even had to steal once, but I’m never gonna do that again. You promised, right?”

“You have my word.”

“And like, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because they got fathers and mothers that they want to make proud. Maybe that’s why they have the dreams they do and why I don’t. And everything that happens to me is always so…uncertain.” His head shook. “I mean, all I want...The only thing I want is to live a day where everything, where I know everything will be okay and my life isn’t going to be ruined. It’s stupid. It means everything to me, but it’s so easy for everyone else. It’s not something anyone would be proud of, is it?”

A grunt. “It would make me proud.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing would make me happier than to see you sure of yourself. I am requesting this as a Knight; you feel one other must see the beauty of your achievement. Let me be the one. I want to see the day Road Moraine has absolute confidence. I want to see the strong man he will surely become. Show me one day, will you?”

Clang.

Karea’s rush stopped abruptly. It was as if her attack hit a stone statue.

“You asked me why I’m fighting the Talon.” Road stated in cold tone. The warrior’s two-handed swing was easily blocked with the trickster’s one. His other hand pointed a knife straight at Karea’s chest. “Sorry to not have answered sooner.” His hardened eyes rose to meet the blue fighter’s, who even quivered at Road’s change. With a quick snap, Road deflected the broad sword, sending Karea reeling back. “Truth is, I made a little pact. Stomping on you fools will help me keep it.”

Eaon watched as the armoured women, advanced, and advanced, forcing Road back, again and again. It wasn't even close to a fair fight. This girl was much more skilled then Road was, which was expected, as she was obviously a trained warrior, and he was only a Jester. Eaon watched as Road was knocked to the ground again; this time the women’s blade caught the Jesters head as he moved away. Only grazed him though, but it wouldn't be too much longer before Eaon would be tracking this women back to the Talons camp.

Eaon saw it before it happened, Road didn't move back, he only brought his blade up to block an attack that would surely disarm, then dismember him. But Eaon did not see Road die; he saw the look on his face. Eaon had seen that look before only once. It had been on the face of one of his marks, Eaon had fucked up a stealth kill, but easily overpowered the less trained man, much like what was happening to Road. Eaon had cornered the man, and moved into to make the kill, but he saw that look. He saw it just before he had been disarmed, and ran through with a sword. His mark, a weaker, hardly trained man, and run him through and he was going to die. Those were the last thoughts he remembered thinking, before waking up in a cell, being tended to by a healer.

Eaon was not surprised to see Road had blocked the women’s attack. Road obviously had a reason to live, and a reason to fight. Eaon knocked an arrow. He would not be on the wrong side of a man that truly had a reason for living.

An opening was not long in the coming, Road knocked the women back, seemingly effortlessly, compared to his earlier performance. Once again, an arrow pierced through the air, aiming to dispose of the blue armoured women.

An arrow whistled straight after Road’s remark. A brief look of shock came over Karea’s face, but soon contorted in anger. Just before the arrow connected, it bounced off an invisible wall and fell harmlessly to the ground.

Two thoughts collided together in Road’s mind. The first was Eaon. The arrow was definitely his. Whether this displayed the first sign of alliance between them or the bounty hunter’s manipulation was difficult to determine. The second was Karea. As little as he knew about arcane magic, he knew springing a barrier that quickly was impossible.

The blue warrior raised her sword straight up. Streams of light shimmered to and fro from the earth to the sky. “Stop, Karea!” Road cried, instantly realizing what she was going to do. The performer’s voice, however, was overpowered with the harsh syllables spoken by her. She swiped her blade through the air, and a crescent wave emitted from her weapon.

The attack blasted apart a corner of a building, directly beside Eaon’s hiding spot. She did not aim to kill.

“Stay out of this, you damned archer!” Karea shouted angrily. “I’m going to kill you if you try that again!”

“What…are you?!” Road asked, failing to keep his calm.

She turned to Road only briefly before shouting in the hunter’s direction again. “Look what you did! He’s dopey again! His eyes don’t have that sexy look in them anymore!”

Sexy? Is she for real?

The broad sword was then pointed at the trickster. He stepped back in alarm. “You planned this, didn’t you?” she accused. “That’s why you had that sneer across your face!”

“Don’t look at me! I didn’t expect any help to arrive! And you just called that look ‘sexy’ three seconds ago,” Road defended himself, scarcely believing he was playing along with the woman’s nonchalance.

“Oooo, you’re pissing me off! The BOTH of you!” Karea withdrew her sword, and stabbed it into the ground. “You better get serious again, or you’re going to regret it,” she cautioned. Blue light emanated through the weapon, eventually surrounding the woman in light. Cracks began to form along the blade. Soon enough, the weapon would shatter.

Road’s suspicion during the battle was correct. He watched knights train and battle before, and Karea was astonishingly dissimilar to their style. Her tactics implied a broad sword was not her primary weapon. The trickster assumed she was morphing the sword into her personal choice of armaments.

The blade broke apart, spreading fragments all over the ground. A magic circle appeared on the floor, shining brighter and brighter. Road couldn’t let her complete the ritual.

He threw a knife straight at Karea, but she smashed it aside with her gauntlet. “Don’t interrupt me,” she warned, terrifying under the glow of her spell.

Road stepped back, drawing a new knife to replace his lost one. Karea didn’t explain the barrier, but her reaction to his attack spoke for itself. If he had to guess, the shield was time based, and likely needed recharging between uses. He hoped Eaon would try again, but the light became blinding and made another attempt useless. Road covered his eyes with his arm, unable to look.

“I never told you my Talon name, did I?”

Road heard the clutching of her metallic fingers. He gradually lowered his arm, the warrior lady still shining cold radiance.

“Frost Falcon,” she stated proudly. In her grasp was a sickle, its blade smooth and sharp. The handle was twisted and strange, as if two snakes were entwining each other. Patches of ice materialized in random spots of the battle field. The trickster had to keep his footing careful. “Remember it on your journey to hell!” She charged, her scythe high in the air.

Road instinctively moved to block, but discovered he was not her target. “Watch it!” he shouted to the bounty hunter. The same syllables sounded, and a crescent slash was moving toward him.

Eaon knocked another arrow but did not fire, he didn't know how but the women had been protected by a magic barrier. He had never seen a castor react so fast, so he assumed the shield must have permanently be in place.
The next few events happened so fast Eaon could barley react. A glowing sword, an arc of light soaring towards him. He dived, stupidly. He should have seen the angle, she wasn't aiming at him. He dived in front of the shot.

The light destroyed the corner of the wall, but the rubble from the blast pelted Eaon. A large one pinned his leg, and he felt aching all over from where smaller ones were embedded in his skin. He could barley hear the women talking now from the pounding of his own heart, but he soon realised that the women was much more than a warrior, she was some sort of spell-sword. He couldn't see anymore but he could picture the women preparing to kill Road.

He was surprised to hear him yell for him to look out, and even more surprised to see another flash of light shatter his previous location. He drew his short sword, but while pinned to the ground, there wouldn't be much contest, especially if the women used her magicks.

Maybe she would think him already dead? Wouldn't matter though, if he was left here he would be dead from blood loss in an hour. Hopefully Road could rid them of this women, and hopefully this town had a decent healer.

Her scythe moved from the ground to Road, slicing upward. The trickster barely managed to parry in time. Karea began her relentless chain of attacks, more swift and fluid than her previous motions with the sword. By the fourth slash, the blue Falcon caught Road’s right hand, slicing downward on the forearm to the wrist. His knife dropped to the floor with a clatter. Clutching his hand, he crouched downward.

“Two on one and you still can’t win. How pathetic,” Karea remarked. Seeing the performer unable to entertain, she walked toward Eaon’s direction. Her sickle dragged loosely at her side. “Archer boy didn’t throw too many shots on me. Must’ve decapitated him with that last shot.” Her path was cut short by Road, who weakly tossed a knife just over her. She turned to look at him, unsure if he was planning a trap.

“You must be pretty tired, casting three spells in succession,” he started, not daring to look up. Suddenly, he sprang, somersaulting under her weapon and retrieving his knife. Road jerked his left hand back, pulling with all his strength.

The invisible wire caught the scythe, and made Karea lurch forward. Immediately, she tightened her grip and moved her other hand to hold on.

“You’re levels more skillful with a scythe, but you can’t hide your fatigue,” Road commented, in an attempt to reassure himself. However, even if that was true, the trickster only had one hand to compete in their tug-of-war. Realizing if it went any longer, Road would surely lose. His gaze wandered to the hunter’s hiding spot. If there was any better time to shoot, now would be it.

Spotting Road’s eyes, Karea released her grasp on her weapon and leapt back. Road tumbled backward and snatched the Falcon’s scythe. He gradually rose upward, wondering why Eaon had not seized his chance. The trickster could not believe he died from so few attacks.

Although Karea was still stood, Road at least accomplished disarming her. Unfortunately, his small victory was short-lived. The sickle’s handle grew unimaginably cold, its frost biting into the performer’s fingers. With a gasp, he dropped the weapon.

Falcon dashed forward and smashed a knee into his stomach. Road flew backward and slammed flat onto his back. She retrieved her weapon and explained, “You need gloves to wield it, boy.”

Writhing in pain, body on the floor, both hands disabled. Why did this situation look incredibly familiar? He didn’t bother to get up. Karea bested him and there was no way around it.

To his surprise, the warrior woman did nothing. He wasn’t able to see her from his angle, but he detected no movement. Then, streams of light flew around the sky, converging onto Karea. Reluctantly, Road got up to see what destructive spell she was casting.

Falcon slung her weapon onto her back, crossed her arms, and said, “Finally.” Circles formed around her, covering her front and back. Oddly, there was no malice as there was when the warrior used her wave slashes.

“What…what are you doing?” Road asked.

Karea casually glanced at him. “Getting out of here, that’s what.” The magic continued. She sighed, and appeared deep in thought. “If that’s all you have to offer, don’t bother fighting us. You’ll die for sure. Scavenger Vulture is scheduled to pick up his payment tomorrow. Leave him alone to his business.” The lights engulfed her completely, and in a flash, she was gone.

--------

“What the hell did you do!?”

A dark figure approached. His height was comparable to Road’s, but little else can be said. He wore a hooded cloak, the ends tattered and ruined.

“Relax, Raven. The boy has nothing on us,” Falcon said. She always hated how worrisome the advisor was.

“Were you sent to scout him? No! You were sent to eliminate our underlings before they revealed us. But it seems you’ve done more than that,” he scolded.

“You expected me to wait six hours for that teleportation spell, doing absolutely nothing?” she countered, tired of his motherly nature. “I think my initiative should be awarded.”

“Initiative? Initiative!? You revealed far more than those grunts could have in captivity!”

“I revealed things, sure, but it all was to intimidate. He doesn’t have any of the useful information. He can’t read spells, so I doubt he knew where the teleport was leading to. Besides, if he isn’t quivering in his boots, then the Talon’s going to be a little more interesting.”

Raven growled. “What am I going to do with you…”

--------

Road was left alone to, yet again, wallow in self-pity. He tried moving his fingers on both hands, but to no avail. Both arms hung worthlessly at his sides. What a beautiful trend this was, going to the healing house at night and going in the next morning. It wasn’t even noon yet and so much has happened.

Eaon.

“Eaon!” he called. He jogged toward his hiding place and searched around. “Ea- Oh, dammit all.” Finding him pinned down, Road tried to think of a way to free him. “I’d try lifting it, but my hands don’t feel up to the job. Hang on, I’ll find someone to help.”

Luckily, the sheriff regained consciousness. After a quick summary of the situation, Road directed him to Eaon. “Tell me if it hurts,” the sheriff said, carefully moving the large piece of building off of the hunter.

“Can you get up?” Road asked.

Eaon tested his leg, and winced in pain. He pulled a peice of wood a couple inches lon gout of it before trying again. "Barely," He answered struggling to his feet. He felt the blood trickling down his face, arms and leg, were he had been pelted with splinters and pebbles. "I assume the women thought you would be no contest and left?" Eaon commented while looking at Roads hands, "It doesn't seem like you bested her.."

"You thought right." Road looked away, embarrassed at his second failure. With Eaon in this condition, another attack at the Talon would have to wait. "Sheriff, could you please help escort my friend to the healing house?"

"Was just planning to," the man gruffly stated. Very gently, he brought Eaon's arm around him and began to walk toward Mary's building. Road followed quietly.

~=*=~

"Road, what have you been doing?"

Another use of ointment and a new set of bandages were wrapped around Road's right hand. His frostbitten left was placed in a sink of lukewarm water, and was instructed to stay there until the old woman said he could remove it. She hastily moved onto Eaon, directing him to lie down on table.

"Sorry, grandma Mary, but is it all right if you don't...say, anything about what I'm going to talk about? My friend and I have a lot to discuss." Road felt guilty, but he couldn't deal with any interruptions. "I'm sure the sheriff will tell you everything about it later, so...please?"

Mary reluctantly agreed. She was examining Eaon's body, completely silent now at Road's request.

"Thank you. Eaon, I have to thank you, too. You saved me back there," he started awkwardly.

Eaon looked over at road as he just thanked him. "Save you? I don't see how I saved you.. I shot one arrow, then was caught in a magical blast." Eaon grimaced as a pebble was dug out of his arm. "I take it you have no mage healers in this town?" Eaon knew the question was quite redundant, as Mary wasn't casting any spells, he didn't give Raod a chance to answer, "With no magic there is no way we are going to be able to make a stand tomorrow. Unless your going to pull an army out of a hat?" Eaon moved onto sarcasm, kept his mind off the pain.