The Rogue Writer: Freelance Writing

Erwal moved swiftly along, hugging the northern wall of Tantallon and otherwise keeping a low profile. Pike Street was empty, save a dwarf that reclined on a bench near the cemetery, but Erwal was wary nonetheless, unwilling to take any undue risks.

“Did ye get it?” the dwarf asked as the dark-haired human approached.

“Aye, Khardur, and it would have been clean too had not a higher up come along. We will no doubt be targets before long.”

“Perhaps so, but we’ve got somethin’ that they’re not wantin’ us to have.” Khardur replied. “They’ll not go to the law, will they?”

“No, that they will not do. The Raven Guild is above the law by their own reckoning, and if a bounty is put on our heads, any bounty hunter could claim our prize, leaving the Ravens without it still.”

“Our heads?” Khardur asked indignantly, raising one bushy eyebrow. “You’re the thief, not I.” The dwarf argued. “I’m just around to save yer darn fool neck.”

“Either way, my short friend, they’ll not go to the law. They will come for their property themselves, and soon I do not doubt." Erwal said, patting the pouch at his side as if insuring the item remained.

Even as Erwal finished speaking, four figures seemed to appear from the shadows of Pike Street. They approached the human and dwarf from the east, cutting off any easy way off the dead end street. The apparent leader of the group, a tall man with dark wiry hair, held a bejeweled dwarven rapier. He leveled the razor-sharp weapon toward the duo. At his side was a younger man holding a standard rapier in an awkward grasp. He shook visibly, as if he had never yet seen battle. On the opposite side of the leader stood an elf holding a slim rapier with elven runes carved intricately down the length of the blade, and a similarly designed elven dagger in his off-hand. Last was a female human with a katana in one hand and a sai in the other. She was calm and still as stone.

“Well met, friends.” Erwal said with a winning smile. “What brings you out this way on this fine day?”

“You know well the answer.” The young man stated with considerably more vigor than he actually possessed.

“Do I now?”

The young man appeared ready to speak again, but the leader held up one black-gloved hand, and the youth silenced immediately.

“Return what is ours and your deaths will be swift.” He said in a deep baritone.

“I’ll be taking a slow and painful death, thank ye very much.” Khardur said. “Preferably with alcohol and women-folk involved.”

“Well lucky enough for you, foolish dwarf, we have a female member here who would no doubt enjoy ending your pitiful existence.” The leader said, indicating the katana-wielder with a flick of his wrist.

Khardur simply grinned, showing white teeth through his unkempt brown beard. “There’s two of us, and only four of ye fools. Yer odds don’t look good.” He said, bringing his stout staff to bear. “Do ye not have a few more Ravens for us to play with?”

As if on cue, two more men stepped into view well behind the first group. Each held a short bow with an arrow nocked and they both had a quiver full of arrows slung across their back.

Erwal glanced at his dwarven companion. “Six on two is quite enough I would say.”

“Aye, me rogue friend, now the fun begins.” the gruff dwarf replied.

The female and the elf advanced on Khardur, while the leader and the young Raven moved toward Erwal. The archers held their ground, waiting for any opportunity to strike.

Khardur lunged to his left, toward the woman, but stopped short as he saw the elf predictably move to backstab him. He ducked his shoulder as he spun around, charging toward the surprised elf. He hit the elf in the gut, below the level of his weapons and lifted him into the air, never stopping his reckless charge as he slammed the thin rogue into the back wall of a building. There was a loud snapping sound, and the elf crumpled to the ground with a groan.

“Dang elves.” Khardur said, rubbing his shoulder. “Nothin’ to em…feel like I just hit the wall.”

He spun to face the woman, her katana catching his left arm as he did so. He grimaced as he noticed that not only did he face a competent foe, but there was now no one between him and the archers.

Erwal drew his dirk and a throwing dagger as the two Ravens approached him. He pumped his arm, faking a throw at the younger, inexperienced rogue. The young man flinched, but realized the trick and stood his ground. Erwal pumped his arm a second time, but this time the young man did not flinch. Erwal had released the dagger though, and the young man caught the weapon full in the throat. A look of surprise appeared on his face as he gurgled quietly and fell to the street.

The elder Raven was far more cautious, and he stalked toward Erwal, attacking with a simple high-thrust low-slash combination. Erwal deftly parried the high attack with his dirk, narrowly avoiding the slash aimed at his legs. From the corner of his eye he noted that Khardur had faired equally well initially, but now faced an opponent as capable as his own.

Erwal drew a second dagger from his belt, and he and Khardur ducked and dodged their deadly opponents, desperately trying to keep the Ravens between them and the archers.

Khardur growled as he aimed a staff thrust at the woman, and as she backed off from the attack, he pulled a small whistle from his tunic and blew a piercing trill. With a grim smile, he advanced on the woman, ignoring the growing pain in his left arm.

Erwal parried a slash from the Raven’s rapier, crossing his dagger and dirk and catching the rapier’s blade. As the man lashed out with his own dagger, Erwal stepped inside the swing, driving his knee into the man’s gut as he did so. The Raven grimaced, but held his ground. Erwal released the rapier, blocking the gleaming dagger with his dirk-arm, and holding the rapier at bay with his dagger-arm. Face to face with the Raven leader, Erwal spat in the man’s eyes, then promptly head-butted him. The Raven stumbled backward, his nose broken and bleeding.

A pair of arrows narrowly missed the rogue and dwarf, and the archers re-nocked their weapons and took aim. A shot went wild though as a huge wolf hit one of the archers in the back, savaging the back of the man’s neck.

“Bout time ye showed up, Doc.” Khardur yelled as he swung his staff again, clipping the woman’s shoulder.

Noting her plight, the woman attacked Khardur with renewed fury, twisting inside his defenses and landing several small hits. The dwarf could not hope to keep up with her attacks, and as the wolf leapt onto the second archer, she lunged viciously at Khardur, swinging her katana at his left side and jabbing with her sai. Khardur gritted his teeth for the eminent pain, and swung his staff overhand with all his ample strength. Her sword only bit into his side for the briefest moment, and her sai never made contact as the dwarf’s staff slammed into her head, sending her sprawling on the ground.

Only the leader remained standing, holding his rapier defensively in front of him. His off hand now held his nose, trying to stem the bleeding. Erwal and Khardur stood in front of him, and a growl from behind informed him that Doc was near at hand. The Raven leader could feel the wolf’s hot breath on the back of his neck.

“You have won.” The Raven said, in obvious pain. “Let me leave, else the entire guild will fall upon you both.”

“Go then.” Erwal said. “And tell the guild not to send more thugs after us, or the entire guild will fall, period.”

“Aye, and Doc seems to enjoy Raven blood.” Khardur said with a wicked grin.

The leader backed away, giving the wolf a wide berth, and once out of immediate danger, he sprinted off down the street.

“Well, that was amusing.” Khardur stated, binding the wound on his arm. He patted Doc on the head as the wolf approached. “I hope it was worth my pain for yer little trinket.”

“It was, my friend, it was.” Erwal reached into his pouch and held out the small black signet ring. The image of a raven was intricately carved into the ring. “They are now in more danger than they know.” he added, slipping the ring onto his finger with a mischievous grin.