Zaedus hadn't left the courtroom but half an hour ago. He'd been seeing to... oh, whatever a big hairy newly appointed Commander sees to around Wistvale; which had taken up much of midday.
Dark clouds had rolled in from the sea and consequently dropped their content over the country side, painting Wistvale a slick, dull grey. The rain fell both hard and fast and cut down visibility, people further down the road were nor silhouettes with indiscernible features as they darted under the eaves.
Perhaps he turned down an alleyway, or perhaps he was just patrolling the main road OR perhaps he was looking at enlisting in a knitting class... but as Zaedus went about his business, he couldn't help get the distinct impression he was being followed.
The rain hampered his sense of smell. All he smelled was the humidity creeping off the ground, and the dirt turning to mud. He had drawn his hood at this point to cover his face. Knowing some of the streets he did decide to bank down one, not in an attempt to evade his follower, assuming he had one but usually when it feels like someone is following you, they are.
'So this is what it feels like?'
He thought to himself as he did so. He noted the alley was clear, and dead ended no less. He did not turn around, but made no effort to conceal his hand slide up to his back, wrapping his clawed hand around the hilt of his sword. He did not draw it, just let it sit there in the vice that was his hand.
The voice was an unpleasant one as a tall man, dressed as any rogue might; stepped through the mist and rain and entered the soon-to-be arena that was this dead end.
"You don't even have the sense to avoid a dead end. Makes our job that much easier, doesn't it boys?"
The 'boys' didn't say anything, but instead filed into the end of the alleyway and began to fan out, blocking any chance Zaedus might of had at escape. All of them were dressed with murder in mind, they would not pass as civilians away from these back streets. Their faces were concealed from the nose down, cowls over their heads and all had their hands at the ready by their sides. Two of them already had wristbows trained on Zaedus.
Zaedus merely laughed. Though not educated in the sleuth types that stalked to murder, he was familiar with stories. Assassins, always looking for a gold to rim their pocket.
"Or perhaps I led you here to merely give you false confidence, and in turn kill you that much easier."
The second he started that sentence the blade was out, and but the time he had finished it he had turned and taken a few steps in the direction of the one talking. He goal was to use the dialogue as a distraction, to conceal his actual movements. No doubt any of the more attentive ones may have noticed, but he was hoping with the density of the rain it would make it slightly more difficult. But he knew that the rain may have been an advantage, it could prove to be an equal disadvantage. No matter, his goal now was to cut the person in twain.
Before Zaedus crossed the gap, a flurry of brilliant blue sparks of light buzzed by either side and felled the two assassin's bearing the wristbows. Zaedus' distraction was that much more complete with the accompanying attack and the leader fell back, quickly bringing his paired blades to his front. He caught Zaedus' attack - if only just - and groaned as he pressed back against the sudden rush.
"Cut him down!"
The leader shoved back and dislodged his weapon from Zae's, then again fell back to allow two of his cohorts to fill the gap. Both brought short blades to bear and after studying him for a moment, they attacked in unison.
Another had slipped behind Zaedus and he hadn't missed it, but as the attacker came at his back, a wet 'chunk' sounded from their own back and they fell, their weapon clattering upon the stones. Blood from the three felled was washed across the slick street quickly, running between Zaedu's feet.
Using the opportunity from his "help" he smelled the blood running between his feet. It was pleasant, seeing the leader fall back with his left hand he aimed his palm at the free flowing blood, raising his hand above his head palm facing the sky just above his ears He called the blood to rise. He smirked. He pushed his hand forward, commanding the tendril of crimson to lance forward, and calling to it to harden. As it sped forward he willed it to divide into three short prongs. He goal was to skewer the man who led the attack.
Zaedus neglected his other two attacked but luckily, they were thrown off their attack and decided it best to diffuse his magic instead. Each of the men as well as the leader whipped about short cloaks and each, in turn; simply diffused a prong of his summoned blood trident. This gave Zaedus a moment to act though, the first pair within easy enough ranged.
"Hah! The fool does use blood!"
It seems they knew a thing or two about the newly appointed captain.
Meanwhile a dark figure, dressed just like the others; sprang from hiding along the rooftop and to Zaedus' right hand side. He could see the bow being drawn and at this range, he had little opportunity or range to move. The string snapped inward as the assassin released...
Again, a wave of those electric blue bullets shredded the air and cut the arrow down before it made it's mark. The man on the rooftop looked to their source but was only rewarded with his head rocking back harshly, a knife jutting from his forehead. The body fell to the alleyway below, even as Zaedus acted once more.
(Ok, no neglecting incoming attacks or you will get hurt. Here's a couple of rounds to write up how this plays out. You have two immediate attackers to deal with first and foremost._
((Ahh, thought the 'helper' took them out. Misunderstanding on my part. Apologies to you for the derp-ness)
'Curses'
He said to himself. Who were these people? How did they know so much about him.....the only ones who knew he used blood magic was...
He shook his head dismissing the thought. He remembered the two who slipped near him to the rear. hoping to catch the strike in time he turned and dropped to a knee bringing his blade diagonally across himself, the flat of the blade facing him. The sword was positioned from right to left from Zaedus' own view point, the end of the grip at the top, the tip of the blade to the ground.
In this position he called upon the blood once more, this time using what was left to rise up behind him to cover his backside. Although not completely he did not want to exert that much force, only to dampen any incoming blow and reduce it to a non lethal strike.
(Ah, by three I meant the initial two with wristbows, my fault.)
"What in the blazes?"
The leader had sprung in and sought to attack Zaedus when he presented his back, but was instead met with a sudden wall of crimson that brushed his attack aside. It didn't have the force that might have been hoped for, as the blood was largely diluted by the rain. Zaedus would have to focus much harder to produce a proper result and his two techniques had already proved harder than he may have initially thought to consider.
Facing his attackers now, Zaedus could see them coordinating their movement. A male and a female, they made subtle gestures to one another as one came in high with a direct attack, the other ducking to the side and looking to wind their sword into his gut.
He was growing a bit tired. His temples were already throbbing and making his eyes ache. Too much too fast he guessed. He forced himself to the left and sweeping the blade up. He was satisfied when he heard the metallic clang, however he did wince when he felt the tip of the opponent's blade bounce off of his armor. The sudden change of angle must have made his attacker adjust too awkwardly thus the glancing blow.
He rose form the ground, seeing the male still off balance from his sudden thrust up he took advantage of it. Reaching for his back he produced the the axe that was strapped next to his sword. He laid down his sword and gripping the handle of the weapon he lurched forward throwing it with all his might. The sickening thud it made as it ripped through flesh, bone then flesh again was somewhat disturbing as the axe made it's way through. Hearing the slight din from metal as the man fell told Zaedus the blow had been fatal, at least some of the blade of the axe was protruding from the assassin's back.
He saw sudden movement to his right as the female lunged for him again, she was sloppy about it. He sidestepped the attack, hearing a tearing sound as she has pierced his cloak. He grabbed her wrist and turned it violently towards him, feeling and hearing the bone and ligaments tear, rip and break. He ignored her wails of pain as he brought her to her knees. Picking up her sword since she had dropped it after he broke her wrist, he plunged the blade into her back, between the shoulder blades and let her drop. He picked up his sword, and faced the leader.
Zaedus was breathing heavily, the exertion from the spells, and the sudden burst from the melee has left him with a headache, his side throbbing from the glancing blow, no doubt it was bruising as he stood there, which he knew would hamper his flexibility.
"Well.....gather enough information? As I see it...you are the only one that still stands. Unless my unseen guardian decides to change that."
The leader faltered now and didn't look quite so confident. His lower face still concealed, Zaedus could clearly see the loathing in his eyes as the man spat a string of curses. He stepped back again, his hand slipping into a pouch at his side...
Zaedus could see past the leader's right shoulder quite clearly. There had been nothing of notice there prior, just a corner in an alleyway filled with warehouse cast offs and shadows. But something stirred in those shadows now. A figure rose up, and took form in that blackness, cloaked head to toe in the darkness that surrounded him.
The leader's hand rose on high. It was quick, a smoke bomb clutched in his grasp.
The figure in the shadow darted forward and as those same shadows washed away from him as though the rain itself had done so, the figure leaped and drove his knee between the leader's shoulder blades. The leader fell forward in an instant, crashing at Zaedus' feet. The smoke bomb rolled away without detonation and the leader groaned, the air struck from his lungs. His eyes were pinched closed and he was looking for air and finding none.
Kiga pulled back the blue cowl - the same blue that Grayell wore - and stared at the defeated man with cold, emotionless eyes. He didn't stir for a time, just simply looked down upon the man as though thinking. There was no way for Zaedus to know just what he was thinking, as his face gave away nothing.
But, Kiga changed that when he looked to Zaedus. He smirked in a cheeky manner and nodded in greeting.
"Well Commander Zaedus. Your kill or your captive, I won't tell you which."
Zaedus smirked. He turned his back on them both to retrieve his axe. Placing a firm foot on the chest of the dead man, he yanked back hard. Once it was free he stumbled backwards nearly loosing his balance.
"Well, that one was well stuck nice and well. I was fearful he would not let it go."
he walked back over to the Vanguard Agent and the would be assassin. He took the man's dagger having found it laying on the ground, he flipped it in his hand. Taking his free hand he plugged the man's nose, forcing him to open his mouth to breathe. Once he did that he shoved the end of the hilt into his mouth, then let go of his nose. He looked to Kiga again.
"See you are of Grayell's little outfit, I assume you are Kiga?
At this juncture he would have extended a hand in greeting but he just stood, looking at the man they had at their feet.
"I will take him as captive. I will have him interrogated to see who placed the brand upon my head."
Kiga tried not to look bothered when Zaedus spoke his name. He remained out of sight of the leader of the assassin's of course, sharing any more information with such a man was not an entirely smart idea. With the cat out the bag though, he nodded his head.
"Yes. I was looking to catch you before you went home Commander, when I noticed you were being followed. It seems your would-be killers didn't think to watch their own backs though. We have much to discuss, you and I."
Kiga pulled a silk purse from his belt at that moment and bounced it in his palm. It was clearly coin. He then casually tossed it to Zaedus.
"That settles any debt I have to your newest prisoner. You know the girl, rather nervous sort."
He nodded to Kiga, and happened to notice the bothered look. At that point, through his fatigue he probably should not have said who he was or associated with. He caught the bag and to alleviate any tensions.
"No matter, as for him..."
He pointed down to the new prisoner.
"He will die anyway."
Zaedus left the alley way to shout for any roving Sentinel in the area to come to his position. A few minutes passed by and two showed up huffing from the run across town no less. He ordered them to escort the assassin to the holding cells, and was to be kept away from the new prisoner.
"Well then, shall we? I would much rather not discuss things of importance in the rain."
He laughed afterwards, then waited for his response.
Kiga seemed to relax a little when the leader was carted off, though he immediately turned his attention to the bodies of those slain but moments ago. He rifled through the pockets of one and then pulled free some coins. It was odd, Kiga certainly seemed to be paying undue attention to them. After studying them for a time, he rose and again faced Zaedus.
"Yes, we shall. I have had enough of the weath..."
His reply was cut short by the blood curdling scream of a man. Not too far and unmistakably in the direction the guards had taken. They couldn't be but two streets away.
Kiga looked to Zaedus with sudden realization, then broke into a sprint toward the sound.