Let them go for now. I don't want Brian hurt. Hopefully we can catch up befor they decide they don't need him any more.-
She cursed herself for letting them get the drop on her and taking a hostage. She stands there with her hands in the air as she watches them take the man she was supposed to be protecting away.
As soon as they were out of sight, she dashes forward to retrieve her Kopii.
-Tell the others to grab the bows and spear they left behind and watch the wagons. This may be a trick to get us away from the wagons.
I'm going to circle wide so maybe we can catch them from two sides.
Keep in touch.
She gives a wink at the end and taps her temple with a finger before slipping into the treeline. Her intent is to move quickly, trusting in her boots to help keep her quiet and try to go wide around the bandits to cacth them from a different direction than Miroslaw.::
Both mercenaries followed cautiously after the bandits, careful not to alert them. They apparently sprinted off once they were sure nobody could see them as Neko and Miroslaw couldn't find a trace of them as they continued to sneak through the trees.
Following their original direction, the mercenaries would eventually find a wide clearing from the safety of the brush. They both could see the pack of mercenaries standing around in the middle of the grass, with bandanna head harassing Brian. He grabbed the merchant by the head, telling him something, before throwing him carelessly to the ground.
The bandit's scimitar rested just at the top of Brian's head as he grinned.
::Having separated herself from Miroslaw, she relayed what she saw to him through the cuff as she looked about the clearing and where the bandits were positioned to see the if there was a way she could get closer to them without being seen. A place they had their backs to, or where the trees grew closer. If such a place existed, she would move there as quietly as she could as she waited to hear from Miroslaw.
-Maybe we can flank them? You come in the front while I slip up from behind?-::
Miroslaw stepped slowly and softly through the woods, tailing what he could pick up of the bandits path. He knew this was where the trap was set to be sprung on Neko. At this point, he was irritated by the deficiency of information that Grayson had given him. He was not even sure whether or not he should kill these bandits or if they were all a part of the SellSwords. It truly was frustrating, but Miroslaw tried to play what he could make out as his function in the plan.
Upon coming to the clearing with the bandits, he stayed in the shadows, waiting to hear from Neko. He had made it only shortly before Neko, despite Neko taking a longer path around in a flanking position. He confirmed that he was also in position to see it. He actually did not know if the bracer would still work at a larger range and was relieved to hear her voice. He liked her plan, and he would play as her partner until he received a signal to do otherwise.
“Aye. Lets do that.” with the words, Miroslaw pulled his bow once more from his back. He launched off one shot at the bandit that currently threatened Brian. The arrow was intended for the bandits sword arm. After the shot, he emerged from the woods with another arrow strung and pointing at the group. He was not subtle about it as he fully intended to draw their attention. To his knowledge, they had effectively disabled the packs only ranged dangers in the initial confrontation, so he felt relatively safe with the distance between them. As he slowly walked closer to the group, he called, “Get away from him!”
Death is no more than turning us over from time to eternity. Whether that eternity is damnation or salvation is determined in the time we have.
The arrow flew towards the bandit leader like a bolt, but the scalawag seemed ready for it as he just parried the shot away with his sword.
He and his men laughed as Miroslaw showed himself, "And what do you plan to do if I don't?" the villain said as he put his boot on Brian's head.
The merchant was in great distress and seemed to be on the verge of pleading for his life. The other bandits faced Miroslaw and dispersed slightly from their boss with weapons ready.
::-Just remember, no matter what, keep Brian safe.-
She answered back as she watched Miroslaw step from the woods. As the group of bandits attention was drawn to the lone archer, she began to slip from her hiding place in the treeline. At first she moved slowly, wanting to maintain the element of surprise for as long as possible.
When Miroslaw loosed his arrow, she began to pick up speed as she headed straight for the back of the apparent leader. She drew her Kopii as she moved, and by the time she was within range, she was sprinting. She was trusting in Miroslaw's attack to be the only thing on their minds and hoped it would keep their attention for at least a few more seconds.
Once close enough, she threw her Kopii at the back of the legs of two of the lesser bandits as she continued her charge forward, keeping low to avoid any other arrows Miroslaw might send. She would not have time to draw the blade that rested across her back, so she would have to settle for diving low at the last second to drive her weight and momentum into the knee of the bandit leader in the hopes of crippling him and knocking him away from Brian.::
With the look of Brian, Miroslaw began to worry that this was not set up by Grayson and these were genuine cut throats. Either that or Brian was a very good actor. Miroslaw remained stoic and would not show his concerns, burying them down he instead attempted to instill a bit of fear in the enemies before him. Nothing is more frightening than a man with no fear, even in the face of seemingly hopeless odds.
Miroslaw returned the chuckle in a manner that made it sound forced and derisive, his head rocking back a bit in the fake laughter. After a moment, Miroslaw's chuckle instantly stopped, as his piercing gaze returned to the leader of the bandits. He stated in a tone of disappointment, “Figures rabble like yourself would fear one man enough to threaten the blood of an defenseless merchant.” He then responded to the question almost casually, “But, If you must know, I will slice each of you filth and let you bleed to death.” His goal was buying time for Neko's assault. Another expected arrow would do little good with the ease the leader had swatting away the first.
As soon as Neko gave herself away with her opening strikes, Miroslaw launched another arrow, this time at the Bandit leader's head. He hoped his attention would be unsound long enough to land the shot. As soon as he launched the speedy shot, he would drop his bow and pull Holy-Judgment, readying himself for the nearing bandits' soon to come strikes.
Death is no more than turning us over from time to eternity. Whether that eternity is damnation or salvation is determined in the time we have.
Neko's kopi forced two of the men to kneel in pain as the blades felt into back of their legs.
However, the Hatchling was stopped short of her attack by an unexpected guest.
As soon as she was within a few feet of rushing into the gang boss, Neko found herself being hoisted into the air by something that wrapped around her leg.
Miroslaw's arrow didn't find its intended mark, but it didn't miss this time. The bandit had saw the shot coming and attempted to move out of the way, but wasn't fast enough as the arrow pierced his shoulder. With a mighty cry he cursed Miroslaw and was about to set his men upon him before he noticed what was going on behind them all.
"Good shot that one, don't you think," Quick said as he made himself known. Neko was being held by one of his Hydra's chains with another pointing its blade right at her neck.
"Grayson," the bandit gurgled under the pain, "You're gonna owe me more money for this."
"Am I now?"
"We got your damn merchant, but my people are wounded. That's gonna cost you extra."
"Well that's a shame," he said almost sarcastically.
The Sellsword leader was less buzzed than Miroslaw remembered, and appeared more menacing as he revealed his weapon in full. The chains wrapped around his waist appeared alive and active, four lines with blades at the end of each, two of which were busy with Neko.
"You boys realize you've been wanted for a few weeks now working that road?"
The boss became tense, "What're you gettin-"
In the next instant Hydra's free chains, like vipers, struck out at the bandits with vicious accuracy. One by one it sliced their necks and the ground beneath them became dirty with their blood as they clutched their throats trying to keep it in. Only the bandit leader was left alive.
"Wha-what is this?! This wasn't the deal you sonofabitch!"
Grayson didn't say anything more and wrapped one of the chains around the boss's neck, tightly. In an instant the weapon unraveled and sliced the head clean off, letting Quick grab and put it in a brown bag he brought with him.
"This is a dirty business," he muttered to himself, "You alright, Brian?"
He walked over to help the merchant up to his feet who stammered, "I'm alright, but I wasn't expecting you here, Quick."
"Part of the surprise, friend, I'm sorry they roughed you up. Some of this will go to you for any damages," Quick said as he motioned the head in a bag.
"Th-thanks, I think."
"Be off with ya, I still have some business with our friends here."
Brian didn't waste a second and ran off toward his caravan, nodding to Miroslaw as he moved past him.
Neko was brought lower so her upside down eyes could meet with Quick's, "Hello, Kitten, long time no see." All of hydra's blades were now poised at her.
Miroslaw was just as surprised as everyone else by Grayson's appearance, but slightly relieved. He was beginning to think that these bandits were going to cause more trouble than he wanted. As the gore proceeded the small talk, Miroslaw was shocked and worried even more for Neko's well being. However, he could comprehend why Grayson was doing so. He actually hired the bandits Miroslaw had previously heard about on this path, and, now, sought to cash in on their reward. It was dirty, as Grayson stated. Miroslaw was not a enthusiast of the work he was doing, but he was not entirely against it either. The bandits were condemnable and deserved the judgment he had granted them.
Before speaking to Grayson, Miroslaw sent to Neko, “I am sorry.” He gave no explanation, but it should be fairly apparent at this point. Upon seeing Grayson pointing the arms at Neko, Miroslaw attempted to ease the hostility, “So, think I could get a portion of the bounty on these guys?” He chuckled a bit, knowing he did not do too much of the work.
Grayson was powerful enough to instill fear in Miroslaw, but he saw no reason he needed to be frightened as he was not his enemy. He feared greatly for Neko though. He sheathed his sword as he moved closer to Grayson continuing to speak, “Now, what is it she stole exactly?”
Death is no more than turning us over from time to eternity. Whether that eternity is damnation or salvation is determined in the time we have.
::Neko was headlong into her sprint. Her focus entirely upon reaching the bandit leader. And thus she missed the arrival of Quick until she was snatched around the leg and raised up into the air. Even then it took her seeing the chains, and the man's face to awaken her to the danger she was in.
-Miro!! Stay back!-
She wiggled and struggled as much as she could until the point of the second arm drew to her throat.
She watched in horror as Quick made his exchange with the bandits and cut them down.
-Run!! Get Father!! It's a tra...-
Miroslaw's words cut through her pleas and tears began to pour from her eyes. She began to struggle again against her bonds, heedless of the threatening motions of the free chains, as anger shame and heartbreak roiled inside her. She had trusted Miroslaw, and he had played her for a fool. It was all part of a plan to get the Card from her and she had believed it.
-I TRUSTED YOU!!-
She wanted down. She wanted free. She wanted to kill them both where they stood. But most of all, she wanted to have never heard of these Cards, nor the trouble they have brought.
As the emotions raged inside her, a memory pushes forward. Father speaking to her as she began to learn Magick from Him. Telling her how emotions could be channeled to fuel her Magick, if she could control herself.
Blinking away the tears still streaming from her eyes, she took a deep breath and focused on the chains dancing about her and holding her up. On the shadows cast in every link by the sun overhead. She wanted them to thicken. Swell. Lash out and bind to each other and pull each other close. Her wish was to draw the arms together and bind them with shadow like sticks wrapped with rope.
If she managed to get free, she would immediatly draw the sword from her back and prepare to counter whatever attack came next, or attack herself.
Grayson chuckled a bit, "We can talk about that when you sign our charter. Now, hand that over here would you, Miroslaw," Quick said pointing at the bracer.
Quick noticed the tears streaming from Neko's face and sighed, "Come on now, I know you're a bigger girl than that. Believe it or not I actually like you and I hope this won't end as bad as you think it might."
As shadows moved away from their place in the sun, it didn't take long for Grayson to notice. Almost like a game of tug-o-war, albeit a short one, the shadows struggled to move anywhere for a second before they were put back where they were.
"I like to keep all my aces up the sleeve."
Quick's eyes flashed black and all the shadow chains came to life at his command. Neko now stared at eight blades staring down their nose at her, ready to skewer the Hatchling in every which way possible.
But they didn't, after the display the shadows dispersed to their original positions, "Now, no more tricks, I think we can be civil about all this. Watch your head."
Grayson let go of Neko and watched her fall to the ground.
::She tucks her chin to her chest as she falls so that her body starts to roll when she lands. She lets the motion carry her to her feet as she twists her stance to keep both men in view. Her hand goes to the blade across her back and draws it almost completely from its sheath. She was not sure she could take Quick in a head to head fight, and wasn't sure she was willing to try unless she had to.
Her eyes dart back and forth as her free hand is held protectively against her body.
-Don't give it to him! He gets NOTHING of mine. And he's not getting the Card either! It's too powerful for him. Too powerful for anyone! And I will die to keep it from him.-
The hurt and the feelings of betrayal came through clear into Miroslaw's head while he still wore the bracer. So too did the seriousness and determination. It was clear that she meant what she had said.
-You SAW what he did to those bandits. LOOK at them and tell me he has ANY honor! That he cares for ANYONE but himself! That he won't do the same thing to me and YOU once he has no use for us!-
She hated Miroslaw for his lies. Hated herself even more for believing them. But still she wished...she HOPED...that not everything she had felt about him were lies. That there was SOME spark of goodness in the man she had shared laughs with on the ride here...
-Tell him if he doesn't want this to end badly, as he says, then he needs to just let me walk away and give up trying to get the Card.-::
To the moment of her being caught by Grayson, she was worried about his own well being. She was a true friend and he had betrayed her trust. Her life was now in danger because of his trickery and deception. He truly felt like this was the lowest thing he had done in a long time. He listened to Neko's words as they cut him. He betrayed her. He also liked this Grayson character less and less the more he has seen what he does. Neko's words about him rang all too true in his head. To make things worse, her reasons for stealing from him seem to be of sound morality. Whatever power these cards hold, she deemed to not be worthy for a cutthroat like Quick. That was the main reason that Miroslaw changed his position.
First, Miroslaw sent Neko some words, “Why can you not just give back what you stole? That is the only reason I lied to you. You committed wrong and that wrong needed to be fixed! Just give back this... card and we can go home.” Miroslaw came closer to Quick and spoke some more, “This bracer is not yours Grayson, nor do I think they are what she stole. I don’t want Neko harmed, and the only right you have here is to take back what is yours.” His words were firm and said a lot about his mindset.
Death is no more than turning us over from time to eternity. Whether that eternity is damnation or salvation is determined in the time we have.
Grayson didn't seem to indicate how he felt about Miroslaw at the moment and only chuckled, "You really don't see the bigger picture here, I'm doing this as much for her own good than she realizes."
"You've felt it haven't you? The cards are all coming together for the first time in centuries, like they want it to be," he started saying to Neko.
At that moment the familiar tingling sensation from the cards began to emanate from within her armor and resonated with another inside Quick's coat.
"Dangerous times are ahead for anyone holding a card, myself included, and when the deck is completed in full everyone will feel the consequences of whoever draws the first. You don't want to be part of that, Neko."
Hydra reared itself back into a striking position with a wide enough range of attack to strike at Miroslaw should the would be Sellsword feel the need to interfere."
"I really don't want this to turn bloody, I ain' gonna say it again. Give me the card and we all get to walk away from this. If I have to rip it off you, I will."
::There was truth to Quick's words. She had felt the pull before, with the ratman that had tried to take the Card from her. She had seen the crazied look in his eyes as well and still wondered if it was a true part of the ratman, or something the Cards had caused. She felt the pull again now, and knew from it that Quick had another Card on him. Gods knew what it did. She had only seen two so far and both were powerful in their own way. But she could not give in. She could not bear the thought of what a man like Quick would do with the power it would give him. He had the right of it. She didn't WANT to be a part of this. However, having seen their power, she felt she HAD to be. If for nothing else then to see they were never used.
-The Card he wants. It opens portals to anywhere you desire. Big enough to drive an army through. Do you understand now why I can't let someone like him have such ability? No walls could stop him. Nothing would stand in his way of what he wanted. It's not that I want it. It's that he can't have it.
So...
What's it going to be, Miro...-
She kept her stance ready. Sword mostly drawn and ready to strike at anything that came near. Free had held against her midsection protectively. She was ready to bolt or fight at a moments notice.::