Chapter 14 - Defeating the Dark Ones!
The First of Greentide, D.Y. 500
-----Kazel indicates Marast to wait until the wizard's gaze has passed momentarily, then edges back towards the closest opening or alley for physical cover on as many sides as possible but still giving a glimpse of the wizard. She also looks out for anything inside the buildings beside them and for any signs of life, human or otherwise (including animals).
-----Suddenly the air to the left side of the wizard begins to quiver and within the breath of a moment there appears another dark form. Kazel recognizes this one as the faceless one she saw behind the stables at the keep. She hears the low raspy voice of the wizard talking to the burnt faced one. He speaks too low for her to understand what is being said.
-----Marast still squats beside Kazel tense as a bowstring. He grimaces as he watches what takes place.
-----The first wizard points back up the street in the immediate area of the cheesemaker’s building. Kazel sees the faceless one nod and he rubs at something on one hand. He then vanishes out of sight leaving the first wizard still looking up and down the street.
-----"They're probably not ready with the traps yet," Kazel whispers to Marast. "We'd better go back and warn them or help with the fight now. Seth's better with slings anyway." She indicates to move out and return as quickly as possible to check on the cheesemaker’s first.
-----A few moments later, Kazel enters back into the cheesemaker’s building with Marast following quickly behind her. Dalyor has a few oil lamps placed in different places illuminating the work progressing on the traps.
-----In front of the large barn doors, two pits have been dug. The first is very shallow perhaps only a foot or two deep. The second one, a few feet behind the first one, is also shallow but apparently not finished.
-----The dwarven guard works at the hinges of the large doors, looking to loosen them. For the moment, he works on those closest to the floor occasionally glancing at those much higher.
-----The Dread Pirate stands toward the back of the large area looking at something the human guard has made from the rigging hanging down from the ceiling. The huge brutish human stands behind them watching them with interest.
-----Seth stands off to another side looking through one of his books under the lamp light. He looks up as the two arrive hopefully looking for a new light crossbow to play with. Anything that will keep Seth at a distance from enemies must be a good thing!
-----The Dread Pirate glares distrustfully at the rope and harness, saying, "If'n Kazel got the nails, I'll get the hammer outta me pack and just tie the rope off and climb up there. Put a few knots in the rope and I'll have a place to stand up and place those nails. And the spike traps. Hopefully, they'll try to come in, grab the nails to haul themselves inside, then get knocked back out by the spike trap." Gimplefwick proceeds to tie the rope off, then goes over to Kazel, looking for nails.
-----Kazel hurries inside and clears her throat. "Umm... sorry, but we didn't buy anything yet. Ran into two of those wizards and it seems they're onto us. One of them was pointing and yapping over this way at the shop. Oh, yeah, he can turn invisible at will too."
-----The Dread Pirate stops and flaps his arms in apparent frustration, "Arrr, I hates wizards. Present company excluded, o' course. I wonder how long we have afore they charge in here and kill us all. Well, at least when we're dead we won't have to breathe this stench any longer." The Dread Pirate morosely sits down in the dirt, idly doodling stick figures in the dust while he waits to get killed.
-----Seth smiles at the word, wizard. "Well, I never really have considered myself a Wizard. I like to play the harp and I like to collect art. The tricks and magic just keep me from harm, that's all."
-----He looks at his book and then at Kazel. "I don't really know anything about finding invisible people, but if we all shove cotton up our noses and start throwing some of Dread's pepper around, we should be able to find the invisible wizards by the sneezing."
-----Suddenly Dalyor looks up at the dark ceiling over them. A chill runs through his body and he struggles to wheeze out the words, "Sumone’s on da roof!" Scrambling, he races to blow out the flames in the oil lamps.
-----Immediately, the elf bends down and quickly flings himself backwards. Doing three back flips, his feet land squaring beside the small door leading to the outside. With a small sheening sound, his short sword leaves its sheath. The elf stands there shrouded in shadows, looking to decapitate the first person to enter.
-----The dwarven guard stops working on the great door hinges and swears. Grabbing his warhammer, he waits by the doors, his eyes large with anticipation.
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