Chapter 7: From Below
-----Raven quickly positions his sword toward the man, "I don't think so, tell your friends to stop or..." Raven steps toward the man, "you'll force my hand." Raven draws his other sword. Raven glances back to the group to see their actions.
-----The sneer drops from the man's face replaced by a look of unease. "A voice from one of the approaching men interrupts, "Ya won't live long enough ta force anything!" The first man on the left steps toward Sol, while the man on the right advances on Raven.
-----Sol, so far not having a significant reaction to the new arrivals, interjects, "My friend is not joking, back off now, or yer man dies." The last part comes out with a snarl. With that, Sol takes half a step forward.
-----Sol steps forward and moves toward the center of the corridor. His eyes lock with those of the one who advances on him. The man glares back at Sol and his short sword makes a circling motion.
-----Suddenly, Sol's long sword flashes in the torchlight arcing toward the man's chest. Sol's opponent quickly steps back avoiding the attack.
-----The other lead man to the right lunges toward Raven wildly swinging. Raven pivots slightly and the man's sword stabs the empty air close to Raven's left shoulder.
-----Sol quickly sweeps his sword back across finding his opponent's mid section. The blade cuts deeply into the leather and the man goes down.
-----Raven says, "I won't yield, so..." Raven's right hand shoots up striking the man next to him with the hilt of his sword. It connects solidly with the man's forehead and his body goes limp. He slumps against the wall and slowly slides down the wall unconscious.
-----With his left hand, Raven stabs at the man who attacked him. The man steps back, avoiding the thrust, and steadies himself for another attack.
-----Behind him, the other four men also look to advance.
-----Another leather clad man steps up and swings his sword at Sol's head. Sol ducks and the weapon makes a swooping sound as it slices through the air.
-----Sol makes a quick jab at the man, but the foe, anticipating the attack, turns and flattens himself against the wall unharmed.
-----Raven turns his attention to the man who attacked him and simply says, "Next..." He gives the man a wolfish grin and moves to attack the man. Raven yells to Thalog, "Hey magic man, got any tricks you can pull out of your hat?"
-----Raven's opponent snarls, "Next, . . ya die, dog!" Raven and the man thrust their weapons at each other almost simultaneously. The sword strikes Raven's left upper arm appearing to pierce the muscle there. With a grunt, Raven brings his right sword around narrowly missing the man's side.
-----"Throw down yore weapons and grovel, fools!" the man spits back at the heroes while staring at Raven.
-----An out of place smile appears on Sol's face. "No, you throw your weapons and you won't join your other companions." Sol once more moves towards his opponent against the wall.
-----With a quick swipe, the man's short sword attempts to surprise the young hero, but Sol seeing the motion, pivots. In the same pivoting motion, Sol follows through with his right hand bringing his long sword straight for the man's chest. His opponent lets out a gasp as Sol's blade pierces the dark armor. Sol hefts back on the sword, drawing it from the man's body and his opponent tumbles forward and lies still.
-----Raven's eyes narrow and his lips curl back into a snarl. His foe quickly swings his sword up and across at Raven's head. Without saying a word, Raven turns and brings his right sword arm across and stops his enemy's sword inches from his face. For a second, Raven is almost nose to nose with the man whose jaw drops open in shock. With a heave, Raven thrusts his left arm under his right and rams his second sword into the man's stomach. With a quick, violent move, Raven brings his parrying sword back across at the man's head and neck area. The force of the move dislodges the sword from the man's stomach and, at the same time, nearly decapitates him.
-----As Raven's opponent falls, the three remaining men begin to back off quickly into the darkness.
-----Raven, whose face and chest is covered in blood, yells to the retreating men, "Surrender now and live, or are you going to make us hunt you down and kill you all?" Raven then motions to the man he knocked out, "I think I'll be able to get your friend to talk. Maybe he'll tell me where you all sleep. I'll have come and tuck you all in." Raven gives the men a wolf-like grin.
-----A voice from one of the retreating figures curses back at Raven. Another voice with a boyish quality adds, "Yea, ya try ta follow and see where it gits ya!" A few moments later, a slamming noise echoes from out of the darkness as if a door is forcibly shut. Suddenly the four heroes stand alone among the unconscious and the dead.
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