Masquerades - Kate Novak [4]
Alias tensed, listening to the shuffle of heavy boots behind her and, without looking back, swung an elbow upward sharply. There was a cracking sound as her elbow guard connected with something solid. A rearguard raccoon gasped and groaned, having discovered that grabbing the swordswoman from behind was not as simple as it looked.
Alias spun about, launching a kick in the direction of the groan. She struck her assailant in the hip, and he crashed to the ground. From behind him came a fourth raccoon, wielding a blade.
The swordswoman retreated a step, pressing her back briefly against the saurial's as she drew her slender sword. Dragonbait's hand slid back and patted her hip, indicating that, although he'd dropped the staff, he had no intention of drawing his own enchanted blade from the swordswoman's second scabbard. For such dishonorable opponents he preferred to go hand to hand.
The paladin hopped onto the kneeling raccoon leader's shoulders, driving the thief into the ground, then used him as a springboard to leap, snarling and clawing,
toward the leader's companion. A trained fighter might have had the presence of mind to meet the charge with his sword, but the companion reacted instinctively, raising both arms to protect his face from what appeared to be a raging beast. Dragonbait landed hard on his foe, sending him sprawling back into the brackish green sewage flowing through the center of the alley, knocking the wind out of the thief. The last thing the human saw was the saurial's gleaming, sharp white teeth, then Dragonbait snapped his jaw shut and head-butted him in the face. The human remained motionless as the water dammed up behind him and finally flowed around him. Dragonbait rose, pawing and sniffing with distaste at the evil-smelling, oily liquid splattered on his tunic.
The last assailant, the one facing Alias, had the wisdom to hang on to his weapon, but not much experience in its use. He led with his sword, lunging at Alias, who neatly sidestepped the thrust and brought the heavy pommel of her own blade down hard on the back of his neck. The raccoon-faced man sprawled forward and did not rise.
The entire battle took only thirty seconds.
"No fatalities," Dragonbait observed as he kicked away their felled opponents' weapons.
"We can find the local watch and send them in to-" He hesitated, noting how Alias stood stock-still, scanning the rooflines of the buildings surrounding them. "Problem?" he asked.
Keeping her eyes on the rooftops and switching once again to the Saurial tongue, Alias explained, "The Night Masks guild is the strongest criminal organization in the west; some say it's the real power in Westgate. They didn't get there without more cunning than our humbled 'customs agents' here possess. The guild assigns watchers
to spy on their thugs-to make sure they don't skimp on reporting their loot and to provide backup in case of emergencies. I'm looking for this group's nanny… There!" Alias declared, pointing up at a roof to the north.
Dragonbait snapped his head upward, but caught sight of only a fluttering cape disappearing beyond the roofline.
"He'll go for reinforcements. Let's get moving," Alias suggested.
Dragonbait picked up the staff, inspecting it hastily to be sure its sudden impact with the Night Mask's face hadn't damaged it. Then he hurried down the alley after Alias.
A second alley crossed the one they traveled in, and they hurried through the intersection with all their senses on the alert. From ahead came the sound of music, singing, and shouting.
Dragonbait and Alias exchanged glances and headed toward the sound. Their ears led them to a small paved street that opened into a plaza dominated by a fountain just like the one where the lovers had sat. Probably both had been built by the same works project to bring more water to the commoners, Alias guessed.
A local street fair was just getting started all about the fountain. Paper lanterns swayed in