Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [22]
Thirza, startled by the sheer speed in which Chev moved, fell backwards over the sofa, coming to her feet with her spell component already in hand: a piece of solidified milk fat used normally for making cheese.
Suddenly, Pierce felt somewhat awkward and unsure. He glared at her questioning.
"It's an area spell! It's centred on Chev!" she yelled in response as she backed away and tripped on a rug. "It makes everyone clumsy!"
Moving slowly and deliberately, Pierce stepped backwards and lifted the old Ignazio over his shoulder.
Martinez held out a hand and motioned to Pierce. His thoughts told the Doctor to hand the old man over. With a quick grunt, he passed the man onto the bald warrior's shoulder and stepped back to face Chev. Pierce's skills would be needed now.
Chev, as the centre of the spell, was also moving slowly and deliberately. He backed towards the window, knowing his skills were being hampered and that perhaps now was not a good time. He growled in anger and leapt backwards out the window.
And tripped on the sill, falling headfirst into the grass below.
The fighters charged after Chev and tripped over themselves in their mad rush, sprawling on the floor in the broken shards of glass.
"Thirza," Martinez said from the hallway. "Isn't there another version of the Fumble spell you could have cast? The one which only affects a single person?"
The enchantress swallowed and nodded. "Yes, but I didn't memorize it. I was meaning to use it during a bar brawl sometime." She gave a weak smile. "It worked though right?"
Pierce groaned from the floor. He had hit head against the wall and it smarted more than he cared to admit. "Yes. It definitely worked. I just wish it hadn't worked on me." He sighed and sat up, eyes immediately going to Tyn's head beside him. "I think we can officially say Chev is a threat to Waterdeep," he said, dusting himself off.
He looked about at his fellow Harpers, seeing their anxious expressions. Martinez and the others didn't agree, as it was obvious that Chev's focus was primarily the d'Or family. A family composed of more corruption and greed than the average Waterdhavian could imagine.
Perhaps they were right, but Pierce didn't like ignoring his instincts.
Chapter 3
There was an air of confusion and haste as the d'Or family left Waterdeep the next day aboard several of their merchant ships. They spared no expense at safety, right down to the last cousin. No one was to be left behind. The family went south, their sails raised and full.
Pierce and Marque Draque watched in silence as the ship disappeared over the horizon, each feeling uneasy about this abrupt arrangement. Chev was a wanted man, but it only went as far as the city watch, as he was no threat to the Harpers.
Or at least that's what Marque Draque thought. Pierce knew the drow's thoughts as well as his own and he fidgetted on the deck. His hand constantly kept going to the hilt of Tarrasqueslayer, which he tried to ignore but knew that he was anxious to greet Chev once more in battle.
All of his senses told him the warrior was still in Waterdeep, which boded well for the d'Or family and yet Pierce still felt the family was doomed to never be seen again. He swallowed and led the way under the deck of the Harper owned ship.
Chev had watched as the d'Or family departed also. Had watched in vain. The dock had been swarmed with hired soldiers, all wanting a piece of him. Someone had passed around sketches of him and already his sword had been used several times today, fresh blood still on the blade.
Now, wandering the streets in vain he vented his frustration by shoving through the crowds of people, picking his fights against those who didn't like to be shoved. He was far from weak, even after so many years of being trapped it made no difference; he was as young and strong as ever.
Yet not alive. Not truly alive, in the true sense of the word. His soul was dead, beyond repair and he knew it. He had been tortured for what had seemed an infinity, and during that rare moment of the Time of Troubles, the fact that