Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [114]
Lewan hesitated. If the man knew of him, perhaps this would all be over soon. He held the bundle with Berun's bow in one hand. With the other he lowered his hood and risked a glance over his shoulder at Ulaan. She lowered her hood as well.
"Well, look who it is," said the man nearest Ulaan. "Your… servant, you said?"
Lewan took a deep breath. His heart was fluttering. "The Lady Talieth gave her to me to serve my needs during my stay. Bataar, is it?"
Ulaan lowered her eyes and bowed. "Ulaan, Master."
"Ulaan, yes," said Lewan. "Forgive me."
The leader looked at Lewan long and hard, then glanced at Ulaan, and back at Lewan. "Well, Master Lewan," he said, "you go back to your room and lock the door like I told you. Let Ulaan… serve you, but you stay inside. Do this, and you and I won't have any trouble tonight."
"But my errand-"
"Will wait. You're going to do as I tell you. One way or the other." "But-"
"Enough!" said the man. With his free hand, he motioned toward Lewan and Ulaan. "Dayul and Turan, take Master Lewan and his woman back to his room. Ulaan, you know the rules. You'll serve your master well if you see that he stays there."
One of the men put a heavy hand on Lewan's arm and tried to turn him. "Come along."
Lewan shook his arm free. "No! You don't understand. I-"
"No," said the leader. "You don't understand. Now you can walk back or be carried. Your choice."
"Master," said Ulaan. "Please. Let's go b-"
Lewan's left arm shot out of his cloak. After shrugging off the guard's arm, he'd reached for the hammer and pulled it from his belt. The guard was reaching for him again, but Lewan swung the hammer and brought its heavy head down on the man's wrist as hard as he could. He heard the bones shatter like eggshells, and the man screamed.
"Ulaan, run!" said Lewan.
She turned to run but the guard grabbed her, catching her sleeve and pulling her toward him. Lewan brought the hammer back and started toward her, but the other guard and the leader rushed him. The leader reached him first, and Lewan swiped at him with the hammer.
The leader stepped back. "Stop this! Stop this now or you are dead, guest of Lady Talieth or not."
Lewan raised the hammer again. His other hand, still holding the unstrung bow in its bundle, he waved before him to ward off any strikes. "Let the girl go."
"Wrong answer," said the leader, and he came at Lewan, this time with his sword ready.
Keeping most of his attention focused on the man's blade, which he held low, Lewan struck the sword with the bundled bow, knocking it out of the guard's hands. He swung the hammer at his face, but the man ducked, reached out, and caught the haft with his free hand. A quick twist, and he yanked the hammer out of Lewan's hand. Lewan lashed out with the bow, but the guard caught it, yanked it from Lewan's grasp, and tossed it onto the pavement.
"Little bastard broke my wrist!" said the guard whom Lewan had struck.
The leader hefted the hammer, seeming to enjoy its weight in his hand. "An odd weapon," he said, "but effective." He retrieved his fallen sword, sheathed it, and looked to his injured man. "Have at him, Dayul. Don't kill him. But he's earned a hard lesson."
"No!" Ulaan shrieked, but the man holding her yanked her away.
Dayul stepped forward, cradling his broken arm against his torso. His other hand held a dagger. "You hold still," he said, "and I won't use the sharp part."
The man struck. Lewan saw it coming and tried to dodge, but Dayul was far too quick. The brass pommel of the dagger smashed into Lewan's cheek, tearing the skin. He went down onto the wet gravel, a dozen orbs of light dancing in the world around him.
"Get up," said Dayul. "I didn't hear a bone break. You broke me. I'm going to break you."
"No!" said Ulaan. "Leave him alone! Please. Please, I'll take him back to his room."
"You stay out of this," said the