Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [40]
"Spears!" shouted Sauk, reaching for his sword.
"Lewan, run!" Berun's right hand rose, an arrow balanced between the fingers. He laid the shaft across the bow and shouted, "Down the hill! Run!"
Shocked and confused, Lewan froze. Sauk's men fanned out, each holding a spear in hand. They moved with practiced ease. Trained killers, every one.
"Master, I-"
"Lewan, run!" Berun cast a glance over his shoulder, then pulled the arrow to his cheek, bending the bow taut, and pointed the steel tip at Sauk. "The boy leaves. As soon as he's safely away, I'll come in peace."
Kerlis stepped forward. "There's twelve of us. You can't get us all before we get you."
Berun pivoted, his left arm with the bow coming round. He aimed for only an instant, and the fingers holding the string opened. The bow twanged, and the arrow took Kerlis in his left eye. By the time his body hit the ground, Berun already had another arrow across the bow and the shaft against his cheek.
"Eleven now," said Berun. "Next one who makes a move is the next one to die."
No one moved. The Vaasans were grinning and flexing their hands around their spears. Merzan's face held no expression whatsoever, but his eyes were trained on Berun, and he stood ready. Valmir had one hand firmly around his spear, but the other was hovering near an open pouch at his belt. Ready to reach for spell components most likely. The other assassins all stood ready. Except for Sauk, all had spears, but like none Lewan had ever seen. The shafts were plain and unadorned, but rather than a head or barb, they ended in a sharp spike, no larger than a horseshoe nail. An oily paste coated each spike. Poison.
Sauk shook his head, then smiled and swiped his blade in front of him, cutting the air with a harsh swish. "Spear 'em, boys!" he shouted, and leaped forward, low and ready.
Berun pivoted again and loosed at the half-orc. Sauk swung his sword down in front of him, swiping the arrow aside in midair, snapping it in the middle. The fletched half slapped into his shoulder, but it didn't even slow him. He came at Berun like a bull, his grin twisted into a snarl, muddy water spraying around each step.
Lewan knew his master would never have time to nock another arrow. Berun knew it too. He stepped back and flung his bow at Sauk's legs. The half-orc tried to leap aside, but he slipped on the slick ground and went down in a great splash of mud and water, giving Berun time to back away.
Berun tore his cloak off, dropped it on the ground, and drew his knife. "Lewan, I said run!"
Lewan drew his own knife. "I'm not leaving you, master."
Sauk rolled to his feet. Merzan and one of the Vaasans were closing on Berun with their spears raised.
"I can handle them if you'll-"
The Vaasan threw. Berun twisted to the side and his left hand shot out to grab the spear as it passed where his chest had been only an instant before. He regained his posture and brought the spear around in guard position. The Vaasan drew his knife and backed away to make room for the other spearmen.
Sauk swiped his hand across his face to clear away the mud. "Damn it, Kheil, stop this! I don't want to hurt you."
"My name is Berun." He feinted with the spear, causing Merzan to back up a step.
The others were closing in. In moments, Berun and Lewan would be encircled. The other Vaasan, still holding a spear, was only a half-dozen paces from Lewan.
"Val?" called Sauk, though he never took his eyes off Berun. "You got your spell ready?"
Val reached into his pouch and grinned. "Ready and waiting, boss."
"Then do-"
Berun stepped forward and thrust as if to throw at Valmir. It was a feint, but the assassin fell for it. He tried to sidestep but slipped in the mud and went down cursing. Berun followed through with the feint, and brought the spear round in a throw. This one he let fly. It took the second Vaasan just below the ribs. The man screamed and fell back, but he kept hold of his spear.
The assassins charged, Sauk leading them, but