She had never really intended to stay so long. But she did love to revel in it. Poor innocents waiting for their temple to be rebuilt. They prayed outside , beyond the walls of the place they would call Sanctuary.
She had found them easily. They weren?t their warriors, only those who wished for peace. Those who walked towards the ruined temple in the distance. Their deaths had been easy. Three young women, lay dead at Natalia's feet. The message written in blood on the ground and wall was clear enough. A message left for the sisters and their righteous lot.
She hand planned on letting the last one go. The one who coward in the far dark corner. The one who would bleed to death as she ran to find help. That was the whole point. Bait.
Day light was creeping in. The dawn coming in the east. Talia's white hood was up, that gray silk covering her face, all but her eyes. Her hands though gloved were bloody, as was her knife, dagger and fan blade. None which the bothered to clean as she walked past the dead towards the woman hiding in the shadows.
No one could ever claim that Hera Fyre didn?t follow through. She had promised that she would help. And Thus she would. Something was wrong, that much she knew just from her short conversation with Issy. The sisters were in bad need of some allies. Hera knew three willing women who would gladly help. Sure Shea would not set foot in Rhydin, but the wind mage could help in other ways. And Jade needed something of an outlet while things were slow and easy in Nosgoth.
But for nor Hera fell back in to an old routine. Double swords on her back, bow and quiver there as well. Paroling the streets and alley ways. Going roof top to roof top.
Rhydin always seemed to smell of blood and death. But as the wind shifted in from water, across where the Sanctuary sat. The scent of blood was too strong.
Cowering in the dark the woman protected her cargo. It was the only thing she had of value.
Natalia slid closer. Already the others were dead, and this one was the last. "You should run." The woman coward closer to the wall, murmuring prayers. "I can let you live if you run."
The woman likely knew that to be a lie. For already she was wounded, bleeding. It would be luck if she made it the few blocks through the gates of the Sanctuary for help.
"Alright then." Natalia took a step closer and the woman screamed.
The scream that pierced the coming day had Hera on her toes and off and running across the nearest building roof top. She was a block away. The building jumping would have to end, for she couldn?t make the next jump. So the streets turned to her route.
The scent of blood was strong. And the sight had even Hera, former assassin biting back bile. Dead, three young women. They were killed with skill. Hera didn't have to bend down to see they were killed with a dagger, a knife and some other sort of weapon. There was nothing she could do for them.
She scanned the near by area, the sun would come up soon, the light was creeping ever more near. There was an alley way there to her left. That was the one she heard the movement in.
"Help Me!" The woman screamed when she peered over the shoulder of death at the other who came in to view. "Please."
Natalia spun and saw the woman at the edge of the alley way. Two scimitars and a bow and quiver. Dressed in dark clothing. By her height and statue Natalia knew her to be a warrior.
"Well, at long last I assume you run with the good lot that wish to save this city."
Hera looked behind the woman who spoke to the injured woman against the wall. She had to get to her. The woman before her was dressed in white, with a gray cover over her face. All Hera saw was blue eyes, and bloody sheathed weapons.
"Let her go."
"Come and get her."
Hera grinned, and walked towards this assassin. It would be close combat, so Hera did not unsheathe her swords, she went in fast and swift with her hands and feet.
Natalia blocked the first powerful punch. Then the second kick with fast hands. This woman was skilled and powerful, this fight would be well worth the blood spent to get it.
Kicks and punches were traded, of them all only three landed on either side. They were evenly matched.
Hera wiped the blood from her split lip as Natalia backed off to re-adjust her broken nose. "Your good, fast, well placed moves. Your skills tell me your not so different from me." Natalia grinned.
"Maybe once, long ago." Hera didn?t wait but went in again, with strong punches and sweeping kicks. Natalia blocked and fought back with as much force as Hera gave in. Soon they broke apart again only this time Natalia armed herself with her wicked fan blade.
Hera's brows rose, she had heard of assassins like that, of an old order who used weapons like that. Her swords were too long for that close combat so she drew one of her daggers from her belt. Lang had made her this one, its hilt was black mithral its blade already toned red, it held some magic and was in tune to her own inner flame.
Natalia looked to the dagger and smiled. Perhaps at the end of this fight she could add the fine item to her own weapons stash.
They went at it again. Trading blows. Hera's mind was on the fight but she kept her eye and ear on the woman hiding in the shadows. She was wounded and losing blood. Hera had to end this quickly.
Block, parry, slash. Parry, slash, block.
Hera moved her feet, left, right forward, back.
Natalia mirrored her movements. They went at it again. Move for move they were evenly matched till Hera got a slice in.
Natalia winced and eyed her ruined robes and then growled at Hera. They fought fiercely for the next few moments till Hera had a matching wound on her left arm, this was long and thin from the fan blade. But it was hardly enough to stop the fight.
Hera was tired of playing it fair and used her momentum to carry her up and over this white clothed assassin. She landed behind her Alfirin drawn.
Natalia froze then looking at the fine sword then to the woman before her, with her tattoo and flame filled eyes. "You fight well." The sun was rising and Natalia could hear the sound of coming guards.
"We will meet again. Make sure your sisters get my message." She bowed and ran.
Hera let her go and looked to the dead women and the message in blood. She sheathed her sword and went to the wounded woman. "Its alright. " Hera held her hand out and the woman rose slowly.
"Let me get you to some help."
When the woman nodded Hera easily lifted her of the ground and started away. The guards stopped her for only a moment. Hera was surprised some of them knew her, or maybe it was the look in her eyes, or the dead women behind her that had them letting her pass.
~~~~
The sun was long risen and Hera should have been home with Lang and her son. But instead she had gone back to the scene, the guards were all over it, already the news would spread. She was sure by now they knew.
But it was her duty to them that she go. So she left the guards to their duty and she went to do hers.
The gates of the Sanctuary were open. She walked right up the path to the doors. She had not been here in some time. Off in the distance there was rebuilding of the lost temple. She could hear someone, a few someones' within moving about talking softly.
She lifted her fist and gave the door a powerful knock. It was her duty to let them know all that had transpired.
(Posted with Hera muns permission, story also in The main Scath folder. Feel free to join good or evil)
