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One large Ash one of those scepters--only this weapon appeared more black and streaked with red than usual--to direct the other three One of those three slung a bow over his shoulder and scraan their approach,defensively fro for cover, then motioned for his companion, who sprinted past him to the next point of cover
They ell trained and well practiced, Barrabus saw that siain, who maintained his oblivious posture, and shook his head
Barrabus weighed the hed his options, and found his opportunity He always preferred to cut the head off the serpent, so as the three continued toward hiround and one in the trees, Barrabus slid out to the side and began his own advance--but around the foot soldiers
The one in the back acted like the leader, and so that one becaet Determinedly, stubbornly, even spitefully, Barrabus wouldn’t let concern for Effron deter him, particularly since the idiot warlock seemed unconcerned for his own safety
Barrabus continued to watch the first three for so that they had spied Effron as their prey But he knew he needn’t be too concerned Long experience had shown him that once locked in on a potential foe, these zealots practiced pure recklessness, and if Barrabus had been walking upright and singing a song of a Cali three wouldn’t likely have paid him any heed
He continued to watch their advance for a short while longer anyway, and he realized deep in his gut that it was mostly because he wanted to witness the death of Effron
The archer in the tree moved swiftly into position Barrabus saw hie of the clearing, and should charge forth at any rimace, Barrabus pulled his attention away and turned back to the Ash then the warrior’s curious armor He wore spiked pauldrons and had circular spiked metal plates strapped at various points on his body: one over his left breast, one centered on his gut, sely spiked codpiece That garb was unusual enough, particularly for the uniformly leathered Ashmadai, but what showed beneath the armor as the assassinin puzzled curiosity
Was he about to battle a rayish s
The assassin didn’t knohat tobehind him, he didn’t care, and he bolted fro in a sudden thrust He stopped his run with a hop, planting both feet and springing into an airborne soly quick, turned as the assassin flew by, and even ed to prod out with his black and red scepter
Barrabus parried that easily enough and landed with his sword cleverly underneath the Ashed at hie that weapon Up went Barrabus’s sword, carrying the scepterlike staff-spear with it and creating a clean opening in the Asher set by his hip He et back in time to watch Effron’s demise
The Ashmadai warrior twisted and tried to pull back, but Barrabus was too fast for that, and the turn only opened up a better target: the hollow of the warrior’s breast, just beside the spiked ically enchanted, sht up to the retreating ed hard
And didn’t penetrate
Only then did Barrabus understand that the Ashmadai’s backward motion was not a futile retreat, but a ploy--and one that allowed the strange zealot to pull Barrabus off-balance and also put thee his weapon And since the kill shot had seeencies in mind
The assassin moved purely on instinct as he felt the staff-spear pull free of his upraised blade, bringing his sword down hard, though he knew he’d be behind the inco his opposite hip out even wider His aly quick reaction prevented a solid strike fro blow and spun away
Halfway through that spin, he realized he had a proble scepter had struck, began to twitch and contract, and Barrabus stumbled
Barrabus the Gray never stu around the bruise, and a burning sensation ran down the side of his thigh He’d never felt anything quite like it It wasn’t poison, but ic
The twitching did not di ain, painfully, and Barrabus had to fight hard just to hold his footing
He stu either a charge or a retreat
The Ash mummy