Back to back the pair stood. One wielding a pair of elegant scimitars, the other a powerful long sword. A half dozen orckind surrounded the duo.
“Not exactly how you planned your first day out of the citadel, is it Darius?” the one with the scimitars snickered as he turned aside a violent thrust with his left blade.
“You’re enjoying this a little too much, Tarak,” his compatriot shot back and brought his sword down in a powerful overhead chop that opened the creature from shoulder to hip.
Twin blades glittered in the shafts of midday sun cutting through the heavy clouds. With matching thrusts, he lanced two creature through opposing eyes. “What’s the point of doing something if you don’t love your work?”
An uttered curse slipped from the man as he turned his sword to deflect a downward strike. His arms trembled beneath the force of the blow and he clenched his teeth.
A volley of arrows rained down on the pair from the man’s left.
It took all his companion’s considerable skill to knock them aside and keep his opponent at bay. “Hakuma be damned,” he grumbled, invoking the god of war. “Where did these ugly beasts even come from? And how’d they get reinforcements so quickly?”
A response formed on Darius’ lips when a figure sprinted past the pair and disappeared in the direction of the arrows.
Tarak set his left blade spinning while he thrust repeatedly with his right, driving the two creatures back. As fluid and graceful as a dancer, he sliced across the left monster’s throat, spun, and brought both blades down from right to left opening a bloody pair of gashes that finished off the second creature.
Darius, meanwhile, not nearly so practiced or elegant, finished the final orc with his sword through its lung.
“Your man has impeccable timing,” the half-elf praised, as he wiped his scimitars clean on the nearest orc. “I didn’t even hear him coming.”
The man shrugged and bobbled his head. He followed his companion’s lead and sheathed his long sword. “I often forget he’s about. We’re lucky he’s such a skilled swordsman and familiar with this land.”
Tarak thumped Darius soundly on the shoulder. “Let’s head back toward camp. Our relief should be along shortly. You look in desperate need of a strong drink and a soft woman.” With a bawdy laugh, he motioned the younger man to follow.
“You acted recklessly, my lord prince,” stated a voice behind him as the pair made their way toward the citadel. “What would you have done had I not arrived when I did?”
Darius dismissed the concern with a wave of his had. “Tarak and I had everything under control.”
An exasperated sigh and an uttered curse followed them down the corridor.
Tarak chuckled to himself and shook his head.
The World of Terra 