Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3183699" data-attributes="member: 3285">The Senator's Seal - Part 7a: Battle for the SealSenator Janthi’s back was to Ilmarė.  He was a short, round man, seated comfortably at an ornate table.  Across from him was none other than Okpara val’Inares’ personal bodyguard, Jaleon.  The object of their search rested on the table between them: Okpara’s imperial seal.Janthi saw Jaleon’s eyes widen at the Elorii’s entrance.  He stood abruptly and pointed at Jaleon.  “You are a traitor to the Empire!  This is a betrayal on every level!” He spun to face Ilmarė.  “You must help me!  I order the arrest of these men in the name of the Empire!”  Suddenly, Ilmarė realized that there were several armed men in the room.“By Neroth’s breath, I’ll have your heart!” shouted Jaleon.  He leaped across the table to attack Janthi.  Ilmarė dove to the ground and rolled in an attempt to grab the seal, but her timing was off.  She ended up accidentally kicking the table over, separating the Senator from the traitor.  For a brief moment, she was glad her two companions didn’t see her embarrassing blunder.Then she desperately wished they were there as Jaleon’s blade nearly sliced her in two.  The aide ran screaming out of the room as Vlad swung through the secret door.  He immediately engaged Jaleon, who battered him back with his gladius.Dril entered next, only to duck as an arrow shivered in the wall where his head had been.“There’s too many!” shouted Ilmarė, huddled behind the table with the Senator.  “I’ll fix that,” said Dril.  He drew his scimitar and dagger and, with a shout, leaped over the table.Ilmarė drew her bow and fired at the archer across the room.  He was better armored than she. “You’re not fooling anyone, you know,” said Ilmarė to the traitorous bodyguard.  “You have no proof,” said Janthi with a sneer.  “Besides, it’s my word against yours.”Vlad blocked Jaleon’s blade with his shield, but he was hard pressed to keep up with him.  Jaleon was an experienced warrior.“Go back to your canton, Milandisian,” said Jaleon through gritted teeth.  “You’re no match for a Coryan legionnaire.”There was a wail as Dril spun and skewered one of Jaleon’s henchmen with both of his blades. The man fell backwards even as another stepped forward.“You’re a dead man,” said Vlad. “Even if you beat us, you’ll never make it out of the city alive.”Jaleon easily parried Vlad’s blade with his gladius. “Don’t be so sure,” he said.  “A senator’s seal can cover many sins.  Senators are the real power here—although they’re all snakes anyway.” He shouted over Vlad’s shoulder. “I’m coming for you next, Janthi!  Do you hear me?”An arrow whistled towards Vlad, but it stopped dead in tracks a few inches from his shield and fell to the ground.  “Need reinforcements,” said Ilmarė.  She called to Osalian for help…His answer came in a glowing canine that flashed into the room.  It immediately charged Jaleon.An arrow pierced Dril’s shoulder and he spun to the ground.Jaleon turned his shield to fend off the canine, giving Vlad enough time to back out of the bodyguard’s reach.Ilmarė rose again to fire at the archer but a teeth-rattling blow knocked the wind out of her.  She caught an image of one of the henchman raising his bloodied mace—her blood—over his head.  Then everything went dim.</blockquote>

Verification