Since the Great Sehn was incapable of feeling fear, the only reason his body trembled as the Shinsarian assassins closed in on him was due to a sudden drop in air temperature—obviously. Sehn wasn’t the least bit disturbed by their head-cleaving swords or the way their brooding eyes emitted an ambient glow from within the darkness of their all-concealing robes. Really, why would that disturb him? Ambient glows were for bitches! Besides, Sehn’s own eyes could make that very same glow if he really wanted them to.
The streets were now completely empty. Even the few people brave enough to observe the fight had fled the moment the assassins used their cowardly teleportation magic. If not for the fact that shadow magic was beneath him, Sehn would so totally use it right back at them. They were just lucky he was so brave and fierce and not willing to sully his name by resorting to such unmanly tactics.
One of the black-robed men gestured to the two nearest him, and Sehn was forced to move quickly on his feet to prevent them from surrounding him. He wouldn’t be able to defend himself from every side. He backed away towards the Champion, who was similarly maneuvering himself to prevent Ghell and the remaining assassin from flanking him.
“I’m going to enjoy this,” said Ghell’s voice from somewhere behind. Sehn couldn’t risk turning around to look—not that he needed to. He could tell Ghell’s distance based solely on the man’s stench of rot and decay.
“Then…come and enjoy,” the Champion responded. “My master and I await.”
As if responding to Ghell’s challenge, the three black-robed assassins sprang into action. Two struck at Sehn from each of his sides, while the third went directly at him. Sehn kicked off his feet and leapt backwards, safely putting harm’s way out of
himself
. His burning blade flickered and trailed smoke with the fast movement.
The three assassins seemed reluctant to let up. They went in for a second similar attack, and again Sehn was forced to dash away—to do otherwise would allow them to surround him. He needed to keep on the move, keep them front and center. It was risky, because now the Champion was no longer directly behind him and guarding his back.
Sehn raised his blade to parry a strike aimed at his neck, then jumped sideways as the other two tried to run him through. He came into a roll and hopped back to his feet. He was now on the opposite end of the street from the inn, in front of an old wood and brick house that looked ready to collapse. Rather than go in for another attack, the three assassins spread out, fanning around him.
With three of them in front, the house behind, and two of the black-robed men attacking both his sides, Sehn realized they’d pushed him into a corner, forming a triangular formation around him. He swore under his breath. The next time the three came at him, there’d be nowhere to flee; he’d have to try to stop three blades at once.
The assassins didn’t give him a chance to think of a way out. Even through their thick garb, Sehn thought he spotted the one in front of him grin. The foremost assassin raised his sword and charged forward, while the two to the sides rushed at him in tandem.
Sehn tightened his grip on his blade. What was he supposed to do here? They were positioned far enough apart from each other that he could only block one at a time, which would allow the other two to slaughter him.
The three assassins’ blades came ever closer to turning him into a corpse and, Sehn, with no time to spare, reacted off instinct alone. He spun to his right, threw out his hand, and then shouted, “
Ralos MAHR
!”
A fist-sized chunk of the ground exploded in a shower of dirt and mud a moment before the assassin’s foot stepped down on top of it. Sehn prayed to Helena that the assassin stumbled, but he lacked the time to see for himself if his plan succeeded. He spun back around and bolted towards the assassin on his other side. Sehn raised his arms above his head, and with all of his strength, he brought his fire-infused elven blade down onto the assassin’s scimitar. The maneuver only bought him a bit of time. An instant later, the third, centermost assassin reached his position, his weapon held ready to strike. Sehn was stuck, his elven blade clashing together with his enemy’s scimitar.
Seizing the opportunity, the assassin lunged at him. This
really
wasn’t good. If Sehn pulled his sword away to deal with the other assassin, the one he was currently locked blades with would be free to lob his head off. But if he continued to stand there and fend off the current attack, he’d be killed just the same.
Nero
,
Sehn thought bitterly,
why is it that every time we go to a new city you end up pissing off someone to such an extent that I almost die
?
What the hell did you do this time
,
you little brat
?
An instant before the assassin, who was now upon him, managed to slice him open through his stomach, Sehn pushed forward with all his might, driving back the one he was locking swords with. The heat and light of the blade caused the assassin to turn his head, and Sehn delivered a kick to his stomach just in time to bring around his blade and parry the third assassin at the last possible moment.
Panting, Sehn struggled to bring air into his lungs as the two assassins pressed their attack, not giving him time to recover. He jumped backwards, then ducked as a shadow on the ground told him that the one he’d tripped was back on his feet. As Sehn squatted down, he saw the blade slice the air where his head had been.
He darted his eyes to the left. Now that there were two assassins in front of him, and one behind, there was finally an opening. Sehn spun around and raced through the opening, back across the street and towards the champion, who appeared to be struggling just as much as Sehn was. The Champion, however, was not as mobile; he held his ground, swinging his blade with such speed that he managed to deflect both the scimitar attacks from two of the assassins as well as the quick thrusts from Ghell’s dagger.
A steam-like sound tickled Sehn’s ear and, glancing over his shoulder, he saw the three assassins vanish into pillars of smoke then reappear just behind him. The surprise almost got him killed; he ducked just as one of the assassin’s attempted to cleave his head off. Sehn gulped and ran even faster until he was almost to the other end of the street, where the Champion struggled with Ghell and the two black-robed men. The inn was now shooting flames and would likely collapse soon.
The assassins chased after him like fast-moving balls of smoke. They were swift, unwavering, and focused solely on ending his life. Every time Sehn gained a fair bit of distance, they’d simply vanish and reappear close enough to strike. Sehn knew if he stopped for even a moment, the three black-robed men would stick the end of their blade in his back, which meant he couldn’t stop, and he couldn’t change direction. He was forced to run in a straight line—directly at the backs of the Champion, Ghell, and the other two assassins.
It gave Sehn an idea.
With the Champion holding the three in front of him at bay, they likely had no idea Sehn was coming towards them, which meant…
This is going to hurt
.
As Sehn raced across the street, he braced himself for impact. He switched his grip on his blade so that he held it reversed and behind his back, and he extended his free arm in front of him, fist up, shoulder tight. He eyed the assassin attacking the Champion’s left side. Then he gritted his teeth.
The idiot never saw it coming. Sehn rammed into him, and both of them hit the ground. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs and sent pain shooting through his shoulder. He needed to get back on his feet before the three chasing him caught up and dug their swords into his neck, yet he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to remove one of the assassins from the fight. Taking a deep breath, Sehn raised his blade and slammed the hilt of the weapon down on the back of the assassin’s head, knocking him unconscious.
Then he rolled forward twice before jumping back to his feet. The roll wasn’t really necessary, but with seven sets of eyes on him, it was his responsibility to do something awesome. Once again, Sehn was back-to-back with his brave minion, and now it was four against two—or five if one counted Ghell.
“That was…wise, master,” the Champion said.
“Of course it was wise. The Great Sehn is only capable of wise decision making.”
Ghell backed slowly away towards the downed assassin. Keeping his body pointed towards the Champion and his dagger held defensively, he knelt down and put his hand on the Shinsarian’s shoulder. “Still alive,” he said. “And yet he can’t fight. Useless to me now.”
Sehn watched in amazement as Ghell lifted the man’s head and pulled back the robe’s hood, fully revealing the assassin’s face under the moonlight. The sight that greeted Sehn resembled something out of hell. The man’s skin was charred, and aside from a few splotches of red, his face was otherwise as black as if he’d been burned alive. Ghell placed the dagger over the assassin’s neck.
What is he doing
?
“It wouldn’t do to have this one report what he’s seen,” Ghell said.
It took a moment for Sehn to understand what Ghell intended. Then it hit him. Surely he wouldn’t go that far. “No!” Sehn shouted. “He has lost! You can’t just—”
It was too late. Horrified and revolted, Sehn watched Ghell slice the man’s neck. The blood that poured from the wound added the only real color to be found on his blackened, charred face. Ghell released the man, and his head dropped lifelessly to the ground.
Then he stood back to his feet and licked the dagger. “Sorry for that little delay. But I can’t have your prince taking one of my men alive, can I?” The four living assassins shifted on their feet, and Ghell, keeping his face pointed towards the Champion, turned his eyes in their direction. “Do you have a problem with my decision?”
The assassins said nothing. “Good,” Ghell continued. “Now, if you’d like to be paid and
not
end up like your friend here, you’d best dispose of the Champion and incapacitate the elf. We have more important places to be.”
With that, Sehn sensed the lull in the fighting about to end. Filled with a powerful sense of disgust, he decided to take the initiative. He extended his palm towards the nearest assassin, and shouted, “
Remmos Salas
!
”
A ball of flame shot forth from his fingertips and soared at the assassin, who quickly threw out his own palm. The fireball struck the man’s palm then faded away without so much as a puff of smoke. Sehn growled.
“Have it your way then, fool. I shall show you an even greater magic!”
“Master…” the champion whispered.
“What is it?” Sehn whispered back.
“Do you not think this…is a poor time to be making bluffs?”
“Bluffs? What do you mean, bluffs?” Sehn struggled a moment to figure out what the Champion was talking about. He nearly bit off his own tongue when he realized what his minion meant. “Are you suggesting that I don’t really have more powerful magic to use?”
“I mean no disrespect, master. But…”
“Foolish minion creature!” Sehn snapped, not caring if the assassins overheard him. “How dare you embarrass me like this? I most certainly
do
have more powerful magic. You don’t even…you don’t even know! For your information, after I flew my legendary gryphon up to the mystical sky world, I was trapped inside of a secret political prison. But then I heroically blew up the special magic doors with my superior magical talents, before floating back down to the…h-hey! Why is everyone looking at me like I’m bullshitting? It’s the truth! I really did! Gah, I shall kill you all! I command you to believe my story at once! All of you! This is an official Sehn-command of the highest order!”
When no one obeyed, Sehn hissed in frustration. He would show them—he’d show
all
of them. How dare they not believe him? When had he ever lied about his amazing magical prowess?
Foolish assassins…and foolish minion
.
You will all pay heed to your God
!
He steadied himself and extended his palm at the three assassins in front of him, who judging by their whispers were casting some kind of magical barrier or another. Ghell simply took a defensive stance next to the other assassin, while the Champion stood on guard, his blade ready to defend against any attacks.
Sehn narrowed his eyes. As much as he wanted to show off his new destructive magic, he had no doubt that the explosion would kill the three assassins and anyone inside the homes nearby. And while today did happen to be his favorite day of the week for destroying the lives of innocent homeowners, Sehn was feeling merciful. Besides, he had something more important to prove.
It’s time to show once and for all that every single one of the Great Sehn’s spells are dangerous weapons
!
I wish Cah’lia was here to see this
.
Lowering his voice, he whispered to his minion, “Get ready to close your eyes.”
This was the chance for Sehn to finally set the record straight on something: a chance to undo a previous shame. Sucking in every last bit of air that his lungs could hold, he inclined his head towards the sky. He held the breath a moment, and then, with as much speed as he could muster while still delivering the proper words, he shouted over and over, “
Kallas MARH
!”