The Rural Heroes
by Patrick E.



  Phil sat in the courtyard outside of Xion�s large tower. Stormy gray clouds gave the day a cold, misty look; one that matched what the young lord was feeling. He sat on a wooden bench just off the walkway from the invisible door in the wall. The flowers that surrounded him made him feel better, but he still mourned. Rachael was dead, and he was not there to protect her. He had been off doing his own thing, pursuing his own goals. Even he couldn�t have done anything and it hadn�t been his fault he continued to blame himself.
  A slight rain started to fall on him, but he seemed not to notice as he sat staring at nothing, mourning his loss. Normally Phil was bright, happy, and outgoing. Now he was a shell of his former self. He just sat there, looking but not seeing, thinking but only blaming himself. He refused to move, to leave the tower; he ate only so he had strength to defend the few friends he had left. A frown seemed to have imprinted itself on his face; his once warm heart had quickly went cold. It was a sad, sad day for the hero from Twinrivers.
  Watching, Phil saw as Phalanx and Roebuck left to pursue their own goals until he needed them to take down the Black Blood. Just after they round Rachael�s body Phalanx preformed a small ritual for the dead and told him and Weber that it would be good to allow a few days of mourning so that Phil would be in top performance. Phil and Weber were to send a message when they planned to leave. A feeling deep in his gut told Phil that the attack would be within the next day.
  After showing the two men to the door Weber came over to where Phil sat on the bench. The look on Weber�s face bothered him. He looked as if he had just thought of something that was funny and he was trying his best not to look happy. Phil knew that he was not sad at her death; it was just that it really didn�t affect him that much. However, he knew that Weber was sad for him and would not try to hurt him by showing otherwise.

  �I think we should strike tonight,� Weber said standing before Phil.
  �No.�
  �Why not, tonight is the perfect time. They would not be thinking that we would retaliate so quickly. They will expect us to mourn her death, not strike back.�
  �That may be true, but that is not what we are going to do this night.� Phil stood up and gives his friend a cold, hard stare until he looked away.
  �Well we can�t just sit her waiting for them to come and get us first,� Weber said looking back to Phil. �You are not in any condition to fight and they would take us over quickly with you out.�
  �What did you just say?� Phil asked in a low, calm, chill voice that put Weber back a step.
  �I didn�t mean anything, I was just saying that you are very sad and will have a hard time concentrating on battle in your condition. That is all I meant, I swear,� Weber took another step back as Phil continued to stare him down.
  Finally Phil looked away, �Maybe you are right. Maybe I am not all here, but maybe I am stronger than ever. Maybe this loss has only fueled me to destroy anyone that wants to hurt someone I care about. Maybe you are too stupid to realize what I am going through.�
  Phil turned back to Weber with rage burning in his eyes and his body shook from anger. For some reason Phil felt a great power flowing through him. He could feel his rage pouring through every part of his body. The sensation of the power that burned at his nerves felt so good to the young lord. Phil had felt so helpless when he found Rachael�s body, but now all he knew is that someone he loved had been killed and that it would never happen again. That wasn�t all however; he could feel something more welling up inside him with the anger. He felt as if he wanted to kill someone�something�anything. He wanted to kill the one who had caused the great pain that seemed to consume his very being.
  Phil started to walk towards Weber, slowly drawing his sword. Weber though slowly walked backwards, away from his friend who had apparently lost his mind. When Phil got close enough to strike his large friend a bright flash of blue light stopped him. Standing between the two men was Daerlon, King of Suza and its lands.
  Daerlon looked down at Phil�s sword and frowned, �Whatever is going on here is going to have to wait. I have some bad news.�
  The sight of the powerful wizard king made the rage inside Phil subside a little, but he could still feel it. He could feel the power, the sensation. It was in him, off to side waiting for him to release it, waiting for him to take his vengeance, waiting to be brought forth. Even though the power made him feel good and strong, it also made Phil afraid, very afraid.
  Phil returned to the bench that he was on before and looked off into the sky. Weber sighed at the sight of the smaller, but slightly crazy lord calm himself. Daerlon stayed where he was eyeing the two.
  �What is this bad news? I am afraid that I will not be able to take much more,� Phil said still looking off into the gray cloudy sky.
  Daerlon stared at Phil for a long moment before answering, �I hate to say this, but the only friend I have ever had in this world is now dead.�
  �Who�s that?� Weber asked.
  �Xion you moron,� Phil said, his gray eyes flashing white for an instant as he struggled to control the extra rage welling within him.
  �What has occurred here,� Daerlon demanded, noticing the rage within Phil.
  �Phil�s pretty little woman died and now he is going all to pieces on me,� Weber answered in spiteful tone.
   Before Weber could even blink his eyes a Phil�s body flashed white. In the next instant Weber felt himself get knocked to the ground with Phil on top of him. Everything started to go black for the big barbarian as felt powerful fists being slammed into his head. It did not feel like fists however, it was more like stones being flung like giants. Luckily for Weber the intense pain made him black out before he ever got to really feel it.
  After the white flash around his body, Phil found himself on top of Weber unleashing the rage upon his friend. In shock and amazement Phil looked down at his hands, his long slender fingers that were calloused from carrying a blade. Never had he used his hands in such away. The power flowing through him felt so good, addictive even. But at the same time it felt so wrong, so different from whom he was. Phil had never felt such power, never had he struck out in such rage, never had he hit someone he cared about out of anger.
  �Phil, we need to talk,� Daerlon said putting a hand on his shoulder.
  In the shock, Phil was unable to make the words that he wanted to say. Instead he gave only a nod. After pulling himself off of his unconscious companion, he turned to the wizard and found his voice.
   �What is happening?� Phil asked.
   �You have the rage my young friend. You have the rage of protection. I have seen this a few times before, but never have I seen it like this. Normally a person who has the rage comes from a family that has many magic users, especially sorcerers. This is not a normal rage, but a rage that is powered by magic. The rage of protection normally occurs in someone who has felt great pain and takes an even greater responsibility in protecting his love ones. Normally a person has small enhancement of senses and skills. Their eyes will flair with a red fire and will die out when the danger is gone or they feel that they have taken revenge for their pain, but will reoccur when a loved one is in grave danger. In some of the more powerful ones a red glow will surround their body and they will become drawn into a berserk. Normally when this happens they will die in battle or sacrifice themselves because of great need.
   �You were different though. Your eyes became white and your whole body was outlined in the white fire that was in your eyes. I could feel your pain as a watched you. But what gets me the most was the power of the magic that I could sense around your body. Not even mages with a good amount of power but off such an aura. I must admit that I was afraid when I seen your anger flash out. Normally a person with the rage of protection has a small enhancement, you though, you moved so fast that I blinked once and it was all over. I watched your magical trail only to find that you had leapt from the seat, ten feet over to me, jumped over my head, and then landed on Weber where you knocked him out with but one punch. He will be lucky not to have a broken jaw. You my friend are a very dangerous person in this state, I am sorry, but you are going to have to keep a tight rain on that anger of yours until this blows over.�
   �I�m sorry,� Phil said weakly looking over to where his friend lies on the damp grass. �I just felt this need to protect, to fight. I felt this thing inside of me, telling me, compelling me to strike out, to fight, to hurt anyone who would harm the ones I love. When you told me Xion died I felt the anger grow and take over my will, control me.�
   �This is something that I promise you will be very difficult, but remember to always keep this anger wrapped down when you feel it compelling you or it will take over and kill anyone around you. Release it only when you need to, only when your anger will be satisfied.� Daerlon sighed as he looked at the young lord who was now crying.
   After a few moments Phil spoke in a soft whisper, �My mother was a powerful sorceress. She died just after giving birth to me. My father had told me that I would not have been born, but that my mother used magic so that she could give birth to me. She created my sword and told my father that he must make me the greatest swordsmen ever. Do you think that maybe it is the sword that is causing this rage in me? That maybe this sword�s magic was made to protect me?�
   Daerlon�s eyes blurred for a second and he seemed to wobble where he stood. When he came back to his body he answered, �Your sword is good and powerful, but not that magical. It was made better than any sword I can see, but it has strong enchantments for keeping a razor edge and having a lot of effect on wizard�s protections. Other than that it has a small enchantment to make the sword the white color that it is. I am almost positive that the sword is only a tool that you are using and nothing more.�
   Phil nodded reaching down to feel the hilt of the blade. He felt relieved when the anger he felt inside him did not swell and try to take over. However he thought that it was more than coincidence that his sword was white and the power of his rage was white.

* * * * *

   Phil sat looking over Weber while he lies unconscious in his bed. It was earlier that day that he had let his rage control him and he struck out against his friend. After Daerlon had looked over the big man to find that Weber did indeed have a broken jaw and was able to heal it. A small purple bruise was visible on his cheek however.
   �I am extremely sorry for attacking you my friend,� Phil whispered to his friend as he sat watching him from a chair next to his bed.
   �That was you?� Weber asked suddenly.
   Lord Phil looked down to see Weber opening his eyes and feeling his face where the bruise was. Phil wondered how long his friend had been awake and just hadn�t said anything.
   �That was me,� Phil admitted with a slight smile.
   �Well you are lucky it�s just a small bruise or you would be getting quite a beating my little friend,� Weber said sitting up, smiling.
   �Are you angry?�
   �Not angry, just shocked. I only want to know one thing, what in the name of all that is noble did you do?�
   Phil looked away with a shrug, �I�m not really sure. Daerlon told me that it was a magic that was fueled by my anger. It is called the rage of protection. Supposedly I am the only person that has ever used this magic with such strength and power. Normally it is a slight enhancement that focuses a persons mind so that they can do things that are normally impossible. Somehow though I was able to jump ten feet, over the wizard�s head, land on you, and then knock you unconscious with a single punch.�
   �I don�t believe it,� Weber said.
   �I know it is hard to believe, but that is what happened. I myself didn�t want to believe it either, but the sensation is all too real.�
   �No, its believable, its just that there is no magic in this world that could ever make a wuss like you hit that hard,� Weber give him a smile and then winced at the pain of the bruise.
   �Say anything like that again and I�ll hit you so hard you�ll die of old age before you ever wake up,� Phil said with mock edge to his voice.
   Weber just laughed and climbed out of bed. He sniffed the air, his face suddenly becoming serious, �I smell dinner. A good hardy beef stew by the smells of it.� The big man ran from the room without another word.
  Phil burst into laughter. He was glad that his friend was not mad at him and held no hard feelings. It would hurt Phil deeply if Weber had told him that he was angry for what he did, but he honestly believed he deserved nothing less. At that moment the young lord vowed to never use his power against Weber or any body else he cared about ever again.
   With a wide smile, Phil followed Weber down to the kitchen where he was already seated with Daerlon. Both men had large bowls of steaming beef stew in front of them. The way Weber was going at his you would think that he hadn�t eaten in days instead of only a couple of hours. Daerlon though ate with manners that you would expect of a person in his position.
   Phil took a seat one Weber�s right, where he could look across the small square table at the wizard. As soon as he sat down a bowl of that steaming stew appeared out of thin air in front of him. That didn�t surprise him though. Nothing surprised him when it came to wizards.
   �Who made the stew?� Weber asked, pausing from shoveling in the meal.
   �I did.� Daerlon smiled from over top of his own bowl at the surprised look on Weber�s face. Nothing about wizards could surprise Phil.
   �With our own two hands or with magic?� Weber asked continuing to eat, just with smaller servings and at a slower pace.
   Daerlon gave him a hurt look, �Do you think I am helpless without magic? I have been around for nearly three centuries and you think that I am unable to make myself stew?�
   This statement did surprise Phil however. He never could have guessed that the wizard had been around for three hundred years, maybe seventy or even a hundred, but never three times that. Daerlon looked young and seemed to act young. One would never think that he had been around for three centuries.
   �You are three hundred years old?� Phil asked in surprise.
   Daerlon gave Phil a hurt look this time, �I�m not that old. I still have nearly four years before I reach three hundred. I don�t know if I can take all these insults from you two. Couldn�t have imagined what you would have said to Xion if he were here. He is three hundred and five.�
   Phil felt a small twinge from his anger after the comment about Xion, but it wasn�t enough to give concern. After calming, Phil was able to easily keep the rage from rising well enough.
   �You two probably won�t believe this then,� the wizard continued after taking a bite of stew, �I founded Suza.�
   �After hearing how old you are, I can believe that,� Weber said pushing away an empty bowl, but still looking unsatisfied.
   �Yeah, Xion and I founded Suza about two centuries ago. Under the watchful eyes of two arch wizards that were still becoming more powerful, the city had nothing else to do but thrive. That is when we built his tower and my floating palace.�
   �You have a floating palace too?� Weber asked incredulity.
   �Yeah, its floats in cloud around that area that is owned by Suza. I used to rule from there until it kept getting attacked by ambitious magelings. To get them to leave me alone, Xion and I used powerful illusion to make everyone think that it crashed. I had Xion build a palace inside of the small town of Suza and I have lived there with magical servants and about a dozen or so men that take care of political business. They have been sworn to secrecy about me, because I wanted everyone to completely forget about me, and so they have.�
   �Why wouldn�t you want anyone to know about you?� Phil asked pushing away a mostly empty bowl.
   �Well if people do not know you, then they are afraid of you. They are also too afraid to come and see me as well. It keeps trouble and complaints down. Every once and a while though a person will come and ask for an audience. So I give it to them and then erase all memory of me from their minds so that they forget what I look like and everything else about me.� The wizard king snapped his fingers and the bowls disappeared.
   �That was delicious,� Weber said leaning back.
   �I second that,� Phil said.
   �Oh, you two are too kind. Don�t worry I have had a lot of practice at cooking in my long and mostly boring life,� Daerlon frowned. �Too long I have lived doing nothing. That is one of the reasons that Xion helped you two, he wanted more excitement in his life. Not that Xion didn�t enjoy the two of you as company, but we were both getting extremely bored. Xion went down fighting till the bitter end at least. I will probably die from my magic instead of a hero like him.�
   Phil frowned as well, �I hope you don�t mind asking, but how did Xion die?�
   �Who died?� Eric said coming into the kitchen. �And how come you guys didn�t wait for me too eat? I can see that you have eaten. Weber�s got that look of pleasure that only comes after he has eaten.�
   �Xion died.� Phil whispered.
   �Where were you?� Daerlon asked waving his hand and a bowl of stew appeared in front of the only empty seat.
   Eric sat down and started to dig in before answering, �I went out to find Karen. I told Weber to tell somebody, but I can see that the big dummy didn�t say nothing or probably forgot.�
   Weber slammed a big fist down on the table, �Alright, why does everyone keep calling me stupid. I�m not dum, I just get side tracked and don�t always catch the obvious, big deal, that doesn�t say I�m an idiot though.�
   �Oh shut up you big moron,� Eric said grinning.
   Weber took a swing across the table at the much smaller thief. Fortunately for Eric Phil wanted to know about Karen and was able to catch the punch, barely. The attack probably would have blasted Eric out of the seat and knocked him completely out. Phil wasn�t about to wait.
   �Did you find anything about Karen?� Phil asked pushing Weber�s fist back to him and giving him a cold look to leave it there.
   Eric smiled at Weber then looked to Phil, �Yeah, it was easy. She had a spirit wraith chasing her through a throng of people. She ran to a nearby tavern called the Waning Moon. The guards killed the wraith with some minor magic as she raced into the tavern. After finding out where she went I scoped it out and found her paying for a room there tonight.�
   At hearing this all Phil could think about was two things: Revenge and killing her before she could kill anyone else. The magically amplified anger took some effort to contain but he was able to do it. He knew though that it would be no small task once he got close to the red headed warrior. Tonight though, maybe that anger would be sated with her blood.
   �Take me there,� Phil said standing up.
   �Now,� Eric asked.
   �This very instant,� Phil said in commanding voice.
   �But I am not done with my dinner.�
   Weber reached over and stole the bowl from his grasp, �Don�t worry, I got your back.� With that Weber held the bowl up to his lips and downed all that was left before sitting the bowl down and wiping his lips. �That was good.�
   Eric looked down at his hands, which still looked as if they were holding a bowl, with a stunned look. �You will be lucky to wake up in the morning.�
   �Let us go now, I have business with this woman that cannot wait,� Phil said edging toward the door.
   Daerlon stood up, �You can�t be thinking of murder. It just isn�t right. That would be stooping to her level. It will make you just as bad as she is.�
   Phil wasn�t listening to reason though and he silenced the wizard with a stare from his pure white eyes. The anger controlled must of his consciousness; Phil was not really in control anymore. Nothing was going to stop him short of having Karen�s blood smeared on his blade.
   �Well I guess that means we are assassins this night,� Eric said cheerfully heading towards the door with Phil.
   Weber didn�t move though, �I however am above murder, its not a fair fight, I will have none of it.�
   �I am with the big barbarian on this one,� Daerlon said sitting back down.
   Phil didn�t even turn back as he left the kitchen. �Fine,� was all that he said as he left.

* * * * *

   Eric led Phil to a part tavern, part inn just off the common people�s district. He they had arrived night was in full bloom and people were already filling the place. It wasn�t a run down place, but it wasn�t anything that spectacular either. The place was where I guy could guy for beer at a reasonable price with company that was even better than the prices. A sign out side the door had a crescent moon dipping down behind a couple of mountains.
   Phil walked right in, his eyes flaming white with anger as he felt the life force of his prey through his magic. The man no longer needed eyes, or even a brain for that matter. He was totally under the power of the rage, the magic. Eric just followed him, giving a polite nod to everyone that Phil rudely pushed out of his way, going to the stairs in the corner of the room.
   �How do you know what room she is in?� Eric asked when they reached the top of the stairs.
   Phil stopped his determined walk and looked at Eric, �I can feel her life force. I can sense her consciousness. She knows what she did. It is on her mind at this very moment. Her thoughts about Rachael are like a bright light in darkness to the rage of protection.� With that Phil continued his walk to the end of the hall.
   �She is in this room,� Phil told Eric as he nodded towards the door at the end.
   Giving the door a good kick, Phil knocked it open and calmly walked inside with Eric just behind him. The room was small with only a bed, a table, and a small window. Karen was at the table counting stacks of gold coins while her clothing lay in a pile on her bed.
   Phil�s sword cleared its sheath and found a place at Karen�s throat before she could even bat an eye. The rage did not compel the young lord to put the point through her though. It stopped just before plunging through her neck, drawing a droplet of blood where the tip touched skin.
   �You killed her didn�t you?� Phil said calmly to the red head.
   Karen stood in shock as she stared into the cold white eyes of Lord Phil. She was unable to speak, to draw breath even as she sat, frozen in fear.
   �You killed her didn�t you!� Phil screamed after waiting a few seconds in silence.
   �If I was you I would answer the man,� Eric said coming up beside Phil.
   Finally Karen answered weakly after what seemed like an eternity to Phil, �Killed who?�
   �Who do you think, you lousy wench?� Phil said quietly, pressing the blade a bit harder so that more blood poured out.
   �Yes, I did it,� Karen said in a whisper that Eric wasn�t sure she even talked.
   Phil tore the sword from her throat and grabbed her around the neck with his free hand. With impossible strength for someone of Phil�s size he picked her up out of the seat and threw her across the room. White light surrounded Phil and he calmly walked over to where Karen struggled to her hands and knees. Phil spit into her face when she looked up and then gave her good kick under the chin. The force of the kick knocked the woman off the ground so that she landed on her back a few feet away.
   Eric swore under his breath at the brutality of a man who he thought was probably the gentlest person he had ever met. Never before had he seen Phil do anything like this. Although he had never seen his eyes turn white or see a white glow surround him.
   Somehow Karen was still alive, still awake even, when Phil walked over to her. He stood over to top of her and looked down into her green eyes, seeing only fear and regret. A part of Phil wanted to stop now and let her go, but another part of him enjoyed the sight and wanted nothing more than to cut her body into little pieces for what she had done. The dark side of Phil won and put the point of his blade between the woman�s breasts.
   �You are getting more than you deserve,� Phil whispered.
   With a roar of rage the young lord drove the white blade into Karen so forcefully that it went through the wooden floor on the other side of her. Phil looked down at the lifeless body and smiled, the rage smiled, as he watched a puddle of blood leak out from under the body.
   Eric looked on with a frown. This whole situation bothered him immensely, but he could do nothing about it. Phil was scaring him more than a little and hoped that the man would quickly recover his cool before he decided that her blood wasn�t enough and that he wanted Eric�s too. He was glad when Phil collapsed on floor next to his victim. An unconscious lunatic was better than one that was ready for more blood.

* * * * *

   Cleaning up blood was nasty business. Eric did not enjoy cleaning it up Karen�s blood one bit. Phil was unconscious however, so he was stuck doing it himself. Normally he wouldn�t do such a thing but he really didn�t want to get into trouble with the owner of the Waning Moon because he happened to be a powerful mage. Eric hated fighting wizards, mages, and any other magic users more than anything else. He rather is put against a dozen giants instead of fighting one wizard. After hiding the body and Phil�s sleeping form he went to work on the puddle of crimson liquid before it stained the dark wooden floor. Eric had put Phil�s unconscious form under the bed so that he would not be vulnerable if something happened. Phil was not in a state to protect himself at this moment.
   A light banging on the door brought Eric�s head up from his work. Eric sat perfectly still in hope that however it was would just go away. The knocking came again, just this time a little bit louder and in a simple rhythm code. Eric continued to stay perfectly quiet as the knocking came one more time.
   When the door started to creak open Eric spun to his feet muttering a string of curses. He was glad to see that the person coming in the door was two large me wearing black and red armbands. This named them as lower ranking members of the Black Blood and his enemies.
   Without letting the two men make a move Eric put a dagger into each man�s throat. They both feel to the ground in front of the door with a gurgle. It wasn�t until he moved over to inspect the bodies and their booty did he notice that a dark figure in a cloak lurked in the shadows outside the door.
   The thief swore as he dove to the side watching the expected bolt fly past into the wall behind him. He swore again when he came to his feet and found him self looking into the glowing red eyes of a dark elf. Pulling a short sword from the scabbard at his hip, Eric quickly backed away hoping that this wasn�t the leader of Black Blood.
   �So the traitor is now a back stabbing murderer?� A cold voice asked from beneath the hood of the dark elf�s cloak.
   Eric was relieved to know that the voice from the elf was not that of the leader�s but of the scout�s. The band of dark elves that were here and form the large portion of the Black Blood�s strike force are the elves. Each has a rank, the lowest and weakest was the scout, which was who had brought him into the fold.
   �Not a traitor, but a friend who knows when to switch to the winning side,� Eric said calmly, trying his best to keep the fear he was feeling from his voice.
   �A fool,� the other replied drawing two short blades that were made of a black metal commonly forged by dark elves.
   �No fool, Phil has magic in him. He is more powerful than any of the men that you and yours have. Even your sorceress trio that your leader talks so grand about has nothing on Phil. I have seen his power. I know he will make you and your kin just more bodies in his wake.� Eric smiled to the elf in front of him.
   The dark elf scout pulled the hood of his dark cloak down to reveal his face and his smile. He had the silky white hair common amongst his kin and the smooth slender features that all elves had. Like the rest of his group, he wore a shirt of chain mail and bracers of protection.
   Eric only wore some black leather armor and had some magical throwing daggers. Even worse was that he really wasn�t great at fighting hand to hand up close. He did not have any illusions that he would win or even touch the scout.
   �Prepare to die traitor,� the dark elf said coming into a fighting position.
   �Prepare to eat your words,� Eric whispered bringing his blade ups.
   �A rebel to the end,� the dark elf said charging in.
   Eric was able to block the first few blows from the dark elf, but it really wasn�t looking good. In fact it only took about ten seconds before the elf scored a nice hit on Eric�s side and stomach. Taking the advantage of Eric�s pain the elf punched him in the face, knocking him back against the wall where he slumped to the floor.
   The wound on his side really wasn�t that bad, but it looked as if it could be fatal. Blood poured from the wound past his hand, quickly saturating his clothes in it. Eric was however, was on the floor with a wounded side. He was as good as dead unless he thought of something.
   Fortunately for Eric, in his desperation, he was able to come up with a decent plan of escape. Eric bit down on his tongue with as much force as he could bring himself to bear. It brought him much pain to do this, but the effect came out the way he wanted. After nearly stopping his breathing, the thief let the blood from his tongue steadily leak from the corner of his mouth. After looking up to the dark elf standing before him, Eric let his head sag to the side as he slowly closed his eyes. He just hoped that the elf was as arrogant as he hoped he was.
   �Now you�re a dead fool,� the dark elf said with a chuckle.
   To Eric�s relief, he heard the dark elf moving the sheets that he rapped Karen in to inspect the body. Taking a peek out of one eye he could see the elf crouch down next to the body. Looking down at his sword, he noticed that the elf�s weapons left dents and dings all up and down the edge. It wouldn�t be of any use now.
   Moving as silently as he could, Eric moved into a better position to throw daggers without getting up. After getting his arms as best he could he slipped threw out of the wrist sheath. With a flick of his wrist he threw all three of the daggers at the hunched over back of the dark elf. Each of the projectiles found a place in the elf�s back, piercing through the chain mail he wore for protection.
   To the surprise of the thief, the dark elf scout stood up and turned around to glare at him. Quickly over coming the shock of seeing the elf get up, Eric grabbed the other two daggers and threw them. The elf fell back a step before taking another step forward. Eric swore under his breath before taking a dagger from his boot and throwing it. The weapon imbedded itself into the dark elf�s throat.
   With a sigh of relief, Eric watched the elf collapse to the floor. After a near death experience it was time to reap the benefits.
   �Lets see what you have hear,� Eric whispered coming over to the dead elf�s body.
   At searching the body Eric ended up with two black short swords, an amulet made with silver and a large blue sapphire, purse full of platinum coins, and a scroll for Karen. After taking the weapons as his own, he rapped up the body in another sheet off the bed leaving it bare. He looked down at the puddle of blood made by the second body and sighed.
   Eric quickly wiped up the blood before taking a bag of heavy gold from the table and leaving with Phil over his shoulder. It was slow as Eric tried to keep to the shadows after slipping out the Waning Moon�s back door. For his below average height, Eric was quite strong and it normally wouldn�t be any problem to carry Phil over his shoulder. With the wound on his side however, he wasn�t in condition to be carrying a grown man while trying to hide in the shadows while moving into the most patrolled part of the city. It wouldn�t look good to be caught injured, carrying an unconscious noble, and having more money than anyone in the guard patrol will ever make if you combined their wages over the next thirty years.
   Somehow they made it back to the black tower of the old arch wizard without being seen. Eric let out a sigh of relief at seeing the tower. He would soon be able to get rid of his burden that was becoming heavier by the second.