“Don’t say something like that!” Lydia snapped. “It’s bad—”
A savage shout from overhead cut into her words.
“—luck,” she finished ironically, whipping out her sword.
Kevin didn’t have a chance to act, to think, before a heavy body hurtled into him, hurting him from his horse.
My lute!
The bardling twisted frantically sideways to save it as he fell, by luck slamming into earth rather than rock, mail shirt bruising his ribs. Aching and breathless, Kevin struggled to draw his sword, handicapped by the lute case’s strap. The bandit’s face leered into his own, foul-smelling and ugly as an ogre—and as deadly. Kevin saw the man raise the dub that was going to bash out his brains, but he couldn’t get the stupid sword free—
So the bardling did the only thing he could, smashing his fist up into the ugly face.
Ow!0h—damn!
He hadn’t been able to get much force into the blow, not tying sprawled on the ground, but it was enough to send pain flaming up his arm, because he’d connected with the man’s battered helmet, not his face. The bandit grunted in surprise, falling back just enough for the bardling to wriggle free. He squirmed out of the lute case, leaving the instrument safe—please, let it be safe! —behind a rock.
As Kevin frantically tugged at the hilt of his sword, the weapon came free of its scabbard so suddenly he nearly dropped it Hearing the bandit rushing him, the bardling whirled—and the man impaled himself on the blade.
For what seemed like an eternity Kevin stared helplessly into his foe’s disbelieving eyes, too horrified to move. Then those eyes glazed and the bandit slowly sagged, nearly dragging the sword from Kevin’s hand. The bardling swallowed hard and pulled the blade free, trying not to look at the blood darkening it, trying not to think about how dreadfully easily metal had slid into flesh. His hand still throbbed with pain, and part of his mind was yammering, It’s broken, it has to be broken! But it wasn’t, not if he could grip the Sword hilt so tightly, and there wasn’t any time to worry about what other damage he might have done.
Panting, Kevin glanced wildly about. For one confused moment he was reminded of a dog pack dragging down its prey. But these dogs were armed with clubs, knives, and homemade spears—and this prey was fighting back. Lydia, swearing fiercely, sword Hashing, still sat her horse, caking advantage of its greater height, or trying to: the confused, frightened animal, unused to battle, was more of a hindrance than a help. At least its frantic whirling and kicking kept anyone from closing with the woman—Tich’ki, her wings a blur, darted in and out of the battle with waspish speed, her spear jabbing savagely at bandit eyes. The two elves had given up their mounts and stood fighting back to back. White and Dark forgetting their differences for the moment—Eliathanis’ blade shone dear silver, mere human blood unable to stain it, while Naitachal—
Kevin stared. Naitachal was wielding a night-black sword that seemed to swallow up the light and that laughed softly every time it struck a foe. After the first few blows, the bandits, understandably, cringed away, putting themselves within Lydia’s reach.
He didn’t have that sword before, I know he didn‘t!
But the sight of that eerie sorcery reminded the bardling that he, too, had some combat magic. Granted, the song-spell wasn’t strong enough to hurt anyone. All it could do was confuse a foe’s attack. But surely that would help—if the magic would only work for him—
No, no, there wasn’t time to doubt! Kevin dove for his lute, for a moment terrified that his bruised hand wasn’t going to let him play. Forcing his stiff fingers over the strings, he started at full speed into the opening bars. His voice was almost too dry for song, rasping out desperately, and he knew that even if he did summon his Bardic Magic, it wasn’t going to last long. It didn’t even seem to be coming out right! But something was happening, because the whole battle was beginning to glow a faint but very real blue.
Oh, great. All I’m doing is making pretty colors!
“Damned sorcerer!” a voice muttered. Before Kevin could turn, a harsh arm was about his throat, choking him. The bardling lost his grip on the lute, heard it hit the ground—
Please, please, don’t let it break!
He kicked back and felt his boot hit bone. The bandit swore, losing his strangling grip. Kevin felt a jolt against his already sore ribs as the man tried to stab him but hit the mail shirt instead. The bardling pulled free, lunging for his sword, then cried out in pain as the bandit kicked it viciously away, tearing the hilt from Kevin’s aching hand. The sword came to rest wedged between two rocks. Kevin and the bandit both scuffled after it, but the bandit got there first, stomping down hard. Tb the bardling’s horror, the sword snapped halfway up the blade.
For a moment. Kevin and his foe stared at each other, frozen. Then the bandit slowly grinned, revealing a mouthful of ugly teeth.
