Using a move Bashar had taught him, Riordan slammed the bell of his sword against the knee of the second sahuagin. He heard the bone snap and the creature collapsed with a moan in a pool of filthy water.
Wary now, the remaining sahuagin thrust and lunged, hoping to break through their guard. The stone walls of the alley echoed with the sharp clash of steel on steel.
In the distance, Riordan heard the horns of the approaching guard. The sahuagin grew desperate. The beast in front of Riordan charged, but slipped on the blood in the alley. Riordan jumped back from the desperate thrust it made as it fell. The creature threw a torch at Riordan as he prepared to lunge. There was a crash of glass as the burning torch went through a window. Behind him Riordan felt a sudden blast of heat as the building caught fire.
The blaze momentarily blinded the sahuagin and it blinked and turned its face away from the flames. Ri-ordan slashed at the creature's wrist and it shrieked and dropped its spear. Riordan continued his thrust and the blade sank into the creatures' stomach.
The elf was fighting the leader of the sahuagin. The sahuagin was fast, but if anything, the elf was faster. The sahuagin swung its trident at the elf, but the creature was no longer there. All Riordan could see was a blur of movement and a dark ribbon of blood appeared across the sahuagin's chest. The creature roared and lunged again and this time Riordan heard the meaty sound of the weapon hitting flesh.
The elf grunted and staggered back. With a roar, the sahuagin charged the elf, holding the blades of the trident out and low. The next thing Riordan saw was the tines striking a blank wall and the elf appearing behind the sahuagin as if by magic. The shaft of the elf's spear slammed across the throat of the surprised sahuagin leader. Twirling the weapon, the elf spun and buried the spear in the sea devil's chest. The creature moaned and its claws scrabbled at the shaft as if it would escape, but the elf twisted the blade with a jerk and the sahuagin collapsed.
Reacting without thinking, Riordan spun and knocked the elf back. The elf tried to go after his spear, but Riordan pressed the point of his sword into the elf s throat, forcing him up and back from the weapon. He noticed the sea elf was bleeding from a deep gash in his side.
'Our truce is over.'
The elf stared at him, ignoring the blade at his throat. 'Our fight meant as little to you as that?'
This fight meant nothing. You have no interest in helping us.'
The sea elf shook his head and sneered at Riordan. 'They will kill you all, you know.'
The elf started to move, but Riordan pressed the tip of the sword harder against his throat. A thin stream of blood sprang from the tip and ran down the sea elf's neck.
'You're right, human. You and your kind mean nothing to us. For months I've been spying on the sahuagin, pretending to be one of their assassins. They've breached the Sharksbane Wall now, and already flood the Inner Sea. My people are prepared, but the war will be long and costly.'
'That means nothing to me. You're my prisoner.' Riordan tried to sound sure of himself, but what the elf was telling him made him worried. He needed Morka to listen to this.
'Foolish words. Don't you know that you and everyone here in Cimbar will be next?'
There was a shout nearby, and Riordan answered. Before he knew what happened, the elf had knocked his sword aside and was sprinting down the alley. Without breaking stride, he jumped on top of a stack of several crates and sprang to the top of a low roof. Flames burst from a building nearby and outlined the elf clearly.
The sea elf hesitated for a moment and Riordan heard him say, 'Tell them what you saw here, human. It is the sahuagin who are burning your fleets.' He turned and Riordan saw his outline vanish over the roofline.
There was a groan and Riordan bent down to check on Bashar.
'Are you all right?'
'Other than a cut and a knot on the head. I'm lucky to be alive. Funny, it seemed like the malenti was holding back.'
'He wasn't a malenti, Bashar.' Riordan explained what happened.
The corporal nodded, then grimaced in pain. Riordan realized Bashar's wounds were more serious than he let on. 'I've got to get you out of here.'
'No… wait.' Bashar groaned and grabbed his arm. 'When the watch gets here…' Bashar coughed.. 'Don't say anything about the sea elf. Khedra would never believe you. Tell Morka.'
'But-'
'That's an order, Riordan. Tell Morka.' Riordan agreed and the corporal nodded and collapsed.
There was a clatter of hooves and Khedra and Stil-mus rode into the alley with a dozen guardsmen behind them.
Khedra took immediate command. 'Seal off both ends of the alley. Now! No one comes in. Get the fire crews in here immediately.'
'Aye, m'lord.'
Khedra dismounted and strode through the bodies to where Riordan stood.
'These are sahuagin!'
'Yes, sir. They had torches and had already set one building on fire when Bashar and I got here. They had cutting tools as well. I believe they were going to destroy the ships next.'
Khedra stopped and stared at him a moment. 'Were you responsible for this, watchman?'
'Yes, sir. Bashar and I…' How much could he tell them? 'Sir, it's important you know-the sahuagin are behind the recent attacks on the fleet, not the Soore-nar.'
'Hmm… at least this attack. This is important news.' Khedra smiled and put away his sword. 'Well done, watchman.'
Morka Kodolan had arrived and was kneeling and talking to Bashar. From time to time he looked up at Riordan, but Riordan could not read his expression. He motioned to two guardsmen who helped Bashar onto a litter.
The swordmaster came up to Riordan and clapped him on the shoulder. 'You've accounted well for yourself, Riordan.'
Khedra stared at Riordan intently. 'Riordan… aren't you the one that…?'
Morka stepped forward. 'A minor error in judgment, sir. Riordan is one of my finest recruits. Bashar also speaks very highly of him.'
Khedra stared a moment at Morka, then turned to Riordan. 'I'm certain he does. Perhaps Riordan can join us later?'
'That's right.' Morka clapped Riordan on the shoulder. 'The Dragon Watch will be gathering tonight at the Griffin. It's somewhat of a tradition after an action.'
Riordan felt a lump in his throat and mumbled, 'I… I'd be honored.'
Khedra nodded. 'Good. That's settled, then.'
Morka pointed to Bashar's litter that was being carried from of the alley. 'You'd better hurry. No knock on the head will keep Bashar from a party for long.'
On the way out of the alley, Stilmus stopped Riordan.
'I have need of good men, son. I could find a place for you in the Society of Swords, What do you say?'
Riordan looked first at Morka, then up the street at Bashar's disappearing litter. 'Thank you, sir, but I think I've found my place right here.'
STAR OF TETHYR
3 Eleasias, the Year of the Gauntlet
Merrick sighed in frustration as he once again dragged his damp sleeve across his brow to wipe away the dripping sweat. No matter how many times he scrubbed at his forehead with his arm, the perspiration still trickled down into his eyes and along the bridge of his nose, tickling him as it went. The hot stench of the pitch in the bucket in front of him did little to improve his mood, and he finally shoved it away from himself in disgust and sat
