The sword fell with blistering speed towards Klane who was a few meters away and well outside of the range of the blade. It was clear this attack was meant to kill from a distance. Halfway down through the strike an arrow caught the hand of Grey, lodging firmly and pushing his sword swing to the side by about a foot. It was just enough. The Skill he had just used sent a devastating, thin wave through the air that tore through the molecules leaving nothing but vacuum in its wake. The wave gouged through the road, barely missing Klane and his party, then carried through to the forest where it sliced and split trees vertically for nearly fifty meters back before dissipating in a shockwave that was felt in the very core of everyone present.
Klane stood stunned, slowly coming to terms with how closely he had just avoided joining the trees behind him in two halves. Grey staggered sideways from the recoil of his secret skill and now inspecting the arrow that had found itself lodged in his hand. Before he had time to stabilise himself a figure seemed to materialise to his side from his right, a curved hunting knife in his hands lunging towards the throat of the destabilised soldier. He was only a foot away before anyone had notice him but that was enough for Ryan to lunge forward and intercept the knife with his own sword. Grey took a step sideways and aimed a lethal swing at the neck of the interloper however Klane too had gathered himself in the second or so that had passed and blocked Grey sword bid flight. The four men in the dual stood silent for a moment, stuck in a stalemate and contemplating the next move. Then a sound from the trees like a short whistle that echoed eerily three times was heard and followed by two more men from either side of the road, their bows drawn and pointed at the two soldiers.
"Well, well Elrond, I guess the hunter's guild has picked their side in this fight." Grey snarled at the man who'd attempted to slice his throat moments before.
"We were simply passing by and seen some armoured men trying to kill the second son of the King. Imagine our surprise."
Grey lowered his sword slowly and took a step back from Klane and Elrond. His right hand was bleeding, sending small droplets spattering across the dusty road as it shook from the recoil of his last attack and the intense battle. Ryan reluctantly drew back steadily too.
"I was simply offering young Klane here a training session on his way home. Looks like he'll need to step up now that his captains dead."
Grey glared intensely at Elrond waiting for the man to lose his cool and make a rash movement, but none came. Elrond stood straight calmly and joined Klane's side returning the look of disdain.
"I think he's held out quite well, don't you? Even got you to show one of your secret skills."
The atmosphere had not improved at all, and Grey was clearly still intent on fighting, but he was also no fool. Each second of conversation added clarity to his thoughts and he had come to the conclusion that this fight was no longer worth taking for either side. With a sigh he sheathed his sword once more and attempted to dislodge the arrow to no avail.
"Well, I suppose we best be on our way back home. Lots of paperwork for me to handle, I'm sure." he glanced over again at the body on the ground a few meters away. "Do try to get back before nightfall, you look rather a mess."
"Do you Think you're getting away you prick?" Reged had drawn his sword along with Ewe and Clair and had advanced forward to Klane and Elrond's side, all the while the other two hunters who had their faces hidden kept their drawn bows trained on Ryan and Grey. Klane held a hand up as if to calm his squad.
"Klane, I think you better have a talk to your squad. Thats quite a disrespectful tone they've taken toward a superior officer."
"I think it's quite appropriate given the circumstances, but I'll be sure to have a word with them anyway."
Grey smirked then with once last passing glance across his enemies, surveying for any last chance of a weakness to exploit, then turned on his heel and marched off toward Castle Holm with Ryan and the other soldiers in tow.
"Are you seriously going to let him get away?" Clair asked indignantly of the group that remained.
"It's not worth dying over right now. He knows he could potentially die, but so could I. The odds were in neither of our favour to continue."
"So, what, he goes home and pretends nothing happened?"
"Yes, no-one is going to care that he tried to kill me and even if they did, he is too high up. Taking the matter further would just cause a civil war between factions."
"I think you can consider this a win young warrior." Elrond said as he walked over to his brothers' body and lifted the stretcher onto his own back. "He has lost the one chance he had at surprise, whether it was by pure circumstance or divine intervention, that deamonkin thwarted his plans to kill you in secret."
"Elrond's right, this is a win for me. I've finally seen true intent from him, which means he'll not have another opportunity to take me by surprise again. More importantly, we know a faction has been built in the military to seize power, but they aren't yet strong enough for an all-out coup. As a strategist he would be livid at disclosing so much information." Klane laughed as he said the last few words. Helping Elrond strap up the stretcher, he then set up at a stroll towards the castle once more, the soldiers now far out of sight.
"Come on guys, let's get home."
Clair, Ewe and Reged still angry and disillusioned with the lack of comeuppance for the man who had just made an attempt on their lives, sheathed their weapons too and followed on behind Klane and Elrond, kicking dust and shuffling in a foul mood. The two hunters had disappeared once more into the tree line but were most certainly following along beside their Guild Master.
***
The Walls of Castle Holm towered above the tree line and shone a dull orange in the late setting afternoon sun. dotted across the parapet were soldiers marching casually and inspecting the treetops as if they were able to see anything among the dense foliage. Civilians of the city were occasionally seen weaving through the trees as the party approached the gates. It was common for people to venture out into the forest here, to forage for wild vegetables, mushrooms or even small game that braved the populated areas. Some people would dart off here and there on one of the many trails that ran from the thirty or so towns and villages that surrounded the walled city. Those paths were less known to the average city resident and served more for the hunters or soldiers moving between outposts and patrols or for trade between villages and the Castle. The Gate was also manned by a few guards in dull steel armour and holding halberds adorned with the Flag of Castle Holm, a silver banner lined with emerald-green embroidery of trees in the shape of a shield and two black wolves facing each other underneath.
A small stream of people was coming and going, emerging and disappearing into the forest either returning to their hidden village or coming home to the city. Elrond and Klane joined the steady foot traffic and passed by the guards with nod. The Guards saluted at attention with their flags held high above their heads, a mark of respect for Lords. The rest of the party followed behind not bothering to acknowledge the guards at all and still clearly irritated by the lack of sleep and the frustrating exchange from earlier. As they passed the gate, the Stone walls and the ever-present forestry gave way entirely to civilisation. A huge circular street spread out left and right, running along the perimeter of the fall for as far as the eye could see. The Circleway as it was called was the outer markets and wrapped the entire city within. Merchants from across the kingdom would come to set up temporary stalls and many villages and city residents would set up their permanent stores, selling wares from every corner of Holm and beyond. The Circleway bustled with residents in the late setting sun, all looking to sell the last of their goods before nightfall. The five continued past the wide street along one of the many Spokes, vast cobbled streets that ran from the city gates through to the city centre and the Castle. the Spokes were all linked by numerous other streets, some circular, some meandering through districts devoted to varying industry and peoples. Klane turned off on one of the smaller side streets after about ten minutes into the city. The crowds had begun to ebb and flow from workplace to home, from home to inn or other drinking establishments. The sun had set behind the wall now and a temporary darkness enveloped the city before being driven away by countless lights from windows at street level to some four or five stories high. The Spokes were even more well-lit; each lined from the wall to the centre with streetlamps and inns and stores open for trade. Klane and his crew darted between the other foot traffic along the side street, occasionally turning off onto tighter streets still until they were on what could only be described as an ally way. It too twisted and turned and after passing a man dressed in off white linen, who had seemingly been drinking all day and was now stumbling from wall to wall in an attempt to stay upright, they finally arrived at their destination. An inconspicuous door on an inconspicuous building somewhere deep in an inconspicuous part of the city. Klane knocked twice on the door and waited in silence for a moment before the telltale signs of a latch unlocking could be heard and a middle-aged woman with loosely tied grey hair peeked through before smiling widely.
"Welcome home Lord Kane."