Role

Chapter 17

One particularly wet and sloppy day, he was entrusted with a letter to take
to Balator, it was nothing of significance, a simple ledger to the warrior
school requesting graduating numbers. He headed out into the gloom and
somberly reflected as the rain poured down, the muddy earth beneath his feet
felt familiar somehow. The Eastern Road was barren and Hamashs Gates were
closed. He followed the city walls, breaking north towards the center of
Balator. As he continued down the road, he concluded the youth that had been
just barely noticeable on the road, was indeed following him. Make that two
he thought to himself as he eyed another slowly working up his flank an ally
width away. He tucked the missive into his shirt and quickly counted out the
buildings between the fountain on his left and the entrance to warriors
school just beyond. He feinted left at the fountain and dropped below its
vaulted edge on all fours scrambling quickly as they came rushing. They had
seen him disappear suddenly, and knew he had to be close at hand. He had made
it full circle on the fountain as they rounded the same side and now they
were just ahead, their backs to him. Were they truly after him? Was he having
bouts of paranoia again? There was no one out there besides him, and he
wasnt going to get taken by ignorance again. He bounded towards them
dropping a shoulder low like he had seen the elders do in the guild. They
turned simultaneously but it was too late, he hit one youth square in chest,
sending him hurtling onto his back in the thick mud. The force stood Arratok
square and his surprise by the ease was only outdone by the second youths
surprise as he spun clockwise with a left jab to the chin, dropping his level
and throwing his right leg out he landed a lucky strike with a trip, It took
out the seconds legs and now both youths were gasping for air. Arratok
bellowed triumphantly as he mounted the second in full guard and struck him
again for good measure. His nose crunched satisfyingly, and out of the corner
of his eye Arratok saw the rushing of the first who had regained his
composure and come wildly dashing into the fray. Dropping his head and
summersaulting just out of distance he evaded the oncoming flurry of strikes.
His attacker pressed on and Arri dodged left and right desperately. He saw
his opportunity as a wild haymaker came forward and stepping inside the
strike, he landing a hard palm to the solar plexus. Doubled over, Arri was
able to follow through with an uppercut and his foe crumbled onto his back
sinking into the mud. Arratoks blood was pumping as he scrambled atop his foe
raising his fist back to finish him. Suddenly he was caught by the wrist,
yanked back off his foe and into the air. Spinning and flailing he found
himself face to face with a very large, very hard looking man.