Naked Aggression - Part 2

Part 2

Tyrissa watched as the bandit’s blood was absorbed into the blade of her katar. She could feel the magical blade channel the half-orc’s life force into her body. Already the wound on her forearm had closed and as she watched the cut on her thigh sealed itself, not even leaving a scar. Tyrissa looked around, scanning the fog for signs of more bandits. Satisfied she had dealt with them all, she released the cooling corpse of the leader to crumple at her feet. The golden-haired warrior surveyed the scene before her. Four bandits lay dead by her own hands. To the warrior's right her horse stood over the body of another. The bandit’s smashed skull was mute testimony to the power of the stallion’s hooves.

“Five down, not bad. I don’t think the other one has stopped running yet, huh Old Horse?”

At the sound of his nickname the black horse walked over to his mistress’s side and nuzzled her affectionately. Tyrissa scratched the horse’s muzzle, ruffling the gray hairs that gave the horse his name. She laughed as he tried to lick her face.

“Stop it horse, we don’t have time to play now. Those clouds aren’t getting any lighter. I guess we can forget trying to reach Ivaarhomme tonight.”

Tyrissa searched the bodies of the slain bandits quickly. She recovered a few copper coins, fewer still silvers, and a single gold coin from the half-orc leader. Their weapons were poor quality, rust covered and pitted. For good measure she broke the blades and handles. Moving faster now, the fighter cleaned her own weapons. First was her dwarven falchion. The mithril alloy blade cleaned easily on the shirt of one of the bandits. Next she retrieved her spear from the chest of the bandit who had led the ambush. The force of her throw had knocked the brigand off his feet, the tip of the spearhead protruding through the back of his leather vest. The elven weapon gleamed brightly, its spearhead magically blemish-free. Tyrissa didn’t bother with her katar. She knew from experience that the blade would be clean, the same enchantment that allowed it to channel opponents’ life forces into its wielder also kept it free from blood and gore.

Satisfied that she was finished, Tyrissa got onto her horse and continued along the wagon track leading to the city of Ivaarhomme. With one eye on the darkening skies and the other on the road, she set out to cover as much distance as possible before the clouds opened up.

Continued in Part 3