GARRIK VS TALLIS O'GRADY
Tallis
danced the dagger over his fingers, twirling and spinning it with little
effort. Growing bored of watching the same thing over and over, he tossed
the dagger into the air, caught it and sheathed it in what seemed the same
motion. His hands were constantly moving. He was always cracking his knuckles
or exercising his fingers, keeping them ripe and agile for his profession.
Tallis was the best thief there was to be had.
On this
day, there was a festival being held just outside town. There was plenty
to keep one occupied, from games to highly trained entertainers. A few mages
were there casting cantrips to amuse children, and even a diviner whom was
fortune telling. Large stripped tents were set up all over the area. Some
were ale tents, and others were merchants selling their wares. People from
all across the land came here to participate in the festival. And so, Tallis
flocked with the rest of the crowd. Any place with people, all hoarding
their gold, Tallis was sure to be. The thief pulled his cloak around himself
as he crept through the crowd, deftly lifting purses from nearly everyone
he passed.
Twice
already the thief had needed to stash the purses, as they had become too
much a burden to haul around. Spotting a well dressed man sporting a feather
hat, Tallis slinkied his way over. He cautiously raised the man's half cloak
to get a better look at the purse, and then began to reach his hand out.
A firm, powerful hand shot out and grabbed Tallis by the wrist and spun
him away from the feather hat man. Cursing, Tallis drew a dagger with his
free hand, and spun about to see his adversary. It was a heavily armored
warrior who had a waraxe strapped to his back. The big man had a thick beard
and his armor was beaten in."The only thing you'll find there is trouble,
boy," he spoke, in a heavy accent, as he pushed Tallis onto the ground.
The thief
landed in a small pool of water, drenching his new cloak. "You incompetent,
bloody oaf!" Tallis screamed at the man as he stood up and wrung his cloak
out. The crowd around him got a good laugh of it, but quickly went back
to their business. By this time, the big warrior was already walking away.
Tallis clutched the dagger tightly in his hand at the same time he clenched
his teeth. Before he even realized what he was doing, Tallis hurled the
dagger at the warrior. It sped forth and stuck into the back of the mans
calf, where no armor protected him. He dropped to the ground, clutching
the oozing wound with a gloved hand. He struggled to unsheathe his waraxe
with the one free hand. Tallis moved around and in front of the warrior,
drawing his rapier. "Foolish man, you will die for your incompetence!"
Tallis
went to strike him, but with a reflex only seasoned war veterans acquire,
he reached up and grabbed the blade while it was in mid swing. The blade
cut through his mailed glove, but he seemed not to notice. Tossing the tiny
blade aside, the warrior grabbed Tallis' neck and jerked it forward. The
thieves head struck the warriors helm with considerable force, and he fell
backward. The massive warrior stood and finished unsheathing his waraxe.
"Young
lad, don't call me man. Show some respect to your elders. I am Garrik."
"I don't care who you are, fool," Tallis screamed, spit flying from his
mouth. "Your going to die now!" The thief picked up his rapier and lunged
at Garrik. Garrik rolled on the ground to avoid the thieves rage driven
strike. He raised his foot up, and Tallis tripped over it, landing face
first in the mud. The thief quickly recovered himself and stood up, facing
the big warrior. Garrik didn't waste a second. He used the spike on the
tip of his waraxe to jab at the thief, but Tallis was too dexterous, and
easily dodged the attack. Garrik quickly made another attack, and managed
to catch the little bastard off gaurd. He brought the butt of his axe up,
striking the theif in the jaw with intense power. The wooden shaft of the
waraxe busted Tallis' jaw, and left it hanging by the skin.
Tallis
would have like to have screamed, but a choked gasp was all that he could
manage. The theif made a pitiful attempt to strike Garrik with his sword,
but the warrior struck the blade out of the thieves hand with little difficulty.
Showing no mercy to this foul scum, Garrik grabbed him by his hair and repeatedly
brought his head down onto a metal knee pad. When at last the thief was
bloody and broken, Garrik snapped his fingers on both hands. "I should kill
you, thieving scum, but I am going to let you live... I am feeling rather
generous today. Let this be a lesson to all thieves! Good day to you," he
finished, sheathing his waraxe....
By: Calvin
Cockell