A Hold-Up (2/2)

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F., Paula
Date Posted: 29th March 2016

Characters: Corran, Nohria, Deklin, Eraklin, Cahvit, Knuckles
Description: Nohria leads in the thieves. This leads to disaster and something else.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 25 of Turn 8
Notes: Part 2 of 2.

Nohria's head snapped up as the ambient sounds changed. "Dump the snakes and get out," she hissed, and shoved her knife back into her boot. A moment later, she was climbing atop the shelves, tucking herself into a dark, dusty corner.

Knuckles dropped the sword he was holding with loud clank. He cursed under his breath, now, that had been really stupid. Sound like that carried far in a quiet night.

It did in fact echo. The footsteps hesitated, a soft murmur was heard, and then they began again.

Eraklin opened the top of the tunnelsnake bag, then flung it towards the door. The snakes, obviously upset by this handling, boiled out of the bag. Eraklin wasn't able to climb up the shelves like Nohria, but he was able to squeeze himself behind one, praying the snakes he'd unleashed wouldn't come after him.

Deklin knew he couldn't hide behind anything. He was just too big. Instead, he bolted for the door, hoping he could make his way past the guards and away. He made it into the corridor just as the guard rounded the door.

"Hey, stop!" the guard yelled.

Deklin ignored him and ran down the hall. The guard was hot in pursuit, chasing after Deklin and not stopping to look inside the room.

Cahvit swore softly as he saw, looking for where their hold infiltrator had gotten off to. He hadn't seen her climb the shelves so instead he looked at Knuckles. "Just one guard. We can beat him up," he said hopefully.

Knuckles nodded and his joints made a bopping sound when he curled his hands to fists.

"No, no!" Nohria urgently whispered. "Don't risk it! Just dump the snakes and-" The door swung open, the light of a glow coming into view. **Oh, fardles!** the woman mentally moaned. **Don't look up, don't look up, don't look up-**

His yell for help had attracted more attention from a second guard on patrol. Corran had just finished greeting the other man and heading off to his own patrol section when the yell happened and he heard sounds of pursuit. He saw his fellow guard chase after the man, and saw that the storage room door was wide open. He put his head into the room to see what was going on.

Cahvit had expected to rush outside and help Deklin pummel the first guard. He wasn't expecting another guard to show up this fast, or for the guard to come see them. Instinctively he reacted by throwing a punch.

Corran took it to the shoulder and hissed in pain as it connected; the other man's hand was solid. He let the blow add momentum to him letting it spin him and then dropping onto his back. As he fell he tangled his legs in Cahvit's, tripping the other man, who fell down to the floor with him. The thief's head cracked on the stone floor and the guard took advantage, rolling on top of the bigger man and hitting him in the face once, twice, a third time until the thief stopped struggling.

As an outright brawl took place, Nohria watched, hating she couldn't afford to jump in. She also hated the two thoughts that sprang into her head as she watched Corran defend himself: **He's dangerous. I like that.**

Knuckles rushed out too. Seeing the fight he hesitated: help a friend or bail out. His blood boiled for violence but his head won. He did not want to get arrested. So with the guard pummelling Cahvit, he skirted past them and ran for his life.

Deklin had turned to hit guard who was chasing him, knocking the man unconscious. He saw Knuckles running and joined him, not wasting breath on speaking. They'd make it to the rendesvous point and if nobody else made it there then they'd consider it a bust. Well at least he had two swords with him. And he hoped his brother would make it out.

Someone crossed paths with Knuckles, guard, night-drudge, some insomniac hold resident, he didn't stop to check. He just delivered a vicious blow from his fist and hopped over the crumbling body. He could see the out doors. There would be guards outside. They didn't even slow him down. If they were lucky they wouldn't encounter the watch-wher.

The struggle with Corran and Cahvit was taking too long. Nohria snapped out of it, chose to take a risk, climbed down the shelf. She came up behind the pair, and at the first opportunity, she clasped her fists together and swung them at the back of Corran's neck in a hammer strike. If the blow went correctly, Corran would be in pain and too disoriented to follow them, but not severely hurt.

The guard didn't hear her coming and the blow landed square on. He was knocked out by it.

Cahvit pushed the smaller man off him. He was dazed by the blows he'd taken and took a moment to get to his feet. He nodded at Nohria, making sure not to speak, and started hobbling his way towards the door to make his escape.

Nohria made to leave herself, only to pause. She looked from the door to Corran, to the door and back. Then, without knowing why, she caught Corran under the arms and dragged him outside the room, shutting the door after propping him against one of the walls. He would be found sooner or later. And if he got bitten by a tunnelsnake in the meantime, that was just too bad.

The bandit faded into the shadows, going back to her quarters, to dust off and hide her clothes, unstrap herself and go to bed as if she had always been there. She was pleased by the damage done, and disturbed by her unexpected mercy.

Last updated on the April 1st 2016

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A Hold-Up (2/2)