Paul Crilley - Night of Long Shadows

Cutter staggered back. Tiel had been onto him the whole time. He’d seen what Cutter planned and had been thinking two steps ahead.

Tiel grinned at him. “You didn’t think I was much of a swordsman, did you? Just because you’ve never seen me wield one doesn’t mean I’m no good.”

The halfling lunged forward and released a flurry of swings. Cutter blocked them all, the clash of metal on metal loud in his ears. He acted on instinct now. He couldn’t even see all the moves Tiel was making.

“See,” said Tiel, stepping back. “You’ve made the mistake many people make when they meet me. They think I’m bad-tempered, rash, quick to anger. And that’s all true. But I also know when to bide my time. I mean, do you have any idea how long it took for Rowen to die? And she still didn’t tell me where the shard was.”

Cutter screamed in anger and ran forward. Tiel’s face showed an instant of surprise, then short sword slammed against knife, raining sparks around them with the ferocity of the impacts. They shuffled around the rooftop, sometimes defending, sometimes attacking. Each had scores of cuts and slashes over their arms and chest, but neither could press the attack long enough to land a fatal blow.

Sweat poured into Cutter’s eyes, into his wounds. The pain screamed at him, slicing his mind with the sting, trying to distract him from the fight. The only consolation was that Tiel seemed to be suffering just as much. Sweat poured down the halfling’s face, and blood from a wound above his eyebrow trickled around his eye. Cutter kept a close watch on it, hoping the blood would drip into Tiel’s eye and give the instant of advantage the human so desperately needed.

Cutter felt something bump against his back and realized Tiel had maneuvered him against one of the trees along the wall. The trunk pressed into his spine, limiting his swing.

Tiel suddenly switched tactics, flipping both swords in his grip and swinging them around in a sideways arc. Cutter ducked as the blades cut into the trunk. He lunged forward and slammed into Tiel. They both tumbled over, Tiel’s blades left quivering in the tree.

Cutter landed on top of Tiel, his arms trapped under the halfling’s body. Tiel punched furiously at Cutter’s face. Cutter jerked a hand out from under the halfling and raised his arm to ward off the blows. They kept coming, Tiel trying his hardest to incapacitate him. Cutter dropped his guard so he could land his own blows. He felt his fist connect with Tiel’s nose, heard the crack of bone breaking. He thought he was gaining the advantage, then Tiel landed a fist straight into his throat. Cutter arched up, his hands instinctively moving up to prevent another punch, and Tiel smacked him in the stomach. Cutter’s breath burst from his lungs and Tiel shoved him away.

Cutter landed on his back, but rolled immediately to the side. Tiel’s heel slammed into the spot where his head had been. Cutter kept rolling, trying to keep out of Tiel’s way while he fought to get his breath back.

Tiel gave him no respite. He ran after him, kicking out as Cutter tried to stay out of his way. Cutter couldn’t move fast enough and the halfling connected with his ribs.

Cutter decided to try the trick he’d used on Jana. He grabbed hold of Tiel’s foot as it came flying at his head and wrenched it to the side. To his surprise, Tiel didn’t react as Jana had. He heard the ankle pop and Tiel screamed in pain. Cutter kept hold of the ankle as he tried to get to his feet, but Tiel was hopping backward, trying to pull his foot away. Cutter knew he wouldn’t be able to hold onto it, so he yanked upward with all his might, watching as Tiel flew through the air and landed on the ground, groaning at the pain.

Cutter staggered to his feet and stumbled over to pick up his blades. He took a deep breath and turned around-

To find Tiel standing up, pulling off his gloves. He threw them aside and raised his hands in the air.

Cutter initially thought he was going to beg for his life.

Then he noticed that Tiel’s hands had started to glow. A faint orange haze surrounded them. As he watched, tiny flames flickered over his skin.

The halfling advanced on Cutter, his hands held out before him. Cutter backed up until he bumped into another tree. He was about to dart around it when Tiel lurched forward and grabbed hold of Cutter’s wrists.

Cutter screamed in pain as heat surged through his arms. He tried to pull away, but Tiel held his wrists in a tight grip. Cutter’s skin blistered, smoke curling upward and attacking his nostrils with the smell of charred flesh. He could see Tiel’s veins through his skin. They looked like tiny rivers of glowing lava.

He dropped the Khutai blades, sagging to his knees as the pain increased, his entire arms feeling like he had thrust them into red-hot coals. Still, the halfling didn’t let go. Tiel grinned. “Didn’t know I could do that, did you? I could say something about having a fiery temper, but that would be too obvious, and I do so hate being obvious.”

He released Cutter’s wrists and made a grab for his throat. Cutter saw him coming and dodged to the side. Tiel lunged and grabbed hold of the tree by mistake. His hands were glowing white hot. The tree trunk burst into flame, the fire crackling up to the lower branches.

Cutter pushed himself to his feet and staggered away. The halfling stared up at the tree, keeping his hands on the trunk as the foliage caught fire. The humid breeze fanned the flames. They rose higher and spread to another tree.

“See that? That’s what I’m going to do to you.” Tiel turned to look for him, saw him trying to get away. “Where are you going?” asked the halfling, releasing the tree and limping after him.

There was nowhere for Cutter to go. He stopped and faced Tiel. His skin was raw and bleeding, thin layers of flesh hanging from his wrists. He could see bone through the blackened skin. He couldn’t move his fingers. The pain was excruciating, a pulsing, throbbing bloom of torment. He staggered, almost passing out. He managed to keep himself awake, but fell to his knees. Tiel grinned as he approached.

“That’s right. That’s where you belong. Cowering at my feet.” The halfling held out his hands. Cutter could see the distortions of the hot haze wavering above them. He could feel the uncontrolled heat on his face. It dried his eyes out, forcing him to blink furiously and raise his arms to protect himself.

Tiel stepped closer.

Bren reached the Tain manor in only a few moments. Tiel had wanted their hotel room to be close by, just in case anything went wrong. But Bren had no idea what the halfling had in mind if things didn’t go according to plan. Maybe run in and stab Saidan himself? Bren smiled at the picture this conjured in his head. For someone who had wanted his father’s approval for so long, Tiel had made the leap to assassinating him and taking over the business with remarkable ease. But Bren couldn’t blame him. He hadn’t been with Tiel very long, but he knew that over the years, Tiel had repeatedly gone to his father to beg acknowledgement. All he wanted was to be accepted as a Boromar. Saidan had always refused.

Did that mean Tiel was delusional? That he wasn’t really Saidan’s son? Bren had no idea, although there was a resemblance between the two of them. Bren reckoned that Tiel simply got tired of being rejected, had decided to take matters into his own hands. Bren didn’t really care. It would probably mean a pay raise for him.

That was, if Cutter failed in his plan. Bren frowned. He didn’t truly know why he had given Cutter the information. Because Tiel deserved what was coming to him? When had that ever been an issue? No. He’d given Cutter a chance. A small chance, because he knew what Tiel was capable of when he took off those gloves. But at least Cutter could die with some self-respect.