As Thorn watched, another bystander who was loitering around, an obvious cutthroat, moved closer to the back door and gave Thorn another sign, which indicated that two more watchers were around the alley. Thorn signaled to him to take care of the two other watchers while she go for the one on the roof of the opposite building. The cutthroat gave a slight shake of his head. With slight movement of his hand, two other men milling around the rugged crowd changed the direction of their movement and started getting close to the cutthroat.
As the three cutthroats got together they quickly rushed at two men who appeared to be beggars at the first appearance but closer inspection will show that their rags were newly made and doesn’t have the dirt that years of exposure to this dirty environment will produce. Also their faces doesn’t have the constant hungry look that is characteristic of every beggar in Aram. They looked too fresh to be hungry. As the cutthroats crowded around the two men pretending to be beggars, the cutthroats brought out short daggers and attacked the two men swiftly, slashing their throats and stabbing them. As the two men dropped to the floor dead, the beggars in the alley all gathered around the dead bodies, shielding them from preying eyes.

Someone in the crowd signalled to Thorn that the road was clear for her to move. She quickly notched an arrow to her bow after having strung it. She jumped out of the back door of the whorehouse with a quick roll, twisting expertly to face the roof of the opposite building. She saw a man, who looked like a northerner but dressed in the clothes of a native southerner. The lookout on the roof was focused on the crowd of beggars that suddenly surrounded the bodies of the lookouts. Still he couldn’t tell what was happening. He was a bit worried because that is the direction his other two colleagues were hiding, pretending to be beggars in other to keep the back door of the whorehouse house under watch and stop anyone who tries to escape that way.
With the string of the bow already pulled back, Thorn let fly and the arrow shot out of the bow with astonishing speed and flew straight at the watcher. The arrow pierced the eye and entering the brains and punched through the skull. The watcher twitched and fell from the roof. As the body struck the ground, crowd of beggars gathered the body and in a few moments both it and the other two bodies vanished dragged into secret holes.

Thorn didn’t wait to she all that, she quickly took a turn that led into a smaller alley, this alley led to a group of streets that are like a maze of inter connecting roads meeting at very odd angles. A stranger to these parts can get lost and spend days moving in circles. The houses here are made of derelict materials of crumbling stones and rotted woods. The roads were muddy with holes holding on dirty water. Thorn is well familiar with these parts. As she ran, some familiar faces waved at her, which she ignored and raced to her direction. She got to a particular street that appeared like a dead-end. Close to the wall that ended the street was a heap of rubbish from shattered woods, discarded wastes and rotting corpses of animals. She went behind the refuse, lifted a thick leather cloth spread around it and behold a wide hole stared darkly at her.
The hole is part of a drainage system built round the city of Aram to help take away the flood from the heavy flooding experienced by the city during the few rains they have each year. The drainage system is also connected to the sewage tunnels that also criss cross the underground of most buildings in the city. Some of the drainage channels have been blocked by sands due to regular sand storms and little use in-between rains.

She lowered herself into the hole, groped shortly for some iron rungs that were made to be used by some of the city workers who go down there to dig out sands anytime the drainage is blocked. As she laid hold on the rungs, she climbed down slowly in the dark until her foot stepped on smelly water. The heat of the thin tunnel assaulted her and sweat broke all over her skin. Groping in the darkness, her fingers sort for what she know was there until her hand touched a slight bump that is a wooden touch fixed to the wall of the tunnel. Pulling out the torch, the stroke flints together, creating sparks she light the touch with. As she lifted the touch, hundreds of scurrying rodents ran away from the sudden bright light. Thorn took calculated steps that won’t agitate the small animals to attack because of her intrusion.
After a while she took a turn in the drainage and came to another hole which she knew led to the sewage channel. As she stepped in to the hole, the smell of a thousand human waste knocked her nose. She had thoughtfully brought along a specially scented kerchief that will protect her from the killing smell. She wrapped the kerchief round her nose and mouth which brought the smell down to bearable level. Gladly, there are raised walkways in the sewage tunnels raised high above the sea of raw human waste been transported by the tunnel.

Now here is where she needs extreme carefulness. The sewage tunnels are frequent by the thieves in Aram who use it to escape when being chased and as a result lots of places are rigged with deadly traps. Anyone not familiar with the way is committing suicide passing here. Thorn knows most of the traps and how they can sprung. Still she wasn’t confident because most times new traps are set always without the information reaching the underworld of Aram until several days.
Thorn had carefully side stepped her fifth traps when she heard the noise. It was of men whispering in low voices. Goddess curses, they have been able to track her more quickly than she thought they could. But she smiled as she recalled that speaking in this tunnels is certain death. She hasten her move almost feeling what she knew may happen next. Just then heavy tumbling sounded behind her as if a small rock falls just happened. Several cries of pains accompanied the sounds. She had to stop and step out of the way of multiple rodents running towards where the sounds were coming from being attracted by the cries and probably the smell of blood. The rodents squeaked in delight as the smell of fresh blood drove them to a feeding frenzy.
She allowed them to finish passing before continuing on her trip. The good thing about these tunnels is that they lead to so many entrances that her pursuers might not be able to determine where she will come out from. She joined another drainage tunnel from the sewage which took her beyond the city wall. She was out of the city, sort for one of her trading partners in the watering hole before the city gate, bought a horse and rode into the sandy desert. It was already night and the stars were twinkling with the twin moon blazing on her. Then she recalled that a man named Ruel had sent a message to her, asking to see her. She had ignored his repeated request for an audience, not even when the said Ruel had predicted all that just happened to her. Thorn had never taken any of Ruel messages seriously, but seeing how accurately he had predicted all that had just happened to her, she will have to go to him and demand answers. Woe betide him if she doesn’t like what she will hear.

Gush! Every Write Up In This Story Is A Bombshell. More Ink To Your Pen Op

♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠

“So that is how I escaped from Aram. “ Meera said finally as she ended her narrative. Jarrael was impressed. “Now your turn, tell me what has happened to you all these years how you became a member of the black robes. “
“A tale both bitter and not worth telling. “ Jarrael looked on as eyes stared into the dark distance of patches of clouds in the dark night with stars and the two moons crowding the heavens. “You may see it as a tale of survival but it was a tale of my failures. “
“How failures? I had known you before now as a successful assassin, with a reputation of always completing his jobs. There are those that just the mention of your name strikes fear into their hearts. “ Meera whispered as she rest her head on his shoulders, the way she use to do back then when she was afraid and needed Kez to hold her and keep the fears away.
“Mer look at what we have turned into. Two very cold and brutal people without a tittle of love or human kindness within us. “ Jarrael held her close, petting her back as he used to back then. The memories overtaking all his actions. “Look at me, I may never be able to get married and sired any child of my own. Same can be said of you. “
He sighed bitterly and as Meera said nothing, he continued. “Our father may have been the Blade, a most dreaded thief in Hocklam back then, but he was a honorable man, a good father and husband, who had love enough to sacrifice himself for us. Same with our mother. But we can never be like that. That is why Tarikh have to die, he didn’t just kill our parents, he stole our lives from us. “
“Fret none Kez, we will get him. “
“Oh am no longer sure of that now, with the involvement of the priests of Nemphis it may no longer be possible. “
“With or without the priests, Tarikh will pay for his crimes. “ so saying Meera open her bag of traveling supplies, she brought out a short straight sword still sheath in its scabbard. “Take, compliment of Ruel. “

“What is it? “ Jarrael took the sword from her hand and pulled it out from its scabbard. He observed it with the light coming from the moon and fire put up by Thrace. It was a double edge short sword, about half the length of his scimitars. The hand grip and pommel were just simple crafted work. But the unique thing about it is the blade and edges. The blade doesn’t appear to have been made of iron or any metal, it seem more like a very thin glass or crystal with a dull ruby glow yet had the appearance of something as strong as steel. It should be heavy as been made from crystal but it is very light. Looking at the craftsmanship of the sword, it is obviously not a combat weapon.
“That according to Ruel is an anti-rune sword, the Runebane. It is a weapon that cannot be affected by magic or sorcery. It can penetrate any magical ward that is erected. “ Meera said with a glint in her eyes and her mouth curled up in an evil grin. “Ruel actually said I give it to you. And it will particularly be useful if you meet that Nemphis priest again. “
“A sword that protects one from sorcery attacks ? “ Jarrael asked as he looked at the direction where Thrace was sitting before the fire, already asleep.
“No, it doesn’t actually protect you from sorcery, but the you can use it against any magical objects, ward or shield and they will not stop its attack. “
“Well very considerate of him don’t you think? “
Meera laughed lightly. “I don’t think he is being considerate at all. It’s in his own interest that you succeed. Anyway the seeming merchant is selfish in his own way. “
“Guess you noticed that too, Ruel isn’t what he appears to be. “
“That was never in doubt. He isn’t just a rich eccentric trader, who indulges in a lot of esoteric matters just because he is bored. I think he has a whole lot of other interest besides safe guarding his wealth. “
Jarrael shook his head. “I wonder whose interest he is pursuing. I just hope I won’t regret in the future for helping him. “
“Well if it comes to that, let your hands be swift and your scimitars strike true. “Meera said as she rested her head on his laps, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, feeling once more like an eight year old girl having her elder brother to protect her. Jarrael slowly stroke her green silky hair gently.

nice one.. thanks for the update..

we are back in business peepz... Nice one Apollux.

CHAPTER FIVE

Jarrael was worried when he saw the tracks Khen had lead them to, what he was looking at bore real ill tale for them. As usual Khen has gone before them to scout ahead as his usual manner. He had returned to the group later insisting that Jarrael accompanied him to see this. The tracks are three prominent imprint on the sand, they are claw marks from the paw of an animal, with a tiny mark behind the three fore claws. Jarrael knew this is the customary tracks left by a sand cat.
Several things were bothering Jarrael about this, sand cats hardly stray too far from their nests. They hardly every come here near pit viper’s holes and this close to the Bandits cove. Pit vipers are natural enemies of the sand cats and bandits hunts them always for their pelts. So these tracks are very unusual, Jarrael never anticipated this. He knew the possibility of meeting a group of bandits is there, they may even come across a pit viper, but sand cat was never it.
Another thing is sand cats always travel in pairs and at times threes. A very customary mode of hunting method they employ when they see a prey is allow the prey to see only one of them. While the prey is concentrating on that one trying to avoid it, the others will attack from the blind side
“We are being hunted. “ he said simply.

“By what? “ Thrace asked all too quickly.
“Sand cats. “
Snorting with exaggerated irritation he said. “Oh just a cat? We shouldn’t be worried then. It shouldn’t stop us from moving ahead. "
“You should be worried, very worried. You acting carefree shows your ignorance of sand cats. “
“Oh well I don’t know what it is you know about the said feline but it’s just an animal, what harm can it really do? “ Thrace said dismissively.
“Blessed are you indeed if a sand cat you have never encountered. “ Meera came in. She turned to Jarrael. “Kez what do you think we should do? “
“Follow the rules, play their game. “ Jarrael said with a tight smile. “Khen I want you to disappear behind us. I think you can already guess what I want of you? “
"Yes Guja, at once it will be done. “ Khen bowed, went behind the group and soon disappeared behind a high sand mound.
The word “Guja” was a significant one to the white lotus warriors. When used in combat, it is used for an enemy worth one’s respect but in the present condition, it means one who is worth been followed, one who is wiser and can lead, a master, a leader, a path guide. Jarrael was surprised that Khen will address him with a rare honorific title.

“Let’s go but watch all sides from now on. Mer put an arrow on that bow, we may need it in less than a moment’s notice. Gamba always watch our back. “
The desert sun was oppressive, grinding the travelers in it’s oppressive heat. There skin felt gritty because of it constantly being buffeted by sands, their sweat mixing with it and the heat drying the mixture on their skin. The horses were been ridden in a slow trot to let them rest a bit from the hard riding and also to watch out for their hunters.
Jarrael’s horse was the first to neigh in fear as it stopped moving, the other two borses and the pack one also picked up the cry. As they jerked their heads and eyes opened in abject terror.
“Something is spooking the mounts. “ Thrace said.
“They must have perceived the unique scent of the sand cats. Let’s be more watchful now. “ Jarrael said.
Just then a blur of light brown appeared before them then vanished in a swirl of sands before any of them could take a proper look.
“Is that a sand cat? An awful coward they are. “ Thrace laughed as he pointed at the place of the disturbance.

Ride on, ride on brother

drive on, drive on brother.

“Everyone dismount, we are more vulnerable sitting on these horses. “ Jarrael dismounted as he instructed others. “ Move the horses here, tie them together, cover their heads with the head cover we use for them during sand storms. It will cover their eyes from seeing the beasts when they attack and it will also reduce the intensity of their scent. “
They were just complying when Jarrael saw a puff of sand behind them. “Gamba watch out. “ He yelled.
The dark giant reacted faster than he expected. Gamba dove out of the way as the light brown blur passed by. Gamba wasn’t ready to let it just passed, he swung a heavy blow with his fist that connected solidly with the attacking beast. The beast landed awkwardly because of the blow. When the beast stopped p for a while everyone was shocked at the sight before their eyes. The sand cat that stood before them was a feline as its name signifies, it has very busy mane similar to the elusive hill lions of the Dragon Claw mountains, but the long heavy hairs run round all its body. But it was never enough to conceal the bulge of its heavily muscled body. Beside the light brown color of its body, multiple dark spots were scattered around the body making the beast perfect at camouflage in the sandy wastes of the Amirian desert. The cat was huge, almost five feet high at its shoulders when standing on all its paws. It roared, opening a mouth filled will deadly looking sharp fangs. It moveed slowly circling the group preparing for another attack.

“Oh so this is a sand cat? “ asked Thrace. “You never did mention during your brief narrative that they were this huge and ferocious. “
The acolyte’s word drew the cat’s attention and it turned to him preparing to pounce. But the attack when it came, came from behind them from another sand cat stalking them. The attack was so fast that Jarrael didn’t even have the time to warn Thrace. The cat flew at the acolyte, fore paws stretched with the claws extended. Thrace had only the time to jerked back a bit surprised. The cat dove at him but seem to hit a solid invisible barrier and it tumbled to the ground. Jarrael was relieved a bit as he noticed that Thrace had already erected a magical shield around himself in time before the attack.

That is one thing dangerous about the sand cats, they are just too fast, one can almost not dodge their attacks. While the cat that had hit Thrace's invisible shield tumbled on the ground trying to get back to its feet, the one before them attacked. It went for Gamba, who moved quickly too matching the cat’s speed. He caught the attacking paws of the animal in both his huge hands, allowing the force of the attack to push him to the ground but he turned to a control fall reversing it to a back flip with both his legs on the stomach of the cat to keep it far from him. As the somersault was completed he pushed with his legs throwing the beast over his head backwards and releasing his hold on it as the cat was thrown backward to fall heavily thrashing in the sands.
Gamba stood up quickly pulling out his huge axe holding it with both hands as he faced the trashing animal.

Push On, push On Brother

Apollux, ride on Man..
Story got me on edges of my seat.

Thrace stretched his hand forward, his fingers throwing out forked lighting bolts at the cat that attacked him. He was shocked with his jaw hanging down as the animal deftly dodged all bolts shot at it. Meera drew back her bow and let fly her arrow, it was swift but the sand cat also side stepped that too to the amazement of Jarrael’s sister. But Jarrael wasn’t surprised, from the few things he knows about sand cats is that they are sometimes low level empaths. This means they can somehow feel other creatures feelings for them, especially feelings of hostility and fear, this is what they use in hunting preys but it also makes them quick as avoiding attacks directed at them because they can easily feel the hostile intention directed at them before the attack, so they can dodge with such speed that bothers on precognition.
These things went through Jarrael’s mind as he thought sadly that was why he really wanted them to avoid the sand cats by all means, unfortunately it didn’t work out that way. The hairs on the nape of his neck stood in danger warning sign, which made him turn and he saw another brown blur running towards him, the third sand cat, the first one that had acted like the decoy the first time. He didn’t think twice about it, he flicked his hand throwing the little knife he already had there at the coming attacker. He also moved at of the way. The knife hit the cat on its shoulder but didn’t stop its rampaging. The cat slide to a stop amid swirling sand and turned to him for another attack as Jarrael struggled to pull his scimitars from their sheaths. Before the cat can move, Khen dove out from hiding, his sword cut down with a strong swing. The blade slashed at the side of the sand cat. It roar in pain but shook itself as if the attack was just a mild irritation. Blood was dripping, but it was too little to show that a serious injury was suffered.

am feeling u bro

Khan was a bit taken aback, he knows the attack was a strong one, the strike is enough to slice a man in half by the middle but all it did was just irritate the creature. Jarrael looked at the white lotus warrior with pity, he knows very little about sand cats. Another thing that makes the sand cats dangerous is that they have very tough skin that can easily blunt most attacks. Jarrael slowly walked to the front of the disappointed Khen, gave him a sign to step behind him. The sand cat stood looking at Jarrael, growling a little as it watched him.
Jarrael held his scimitars calmly, the sand cat may have very tough skin, but his blades were sorcery formed, they are sharp enough to cut through some steel. But Jarrael did not fail to realize that the sand cat is fast and not just its speed, the ability it has to sense his hostile intention may give the cat the ability to dodge his attacks. He took a moment to calm his mind, he pushed his Nam down burying his emotions, allowing his Enri to overwhelm him and guide his actions. His emotions became calm and exude serenity which kept the observing cat in a docile state and then he struck. He targeted the neck, the left scimitar coming in a hard downward strike slice cleanly through the sand cat’s neck meeting with little resistance. The beast’s head fell from its neck it staggered badly and collapsed as the stump of the neck sprayed dark blood.

As he turned, he saw Gamba holding his own against the cat that attacked him. They were both circling each other. He has several cuts on his dark skin, bleeding with red blood spilling freely. But the beast hasn’t escaped freely too, it has several cuts on its body which shows Gamba has been holding his own. As Jarrael watched , the cat attacked the Hokunian, Gamba didn’t try to get out of the way like before but this time he judged the speed of the cat’s attack and he struck down with the handle of his axe holding with both hands. He calculation was precise, the bottom of the axe smashed heavily on the skull of the sand cat with a loud crack. The beast tumbled away from him with a squeal, it roll out of the reach of Gamba’s attack and circled back again to face him.
Jarrael turned to look at how his sister was faring and was in time to see the third sand cat dodge an arrow shot at it and also a lighting bolt from Thrace. “Hide your thoughts, don’t let your mind think of what you want to do to it. The beast can sense your intentions and will continue to doge the attacks coming from them. “

Appollux u are a bomb feeling u bro

Gamba heard the advice and was willing to take it seeing through the side of his eye that their leader has been able to kill the one he faced. If that is the secret to overcoming these creatures, he will do it. Gamba walked calmly to the growling creature as it observed him, lips drawn back from bared teeth, bile with thick saliva spilling from its mouth. He got close to the beast, his dark skin glittering with sweat and blood. Holding his axe freely in his left hand. He tried to hide his intention, singing a lullaby in his mind, a song sang mostly by his people to calm children, he allowed the calming effects of the song to over shadow his top emotions. When he got within striking distance he struck fast before the cat can move, his axe hit the sand cat’s fore head and sank deep, cracking the heavily dense forehead bone of the beast, slicing through the brains.
Twice now, Jarrael observed that Gamba has impressed him with the level of his strength. Sand cats have one of the strongest bones of most animals on Ghemmaria and its forehead is the strongest of its entire skeletal system. The force behind the axe to have been strong enough to crack the skull is massive indeed.

Jarrael looked back at Meera. She drew back on her bow, an arrow flew from it and for the first time the arrow struck the cat by the side. The beast only growled in irritation and prepared to pounced on her when it was suddenly lifted from the floor by an invisible force. Thrace was making gestures with his hand, he had cast a levitation spell that lifted the cat from the floor and hanged it in mid air. The cat growled and roared at it flailed in the air, clawing at the air trying it grab unto anything. Thrace simply spoke some silent words into his right palm, he opened it and pointed a finger at the cat, a thin flame flew from his finger and struck the beast which burst into flame suddenly turned into a wide fireball. As the flame burned with the sand cat screeching, the flame flashed bright suddenly and vanished leaving just a pile of ash in the air which was blown away by the wind.
Smiling broadly at the others staring at him, he blew air from his lips. “I love my barbecue extra crispy. “

Apollux the great writer,welldone sir.

Oboy see film! Na only spin-off be these oh... How the main one go be?... Chai oboy Apollux u Tooooooooo much.

meneski:
Oboy see film! Na only spin-off be these oh... How the main one go be?... Chai oboy Apollux u Tooooooooo much.

You see wetin we dey talk?!! The is just too good.

This is wonderful, I'll never get tired of reading this. The Sand cats, something might have nudged them to hunt Jarrael and his crew.

JohnGainsville:
This is wonderful, I'll never get tired of reading this. The Sand cats, something might have nudged them to hunt Jarrael and his crew.

I was thinking they were Sand cats made of sorcery and to be frank, I was surprised when they turned out to be real Sand cats. But the angle you mentioned could just be true, as they normally stay off that route.