Telnor- Dean's Garden- Tinsdal
"Good idea. I'll let you guys figure this out. I'm going to bed. Almost dying takes a lot out of you. So you mind if I use the same room I was before?" Telnor walked away from the meeting and made his way back to his room, picking up his sword case on the way back.
Entering his room he locked the door behind him. He set cleaned his sword and put it back in the case, setting it carefully on the floor. He stripped off his ruined armor and threw it across the room.
He fall back on his bed trying to sleep but he kept tossing and turning. This was the second time he had tried to be a leader. To lead forces in battle and this was the second time he failed, miserably. This incident was too similar to the one that had happened a year and a half ago, Telnor thought as fell into a restless sleep.
A year and a half ago- Estoff
"As you can see Telnor we need to take control of these five streets. The Strong Swords are currently in control of these streets. These streets provide easy access into our territory and because of how close the buildings are together there, people have to go a great distance around if not for these streets. They provide a great defensible position. If The Strong Swords ever openly attack us it would allow them to quickly access supplies to their troops and ease of access to additionally troops. However this works both ways. If we control these areas than we can launch an attack on The Strong Swords and wipe them out, and take the North- East section of Estoff. That should give us most of the district, at least three fourths. Then we should be able to fight The Speared Mages or at least consolidate our power so that they back down," a large man handed a map to Telnor. "Is that clear?
"Yes Commander Lej," Telnor adjusted his sword. "How many people can I take?"
"Fifty people of your choice. We need this done fast Telnor. We can't risk either The Strong Swords or The Speared Mages attacking us when we are missing people. So you have one week to get it done. After that we have to withdraw. I'm counting on you Telnor. You've beaten the odds before you can do it. I have faith in you.
Estoff- Gelti Quarter.
Telnor stood in the inn's dining room, fifty Ragged Swords were gather there with him, including the man who taught him how to use a sword, Yilet, a large man whose faces was covered in scars and kept his black hair short. Telnor's apprentices were there as well. The twins, Sakne and Nicon. Both had golden hair but Nicon wore her's down her back and Sakne kept his in a short ponytail. Both stood just below Telnor's height and many of their mannerisms were the same. Both were extremely talented with their swords and Telnor was very proud of both of them.
"Okay so one last time. We split into two groups and take control of the first two streets quickly. Those two blocks will then lead us into the third block where converage and prepare for retaliation. We push back this retalation and take the last two blocks. The last two will be the hardest because by then they should have dug in and prepared for a fight so we may have to fight for every inch. The first squad will be lead by and Yilet and Nicon. The second will be lead by Sakne and myself. Is that clear? Each of one of you know what squad you are in so get into the proper groups. We fight in ten minutes.
Ten minutes later the entire squad was out on the streets, prepared for battle. Telnor led his group down his street. They encountered no resistance. When the two groups met up on the third street they still didn't encounter anyone. The streets were deserted. The group split up again and ran down the last two streets, they still didn't encounter anyone.
"Whats going on," Telnor asked Yilet as they met up again. "We should have encounter someone, anyone. This entire place is deserted. No fighters, no residents. Nothing. This is right on our borders there should have been guards at least."
"They must have been tipped off that we were coming. I don't like this. We need to set up and patrol. This has to be a trap. Or an attempt to lure us into a false sense of security. We need to stay alert."
"Agreed. I'll organize patrols and shifts. If by the end of the week we haven't seen anyone we'll send a runner back. For now just a send report about our suspicions," Telnor turned to the rest of the squad and began to make the patrols groups.
Three Days Later
Telnor fell onto his bed at the Inn they were using as a headquarter, as he returned from his patrol. Three days later and still nothing. Not a single other person in sight. No matter what he did he couldn't shake the feeling that this was a trap. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
A large clang awoke Telnor. Bolting out of the bed, sword in hand, he raced to the window to see fighting in the streets. Telnor turned around in time to see his door fly off its hinges and five Strong Sword soldiers burst into the room. He drew his sword and prepared to fight. He dodged the first strike and retaliated by slicing across the soldier's stomach open. He sidestepped to the left as one of the soldiers stabbed at him. He elbowed the soldier in the face and stabbed a third one through the eye. Pulling his sword out he whipped around to face the three remaining soldiers. Stepping back he held his sword in front of himself. The soldiers surrounded Telnor in a triangle.
One stepped forward and swung his blade downwards. Telnor charged into the soldier's stomach, shoulder first, putting his arm between the man's legs and flipped him over his body, into another soldier knocking them both to the ground. Riposting, he stabbed his sword through the last standing soldier's throat. Turning to the last two soldier as they struggled up off the ground he stabbed one through the back of his spine, pulled his sword out and stabbed the last one in the throat.
Telnor raced out of his room, down the stairs and out into the street just in time to run into Sakne.
"Master! We lost the other street! It's not just the Strong Swords! We are also under attack by the Speared Mages! We need to retreat!"
Telnor nodded and yelled out for everyone to start running to the middle street. As he looked around he saw less than half of the original squad was still alive. Most of the survivors were heavily injured and bleeding profusely.
"Everyone shore up! We need to hold the line!" Telnor tried to rally the troops. He prepared to fight the incoming enemies with the remaining Ragged Sword squad members behind him.
Five hours later.
Telnor stumbled along, clutching his chest from a painful cut. His head was bruised and his ankle was twisted. Beside him was Yillet and Nicon. Everyone else, including Sakne, were dead. Nicon, clutched her brother's sword, his hand still attached to it. The entire defense had been a disaster. The combinded forces of The Speared Mages and Strong Swords had overwhelmed the Ragged Swords and were even now preparing for an attack on The Ragged Sword's territory. Telnor, Yillet and Nicon had to get to headquarters and warn them, before it was to late.
Two months later
Telnor kept his hood up as he walked slowly down the street. Ever since that disastrous mission two months ago everything had fallen apart. The Strong Swords and Speared Mages had quickly taken over the Ragged Swords territory. The Ragged Swords had made them fight for every inch but in the end they still lost. Now they were disbanded and any surviving members were sneaking out of the District. Yillet had already left, heading North. Nicon had left last month, angry at Telnor for letting her brother die and vowing revenge. Now Telnor was heading south, to hopefully find some refuge in the South and solace in his failure as a leader.
Now. Deann's Mansion
Telnor woke up in the morning. His dreams had been filled with his time in Estoff.
