[IRP] As Firm as a Mountain

[WyvernSlayer]

“Gods!” Satsume recoiled as Ray’s second lightning blast ripped through the roof and impacted about two feet in front of him. “Quit that! You’re destroying my house!”

There was only one of them left inside the house now. Satsume was prepared to duck low and attempt to tackle the assassin, who was between him and Ray. That’s when he heard Cecily’s voice again – faintly but assuredly. Her song was different this time – he didn’t feel the surge of vigor that the previous tune had wrought. Rather, it seemed to threaten to distance him from the fight, coaxing his thoughts away to a happier place…

No! Come on, focus! Satsume shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts. He needed to end the threat, and quickly. Unfortunately, said threat had taken advantage of his momentary lapse and doubled back behind Ray, putting the mage between himself and Satsume. Great…

The foe threatened with his daggers, trying to maintain space. Satsume ran through his options – he needed to find a way to advance on the assassin without putting Ray at risk, or a sniper bolt through his own neck. Satsume stole a quick glance out the window to make sure the sniper was still there. And…

“Huh.” He wasn’t in the window. Was it a trick? Wait… Cecily! Her song! Suddenly it all clicked for him. She had sung a tune to debilitate the crossbowman so he and Ray could fight!

Now, Satsume had a plan. Ray appeared to be threatening another spell – that simply would not do. Satsume reached out and grabbed Ray’s outstretched arm, freezing the mage mid-incantation. “Move,” he said tersely, yanking on his arm and tossing him back and to the side. The assassin saw this as an opportunity, making a move towards Ray as he fell against the wall. Satsume stepped in between them, taking a dagger point off the breastplate. The attacker was quick, but not very strong. Satsume grinned as the assassin’s gaze peered up at his face. He reached up with his injured hand and clasped it around the poor fool’s wrist. It hurt to put any pressure on that bolt in his hand, but Satsume had grabbed his foe’s wrist at such an angle that the tip of the bolt pierced the man’s skin and effectively neutered any strength he had put into gripping the dagger. The assassin squealed in pain and reached up with the dagger in his other hand.

“Hrrrgh!” Satsume gritted his teeth through the pain as he twisted his arm over, putting the assailant into a very uncomfortable wrist lock. The assassin sank to his knees, dropping the other dagger. Satsume picked the man up by his neck and slammed him against the far wall.

“Who sent you?!” he demanded.

The assassin gurgled incomprehensibly.

“Who SENT you?!” Satsume slammed the man against the wall again. He had a death grip on the man’s neck. The pain in his hand only served to shorten his temper. “Tell me, dog!”

The assassin gurgled again, and his head went limp – in Satsume’s anger, he had choked the life right out of him. “Goddammit.” He dropped the man’s body and clutched at his wound. That one was probably the only chance he had to get some information. He turned to Ray, who was picking himself up off the floor.

“Sorry. You were in the way,” said Satsume. He glanced over at the bed. Cecily was propped upright against the wall, eyes closed. Tiny bits of blood lingered on her cheeks and neck. Satsume staggered over to her.

“Princess?” No answer.

“Cecily…?” He touched her neck gently, feeling for a pulse – and breathed a sigh of relief when he found one. Whew…

“Hey! Satsume!” Satsume perked his head up at the sound of his sister’s voice. He leaned and peered out the window. Limstella was running back towards the house from the armory, bow in hand. “Need help?” she called.

“Get the apothecary!” he yelled back. “And where’s Dad?!”

“He’s fine!” Limstella slowed as she neared the window, kicking aside the comatose sniper. “A little banged up, but we’re both fine.”

“Good. Tell him to bring in his forceps.” Satsume held up his hand, showing the bloodstained crossbow bolt through it. “I’m gonna need some help with this.”