The War of Gods

Chapter 2 - Part 2

It had sounded so simple when Chief explained it, relaxed, in his element. Well, Nerith didn't feel very relaxed. And she wasn't the only one, apparently. She could hear Jordan clattering his teeth and see a deep frown in Joel's face. A rare sight. Mavar kept a straight-face, as usual. She had never been able to read him very well. He looked like he should be younger than her by a couple of winters, but that meant he had likely been born around a century before her.

Damn elves.

They were close enough to the gates that they could see the Keepers now. The walls didn't seem that intimidating up-close, they were wooden and couldn't be taller than a one-story building. The massive stone University walls would put these ones to shame. Oh, how she longed to go back. To see her family and friends. Go back to her studies. What was she doing here?

A Keeper came forward and raised his hand at them. They stopped in response. Nerith could feel her hands growing shaky, dry, warm.

Wild.

Relax!, she thought to herself. She tried to focus on the rain, controlling her breath.

"Halt!" the Guard bellowed. "Who goes there?"

Chief Ghuil kept on walking, pushing his squad forward following their abrupt stop. "Found these punks trying to make a quick coin on the way to Akchaman." They strode into the light provided by the Keepers' torches. The drizzly rain made for a misty night, and even those with Darkvision had trouble seeing through it. That, combined with the Chief's disguise, would hopefully get them through with no issues.

The Guard Keeper covered his face and squinted. He looked Human, might not even have Elf blood in him. Perfect.

"Damn Stormbloods," the Keeper spat. "Moving north now, are we? Did you rob Akchaman dry?" He turned to the Chief. "Go on lad, we should still have a couple of cells for them," a quick and sharp whistle pierced the rain, and the gates began to open.

Another push came from Chief Ghuil. "Go on, now! I've lost too much time with you lot already."

They crossed the city gates and Nerith tried to watch out for surrounding guards.

There. A lone one to her left. Vulnerable. Should she attack now?

"Steady now," Chief whispered. "There are five guards on this side of the wall, two to your right and one to the left. Two directly behind us closing the gate." Calm, collected, he could probably see their nerves pilling up from a mile away.

"Listen carefully," Nerith felt her binds loosening. "When you hear the gate closing. Pick the man closest to you. Just like in target practice, aye?"

Nerith's heart thumped in her chest. Pick a man. The one to the right. She had never killed before. What if she missed? Or froze? She couldn't use advanced magic, lest it went wild. Cantrips would be simple enough, but they also lacked power. But what cantrip would she use? Fire was her specialty. Or should she-

The gate locked into place with a thud.

Flashes and yells came from all around Nerith.

"Fire Bolt!" she yelped, turning to face her target. The palm of her hand immediately became ablaze and a ball of fire shot out from it. It streaked quickly across the entrance yard and she could see the face of her target for a brief moment. Fear. Confusion. A stab of guilt and adrenaline ran through her.

She missed.

Her guilt quickly turned to panic. She watched as her Fire Bolt grazed her target's head, missing by inches. An Ice Knife hit him straight in the forehead at the same time.

Ice Knife?

She looked to the side, where the knife had come from, and saw Jordan looking at her, panic in his face as well.

They quickly scanned the yard. Joel's guard, dead. Mavar's guard, dead. Chief's guard, dea-

Where was the guard on the left?