Dypes The Soul Keeper. (2)

Chapter 3: A Murder of Crows.

The city streets hustled with lots of travellers, the day air was mellow and the sun was bright and high. The clouds spread out with no threat of rain. Wondering through the streets was Crow. The city he currently walked through was Jiy. Jiy was a port city next to the sea. A lot of trade came in and out of this place and the royal knights always in effect here.

His mission was to disrupt the trade ships of the king and weaken their supply route towards Gord. As he walked through the street he stopped by a baker’s window and looked in and sniffed with his old nose, a smell he enjoyed more than anything in the world, fresh bread. As he looked in he caught a glimpse of his reflection. He smirked even old he looked good. A large blade beard that pointed at his chin and long swept back hair, his eyes dark blue and his clothes heavy cloth mainly browns. A smirk crossed his lips as he brushed his beard.

“Hello sir, would you fancy fresh bread today?” The voice came from a small petite girl no older than ten; she looked up at Crow as he looked down in confusion.

“No my sweet not today, I would love to but I am afraid it would just slow me down.” A chuckle passed his lips as he spoke the words. The small girl nodded and walked back into the bakers.

Walking through the paved streets Crow dodged in and out of people with ease, he melded with the crowd even if you were actively looking for him you would not. Age had taught him this skill and the recent months of war made it very handy. He kept this up for ten minutes as he closed in on his location.

The port was large ships larger than castles and some smaller than people all leashed up to the port. People screamed orders for supplies to be brought onto ships, off ships or for them to set sail. At the edge of the port stood a large ship, pure white in appearance and held the symbol of the king on it. A large circle with a number one in the center. Knights surrounded the boat as port workers moved onto the ship and off it with great amount of supplies. Crow stood and watched this for a while scanning the area for the best way to destroy the ship.

The knights that stood guard numbered in the tens and there would no doubt be bounty hunters lying around in wait. Itching his beard Crow looked puzzled before shaking his head and laughing to himself. The best course of action would be a hit and run.

Walking over to the edge of the port he looked down and the dark wavy sea and closed his hands together. Chanting a few words he jumped down on to the water and landed as if he landed on earth. He neither dropped into the water nor did it react to him. He simply stood on water as if it was the norm.

It was now or never and he ran closer to the great ship and placed himself in a stance. Placing his hands together he bowed his head onto his fingertips. Summoning mana a knight overlooking the ship looked over to Crow.

“Mage!!” The scream echoed across the port and panic ensued.

Tradesmen ran into the nearest buildings. People screamed and fled the scene as fast as they could. The white knights of one assembled at the edge of the port and aimed their bow and arrows at Crow.

“Caught already? Seems like this will not be easy for my old bones.” Smirked Crow.

The sound of the string on the bows was painfully obvious to Crow and the swish of them being let go even more so. Missing him by inches the arrows stabbed into the water before floating up to the surface.

“Illusione Di Tutto, Pacco Omicida Di Corvi!” Crow spat out the chant as he moved his head an inch to the left avoiding an arrow.

A great burst of light shown from Crow before he exploded and hundreds of crows launched forward squawking towards the knights.

“Illusion magic!” screamed one of the knights as he weaved his sword trying to cut down one of the fake crows.

The knights screamed and rolled around slicing at thin air trying to kill the crows, some jumped into the water to avoid them, others simple screamed and ran away.

“Even if you know they are not real the thought of them peaking away at your eyes can trick your brain into thinking they are. The effect can be effective in combat.” Crows words to the knights.

As the knights finally calmed themselves down the ship they were meant to protect exploded and a great fire began to spread across its white deck. Knights screamed for workers to get water and save the ship but it was a futile effort. Most of the ship that wasn’t on fire was now sinking into the harbour.

Running from the scene Crow dragged his old body away but was seen running.

“Over there get him!” shouted the knight in charge.

Crow ran through the busy streets once more avoiding people with ease as he once again melded with them. Behind him he could hear the knights simply push and shove people out the way, people complaining and knights screaming for Crow to be stopped. A smirk was across Crows face he saw this as a game one that we would win.

An hour passed and Crow had completely lost the knights he now kept low in a small inn. He sat at the bar drinking the awful beer and listening to the horrible banter. The barmaid was ugly and had a foul breathe. Crow had to have picked the worst bar in Skov and yet he had no choice but to stay in it until things cooled down.

Crow kept ordering the drink and another hour passed before a man sat next to him at the bar. He was bald and his skin white almost ill looking. He had purple bags under his blue eyes and he wore loose fitting clothes. His eyes dopy and tired he looked at Crow and smiled.

“Hello old timer, fancy a drink with me?” His accent mixed a bit of the north and a touch of the south. His accent was mainly Gord though.

“I suppose so…” Crow said reluctantly.

“Bar keep another two drinks one for me and another for my friend here…. What was your name again?”

“Crow.”

“Ah Crow. Nice name tough a survivors name. You need a good name like that in these times don’t you.”

Crow simply nodded and smacked drinks with the stranger. They both sat for a while talking about unimportant things.

“So Crow, when do you think this non-sense with the mage and knights will end? I would like to go back to my boring life.” He said as he smirked and swallowed another gulp of his bad beer.

“No idea, I don’t think it will end soon.” Sadness in Crows voice.

Placing his empty cup on the counter Crow looked at his company.

“Another for the road?” asked the stranger.

“No no, I think that will do me. Will it be quick?” Crow said grimly.

The strangers placed his cup on the dirty counter and looked at Crow, his smirk gone. “You know this isn’t personal if anything I don’t know who is right or wrong, I just get paid to dispose of people.”

“I know,” Crow said defeated before he even fought.

“At least allow me to introduce myself officially to you?”

Crow smiled and nodded.

Standing up the bald gentlemen revealed four swords strapped to his waist, two on each side. All long and curved with fancy coloured scabbards. “I am Set the Sword Saint of Skov and I am come here today to take your bounty. Crow The Illusive.”

Crow nodded to Set and stood up to meet him face to face.

“You can fight if you wish.” Set said.

“A pointless endeavour, I am spent from my mission and even then I would be no match for you. All that matters is that I completed my mission.” A calm smirk across Crows face as he spoke.

“It was a pleasure.”

The last words Crow heard, The speed Set unleashed his sword at Crow was unseen by many of the punters in the bar. Crow just stood still with his eyes closed. Set looked at Crow and patted him on the back.

“Goodbye Crow, you were a good man.”

As set walked away blood trickled out of Crows smiling mouth and he collapsed on the dirty inn.