This is the first chapter of a story ive started writing, let me know what you think
The sound of leather soled boots stealthily creeping along the stone flagged floor was almost indistinguishable over the background noise of the tavern. Only a man who had been trained to notice such detail would be able to pick it out, and Luxon was such a man.
For the past week he had thought he was safe in this city, but it seemed that his pursuers had once again caught up with him.
He deftly slid from his bed onto the balls of his feet, he moved as quickly and as silently as he could to the corner of his rented room where he had left what few possessions he had.
The noise was drawing closer to his room, he was certain, how many had they sent this time he wondered.
His last run in with these black robed figures had almost cost him his life; the wound he had suffered to his shoulder ached in sympathy with the memory. Whoever these people were they were extremely skilled with a variety of weaponry. The knife that had struck and gave him the wound had been thrown with such accuracy it was a miracle he had survived at all.
He drew his Long sword from its sheath, the familiar weight giving him some comfort as he prepared to defend himself.
The small tavern room in which he found himself was comprised of a small chest, bed and a worn out chair. There was no visible way of escape aside from the door in which the assassins now approached. No windows or other access to the outside. Luxon set his jaw, he would have to make a stand or at least hold them off until he could think of some way out of this.
Luxon was of no more than twenty-five when he had been recruited as an agent into the Diasect, the organisation charged with protecting the security of the kingdom. He was one of the best agents, and that was why he now found himself being hunted by these mysterious killers. He had no idea if they knew who and what he was, but he wasn’t about to let them find out.
The sound of the stealthy footsteps had now stopped directly outside Luxons door, he knew now for certain that his suspicions had been right. He positioned himself to one side of the doorframe and waited for his adversary.
The door handle began to turn slowly, and with a quiet click the door began to silently open.
Luxon tensed ready to make his move, when two throwing knifes flew through the now open door and dug themselves deep into the bed, right where his head would have been.
The assassin noticed fast that their quarry was not where he was supposed to be and moved into the room, a sharp and lethal curved blade in their hand. Luxon wasted no time and immediately hacked his sword in a downward stroke, slicing his attackers arm clean off at the elbow.
Luxon bellowed a challenge and struck again, this time burying his blade up to the hilt into the assassin’s chest. The now lifeless corpse slid off his blood soaked blade and slumped to the floor.
Luxon ducked just as another thrown knife struck the wall where he had just been standing, he immediately threw himself to the floor and rolled to his feet as two more of the robed figures charged him with familiar curved daggers in their hands.
Luxon was now in the main upstairs corridor of the tavern, it was narrow with various doors leading to the other guest rooms on either side. His attackers blocked the staircase that would lead him to the bar and perhaps to safety. He could see only one other possible escape route, the large window at the far end of the passage.
Luxon parried a quick strike from the lead attacker and brought his elbow up and struck the assassin square in his throat. The robed figure immediately fell to the floor clutching their throat, gasping for air now that their windpipe had been crushed.
The second assassin was more patient, holding back and watching Luxon for any sign of weakness. Luxon instead charged and as he made a lunge for the assassin’s head the robed figure moved with astounding speed and slashed Luxon in the face. The pain was extraordinary and a burning sensation began to emanate from the wound.
Luxon had no time to think, as again the assassin was on him, their dagger swinging and stabbing savagely. It took all of Luxons concentration to parry the blows that were raining down on him. The pain in his face had begun to subside, but now a numbness was spreading out from it, one side of his face had now lost most of its feeling.
Poison! It was a poisoned blade Luxon realised with horror, just what poison it was he didn’t know, but it would surely kill him if he couldn’t escape and find a healer soon.
He now knew the assassins intent, they would keep him occupied long enough for the poison to take affect and they would watch him die a slow death or perhaps capture him… the realisation struck him like a fist, the poison wasn’t intended to kill him, but paralyse him, he could feel the numbness spreading through his body, he had to escape and soon.
Luxon feinted high with his blade and rotated his wrists so that now his blade was now ready for an upward slash to the assassins face. The assassin however moved to parry the cut and as he did so, Luxon twisted again causing his sword to catch the assassin in the throat.
Scarlet blood hit the corridor wall as the sword sliced clean through the attackers throat. The robed figure crumpled to the floor instantly as blood continued to spurt from the wound.
Luxon leaned against the passageway wall, his breathing was now wheezing out of him, his whole face now felt numb and the sensation was spreading through his arms. He made to head for the staircase, but the now familiar figure of yet another assassin was cresting the top step. Their dagger drawn, and surely looking for vengeance for their comrades’ deaths.
The large window was Luxons only possible escape route, he was in no condition to take on another of these vicious killers. He steeled himself and ran as fast as he could at the window.
With an ear piercing smash he went flying through the air, hoping that there would be something soft to cushion his fall.
The fall felt like forever, and with a bone jarring thud Luxon hit the ground, fortunately landing on a hay basket that took most of the impact. His shoulder was dislocated but apart from that he was okay. He dragged himself to his feet and staggered away from the tavern. He made it a few streets before reaching an alleyway and falling into unconsciousness.
The last thing he heard was the cities alarm bells beginning to toll out in the night air. He had escaped..