[Vfw-times] Mk Winter Assault Part 61 - the Hush Puppy
COkane8116 at aol.com
COkane8116 at aol.com
Tue Nov 27 02:42:48 CST 2001
Hush Puppy
**************
Finbar checked his surroundings one more time before edging forward to the
corner. Since he had first arrived at Metamor Keep Finbar had always found
the fact that rooms, walls and whole areas constantly moved really annoying
and a little frightening. But now he was grateful. When Sarah had first led
them to where the woman was there had been just a guard standing in front of
an open doorway at the end of a long corridor. No possible way to sneak up on
that sword wielding mercenary. Then the walls had moved and the corner Finbar
was laying behind was suddenly thirty feet closer. Now less then ten feet
away from the guard the ferret gave a silent prayer of thanks to Kyia.
Ten feet was too far to use a knife, the guard would have time to sound
the alarm. He turned to Misha who was right behind him, "Hush puppy," he
signed with his hands. The fox understood and nodded his agreement.
Finbar had done such things many times before. In order to sneak into some
important place, usually a lutin camp, required that a sentry be taken out
quietly and without raising the alarm. Finbar preferred to use a knife; it
was quick, silent and he did not have to worry about aim if his arm was
wrapped around the sentry's head. Still, sometimes there was no way to use a
knife; so something else was needed. From his pack Finbar drew out a little
weapon. Meredith had first come up with the idea for it after reading a story
about mysterious southern assassins. The weapon was a hand crossbow, barely
one-fourth the size of a real crossbow. It's bolts were really too small to
be of use on the battlefield but with a little help it was perfect for
killing a sentry.
From his pack Finbar took out a tightly wrapped bundle. Carefully
unwrapping the layers of leather and cloth revealed three bolts sized for the
hand crossbow. The steel tips were covered with metal caps. Finbar cocked the
crossbow quietly and then placed one of the bolts in the groove to be shot.
Lastly he very carefully removed the cover from the tip of the bolt and
placed it back in the bundle. Even in the semidarkness of the corridor he
could make out the bluish liquid smeared on the metal tip of the bolt. Pascal
had been most explicit about how to handle that liquid, one touch to bare
skin and a person would be dead in seconds. It worked very well on killing
sentries. A moment of sadness touched Finbar as a memory of a dead friend
came to him. It had been Craig who had come up with the nickname Hush puppy
since it worked very well to hush a noisy guard dog as well as a sentry.
Finbar nodded to his leader to let him know he was ready and the fox
nodded back in acknowledgement. The ferret peered around the corner and took
aim at the sentry's throat. He tried not to see the man's face, in his mind
Finbar fixed on the idea that the person he was aiming at was the enemy. The
target had no name, life or family, just a figure in armor that had to be
killed. He squeezed the trigger and the bolt flew off to its destination. The
figure just dropped to the ground with only a muffled thump, and the rattle
of chain mail.
Misha rushed passed Finbar and up to the body. He quickly pulled the
corpse back around the corner and dropped it by the ferret. The rest of the
team moved around the corner and to the doorway. The Longs spread out on
either side of the doorway and waited for a response. Finbar still lay on the
floor with his crossbow in hand waiting for trouble. None came. Finally the
ferret put away his dangerous little weapon with great care and took up his
usual sword and dagger.
Misha cautiously peered into the room beyond the doorway then pulled his
head back. Quickly and silently the fox passed orders along to the other Long
Scouts. "Ten human guards, thirty Keepers - slaves, cleaning. Target is
there, ordering, working on unknown items. Guards, slaves scattered around
room. Target in center. Kill the guards, save the keepers, target gets taken
alive."
The other scouts with him nodded in understanding as their leader
continued giving silent orders. "Me, Kershaw, will go straight forward.
Finbar, Jotham go left. Georgette, Danielle go right." All those orders had
been passed without a word being spoken. Long hours of practice and training
were now serving them well. Not a sound had been made and yet all understood
clearly.
Finbar checked his long sword and dagger one last time. Jotham smiled at
the ferret as he checked his own weapons. The man fingered the blade of a
hand axe and checked the mace at his belt. Then he lightly patted the pouch
on his hip.
The ferret pondered that gesture. In that pouch was all of Jotham's
healing supplies. Next to it was a mace. Side by side were tools for healing
and killing, a strange mix in one person, healer and killer. The
contradictions didn't seem to bother Jotham. He did his both jobs very well.
The ferret fidgeted in place as he waited for the signal to attack. He saw
Misha with his massive longbow in hand peering into the room. Then the fox
looked to Kershaw, who was standing on the opposite side of the doorway. The
panda also had also had a long bow ready.
The fox gave one last hand sign, "Ready?"
"Ready!" Everyone in the group replied silently.
Misha and Kershaw stepped boldly into the doorway and started loosing
arrows. Then they dropped the bows and charged forward. Suddenly everyone was
rushing towards the door. Jotham's broad bulk blocked the entrance for a
moment and then it was Finbar's turn. He rushed through into pandemonium. He
could see men, women, and morphs of all sizes and species running around,
screaming cheering or just panicking. He saw Jotham throw a hand axe at a
guard, draw his mace and then rush into the crowd. Finbar leaped over the
dead body of a guard who had an arrow embedded in his face. He saw a group of
keepers who were piled into a corner beating and punching something on the
floor. He could guess who was underneath that pile and moved passed them.
Allowing them their small measure of revenge.
Suddenly two soldiers appeared, swords in hand. Finbar charged straight at
them his own weapons already lashing out. His sword caught one under the chin
and the blade sank straight into the man's brain. He dodged the other man's
blow as he pulled his sword free. Suddenly Jotham appeared at his side and
swung his mace downward. Finbar heard the weapon connect with the remaining
guards skull giving a sickening crunch. As the body fell to the ground both
Long Scouts looked around for more of the enemy but all that surrounded them
were fellow keepers, dirty and ragged from work and punishment.
"Any more guards?" Finbar asked.
"None alive," someone replied and everyone laughed. Still both the bear
and the ferret looked around but the only living souls they could see were
keepers.
"REPORT!" came the loud shouted voice of Misha.
"All clear left," Finbar answered.
"All clear right," Georgette called.
Finbar moved towards his boss. "What about the woman?" he asked. The crowd
opened up and he found the fox leaning on his axe a broad grin on his muzzle.
"We got her all right," Misha said and pulled up something with his left
hand. It was a woman, she was dressed in fine clothes and was covered with
gold and silver. The clothes were torn and dirty, and her finely combed hair
was a mess from where Misha held a huge handful. Finbar noted that the
woman's whole face was a mass of bruises and he realized that Misha had hit
her with the flat of his axe.
Sarah stepped next to the ferret and looked the woman square in the face.
"She doesn't look so fine anymore."
**
End part 61
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