Vandal-izing.

Writers: Avery, Leigh M-F., Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 8th November 2016

Characters: Karhal, Helmarin, Dannarr, Ulgon
Description: More bandits strike.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris, Benani.

Karhal

"These paint fumes are unbelievable even with the cloth over my face," Dannarr complained to her two fellow bandits. "We're still clear, right?" she asked of the one on lookout, and wiped her own eyes before resuming her work. The orders from inside the Hold had been very clear about what to write, and Dannarr was taking great pleasure in writing **Women aren't broodmares!** Her husband, whom she had loved dearly, had thrown her out when a healer explained she simply wasn't fertile. Her family had turned her away as well, citing they would not be able to find a good match for her and couldn't support her themselves.

Lost and homeless with nowhere else to go, no other family or friends to turn to, the bandits and Holdless of Amber Hills had taken Dannarr in. They hadn't cared she couldn't bear children; there were other women who could, so if she could work hard, she had a place with them. Even if many of them were criminals and outcasts, they had given her a worth based on what she could do, not what her womb couldn't. For that, Dannarr was grateful.

"Clear," Ulgon said in a low voice. "How much longer," he asked. He wasn't nervous but his knives were sharp and though he wasn't the biggest guy he was quick and deadly with them. Anyone unfortunate enough to stumble across them might just not live to tell about it. The leaders didn't like his little habits much but they needed his skills. "Hurry it up," he hissed.

"Not too much longer," Helmarin said as he continued to paint. The words he was working on were, **Zathris cannot guard the Hold**. He thought they were rather accurate. The man had let his wife get kidnapped. He'd gotten himself lost. What kind of competence did he have?

"I have one more sentence, and I'll be done," Dannarr reported, wiping her eyes another time. "Ancients, these fumes. If I hack up a lung and attract attention, both of you should forget me and bolt." She moved to a space that had, thus far, been left unmarked, and started painting **End the craftban NOW!**

"Shh," Ulgon said to the other two, he thought he saw movement in the dim light and they didn't need to be discovered right this moment.

Dannarr immediately fell silent, covering her mouth and nose with her free hand as she waited, poised for flight. She didn't want to leave the job half done, but if that was safer, then unfortunately, that needed doing.

He peered through the gloom and crouched by the crates they'd chosen to cover their their activity. When he was satisfied there was no further movement, he nodded and made a hand motion to the others to continue their work.

Dannarr resumed painting, but considerably less neatly. That was okay, as long as her message could still be read. She finished moments later and grabbed up her paint bucket. "All right, I'm done. Helmarin, you ready?"

Helmarin frowned as he continued to stroke paint across the wall. "Yes," he said, muffled through the mask. "It is done."

"All right, let's go, Ulgon." Dannarr held the paint pail in one hand and the brush in the other, to avoid unnecessary noise. "These holders won't know what hit them," she said gleefully. "I hope we scare everyone."

The little man nodded to the other two though he didn't take his eyes off the shadows where he thought he'd seen someone. Then suddenly he heard a footfall and flattened himself against the crates. The others were closer to the other corner of the building, so he shoo'd them with a sharp and silent motion.

Helmarin scurried a little faster towards the corner, his heart beating fast at the fear of being found.

Dannarr crouched, not having much other option, and waited, holding her breath. And just when she let it out, a guard came into view, squinting suspiciously through the moonlight.

The group's attention captured by another guard, Karhal was able to silently creep up on the trio. For a large man, he was remarkably quiet and with another guard beside him, the three were easy prey for the more experienced guards. "Now." The quick command was sharp and grim. The guard before lunged forward and the guard beside him made to contain the woman. Karhal saw the gleam of a knife and his muscled arm wrapped around the neck of the small knife wielding little bandit.

Ulgon was quick with his knife and a sneer at the bear of a man as he twisted to duck under the other arm and stick him in the ribs. "Shardin..." was all he got out.

Dannarr shrieked in spite of herself when her left arm was grabbed. She likely had no chance against the guard, but she had to try. Her right hand dropped the paint can and flew up in an attempt to gouge his eyes. At the same time, she leaped up, using the grasp on her arm as leverage, and aimed two knees at his gut.

"Son of a f..." Karhal grimaced at the wound, thankful that his leathers protected him from the knife going too deep, but even then, he felt the sharp blade dig into the muscle along his side. The smaller man was willing to kill, so Karhal reacted with quick reflexes that were just as punishing. His hands jerked, grabbed the man's head before he could dart farther away and with a quick jerk of his arms, twisted and felt the snap as the man's neck broke.

The other guard blocked with a forearm and wrenched the woman's arms in a painful grip. His handling intended to spin her around and slam her into the nearest crate while cutting off further attacks. "Knock it off, you're caught," he growled.

Ulgon was dead; there was no doubting that. She'd heard that snap. With any luck, Helmarin had escaped. Dannarr might not get away, but pinned against the crates, breathless, arms restrained, she had to at least put up some resistance. Thus, she drove a brutal mule kick at the guard's knee, hoping the pain would make his grip would loosen long enough for her to flee. If it didn't work, then maybe his career would be over if she did enough damage.

The third one had gotten around the corner while he'd wrestled with the woman. Praston grunted in pain as her foot connected with his knee and it buckled. But he had a firm hold on her and didn't let go as he went down. Taking her with him as he fell he rolled and pinned her beneath him. "Not so fast, he growled.

Now he heard other footsteps and familiar voices coming as the night patrols converged on their position.

Dannarr moaned and sagged under the guard, knowing there was no more she could do. But Helmarin had gotten away. He would tell their leader what had happened. And if the guards tried anything she didn't consent to, that would only strengthen the bandits' position, even if she
couldn't escape.

But with any luck, their inside woman would find out and give Dannarr something that would create another form of escape if it was needed. That, too, would strengthen their position, if a woman would rather die than be imprisoned for who knew how long.

Last updated on the November 30th 2016

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Vandal-izing.