The Scions of Arrabar 02 - The Ruby Guardian by Forgotten Realms

Author:Forgotten Realms [Forgotten Realms]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-01-08T17:47:52+00:00

For a moment, time seemed frozen to Emriana as she watched a crackling arc of roaring flame come rushing toward her head. Then the girl was falling, having let go of her perch between the walls of the two buildings where she had been climbing. Rough stone scraped at her knees and shoulders as she slid awkwardly down toward the ground, turning her head to avoid the worst of the heat from the fiery blast above.

Emriana's diminutive stature probably had as much to do with her successful escape as any quick reactions on her part. A larger person would undoubtedly have become wedged between the two walls, stuck in the narrow gap and helpless to evade the scorching blast. But the slender girl dropped easily, barely escaping the worst of the withering heat, though her hair was singed sufficiently

that the odor of it filled her nostrils. She hit the bottom of the gap and tumbled out, away from the flames, sprawling, half blind from the flash of brightness, into the narrow alley leading back toward The Silver Fish. She landed with a rather soggy splat in the midst of something moist and foul smelling.

Emriana nearly gagged when she realized what she was lying in, and she recoiled as quickly as she could, holding her breath in disgust. In the darkness, she could not see the rivulets of filth flowing toward the grated sewer covers, but she had a pretty good idea what most of it was from the stench. Though the smell nearly overpowered her, the girl had to ignore the nasty stuff covering her front, for it became clear that she was not alone in the alley.

"Evenin', love," came a male voice from the near- darkness, off to her right. "'Tis a shame for a comely wench such as yourself to be out alone, don't you think?" the man said. Emriana could just make out his silhouette in the light spilling from the doorway beyond. It was the short, gaunt fellow with the greasy hair.

"Aye, and I'll bet she's wishing for a handsome rogue such as yerself to link arms with," came d second voice, that one female. She stood behind the wiry fellow, and Emriana could see it was the ponderous woman she had been watching inside earlier. "Maybe we can show her how much more fun she'll have, spendin' the evenin' with us, eh?" the fat hussy added, chuckling unpleasantly.

"Get away from me," Emriana said warily, backing away from the pair while trying to fling the worst of the filth from her hands. "I don't need any company."

"But of course you do!" came a third deep voice from the other direction, behind Emriana, cutting

her off from her intended escape route down the alley. "Leastways, you've got it whether you want it or not," the man continued, sounding less friendly.

"You know what to do," came a fourth voice, from above, floating down from the roof. "You've got your gold. Take care of her."

Emriana glanced up and saw her quarry, though she was no longer cloaked and hooded.

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