Zephyr slammed into the side of the building. He dashed behind the cage door, using it for partial cover before yanking the dagger free from his hand. He pocketed the blade, not one to toss aside a weapon that could be useful, either by selling it or using it.
The demons inside the cage scrambled out. Most made a racket, causing guards to come to the location. Zephyr ran alongside them, watching a few fall to the ground from poisoned darts. More Slinktails flopped to the ground until they realised there was a target among them. They dispersed, and with it, Zephyr's coverage.
Darts then ate up the distance between Zephyr and the rooftops they came from. Shooting across as he sprinted, barely keeping ahead of them. He slipped down an alley to his left and came across more cages. The first few he passed, still looking over his shoulder for his pursuers before stumbling to a stop and releasing more demons.
Zephyr repeatedly fled and released demons, grinning when Draegorths escaped and caused a mess. Blood splattered the streets, both demon and humankind. It was utter chaos.
Chaos he could use to flee.
After locating a horse, Zephyr hopped up and fled. Yes, he knew how to ride now. As he galloped away, the town began to glow up in flames, smoke creating storm clouds in the sky orange and navy sky.
Unfortunately, the mask of mayhem couldn't completely obscure him. The spies from before were hot on his trail, led by none other than their formidable Spymaster, weaving through their horses until she was right on Zephyr's tail. The red of her hair alight from the glow of amber and yellow of the flames consuming the buildings behind them.
Zephyr could barely ride a horse, and here, the tiny Spymaster was hopping up onto her toes, balancing on the horse's back. What was she… Too late Zephyr realised he should have steered the horse to the side. The Spymaster tackled him, and the pair tumbled along the ground, the horse racing off along while her spies slowed and steered around.
Zephyr swiped his blade out, but Spymaster parried it effortlessly, moving around him like a phantom in a deadly dance. Her agility was unmatched, each step calculated, every motion fluid and precise. He struck again, only to have his blade deflected with a flick of her wrist.
The Spymaster's lips curled into a mirthful smirk, her eyes glittering as she watched him, toying with him, feigning an attack and jumping back, giggling when Zephyr tried to deflect and came up empty.
As soon as his blade sliced a surface wound on her side, the Spymaster paused, staring at it like she hadn't seen her own blood before. With a single blink, however, any form of emotion, or lack thereof, swiped clean from her face. It was obvious she wasn't used to her opponent getting the upper hand.
The Spymaster became relentless in her attacks, dodging his every move with almost a supernatural grace. She thrust forward, slicing his arm and drawing a line of crimson. He winced but did not falter. Another slice, across his cheek and then his leg.
Pain radiated from the wounds, but Zephyr did not slow down. He managed to evade Spymaster's more fatal jabs that were aimed at his organs. Twisting and turning with a speed born out of desperation. Spymaster was an Enforcer and proving herself why she was above the hunters and other guards.
The clang of steel on steel echoed through the night. The breeze whistled through some of the trees jotted around in the otherwise sparse hilly fields. If not for the flames in the distance, the countryside would be shrouded in darkness.
Zephyr spun to the left, aiming a low sweep at her legs. The Spymaster leapt over his blade, landing with the grace of a cat. She retaliated with a vicious downward strike that he barely managed to block. The force of the blow sent a jolt through his arms, nearly causing him to drop his weapon.
Demons were stronger and faster, and now Zephyr knew higher-level demons could summon magic, but this redheaded Enforcer was proving herself to be just as lethal. He was barely keeping up with her.
Zephyr lunged forward in a desperate attempt to create some distance. Spymaster stumbled back but quickly regained her footing, eyes ablaze with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
"I don't know whether to kill you now or capture you and save it for later," she murmured in contemplation, circling him like a predator sizing up its prey. "It is clear you are no ordinary Slinktail… I should put you down to prevent any further trouble for my partners and me. Yet, I find myself curious…"
She began humming, tilting her head from side to side in a dramatic show of her decision-making. She was a Spymaster and more than likely more calculative than she was portraying. Her petite frame and impressive fighting skills already splintered any preconception Zephyr formed of her.
Ignoring her words and actions, Zephyr focused on his breathing, steadying himself for the next onslaught. Spymaster chuckled, however, and fell back into darkness as three of her spies shot forwards. With their blades raised, Zephyr's fingers tingled, cold trickling down his spine and the spies froze, mid attack, looking around them and at each other.
"I can still feel his presence."
"Is he… a Daedron?"
The redheaded Enforcer pushed the men aside, eyes wide. "He's too weak to be a Daedron…" She hissed. "Search the area. He cannot be far."
Daedron? Another term he did not understand.
The spies dispersed, but their Spymaster didn't budge, swiping her sword aimlessly into the air, suspecting he was still there. "I can feel your presence, demon," she hissed. "I can hear your feet." Swipe. She turned her head and looked directly at Zephyr, or more like right through him.
Still, she lunged forward with her sword, and he stepped back. The Spymaster grinned, eyes flicked to the ground where his boots sank into the slightly damp mud.
"Got you." She lunged, her sword plunging towards his chest.