The Hunt

[Pillar of Creation]

Joshua remembered well the order Alric had given when he dispatched the group of elite soldiers and gifted.
"Alive if possible, dead if not."
He fully intended to get Lord Rahl alive, and he had something that would help to those ends. He felt the large pouch he kept on his belt, possibly the most dangerous weapon at his disposal. It was a powdered glass from the war with the Imperial Order that blinded any one who was unlucky enough to get it in their eyes.
"I want you to stay on this hill Drabic, give them a good distraction when the main army of the Free People shows up."
Joshua said as he looked from the hill north of the city.
"Cronos will go with the rest of us into the city to hunt Lord Rahl."

[Pillar of Creation]

They were quickly making their way towards the south end of the city where Lord Rahl waited. The attack had just begun, time was of the essence. Joshua had left Cronos with a small group of soldiers at an old tower not long ago, it was one of the taller ones in the city and offered a full view of the south wall. When the signal was given he would hit their gifted. Hard. The soldier behind him made a gurgling sound, that was all the time Joshua had as he spun around and had a red leather rod slammed into his chest. The woman wore the strangest outfit he had ever seen. Skin tight red leather from head to toe, and a long braid. Judging from the look in her eyes what ever she had tried should have killed him.
"How..."
A look of rage came across her face as she moved to back hand him. He grabbed her wrist, using her momentum to get behind her and slipping a foot infront of her leg to bring her down. He ripped the rod away from her wrist and tossed it down the street as more men raced up.
"Get rope and bind her."
She tossed her head to the side and spat as she tried to get him. Joshua put his foot on her back to hold her down, but having anticipated this her other arm shot out bringing him down to. She got up just enough to dive for his throat, she was going to try to kill him at any cost. He rolled to the side just before she landed where he had been moments before. The men arrived and grabbed her arms, but she still fought tooth and nail.
"Can't take a lone woman you coward?"
Joshua laughed, she was trying to goad him into killing her, all in the service of her Lord Rahl, the man had ordered he abduction and subsequent training.
"Gag her and bring her to the rally point, I'm sure Alric will want as many as we can take alive."
Mord-sith. He was getting close.

[Lord Rahl]

Deneric was on edge. Footfalls echoed throughout the hall leading up to the top of the tower, which was level with the walkways along the walls, which were crumbled or crumbling in most places. He lifted his fist. Was it a messenger? Or was it something most sinister? A wizard? An assassin sent to kill the Lord Rahl, using their own bond to find him? He had been paranoid ever since, days before, he had realized how stupid he was. He didn't think of the bond. At least half of the First File went with Alaric and almost all of them were pure-blooded D'Harans. The bond was strong with them. They could tell who they were getting closer to as they got closer to them because it was the Lord Rahl they were getting closer to. The bond be damned!

A face seemed to erupt from the frame of the door, and with it a twisting rope of black, Subtractive lightning nearly erupted from Deneric's hand as he was jolted out of his thoughts. He caught himself just before he released it, realizing it was, in fact, a messenger.

He fell to his knees almost as quickly as he raced through the doorway, wasting no time in beginning the devotion. But they could not waste even that much.
"To your feet. We haven't the time."
The messenger stood and nodded. "You have no idea, Lord Rahl."
"What have you found?"
"You remember when mistress Selia said she thought she caught movement in the distance of the city? And she asked to go have a look?"
"Yes. I told her not to, that it could be too dangerous for just one. It was probably just some bats taking off. They like the old buildings."
"She disobeyed your orders, Lord Rahl. As I was heading back to my quarters I saw her running out of the city. I didn't know what she was doing. Forgive me, Lord Rahl. My mind is slow, and even my age is no excuse. By the time I realized she was going to disobey your orders and headed for the tower it was too late. She was hiding from view around buildings but I was still able to see her as she assaulted several men who had, apparently, temporarily left their own cover. She took down a soldier and I thought she had the one who was apparently leading them, but he seemed to shrug off her efforts. He took her."

Deneric blinked.
"Selia is dead?"
The messenger suddenly realized what he said and how it sounded. "No, Lord Rahl, he bested her in combat but had her tied up, not killed. He spared her for some reason."
"She will break free. She is very resourceful... and she will not be without help. An advance party must have slipped into the city. They will regret it. I will personally see to it. Send word to the other Mord-Sith at once. They are all to meet me outside of this tower immediately."

"It shall be done, Lord Rahl."

[Pillar of Creation]

One of Lord Rahls men came racing out of the tower, running straight for where Joshua was hiding. He looked back and signaled the four men with him to kill the soldier, They were too close and couldn't afford to send anyone else back. The soldier turned down a street running beside the building they were hiding in, out of sight of the tower, and met two large D'haran men. He let out a grunt as he slid to the ground, dead.
"Give the signal, then run like hell, it's time."
Joshua moved towards the door of the old shop.
"If you have the chance take some of them alive, but not if it will kill you."
Joshua stepped outside and silently made his way towards the base of the tower, hiding among rubble and old buildings to mask his trail. About half way there a flaming arrow was shot up at another tower back up the street setting it ablaze. It was closely followed by half a dozen bolts of lightning all aimed at where it had been shot from, just as planned. Cronos from his vantage point seen where nearly every shot came from and wasted no time using his power to take care of them. The two Mord-sith guards at the base of the tower didn't seem to be fazed by what was going on around them and stayed at their posts.
Joshua pulled his bow from his back and took aim, he fired off three arrows before one hit, all hitting one of the women in the chest. The other woman spotted him and rushed towards him.
He dropped the bow, drew his sword and dagger, and met her charge. Just like the other one she slammed the rod into his chest, but this time he slammed his dagger into hers. She stared wide eyed, trying to figure out why her magic would not take him. He pushed her off his blade, returned it to his sheath, and retrieved his bow. As he stepped into the tower he glanced back at hell unleashed remembering Alrics words.
"Alive if possible, Dead if not."

[Pillar of Creation]

Joshua drew his dagger and dived through the open door, rolling to his feet, and coming face to face with a shocked Lord Rahl. A look of fear crossed his eyes as he regarded his assassin.
"You will be coming with me Lor-"
The tower shook as a bolt of lightning hit it near the base. Joshua fell back landing on a table near the door, shattering the ancient wood on impact. He looked up to see Lord Rahl sliding accross the floor his way, Joshua reached out and grabbed his wrist as he slid through the open door. There was a huge impact as the tower crashed into something next to it, nearly causing Joshua to lose his tenuous hold on Lord Rahl. He rolled over reaching down with his other hand to get a better grip and took it all in. The wall at the end of the hall was gone, Lord Rahl was unconsious, and they were a good 60 feet up.
"Great, just great."
Joshua growled as he hauled Lord Rahl over the edge. He glanced over at the window noticing it was now level with the wall.
"Well isn't that convenient."
He pulled Lord Rahl over to the window, climbed out then pulled him out behind him. Joshua just hoped none of the archer or gifted took aim at him. He also hoped Alric noticed, and sent some men to secure the area.