06-25-2009, 05:04 AM
3)
"Daniel, watch out!" Marcus warned as the statue's arms came sweeping down on the elf. Marcus didn't think the boy would make it in time, but once again Daniel surprised him by quickly rolling out of the way. He was back on his feet in an instant. The boy had moved so quickly that Marcus almost didn't see him.
The headless statue spun around, swinging its arms wildly. The boy ducked and rolled, staying just out of reach. If Marcus didn't know better, he'd say that Daniel was playing with it, rather than the other way around.
Marcus wasn't sure if Balthus was watching through the statue or not, but the thing was currently distracted by the half elf. Marcus decided to take advantage of that, and hoped that he didn't accidentally hit Daniel. He raised the crossbow, taking careful aim. He intended to take one of the statue's arms, but at the last moment, Tiberius bumped into him. The arrow went flying way off mark, nearly striking the half elf in the forehead.
Again, with a surprising show of agility, the boy twisted his body to avoid the arrow. However, this also got him within the grasp of the Xanthum. It grabbed Daniel by the forearms, hauling him up off his feet. More than a foot off the ground, Daniel's face clearly showed the pain he was feeling. But there was something else as well. His eyes were blazing with fury. And that fury was directed not at the statue, but at Tiberius.
Tiberius' supposed stumble had nearly killed him, and Daniel knew it. He also knew that Tiberius had intended to kill him by using Marcus. The boy was clever and smart, Marcus had to give him that. He also couldn't continue worrying about Tiberius causing another mishap. He had to help Daniel, before the statue tore off his arms.
Without a word, Marcus turned around, and slammed his fist into Tiberius' nose. The traitorous fool fell to the ground hard, holding his bleeding nose. Marcus strung another arrow, taking aim. Without a glance at Tiberius, Marcus loosed the arrow. This time, it flew true, striking the Xanthum at the base of the shoulder. The crystal arm shattered, leaving Daniel hanging haphazardly by one of its hands. However, this also gave the boy the opportunity that he needed.
He drew his legs up, twisting his body, until he was hanging upside down. Somehow, he got his other arm free, landing on his feet. Marcus didn't want to know how badly that move had wrenched Daniel's shoulder. The process had looked painful, but at least he was free now.
Without once looking at the Xanthum, Daniel strode over Tiberius and hauled him to his feet. Tiberius was still holding his bleeding nose, looking at the half elf in terror. Tiberius knew he was in trouble. "It's time for you to prove yourself, you piece of dung!" Daniel hissed into his face. Then he pushed Tiberius towards the statue.
"Daniel, watch out!" Marcus warned as the statue's arms came sweeping down on the elf. Marcus didn't think the boy would make it in time, but once again Daniel surprised him by quickly rolling out of the way. He was back on his feet in an instant. The boy had moved so quickly that Marcus almost didn't see him.
The headless statue spun around, swinging its arms wildly. The boy ducked and rolled, staying just out of reach. If Marcus didn't know better, he'd say that Daniel was playing with it, rather than the other way around.
Marcus wasn't sure if Balthus was watching through the statue or not, but the thing was currently distracted by the half elf. Marcus decided to take advantage of that, and hoped that he didn't accidentally hit Daniel. He raised the crossbow, taking careful aim. He intended to take one of the statue's arms, but at the last moment, Tiberius bumped into him. The arrow went flying way off mark, nearly striking the half elf in the forehead.
Again, with a surprising show of agility, the boy twisted his body to avoid the arrow. However, this also got him within the grasp of the Xanthum. It grabbed Daniel by the forearms, hauling him up off his feet. More than a foot off the ground, Daniel's face clearly showed the pain he was feeling. But there was something else as well. His eyes were blazing with fury. And that fury was directed not at the statue, but at Tiberius.
Tiberius' supposed stumble had nearly killed him, and Daniel knew it. He also knew that Tiberius had intended to kill him by using Marcus. The boy was clever and smart, Marcus had to give him that. He also couldn't continue worrying about Tiberius causing another mishap. He had to help Daniel, before the statue tore off his arms.
Without a word, Marcus turned around, and slammed his fist into Tiberius' nose. The traitorous fool fell to the ground hard, holding his bleeding nose. Marcus strung another arrow, taking aim. Without a glance at Tiberius, Marcus loosed the arrow. This time, it flew true, striking the Xanthum at the base of the shoulder. The crystal arm shattered, leaving Daniel hanging haphazardly by one of its hands. However, this also gave the boy the opportunity that he needed.
He drew his legs up, twisting his body, until he was hanging upside down. Somehow, he got his other arm free, landing on his feet. Marcus didn't want to know how badly that move had wrenched Daniel's shoulder. The process had looked painful, but at least he was free now.
Without once looking at the Xanthum, Daniel strode over Tiberius and hauled him to his feet. Tiberius was still holding his bleeding nose, looking at the half elf in terror. Tiberius knew he was in trouble. "It's time for you to prove yourself, you piece of dung!" Daniel hissed into his face. Then he pushed Tiberius towards the statue.