Helm-Splitter

The First Cut

The sound of rain pattering against his helmet was the only sound the knight heard in the quiet of the night. He was knelt on a cliffside in the storm, watching the city below through his visor. Bright fires burned in the streets despite the rain, making the guardposts of the city obvious in the dark.

The armored man sighed and pushed himself up to his feet, the armor clinking slightly as he moved. His silent sentinel was finally broken by a voice behind him.

"See anything we should be careful of, Connor?" Asked a silly and feminine voice. The source was a lithe rogue-like female, smiling from under her half mask.

Connor's armet helmet turned slightly, just enough to catch sight of her on the edge of his vision. "They've got a number of guardposts as the report said, but it looks like most are manned by one or two archers. Then roughly five or six street patrols. Each four men strong." He replied, his dark voice vibrating slightly from the metal encasing his head.

He reached out, slipping his plated fingers around the shaft of his pole axe, then yanked up to dislodge it's back point from the ground. As it came free he turned around and took a few steps towards her. "Shouldnt you be down there yourself, Salina?" He asked in return.

"Not without you're excellent advice on where to get in." She responded and pushed herself off of the stump she had been leaning against. "Its surprising how eagle eyed you are with those chunks of steel wrapped around your skull." She added with a small laugh.

"The east gate, you've got roughly a candles length to get there before the patrol loops back around." He responded, bring up a hand and pointing his thumb to the city behind him. "Its not hard to spot them when they all have a fire or torch." He added as well.

Salina shook her head and took a few dancing steps around him with another small laugh. "Always so serious, sir knight. Better be careful or you'll become a stiff long before your dead." She spoke teasingly and then turned to head off. "Go have your fun rallying the men. I'll get in and cause a few problems in half that time."

With those words, and a nod from Connor, the two parted ways to pursue their plan. It wouldnt be long till it all fell into place. Then the chaos would begin.

----------

Salina's steps hardly made a sound as she sauntered towards the gate. True to her companion's word, the patrol hadn't gotten back. She glanced back up towards the cliff she had just left. Her ally often made things so easy when he decided to study his environment. She slipped into the city, sticking to the shadows as much as possible. Her close-fitting leathers helping her stay harder to notice due to their dark coloration.

Aside from the crackle of occasional fires and the rumble of the storm, it was as quiet within the city as it had been above it. Salina was honestly glad the buildings had canopies and porches. She would much rather be as dry as possible rather than soaking wet. She had no idea how Connor functioned in the rain wearing all that armor.

As she heard voices approaching, she slipped into an alley and pressed herself against a wall. The rogue listened carefully, trying to catch any information that might be useful. She rolled her eyes as what she caught was just idle banter between half drunk guardsmen. Salina couldnt believe the gall of these men. Their kingdom is at war and they would drink on duty as if there was peace.

She really hated reckless people, they put too much at risk. People like that had cost her so much over the years. She was lost in though when she heard the one thing she didnt want.

" 'Scuse me, miss..." Came the voice of one of the guards, holding his torch up to try and see her better. " 'Tis a bit dangerous for a pretty girl to be wandering the night..." he added, starting to head towards her.