The Wizards' Scroll part5

The goblin stared up at Valasar, first in wary shock- but then his eyes narrowed in cunning. “Murdarersh!” he shouted, and launched himself straight at Valasar’s throat, four feet of goblin against the giant lizardman. It would have been funny, thought Quinten, except for what followed.

The other goblins, stymied by the call, surged in on the four travelers. Quinten managed to leap out of the way, but not before getting kicked randomly in the jaw from one of the drunken little monsters. “Don’t draw your weapons!” He yelled to his comrades. No use getting the city watch involved.

Valasar was already covered by three of the buggers, including the first one, but in a sweeping movement he twisted his whole body into a sideways flip, shaking two of them off and swiping the third with his tail. He back flipped into an open area of the street, giving himself more room, but already five more were rushing him with hoarse cries of mixed Common and Dakaani.

The twins, veterans of many bar fights, had their backs to each other, moving in perfect harmony, kicking and punching with expert precision. The goblins around them fell, one, three, six of them. Kol threw one over his shoulder that Han caught, without looking, and pitched into two others.

Quinten wasn’t having the easiest time of it, either. He managed to get out of the main fight and roamed the edges, picking off the ones that seemed about to overwhelm his friends, but one of the goblins, husky and almost five feet tall, came at him with a short sword. He charged forward, and Quinten pushed his head down so that he fell onto the cobblestones, and then twisted the goblins’ arm around until he had to drop the weapon.

More goblins, poured into the streets, hearing the commotion. They immediately joined the others in fighting, and Quinten groaned in frustration. Valasar was a whirlwind of scales, punching the goblins at pressure points. They didn’t get up again. The twins were backed up against a wall. Quinten managed fought his way next to them and yelled “We’re going to have to make a run for it!” over the din of the shouting, enraged goblins.

Just then a whistle blew, and suddenly the goblins scattered back into the little corners they had seeped from only moments before. A group of soldiers wearing the insignia of the Sharn Watch were thundering towards them, waving short swords. Soon the four of them were surrounded, as well as a few goblins that hadn’t been quick enough in escaping. Quinten frowned. The Watch didn’t normally come down this low into the city. Something was up. The elf captain of the Watch shouldered forward from among his troops, a large black dog with bright green eyes pacing around his steps.

Quinten smiled and stepped forward. “Thank you, gentlemen, we were in a tight spot there. If you hadn’t stopped by-“

“You’re still in a tight spot, kid. Rioting in the streets. Disturbing the peace. We’re taking you in.”
Kol and Han started grumbling in protest, and Valasar shifted his weight, slightly. It was a subtle movement, but Quinten caught his eye and shook his head, no.

“I’m certain we can get this thing worked out, Captain.” Smiling, he allowed the guards to bind his hands, and motioned for the others to do the same. As they were led away, he glanced back, and caught sight of the captain handing two silver coins to that first goblin, the one who had started everything with the cry of murder, before they were led around a corner and back up to the higher levels of the city.