The Coming Tide Part 40/47

Just as he turned to glance back at the figure silhoutted behind him at about twenty paces, a large fist emerged from the shadows beside him, quickly striking him across the face and knocking him to the ground. The bottle of wine in his hand clinked across the stone, but remained unbroken as it rolled away.

Disoriented, he cursed his carelessness in the moment as he leaned on his elbow, trying to lift himself to face his attackers. His face stung and he could taste copper and salt in his mouth.

The words were half out of his mouth as he prepared to cast a shield of radiant magic channeled through his medallion as another figure emerged from the other side and kicked him in the stomach, forcing the air out of him before he could finish. He gasped for breath and coughed as a low gravelly voice spoke nearby.

"Lookit what we 'ave here... nice bottle o' wine on this pretty boy elf here..."

"Oh! Fancy surface wine! Nice of the gent to share wit us lowly reprobates! What a kindness!"