[Suzerain of Sheol]

YOU DESECRATED THE COMPILATION THREAD!! Joking, it's fine. ;)

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He began to try to steer himself that way, only for the Shaman's chant to finish, and while high in the air, the winds died. Dropping like a stone, Gedard quickly grabbed the small root thrusting out from the hillside to his right. The impact was jarring, but he held his grip.

Looking back over his shoulder, he saw nothing of his pursuers but their shadows among the rocks. He waited, hand groping for a practical weapon in case he had to fight his way clear.

This was getting out of hand. The entire job had been a mess from beginning. If only he hadn't been so foolish as to think that he had been the only man hired to do the job. At least one man back there was not one of the natives.

Maybe there was still some way to talk his way out of this. He hadn't killed any of them, after all, and they were known to enjoy a few choice items, none of which he had on him at the moment. An arrow hit the rock not far from where he hung. That's it. He cut the root.

Falling, he scrabbled down the nearly-sheer hillside, cuts and bruises accruing too quickly for him to wince before he crashed into the brush below.

He laid there for a moment, dazed, when he suddenly felt a presence near him. He jumped away from it, trying to focus on who was near, when his nerves had enough. He lashed out with his knife, still instinctively clutched, and the presence became a low heap on the bush. He caught his breath, and walked on.

They're out for blood, regardless, he thought bitterly, the pain aggravating the sentiment. Why not give them a reason?

As his strength returned, he began to move more quickly, thinking it might be best to get out of there before things got worse. He held up the knife and used the reflection to glance behind him. It was dark, but there was still enough moonlight to spot white skin, provided he was right about whom he'd actually killed.

I really hope I don't get interrupted this time. Gedard carefully incanted the word for the invisibility again, and steadied his steps, walking carefully as his boots and hands began to slowly disappear from sight, transparency creeping up his limbs and seeping into his clothes.