Unwise

Oshar was not a wise man. He had been chosen for his loyalty, his skill and his flare for the dramatic. Donning his travelling clothes before leaving the settlement had been his first mistake, coming down from the roof tops had been his second. He raced through the streets now cursing his foolishness as arrows whistled past his ears.

"Twins save me." he growled as he ducked out of the way of a group of locals who had spotted the stranger amidst them. One of the guards arrows slammed into the nearest assailant and Oshar snorted a laugh as the man stumbled down clutching a bleeding leg.

"Sorry!" a guard yelled as he trained another arrow on the fleeing Oshar.

"Stop him!" cried out another, "A fist full of silvers for whoever grabs him."

That got the crowd moving and Oshar was forced to draw steel as several more wretched fools charged to toward him. The guards were closer now and Oshar swiped out cutting a woman across the shoulder and a tall elderly fellow across the chest. He threw them down to the ground behind him, hoping they would cause his pursuers to stumble.

Leaping into a nearby alley he almost fell headlong into a drunk who was stumbling out the other way.

"Hey, watcha..." the man slurred after him just as a gaggle of guards slammed into the fellow, throwing him roughly aside.

An arrow whistled down the alley and took Oshar in the back of the shoulder. The white hot pain caused him to stumble and he clutched the nearby wall to right himself.

"I got im!" came distant voice and Oshar growled in frustration. He needed to be gone from this place.

Another turning ahead and he threw himself headlong into it, trying with all of his remaining energy to create a lead... he saw a door up ahead. The guards had not yet rounded the corner. He could hear their boots approaching. He made for the portal and slammed himself into it forgetting the arrow still protruding from his shoulder.

White hot pain took away his senses as the unlocked door sprang open and he fell inside. He gathered enough sense to turn and slam it behind him before realising that he was not alone in the room.

"There is an arrow poking out of your back. Did you know?"

The voice was female and sounded highly amused. Oshar turned to greet its owner with his blade drawn.