The party stayed low and quiet until they reached the ridge, an amber glow illuminating it's edge from below. Â They'd left the two chocobos at the oasis, well within whistling distance should the need for a hasty retreat arise. Â
Desmond silently pointed out the previously mentioned sentries as they appeared to be making sweeps along the rim. Â The red-eyed man motioned to the one travelling left; Kayle nodded and turned to the female in the group. Â
"Keep low, girl, until we've taken these two down," he said in a hushed voice. Â "Once it's clear, take to the ridge and you should have a safe vantage point."Â
Turning to the male Miqo'te and the Hyur newcomer he reiterated Desmond's plan. "Once the sentries are down you two can draw attention and Desmond and I will flank in. Â The further we keep them from the tent, the better." Â
He drew in his breath and looked them all over. Â "Twelve guide us, Azeyma protect us, and we will see Her Glory rise another day."
Desmond silently pointed out the previously mentioned sentries as they appeared to be making sweeps along the rim. Â The red-eyed man motioned to the one travelling left; Kayle nodded and turned to the female in the group. Â
"Keep low, girl, until we've taken these two down," he said in a hushed voice. Â "Once it's clear, take to the ridge and you should have a safe vantage point."Â
Turning to the male Miqo'te and the Hyur newcomer he reiterated Desmond's plan. "Once the sentries are down you two can draw attention and Desmond and I will flank in. Â The further we keep them from the tent, the better." Â
He drew in his breath and looked them all over. Â "Twelve guide us, Azeyma protect us, and we will see Her Glory rise another day."
***
As silently as his leather armor and the hardened earth would allow, Kayle padded wide right, keeping behind the sentry's line of sight. Â He maintained visual contact with Desmond so they could time their attacks as best they could. Â When his sentry paused at the end of his path and began to turn, Kayle moved in.
It is out of respect that a man hones his art.
Respect for his weapon, and respect for his opponent.
Should you have to strike a foe down,
Strike hard an true, and do not let them suffer,
lest you suffer the wrath of the Twelve.
The words drifted through his mind as Kayle tightened the grip on the remnants of his father's weapon. Â He led his approach with the small targe on his left arm, blade at the ready beside him. Â The man he approached, whose name he will never know, would soon be forced to make a choice. Â
Kayle stepped in behind him and with a powerful sweeping motion knocked the spear from his left hand. Â The man had been supporting his weight on it as he walked, and it took him off balance, forcing him to stumble and turn in shock. Â Kayle brought the man's arm to his side and greeted his neck with the edge of his blade.
"Not a sound. Â I bear you two gifts tonight. Â One is the path behind me. Â The other through my steel." Â The man struggled briefly, and brought his eyes up to meet Kayle's. Â "Leave. Now. Â I will spare you one last night through the desert, or by order of the Immortal Flames, I will kill you where you stand."
The man inspected Kayle's youthful frame, and a wicked, thin grin passed across his cracked lips. Â "Oh, izzat right, BOY. Â You'd best 'ope yer steel's as sharp as yer tongue, ye whelp. Â Yer drippin' from behind yer ears, and you 'aven't the stones.." Â He pulled backwards and brought his right arm up with a dagger quickly drawn from his belt.
"I fear I may disappoint you," Kayle said as he ducked the small blade and brought his weapon squarely upwards into the man's chest, burying it to the hilt. Â Kayle felt his hands begin to warm as the lifeblood spilled out across the barren ground. Â Kayle watched the life quickly fade from the man's eyes, the grin extinguished as his eyes rolled and twitched. Â Kayle winced as he lowered him to the ground and looked up to see how Desmond had faired...
![[Image: Driftwood.png]](https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/wiki/images/6/63/Driftwood.png)
