tw.togreenangeltower2-µÚ23½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ll¡necked£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡carried¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡long¡¡cudgels¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡lowered¡¡his¡¡rain¡soaked¡¡hood£»¡¡his¡¡squarish£»¡¡balding¡¡head¡¡glinted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lamplight¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡older¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other¡¡two¡¡and¡¡had¡¡clever£»¡¡piggy¡¡eyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡hum¡¡of¡¡conversation¡¡had¡¡now¡¡reached¡¡something¡¡like¡¡its¡¡normal¡¡level¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡the¡¡three¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers¡¡moved¡¡slowly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mon¡¡room¡¡they¡¡still¡¡received¡¡many¡¡covert¡¡stares¡£¡¡The¡¡robed¡¡men¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡openly¡¡searching¡¡the¡¡room¡¡for¡¡something¡¡or¡¡somebody£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Simon¡¡had¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡helpless¡¡fear¡¡as¡¡the¡¡leader's¡¡dark¡¡eyes¡¡lighted¡¡on¡¡him¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡man¡¡only¡¡lifted¡¡an¡¡amused¡¡eyebrow¡¡at¡¡Simon's¡¡sword£»¡¡then¡¡shifted¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡someone¡¡else¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Relief¡¡swept¡¡over¡¡Simon¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡they¡¡wanted£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡apparently¡¡not¡¡him¡£¡¡Sensing¡¡a¡¡presence¡¡at¡¡his¡¡shoulder£»¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡found¡¡the¡¡inn's¡¡proprietor¡¡standing¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pitted¡¡wooden¡¡platter¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡gave¡¡Simon¡¡the¡¡mutton¡¡and¡¡bread£»¡¡which¡¡Simon¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡his¡¡kerchief£»¡¡then¡¡poured¡¡an¡¡appropriate¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡ale¡¡into¡¡the¡¡jug¡£¡¡Despite¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡these¡¡tasks¡¡required£»¡¡the¡¡landlord's¡¡eyes¡¡scarcely¡¡left¡¡the¡¡three¡¡newers£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡reply¡¡to¡¡Simon's¡¡courteous¡¡thanks¡¡was¡¡distracted¡¡and¡¡inplete¡£¡¡Simon¡¡was¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡be¡¡going¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡Miriamele's¡¡pale£»¡¡worried¡¡face¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡across¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡A¡¡loud£»¡¡mocking¡¡voice¡¡cut¡¡through¡¡the¡¡room¡¡behind¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡didn't¡¡really¡¡think¡¡that¡¡you¡¡could¡¡leave¡¡without¡¡our¡¡noticing£»¡¡did¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Simon¡¡went¡¡rigid¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway£»¡¡then¡¡slowly¡¡turned¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡parcel¡¡in¡¡one¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡a¡¡jug¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡hand¡£¡¡Should¡¡he¡¡drop¡¡the¡¡ale¡¡and¡¡draw¡¡the¡¡blade£»¡¡or¡¡make¡¡the¡¡jug¡¡useful¡¡somehow¡perhaps¡¡he¡¡could¡¡throw¡¡it£¿¡¡Haestan¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡a¡¡little¡¡about¡¡tavern¡¡brawls£»¡¡although¡¡the¡¡guardsman's¡¡main¡¡remendation¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡pleted¡¡his¡¡pivot£»¡¡expecting¡¡to¡¡confront¡¡a¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡faces¡¡and¡¡the¡¡threatening¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers£»¡¡but¡¡found¡¡to¡¡his¡¡astonishment¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡was¡¡even¡¡looking¡¡in¡¡his¡¡direction¡£¡¡Instead£»¡¡the¡¡three¡¡robed¡¡men¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡a¡¡bench¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡farthest¡¡from¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡seated¡¡there£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡and¡¡woman¡¡of¡¡middle¡¡years£»¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡them¡¡helplessly£»¡¡faces¡¡slack¡¡with¡¡terror¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers¡¡leaned¡¡forward£»¡¡bringing¡¡his¡¡catapult¡stone¡¡of¡¡a¡¡head¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tabletop£»¡¡but¡¡though¡¡his¡¡position¡¡suggested¡¡discretion£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡pitched¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡through¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¨e£»¡¡now¡£¡¡You¡¡didn't¡¡really¡¡think¡¡that¡¡you¡¡could¡¡just¡¡walk¡¡away£»¡¡did¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨M¡Maefwaru£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡man¡¡stuttered£»¡¡¡¨we£»¡¡we¡¡could¡¡not¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡we¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Fire¡¡Dancer¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡silencing¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡loyalty¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Storm¡¡King¡¡expects¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡quietly£»¡¡but¡¡Simon¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡every¡¡word¡¡from¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡watched¡¡in¡¡sickly¡¡fascinated¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡owe¡¡Him¡¡our¡¡lives£»¡¡because¡¡He¡¡has¡¡graced¡¡us¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡how¡¡things¡¡will¡¡be¡¡and¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡be¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡You¡¡cannot¡¡turn¡¡your¡¡back¡¡on¡¡Him¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡man's¡¡mouth¡¡moved£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡words¡¡came¡¡out¡£¡¡His¡¡wife¡¡was¡¡equally¡¡silent£»¡¡but¡¡tears¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡her¡¡face¡¡and¡¡her¡¡shoulders¡¡twitched¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡obviously¡¡a¡¡meeting¡¡much¡¡feared¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Simon£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡look¡¡back¡¡out¡¡the¡¡inn's¡¡door¡£¡¡Miriamele¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡paces¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡muddy¡¡road¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡are¡¡you¡¡doing£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡demanded¡¡in¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡whisper¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Wait¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Simon£»¡¡there¡¡are¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers¡¡in¡¡there£¡¡¡Didn't¡¡you¡¡see¡¡them£¿£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡her£»¡¡then¡¡wheeled¡¡to¡¡face¡¡the¡¡interior¡£¡¡The¡¡two¡¡large¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers¡¡were¡¡forcing¡¡the¡¡man¡¡and¡¡woman¡¡up¡¡from¡¡their¡¡bench£»¡¡dragging¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡across¡¡the¡¡rough¡¡wood¡¡when¡¡her¡¡legs¡¡would¡¡not¡¡support¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡crying¡¡in¡¡earnest¡¡now£»¡¡her¡¡panion£»¡¡pinioned£»¡¡could¡¡only¡¡stare¡¡at¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡murmur¡¡miserably¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Simon¡¡felt¡¡anger¡¡flame¡¡within¡¡him¡£¡¡Why¡¡didn't¡¡anyone¡¡in¡¡this¡¡place¡¡help¡¡them£¿¡¡There¡¡must¡¡be¡¡two¡¡dozen¡¡seated¡¡here¡¡and¡¡only¡¡three¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Miriamele¡¡tugged¡¡at¡¡his¡¡sleeve¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡there¡¡trouble£¿¡¡e£»¡¡Simon£»¡¡let's¡¡go£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡quietly¡¡but¡¡urgently¡£¡¡¡¨They're¡¡taking¡¡those¡¡two¡¡people¡¡somewhere¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨We¡¡can't¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡be¡¡caught£»¡¡Simon¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡time¡¡for¡¡heroes¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡just¡¡let¡¡them¡¡take¡¡those¡¡people£»¡¡Miriamele¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡prayed¡¡that¡¡someone¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crowded¡¡room¡¡would¡¡stand¡¡up£»¡¡that¡¡some¡¡general¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡resistance¡¡would¡¡begin¡£¡¡Miriamele¡¡was¡¡right£º¡¡they¡¡couldn't¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡foolish¡£¡¡But¡¡no¡¡one¡¡did¡¡more¡¡than¡¡whisper¡¡and¡¡watch¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Cursing¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡his¡¡stupidity£»¡¡and¡¡God¡¡or¡¡Fate¡¡for¡¡putting¡¡him¡¡in¡¡this¡¡position£»¡¡Simon¡¡pulled¡¡his¡¡sleeve¡¡from¡¡Miriamele's¡¡grasp¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡step¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mon¡¡room¡£¡¡He¡¡carefully¡¡set¡¡the¡¡supper¡¡parcel¡¡and¡¡jug¡¡down¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡then¡¡curled¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡around¡¡the¡¡hilt¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡Josua¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Stop£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡loudly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Simon£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡all¡¡heads¡¡did¡¡turn¡¡toward¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡to¡¡swivel¡¡around¡¡was¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡leader¡£¡¡Although¡¡he¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡little¡¡shorter¡¡than¡¡an¡¡average¡¡man£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡curiously¡¡dwarflike¡¡in¡¡his¡¡large£»¡¡cleft¡chinned¡¡head¡£¡¡His¡¡tiny¡¡eyes¡¡flicked¡¡Simon¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡£¡¡This¡¡time¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡amusement¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¡Stop£»¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¡Stop¡¡what£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡those¡¡people¡¡want¡¡to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¨¡¡Simon¡¡addressed¡¡the¡¡male¡¡captive£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡struggling¡¡weakly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grip¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡large¡¡Fire¡¡Dancers¡£¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡man's¡¡eyes¡¡flicked¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡between¡¡Simon¡¡and¡¡his¡¡chief¡¡captor¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡£¡¡miserably£»¡¡he¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡Simon¡¡knew¡¡then¡¡that¡¡what¡¡the¡¡man¡¡feared¡¡must¡¡be¡¡truly¡¡terrible£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡risk¡¡making¡¡this¡¡situation¡¡worse¡¡in¡¡the¡¡desperate¡and¡¡unlikely¡hope¡¡that¡¡Simon¡¡could¡¡save¡¡him¡¡from¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡see£¿¡¨¡¡Simon¡¡tried£»¡¡with¡¡mixed¡¡results£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡firm¡¡and¡¡calm¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡do¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡acpany¡¡you¡£¡¡Set¡¡them¡¡free¡£¡¨¡¡His¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡pounding¡£¡¡His¡¡own¡¡words¡¡sounded¡¡curiously¡¡formal£»¡¡even¡¡deliberately¡¡high¡flown£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡this¡¡were¡¡a¡¡Tallistro¡¡story¡¡or¡¡some¡¡other¡¡chronicle¡¡of¡¡imaginary¡¡heroism¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡bald¡¡man¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡the¡¡room¡¡as¡¡if¡¡to¡¡judge¡¡how¡¡many¡¡might¡¡be¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡join¡¡Simon¡¡in¡¡resistance¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡else¡¡was¡¡moving£»¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡room¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡share¡¡a¡¡single¡¡held¡¡breath¡£¡¡The¡¡Fire¡¡Dancer¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Simon£»¡¡a¡¡grin¡¡curling¡¡his¡¡thick¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¨These¡¡folk¡¡betrayed¡¡their¡¡oath¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Master¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡no¡¡concern¡¡of¡¡yours¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Simon¡¡felt¡¡an¡¡immense¡¡fury¡¡wash¡¡over¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡all¡¡the¡¡bullying¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡stomach¡¡for£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡countrywide¡¡misdeeds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡to¡¡the¡¡precisely¡¡pointed¡¡cruelties¡¡of¡¡Pryrates¡£¡¡He¡¡tightened¡¡his¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hilt¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡making¡¡it¡¡my¡¡concern¡£¡¡Take¡¡your¡¡hands¡¡from¡¡them¡¡and¡¡get¡¡out¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Wthout¡¡further¡¡argument£»¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡spat¡¡out¡¡a¡¡word¡¡and¡¡the¡¡follower¡¡who¡¡held¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡let¡¡her¡¡go¡she¡¡slumped¡¡against¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡knocking¡¡a¡¡bowl¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡floor¡and¡¡leaped¡¡toward¡¡Simon£»¡¡his¡¡blunt¡headed¡¡staff¡¡swinging¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡arc¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡people¡¡shouted¡¡in¡¡fear¡¡or¡¡excitement¡£¡¡Simon¡¡was¡¡frozen¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡only¡¡halfway¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡scabbard¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Idiot£¡¡¡Mooncalf£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡dropped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡the¡¡staff¡¡whistled¡¡over¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡knocking¡¡several¡¡cloaks¡¡from¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡being¡¡entangled¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Simon¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡himself¡¡forward¡¡into¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡legs¡£¡¡They¡¡both¡¡fell£»¡¡tumbling£»¡¡and¡¡Simon's¡¡sword¡¡came¡¡free¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scabbard¡¡and¡¡thumped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡rushes¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡hurt¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡his¡¡attacker¡¡was¡¡heavy¡¡and¡¡solidly¡built¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡disentangled¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡free£»¡¡the¡¡Fire¡¡Dancer¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cudgel¡¡blow¡¡to¡¡his¡¡leg¡¡which¡¡stung¡¡cold¡¡as¡¡a¡¡knife¡¡wound¡£¡¡Simon¡¡rolled¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡lost¡¡sword¡¡and¡¡was¡¡hugely¡¡grateful¡¡when¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡fingers¡£¡¡His¡¡attacker¡¡was¡¡up¡¡and¡¡moving¡¡toward¡¡him£»¡¡his¡¡cudgel¡¡darting¡¡out¡¡like¡¡a¡¡striking¡¡snake¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eye£»¡¡Simon¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡the¡¡second¡¡big¡¡man¡¡was¡¡ing¡¡toward¡¡him¡¡as¡¡well¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡First¡¡things¡¡first£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡inane¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing¡¡Rachel¡¡had¡¡always¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡doing¡¡his¡¡chores¡¡when¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡go¡¡climb¡¡or¡¡play¡¡a¡¡game¡£¡¡He¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡a¡¡standing¡¡crouch£»¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡held¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡deflected¡¡a¡¡blow¡¡from¡¡his¡¡first¡¡attacker¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡all¡¡the¡¡things¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taught¡¡in¡¡the¡¡muddle¡¡of¡¡noise¡¡and¡¡movement¡¡and¡¡panic£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡was¡¡relieved¡¡to¡¡find¡¡that¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡between¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Fire¡¡Dancer£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡man¡¡at¡¡bay¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡would¡¡he¡¡do¡¡when¡¡the¡¡second¡¡arrived£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡received¡¡an¡¡answer¡¡of¡¡sorts¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡blur¡¡of¡¡movement¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡his¡¡vision¡¡warned¡¡him¡¡to¡¡duck¡£¡¡The¡¡second¡¡man's¡¡staff¡¡whickered¡¡past¡¡and¡¡clacked¡¡against¡¡the¡¡first¡¡man's¡£¡¡Simon¡¡took¡¡a¡¡step¡¡backward¡¡without¡¡turning¡¡and¡¡then¡¡whirled¡¡and¡¡swung¡¡his¡¡blade¡¡around¡¡as¡¡hard¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡£¡¡He¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡man¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡across¡¡the¡¡arm£»¡¡drawing¡¡an¡¡angry¡¡shriek¡£¡¡The¡¡Fire¡¡Dancer¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡staff¡¡and¡¡stumbled¡¡back¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡doorway£»¡¡clutching¡¡his¡¡forearm¡£¡¡Simon¡¡returned¡¡his¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡hoping¡¡that¡¡the¡¡second¡¡man¡¡was£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡defeated£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡desperately¡needed¡¡moments¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡attacker¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡the¡¡lesson¡¡of¡¡not¡¡getting¡¡too¡¡close£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡now¡¡using¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡his¡¡club¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡Simon¡¡on¡¡the¡¡defensive¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡crash¡¡from¡¡behind£»¡¡Simon£»¡¡startled£»¡¡almost¡¡lost¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡foe¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡Seeing¡¡this£»¡¡t