The three remaining gang members and their leader had all joined the fray. There was a lull in the battle, a tense reassessment of the situation by all its participants. Erikar knew that this band of outlaws was not to be underestimated. 'Even a mighty tiger has sense enough to fear a pack of angry lions.' But he was not sure of how the criminals perceived him. He hoped they lacked the caution to give the traveler the same evaluation, attributing his defeat of their companion to luck. If so, their playing field would be slightly closer to being level. But not by much, as the hunter was tiring from his uses of magic. The silence was a frayed rope, finally snapping as Ja'al spoke.
"You again!" Ja'al exclaimed with venom in his voice. The doorway was his sanctuary while he scanned the street.. His eyes drifted to the corpse of his comrade, and the fires of rage filled his eyes. His rapier rasped like a death rattle as the outlaw drew it from its scabbard. "You'll stay quiet this time, cully. Kill'em boys!"
The bandits and their sovereign advanced menacingly. The group circled the hunter, steeling themselves. He knew what their strategy what entail. They did not plan on allowing him to defend himself. The party would attempt to attack as one, to swarm and overwhelm their aggressor. Erikar knew that there was only one tactic when surrounded; Escape through the path of least resistance.
He had little time to decide, eyes fixed upon the advancing crew. His gaze settled upon one of the smaller delinquents, the lookout Ja'al had posted when they entered 'The Urchin.' He hesitated for a split-second, smiling at what he saw behind the lackey, calculating the edges of his reach. Satisfied, he acted. A strong pull brought the humming dagger, forgotten by the larger criminal, spinning straight towards the lookout's back. Simultaneously, he pivoted and used the last of his energy to augment his step with a slight push and drive his shoulder into the lookout, attempting to make a tactical retreat.
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