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"Off
of him, hellspawn," Tazi shrieked.
She grabbed
one of the creatures by the nape of its neck and cleanly ran it through.
Some of the other darkenbeasts then shifted their attention from the
dying griffon to Tazi. One hovered above her head, clawing at her face
and tearing out handfuls of her black locks, while she stabbed another
through the heart.
Dropping her
sword, Tazi reached up and caught the one that was tangled in her hair,
her chainmail gauntlets protecting her hands somewhat from the
darkenbeast's talons. She flung the screeching monster to the ground and
crushed its throat under her boot. With most of the beasts gone for the
moment or dead, Tazi picked up her weapon and strode over to the
griffin.
She reached
out a hesitant hand and stroked the beast's bloody neck. It opened its
one good eye and looked at her imploringly.
Tazi raised
her sword and said, "I'm sorry for this."
But before
she could end the griffin's misery, a great war axe slashed down and
practically beheaded the winged creature in one stroke. Tazi whirled to
see Justikar breathing hard and leaning on his bloody axe with both
hands like it was a walking stick.
"Now
we're even," he spat at the dead beast.
"Justikar!"
Tazi shouted, though she wasn't sure if it was anger or relief at seeing
him that made her cry out so.
"It had
to be done," he replied.
"But
you didn't have to enjoy it."
"Yes, I
did."
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