Brier Longtail
Brier dipped his head, narrowly avoiding the rat’s slashing blade.
Behind him, the still forms of two large rats lay unconscious on the fortress’ stone floor.
Rolling backward, the shrew’s right paw slashed toward the sheath at his waist and then he rolled forward with a short sword at the ready.
The sword barely made it into position but it was enough to parry the next lunging strike.
The blade vibrated but held. Grunting, he pushed back on his opponent, exerting all the force he could until he had created enough space to rise up on one knee.
Brier released his pressure, switched his grip and slashed his own blade at his opponent's feet.
They managed to avoid the strike but Brier expected this. He used the split second it took them to do this to charge, driving his shoulder into the larger rodent’s stomach.
The rat grunted and fell back a pace but kept his sword up and blocked Brier’s next strike.
Growling, Brier feinted a slashing lunge but instead used the momentum to launch himself, slamming his head into the rat’s long nose.
This time the rat lost his footing and fell hard on his back with Brier on top of him.
Before he could rise, Brier flipped his blade and slammed the hilt down on the rat's head, knocking him senseless.
He flipped the blade back up just as four more rat guards burst through a door on the far side of the room with blades drawn.
So much for the element of surprise.
Sighing, Brier leapt off the unconscious rat and ran toward the guards with blade extended, his shrill battle cry echoing off the walls.