words so far 4282
what's happening? The raiders and the escaped slaves have almost reached safety
what's not to like? Eziskur casts some nice curses. Also, writing is so much more fun than worrying about RL.
can we see?

The approaching noise of hoofs trampling through the undergrowth made him turn to look back. Four centaur warriors galloped downhill towards them.

Eziskur pushed Nannis forward. "Run!"

Then he stopped and turned to face their pursuers.

Rikheene glared and roared: "I am not done with you, slave!"

Eziskur grinned, letting the pain in his lower back grow so he could use it. He didn't care what the centaurs would do to him. He had stopped caring about that a long time ago.

"It hurts." He juggled the hot words from one hand to the other as they fell from his mouth. "It makes your skin burn, your muscles cramp, your body tremble." The words convulsed and stretched between his fingers. With a deep breath, he mustered the power that had long been dead, and with a spread-eagled lunge, he threw the magic like a net that spanned for several yards from each of his hands. The net pulsed red with searing pain, humming when something came close.

The first centaur to get caught in it shrieked, stumbled and rolled downhill, breaking his spear on the ground. The second reared, whinnied and leapt away madly, like its tail was on fire. Rikheene and the other one were able to turn and gallop around the net.

Several horns sounded further downhill. Human voices shouted, but Eziskur didn't pay any attention to them. His eyes were on Rikheene, a new spell already forming in his throat.

"Trip." He spit the word into his left hand and chucked it over his shoulder at the other centaur. There was a clatter as the spell hit and still Eziskur stared at Rikheene, his grin widening. "Come get me, you prancing pony."

Rikheene stopped in his tracks, brandishing his spear above his head. "I know you all too well, two-legs. I remember how you crawled before me when I pulled your hook."

"And while you're reminding me of how you controlled me," Eziskur said, "my rescuers are getting away with your valuables."

An arrow whistled past Rikheene's shoulder while another one hit him in the flank. The centaur let out a bewildered yelp and looked around.

Eziskur walked towards him, cracking his knuckles. "So do you want to finally be rid of me? Do you want to kill those raiders with bows? Can you kill all those soldiers coming this way from Fort Renik too?"

Rikheene dodged another arrow as he backed away. He huffed but said nothing.

Eziskur opened his mouth to cast another curse, but something galloped up from behind him and knocked him on the back of the head. The sounds of combat around him blurred together as his knees buckled and he fell face-first on the ground.