The five men laughed as they ran their fingers through the sacks of gold and jewels. The heist was easy as few guarded the temple they ransacked. They took the wealth of a people meant to support their needs. Greed cares little for the needs of others. They escaped in a small craft fit for short distant flights and settled in a field of high grasses to count out their winnings. No one heard the sixth man approach.
"You've picked a poor spot to count out your ill gotten gains." All five men leaped to their feet with hands on knives and swords. "And in broad daylight for that matter."
"Well look at you with your shiny gold half armor and fancy hairdo." A man with a raspy voice who spat at as he talked said. "What are you supposed to be?"
"I'm the guardian of a village near here. I know what you men have done. You can't keep it."
"And what are you going to do about it?" A gruff voice this time from the largest of the men.
"Hey, look at his eyes!" The third voice was youthful and energetic. "They're whited over. He's blind!"
All five of the men laughed.
"So you haven't heard of me. Very interesting. Let's have some fun then."
"Oh we'll have fun! We'll carve you up, blind man!" The gruff voice said.
"Certainly, if you can touch me. That's all you have to do; touch me and I'll let you go. Who's first?"
"I'll do better than touch you!" The youthful voice was followed by a light whistle on the air. The man called Songcutter, calmly tilted his head to one side and the dagger flew harmlessly past.
"I hope that wasn't expensive." Songcutter chuckled.
The younger man gave a growl of anger as he charged forward. Every footfall thudded noisily and even the air rushing over his body could be heard by Songcutter. The village guardian leaned back, effortlessly avoiding a punch and then angled his body to avoid several more. Songcutter whipped a hand up under the young man's chin, clacking his teeth together and snapping his head back. Two more strikes rendered the attacker unconscious and Songcutter smiled.
"He was clumsy. Who's next?"
He could hear the dagger leave its sheath as the raspy sounding man charged in, aiming low to gut him. Songcutter evaded with a turn of his body. Several wild swings caused the dagger to sing on the air, but no hits found their mark.
"Stand still!"
"That would be stupid." Songcutter caught the knife hand and bones cracked in the wrist and elbow from a hard twist. A palm strike to the face sent the raspy man to the ground.
"Get him!" The gruff voice called and two sets of feet sprang into motion. Two blades came out of sheaths.
From the sounds, Songcutter could even tell how long each blade was. From their movements, he could tell how tall they were. Worse yet for them, his mystical senses told him of every move and angle. Songcutter moved gracefully between their attacks as they moved in from either side of him. Before they realized it, he directed their hands toward each other and both men could only stand and cry out. They had each stabbed the other man deep into the forearm of the sword hand, crippling each other. Songcutter jumped into the air and landed a powerful kick with one leg to each man's head. They both groaned on the ground.
"Who are you!" The gruff voice yelled. A long sword could be heard coming out of its scabbard.
"I am Songcutter, the bard and guardian." He drew his own sword, made with several holes through the blade. "This is my instrument."
Songcutter whipped his blade through the air with martial skill and flare. A sound erupted toward the big man that shattered his blade and dropped him to his knees, holding his bleeding ears. Songcutter stopped and sheathed his sword. At the snap of his fingers, several villagers came out of the high grass with ropes to bind the criminal men.
"It always amazes me how your kind try to fight. You'd think it obvious after I beat your first man. Oh well. Maybe next time you'll remember."
The villagers gathered the treasury from the temple and Songcutter returned it that very day.
