Two men were ahead of the pack.  Two fools actually.  They swung at
Darrkon with no sense of skill, they had no attack strategy, they just
wanted to smash.  As these two hulks came lumbering toward Darrkon he
stood his ground.  When they swung at him, simultaneously, he rolled
forward, leaving his swords on the ground.  When his assailants missed
their target they found themselves off balance and toppled over each
others clubs.  Darrkon rolled back, picked up his swords, and executed
a dual reverse thrust, impaling both behemoths as they continued their
attack.

Unfortunately, the brief skirmish gave the remaining eight men time to
surround the picnickers, and Calindeth still hadn't arrived.  Darrkon
was able to hold the attackers at bay for a while longer, then suddenly
all eight men charged them.  Two more fell to his sword, but five of the
remaining six tackled him and the last grabbed Marina.  The five men
pined him to the ground facing the one holding Marina, who called to
someone in the shadows.

The smirk on the man's face was unmistakably familiar, and his next
words confirmed Darrkon's suspicions, "So you're the man who killed my
brother?"

"Someone would have done it sooner or later.  I was honored to have been
chosen, Ardomok."  Darrkon's disgust for the man above him was evident
in his words.

"So you know who I am?" He asked pleased.

"I've heard much about you.  Especially when I ran with Illium.  I can't
count the number of times he mentioned his cowardly, useless, handmaid
of a little brother."  Darrkon's comments earned him a few punches from
his captors.

"Now, now.  Is that any way to treat a guest?  It is fine if Darrkon
doesn't prefer my company.  I'm sure I can persuade his companion
otherwise."  He turned and began stroking Marina's face, who turned and
bit his hand.  The bandit holding Marina lifted her slightly and threw
her to the ground, knocking her out.  Within a second Ardomok's hand was
flying and struck the rogue solidly across the face.  This caused the
men holding Darrkon to jump and loosen their grip slightly.

Darrkon didn't waste the opportunity.  He broke free, grabbed his boot
dagger, and hurtled it at the brute who slammed Marina. He had hoped the
sudden appearance of a weapon would cause enough commotion to give him a
second fighting chance, but Ardomok's men were on him in a second.
Darrkon did watch with satisfaction as his target fell with his dagger
deeply embedded in his throat.  As the men wrestled him to the ground
again, Darrkon gave up fighting free, for now, especially since
Calindeth still hadn't shown up.  "Damn him!"  Darrkon fumed under his
breath.

Ardomok looked at his fallen comrade, "A little much, but less
appropriate."  He turned to walk away then stopped, "Oh yes, by the way.
Since you recognized me so easily, I'm sure you'll have no trouble
remembering my friend."  The behemoth figure of Illium's champion came
within his sight.  Darrkon wondered how Ardomok know he had killed
Illium.  Darrkon saw Ardomok whisper something into the giant's ear, who
moved toward him, then all he saw was darkness.