by Candy Rae
Larya turned a stricken face to Jim.
: I cannot ‘hear’ Kolyei :
: What ? :
: Something has happened. I cannot sense his mind :
: Broadcast the order direct :
Larya composed herself and took a deep breath.
: I am ready :
: NOW! :
Larya’s telepathic mind-send thundered out.
: All Lindars not on the front ridge and not fighting to follow the Vada to the right wing under Susa Francis’s and Asya’s command :
It was time to commit everything he had.
Francis, Asya and his Vada had been waiting impatiently for the order. Kolyei and Tara were sending frequent updates of the battle situation and Francis had known the command would come soon.
Once the additional eight Lindars were ready, he gave the order to advance, in extended formation and in two ranks. Thomas and Stasya were with them, momentarily forgotten. The other youngsters attached to the eight sidled over to join him at the edge of the rear rank. By doing so they were disobeying orders, having been told by Francis to go to Kolyei’s communications unit behind the lines if the Lindars moved off the hill. They chose to disobey, wanting to take part in what they saw, in their youthful ignorance, as the glorious charge of the day, just like on the story discs.
Neither Tara nor Kolyei realised what the teenagers had done. They were right in the middle of a great deal of trouble of their own.
The vital communications between the allied forces disintegrated in a heartbeat as several Larg descended on them. The Kranj had managed to fight their way through the lines and past the Lindars defending the contraps. Unable to rejoin their fellow Larg when the order came to retreat to the streambed to regroup, they had slunk unnoticed deeper inside the allied lines. The Kranj Commander realised at once what the small group in the clearing was about, why the Lind were not fighting as they used to. This was his chance to gain much honour. Without this centralised communications system their enemy would find itself at a disadvantage.
The Kranj went at once into the attack. Tara, thankfully mounted, Kolyei had insisted on this, saw the first indication of serious trouble when the Larg began to push their way out through the trees. She managed to shout out a warning but then the youngest member of the allied army and her lifelong partner were fighting for their lives. She was conscious of Emily and Ilyei at her side. The Elda and other communications personnel joined in the fray together with the quarter ryz detailed as guard.
With a growl of rage, Kolyei leapt at the foremost attacker, Ilyei beside him. They forced the Larg warrior between them. Tara and Emily hacked at its exposed back whilst their Lind tried to get at its neck. Tara felt the pain as a Larg managed to bite into her arm. Thankfully, Kolyei twisted away and the Larg lost his grip.
The Lind soon realised that the swords, even hefted by two younglings, were perpetrating a massive amount of damage. The Larg, forced tight between them, could not get into an attacking position, neither could he writhe away. With strength Tara did not know she possessed, the girl took another mighty swing at the Larg. It was enough. The Larg stopped and toppled to the ground. A panting Kolyei looked around the clearing but all the Larg were dead. He heard Tara start to sob broken tears and sent a short burst of calming and reassuring thoughts to his girl, but he had an important message to send before he could comfort her properly. He contacted Asya. In a few clear images, he explained to Asya how the four of them had taken the Larg out. He sensed Asya imaging the information throughout the rest of the Vada.
She sent him back a fleeting ‘thank you’ and Kolyei turned his attention to a distraught Tara. Emily, that bit older, had already dismounted and was tending to the Lind battle hurts, shock taking second place to their needs.
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