Anabee pulled her knife from the creature; she had to use her foot on its chest to give leverage, for the blade had sunk deep.
Immediately ready for further fight, she could see the rest of the patrol had been as successful as she, dead or mortally wounded Vamps lay about them. The remainder of the flight had backed off; over twenty of their number on the ground. The noise of those in the air, and the cries the live monster’s on the ground were creating, as they screamed and jabbered at each other, was ear splitting. Jojo and Bodan ran around the grounded beasts which they swiftly silenced, those in the air screeching in uncontrolled anger, at the hunter’s actions. The Vamps were circling around the hunters, unable to understand how they had been beaten when they were so obviously had a massive numbers’ advantage.
Pavel tallied quickly; there were still at least thirty of the creatures flapping above them at a height of about fifty paces, outside normal accurate bow range or spear throw.
‘To bow, let’s try out these new weapons.’ He signed over his head.
The twelve troopers loosed their new bows and each notched one of the Chin arrows.
‘Fire at will!’ came Pavel’s whistled command.
Their arrows flew at the fluttering Vamps. Five fell dead, and four others fell to the ground screaming in pain. Three other Vamps had been hit, but not badly enough to cause them an inability to remain aloft. Suddenly the whole flight broke off their attack and wheeled around the hunters screeching and calling in anger and frustration, a stupid move for three more of their number were hit by the next salvo and fell to the ground, another took an arrow in the rear leg but managed to stay in the air.
With much jabbering and flapping of leathery wings the whole flock took off towards Benachee’s peak. Their erratic flying style would have made them almost amusing to watch if they had not been so evil. Bodan dispatched two of the troopers to retrieve the spent arrows.
Some of the patrol had been slightly injured in the attack; Weesia, Tonne and Ames were quickly engaged in cleaning and patching up scratches, cuts and bruises. Pavel and Jojo walked through the Vamps, checking those that had fallen to the arrows for signs of life, and dispatching those that even twitched with a thrust to the throat.
‘Glad we had these,’ clicked Pavel, wiping dark blood from his blade across a dead creature’s back, ‘that could have been real nasty and no mistake.’
‘Did you see the kids? I saw them get at least two of the blighters, wow! can they fight, I saw them using just fists and feet, we gotta learn from them, they were amazing. I was so caught up watching them, I almost got jumped myself. If it hadn’t been for the girl who lost her brother, hooting, I could easily have been Vamp meat.’
Luie and his partner the little fighting dynamo Tonne stood to one side of the group, he was hugging her tightly, they locked tongues; ‘You Okay hun?’
‘Yup, six confirms to add to my tally.’
‘Aint you got no feelings?’
‘Not where those bastards are concerned,’ she responded. Tonne had more reason than most to hate the Vamps, her mother and younger sister had been carried off in front of her eyes when she was ten years old. The memory was as clear to her as though it had happened just yesterday, she could still hear their screams at night as she lay in her bedroll.
‘Nope,’ she signed, ‘Not until the last stinking one of them is rotting in the ground.’
They left the Vamps where they lay, a grim reminder to their fellows that the Tirnano had passed this way.
The next time they met, the Vamps would probably have revised their method of attack, the sharp blades and long distance arrows would figure highly. Maybe they would realise they were beaten and sue for peace, thought Pavel to himself, ‘Fat Chance!’ he clicked aloud, to the surprise of his younger brother and his twoicee who were riding either side him.
‘Whassup?’ whistled Jojo coming instantly awake; he had been dozing.
‘You were dreaming’ signed Luie.
‘It’s cold.’ Jojo flipped up his hood, and slipped his hands into the mittens hanging from his wrists,
They rode on in silence; just two hours from the valley entrance.
It had been just twenty days since they left.
Pavel was concerned at how the elders would view the loss of the entire ElPee patrol, the loss of twelve men and women, especially a fully armed and in war mode patrol was unprecedented in the history of the clans. There would be some serious weeping and wailing in the caves tonight. Even his news of the retribution they had inflicted on the Chin (with Mira’s help) and the defeat of the Gargoys would be little consolation. The terrible blades were still a mystery to him, how had they been manufactured? How were they crafted? He knew that the elders would ask him those and many other questions, of which he had no knowledge of the answers, all he knew was that he had forty fearsome blades and a few hundred arrows to show for the loss of twelve fine troopers.
How could they stand against a full scale attack by hundreds of Chin armed with weapons as horrendous as the shiny long knives.
‘If they can make them, we can anall’ signed Luie, his clicking breaking into Pavel’s reverie.
‘From what?’ interjected Ames.
‘From some sort of rock, the stuff’s got out by heating it until it melts, then while it’s still hot it’s beaten into shape,’ Bodan whistled.
‘How do you know?’ demanded Pavel.
‘Mira told me, she says we can do it and she will help.’
‘Why’d she want to help us?’
‘I don’t know but we’ll find out soon enough, she is returning in five days time.’
The other troopers had been staring at Bodan, none of them had known him string together more than five words; to give a full speech with explanations as he had just done was totally unheard of.
Their mounts walked on in silence, each of the troopers deep in thought. This was not going to be a triumphant return like their last one. This return was going to be a sober, full military affair.
Riding towards them alone, from the mouth of the valley, mounted on her massive charger was Lord Holbie, they could just make out the young, gate and cliff top protectors, standing soberly watching as the lone clan elder walked her once mighty steed through the grass which just reached her dangling feet. She stopped and waited as they approached her. The A shaped formation was immaculate in its exactness; the horses too were in perfect step, each of their hooves striking the ground in faultless harmony. The Chin mounts taking their cue from the Runners had joined in the regular stamping march as the patrol approached the clan leader. The Tirnano rode with their lances at the present, points upright at a ninety degree angle to the ground. Even the five youngsters, who were now clinging to the backs of horses, understood the severity of the occasion and sat straight and respectful.
The patrol came to an instant halt without a single command; Pavel broke ranks and moved forward to the Elder, he fisted his forehead, holding the salute until Lord Holbie responded with her own acknowledgment, which she did after a moment’s pause.
‘Well met Patrol Leader Pavel,’ she whistled, ‘Come, ride and report.’ She spun her huge Runner with a gentle knee movement, and with Pavel alongside rode swiftly off towards the valley entrance.
Luie assumed charge.
‘Walk on’ was his only command, the patrol moved forward in perfect battle formation, they walked slowly as befit the occasion. Twelve of their colleagues had died, and they were the bearers of sad news.
Their entrance to the valley was lined by the entire clan who had fallen in to watch them pass, no riotous welcome this, they rode through silent ranks up to the cave entrance, the plains Runners and the Chin mounts keeping perfect step the entire way.
‘Dismount’ clicked Luie quietly, and as one they swung their left legs across their mount’s shoulders, and assumed the position of attention alongside the perfectly still Runners.
‘Unpack those horses and get them fed, watered and corralled, leav
e all the Chin equipment just inside the cave mouth. You may retain one knife, a bow and twenty of the arrows, all others must be placed in the pile,’ commanded Pavel, who had just appeared, with the entire Clan Council standing alongside him.
‘Bodan and Roza, when you have seen to the captured horses report back to me, you will be attending the Clan Council. Blue you are released from your vow, you and your brothers and sisters have our deepest thanks.’
Mikhai stood alongside his mare watching Pavel’s Runner Blue Lightning, he swallowed hard. The massive beast looked at him, gave a huff and walked over to join Mikhai’s own steed, throwing a deliberately missed nip at Mikhai’s shoulder as he passed.
The watching troopers grinned, Pavel’s steed named Blue for short, took no nonsense from hunter, runner or beast, and he was the undisputed leader of a large herd, coverer of a serious number of mares. If his rider wasn’t into covering as many females as he possibly could, his mount more than made up for it and took no truck from any other stallions as he conducted his enjoyable activity. There were a large number of blue or grey Runners, colts and foals, around the valleys these days and Blue was intent on increasing their number whenever he had the opportunity. Mikhai’s mare was without doubt his next chosen consort.
The Clan did not keep the plains Runners, the plains Runners would come when they were required by the clan, when the need was over the plains Runners would return to the wide open grass savannas.
If a call went out the Runners would respond with sufficient numbers for whatever adventure or task, not as slaves or servants but as partners. The Plains Runners were proud beasts, with numerous herds, each one easily numbering a hundred beasts. They were distantly related to the much larger orange coloured, flying Runners of the far off mountains, although unlike the mountain Runners, the plains Runners were without wings.
There was a strong bond between the Clan and their mounts. When the Runners arrived they would assemble and choose their riders from the presented troopers. No one could figure out how the Runners supplied the exact numbers required nor how they knew when they were wanted. All that was required to call the Runners was for an Clan Elder to stand at the cave mouth and whistle three times.
There was a commotion from behind the Elders, at that moment a tall, white skinned human ran forward, no one took much notice as he began to vocalise in the human fashion; “Samma co manda, eiffa quish il a tash wo missa pulla qua lo ma, lo lo domma samma co manda, shammo dim anno lo la ponda quesh.” He fell to the ground in a faint as he shouted the last word.
The clans were used to ‘Dippie Timmie’ as he was known, from the day he was discovered as a lost child of three or four years old, wandering alone at the mouth of the clan valleys. He had only ever spoken the stream of gibberish, none of his words understood by any member of the caves. He however understood and could communicate using whistle, sign or click. With a bow and arrow he took a lot of beating. He had never joined one of the hunting teams, showing no desire, although he was a permanent member of the hill top patrols and had an impressive thirty four kills to his tally. In times of excitement he would blurt out the exact same sequence of incomprehensible sounds, after many years, the hunters and troopers took no notice, but not so one of the new arrivals, it was the young girl who had lost her twin.
‘From far away will come the Purple Queen and her Rider, she will rend the heavens from top to bottom, she will join with the Mighty Rider of the Red and together they will open the stars for the prisoners to be released!’ she clicked in a manner that seemed to carry all around the valley.
Tonne spun on the girl, ‘Quiet girl, have respect for the Elders!’
‘That’s what he has just said,’ she replied, her face scrunched up, she was almost in tears.
‘You can understand him?’
‘Of course --- he is a prophet, chosen of the gods, what he has given out, is about to happen, and it will be soon.’
‘What does it mean child?’ it was Lord Holbie, who quickly came to the girl’s side.
The young plains girl fell to her knees, bowed low, her forehead touched the ground before she straightened up and signed quite simply, ‘I know not, Lady, just that is what he said, what it means I have no idea.’
Lord Holbie stood for a moment in thought, then turned and ascended quickly up to the cave mouth, and with the rest of the Clan Elders disappeared into the gloomy interior.
43.
A DEMONSTRATION AND A PROMOTION
Clan Caves.
That evening, Bodan, Roza and Pavel gave their report to the council, each member had an opportunity to examine the long knives and the two troopers gave an exhibition of fighting with the weapons that thrilled the blood of those watching. Since Mira had partially opened the two hunter’s minds, they were acutely aware of each other’s intentions and could block and parry any thrust or slash that the other instigated. The cave rang with the sound of the two long knives as they clashed. The two sparred for at least ten minutes with neither gaining the upper hand, the speed of their battle, the flashing of the blades and their nimble footwork was amazing to behold and almost too fast to follow.
‘I have never seen the like in all my years,’ enthused one of the Elders.
‘Neither have I’ clicked Lord Holbie, ‘There is not one warrior in the clan who could stand against either of these two, and you say that all of your patrol has been practicing this art?’
‘Yes Lord, but none of them can match this pair; I can’t be sure why they have progressed so well, maybe they are just naturals.’
The couple just looked at each other and smiled, they knew, but Mira had suggested caution and they had complied by keeping their newly discovered abilities to themselves. The two then gave a demonstration of the cutting and stabbing capabilities of the weapons which left the Elders in even greater awe.
‘You say the entire Chin patrol was armed with these knives, but could they fight like these two?’
‘We have no idea my Lord,’ said Pavel, ‘we did not engage directly with the enemy,’ he went on to describe the events from when the young plains girl had first given her cry of alarm, the council interjecting with questions, Lord Holbie seemed especially interested in the mental connection the young girl had with her brother. Most of the time Pavel responded, although when they reached the point at which Mira had intervened, the questions were answered by Bodan who seemed to have a remarkable knowledge of the young woman’s origin and intentions.
‘She will be with us in five days time,’ he concluded.
After a great deal of questions the council seemed satisfied that all had been reported to them. ‘Thank you all, Patrol Sergeant Bodan and Patrol Corporal Roza you may dismiss, Patrol Leader Pavel we require to talk further with you.’
Bodan and Roza sprang to attention and fisted their foreheads in unison, the action would have given their drill instructors immense pleasure; it was so crisp and perfect.
When the two left the enclosure, Lord Holbie and the other members sat in a circle on the mats, they motioned for Pavel to join them; he sat cross legged in a gap that had been left for him.
‘In a meeting this afternoon, after your initial report, we the supreme council of Clan McAllister who are the representatives of all the clan caves have decided that we will assemble a company which will be dedicated solely to patrolling our immediate borders and will be available to provide a fighting force that can face any threat which the Clan caves could be faced with, from Vamps to Chin and back again. You Patrol Leader Pavel are to be promoted to Company Commander Rank; you will also be given free choice from all the caves to make up your company numbers.’
Pavel could not believe his eyes.
‘All of your company will be classed as fighting soldiers, you will be relieved of all hunting duties, so make your choices well,” she concluded, “you will be our first line of defence or attack, I have asked Lord Euston to make a call to the Runners for fifty volunteer mounts, we expect them to arrive arou
nd noon tomorrow by then I want you to have at least the officers and NCOs’ of the company picked and ready to be joined with their mounts. Those of your patrol who wish to retain their mounts may do so if the Runners are in agreement.’
Pavel’s head was beginning to reel with the overload of information and excitement.
‘Return in the morning Company Commander Pavel,’ she clicked dismissing him.
Pavel fisted a smart salute and left the chamber, almost at a run he made his way to where Bodan, Tonne, Jojo, and Luie were waiting at his family hearth drinking chai. Shasa was in attendance and had a number of roasts at various levels of readiness on spits over the glowing embers of the family fire. The other members of his patrol were not far away and as he approached they left their own hearths and quickly took up position with the others. They waited silently for him to give a report on the council meeting. Pavel embraced Shasa who had been on hillside duty when they returned; he had not had an opportunity to see her. ‘Congrats on your trial babe!’ he clicked.
The Tirnano - Book 1 'FINN' Page 27
