by Tom Skerlets
VI
“We shall do… what!?” young warrior asked, after a few moments of standing silent and surprised.
“We shall go over Midbay and directly to Waeryehen” Dlora replied calmly as if she was suggesting going on a picnic.
The boat sailed slowly, now on the sea, on its southern end closed inside a bay, directing to the southeast. Still in the company of a girl who found them in the swamp and provided them assistance. Tenen was just recovering from her injury, but the plan that Dlora proposed made her think that maybe she was still slightly hallucinating.
“We are heading straight into the country of our enemy?”
“Yes. And to meet no one other but their King, face-to-face” she paused to check the expression of her younger partner, to see exactly how crazy did she find this proposal. Then she continued” The journey will be long, but to some extent easier than returning to Ahleyn. The majority of the Waeryehenian army is located on the west, on the front line, and we'll go through the eastern side of their country, where we probably might only bump on an occasional patrol.
“Just an occasional patrol? All away to the capital? To the castle? To the throne? Really?”
“Well all right, it might be more difficult and complicated here and there, but we shall solve these difficulties on the way.”
“On the way? And then what? We stand before the king and just return him the statuette, simply explain what happened to it? And expect him just to accept it, to forgive us everything and to declare peace?”
Dlora luckily had time, while Tenen was laying unconscious, to convince herself that this was the best solution under the circumstances. That was why listening to all parts of the plan like this, out loud from someone else's mouth, with a large dose of skepticism, could not reassure her.
Tenen did not expect to hear such bold ideas from the mouth of an experienced Ahlea. Dlora was appreciated as a daring tactician among warriors, ready for all kinds of unexpected challenges and surprises for the enemy, but Tenen saw nothing wise nor useful in going directly to enemy's king. Especially when they had nothing to bring but words which he most certainly did not want to hear, and his people’s most sacred object that he most certainly did not want to see broken in two parts.
She felt that everything in this story was somehow upside down. She was the one that was supposed to behave foolishly, due to her younger age. She would expect from her older colleague to act more restraint.
Dlora moved closer from the bow of the boat more to the middle, where Tenen was laying just minutes ago, but now was in a sitting position. She looked directly at the young warrior 's eyes, with a look that built sudden trust even without words.
“I know the idea seems completely crazy, but I ask you to trust me. If we carry Tarlaeth in Blyst, our queen would most likely also conclude that the best thing to do is to send a peacekeeping expedition with a statuette in their capital city, along with the same explanations that we can give directly. It is possible that at least one of us would be a member of that expedition, perhaps even both.”
The third girl in the boat looked at them both, paddling in a moderate rhythm. It has been hours since she received the order from an older Ahlea to drive them close to the shores of the country Waeryehen, at the southeast end of Midbay. She agreed without any doubt. It was what any citizen of Ahleyn would do when hearing Ahlea warrior girl telling him to do something. She did not even see a problem in the fact that she never visited this place that she was supposed to paddle to.
She admired these two girls, although she did not fully understand the details about the events they were mentioning. Obviously, it was something important. Confident postures of both warriors and their willingness to perceive such ambitious plans, made her, after a long time, disappointed again. She regretted one more time for not being selected for Ahlean warrior school, and for being destined to serve her local community as an expert hunter instead.
Tenen took a few moments to analyze Dlora’s plan, to implement all reverse logic presented by older Ahlea. At the end, she concluded that the idea was just daring enough to succeed for those who would be capable enough to perform it and that the two of them, if nothing else, were at least crazy enough to try it.
A slight change of expression on her colleague’s face was enough for Dlora to realize that she had decided to agree. She had always found important to feel the understanding of their associates for her decisions and actions. She also felt the pride to see a young intern from her warrior school being so bold. Of course that she was able and intended to perform this plan even without Tenen’s consent. After all, the boat was already reaching the shores of the enemy country.
Tenen had pictured next generations of Ahlea warrior school, young students, to talk about her. A young and promising Ahlea who already on her first mission passed the most dangerous parts of the Continent, which most other heroines didn’t get to see through their entire careers and lives: Zal forest, Cursed mountain of Ro-Oth, Grall swamp... and after all that she had decided to cross the entire kingdom which was at war with her nation, and to personally visit their king. That seemed like a really great story to be a leading character in.
Only a half of night had passed, when their Ahleyn compatriot docked her boat along the coast of South Midbay, near Kavarr, the only northern port of Waeryehen. All other ports were on the other end of the kingdom. Although they were in hostile territory, the landscape finally looked friendly again, as one they were they were accustomed to. After all, on the same coast, but on the other side of the border and the gulf of Stug river, there was a city in Ahleyn, Prymor, which they both had the opportunity to visit, and whose environment was quite similar to this.
They did not have much time to admire the landscape, nor they were able to do it in the dark. They jumped out of the boat, as soon as it had touched the shore, in a hidden woody cove. Back in the boat, they used the opportunity to thank the girl who offered them a life-saving help in most difficult moments. They agreed that she would immediately head straight to Blyst, and personally submit a detailed report on the events which older Ahlea warrior had described her. She got all the passwords necessary for passing all guards and for being received personally by the queen herself. They had complete confidence in her, it was clear that this was a girl with deep-set values, and with full respect and fidelity to the nation and the crown of Ahleyn.
The girl wished them for the All to be on their side along with their journey, and then slowly started paddling away.
“Are you ready?” Dlora Asked, as soon as the boat began to move away.
“Yes. Let’s go” Tenen tried to sound as persuasive as possible, in order to avert her partner’s suspicion in her health and ability to progress. She still felt some weaknesses, but also believed that it would gradually completely go away, despite the probability of getting tired along the way they were headed. She hardly felt the pain from her wounds, the girl who saved them proved herself to be a skilled healer.
They have decided to immediately start their journey and try to get close to the first inhabited area before dawn. It was obvious that they would have to do most of the journey to Waeryehen capital during daytime and they did not like that. Waeryehen enjoyed two years without fights on their own ground, public life functioned normally and they two could expect a lot of passers-by on the main road. Despite the war, the country recovered and restored quickly. Great credit for it was in the reorganization of authority that occurred when Waeryehenians lost the battle for their main city. Yarael Twenty-Seventh handed all war powers to his son, who was much more appropriate for that position. Prince was much more interested in military matters, better trained for combat activities and especially more vital than the old man on the throne. This way the king was able to pay more attention to civil matters and handling parts of society that did not participate in the war. His son, meanwhile, took a brilliant twist in the war results of the Waeryehenian army.
Girls have progressed with the greatest caution and s
ilence, although they were surrounded only by pure nature and mostly forested landscape on their way. Although it was easy to find forest paths trodden by human feet, the girls would rather keep themselves away from them. They did not want to upset even forest animals, every possible complication and jam were undesirable for them. They hoped to find a farm as close as possible, yet not too close to Kavarr, where they could borrow some less conspicuous clothes from the owner. And if a farmer would have at least one horse that they could silently ride out of the barn, that would spare them a great deal of time. They did not have moral doubts about such actions, the task that they set themselves was too important.
But luck did not serve them well. The first trace of civilization, a well-rutted forest lane, appeared after a few miles of walk, as the first rays of the sun have already appeared. And another hour more had passed when they appeared on a larger clearing which beheld a lonesome farm.
A fenced part of the hill around the yard was quite large. Just below the hilltop, they saw a wooden house and barn made out of same material. The place was already quite close to a big city, but luckily far enough for them to snitch things and disappear before the owner would notice the theft and alarm the authorities in a nearby town.
“Look. The animals are already out” Tenen showed the hillside below the property. Indeed, there were even three horses already eating grass. This obviously meant that the owner of the farm, besides not being so poor, was also used to waking up early. Very soon he appeared briefly in the yard, carrying wood from the sheds to the kitchen. And from a distance, it was clear that he was a large, robust man who pulled his muscles daily in heavy physical work.
“Damn, the horses are completely on clearing. If the owner only briefly goes out again, there is no doubt that he will see us stealing it.”
“I suggest we disable them all” Tenen immediately expressed her opinion “no time for tactics. We have to pick up some clothes anyway.”
“All right. You take care of the horses, grab them as soon as I send you a sign from the property that I had disabled them. I'll take their clothes, bridles saddles” Dlora explained her plan and the very next moment she started moving toward the hill. She climbed through the woods, then the orchard that stood to the house on the right. Tenen was also crawled closer to the horses, to the nearest point from which they could not see her from the farm, then she laid down and waited in the tall grass.
She had a perfect view of the methods of sneaking up, used by one of the most experienced Ahlea warrior girls. Dlora used the method of progress in short but rapid episodes. She moved to one and the other hidden place at intervals of not more than a few seconds. She jumped over the fence on the right side of the house in a sudden run and almost immediately she stood leaning against the house. Then a short pause, followed by a run-up under the window. They both came to the same conclusion that the folks were probably eating breakfast together, as no one came out for long. Experienced warrior listened for a full minute under the window, and convinced herself with the help of the sounds that they were really eating. Voices revealed the presence of three persons: the owner, his wife, and their son, about seven years old.
Just as she got ready to make her move, to fly through the door to the room and to captivate everyone present at the table, something completely unpredictable happened. A chariot, pulled by two horses suddenly rushed from around the bend of a dusty road that was just below the hill and behind Tenen’s back.
“Ahoy, landlord!” screamed the man who steered the chariot, holding the reins in one hand and happily waving his hat over his head with the other. He looked like a complete jolly - “Are we awake already?!”
“Oh, by All…” Dlora muttered quietly to herself. She could not believe this was happening at that exact moment. The next second farmer replied with "Ahoy!" directly out of the house. The coachman forced his horses to turn off the road and on the path that went up to the farm. Tenen, still lying in the grass, stared at this strange character with confusion, not knowing what to do.
“Tenen, horses! Quick!” Dlora yelled suddenly while going into action. She decided that no longer it made sense to delay. The crazy coachman was moments away anyway from seeing her crouched under the window with a sword. Indeed, a joker on the carriage suddenly pulled horses to stop, when he saw a slender feminine appearance that instantly disappeared into the house. At the same time, the younger warrior jumped out of the grass on her feet as soon as she heard the command and ran to the animals.
Dlora found herself in front of the table, so the family did not even have time to take off smiles from their faces. She placed the blade directly under farmer’s neck.
“Nobody move,” she ordered in a low voice. Her sharp look passed over the faces of everyone present at the table “Who is this lunatic yelling from outside?”
Head of the family, although a hefty male, remained silent and stiff as stone. His wife kept calmer to react.
“He is... he is our neighbor... from next hill. He has a habit... to stop by… this way…” women looked at Dlora with remorse, as she was apologizing on behalf of the man outside.
Dlora did not feel much pleased by woman’s words. She was so angry that she wanted to cut off at least someone’s hand, just to comfort herself for her plan had failed. Or at least to beat someone up really good. But such actions were out of the question. They were not taking this mission to take out their rage on innocent citizens, even if they were members of the hostile party.
“From this day on, remember that your neighbor almost made you lose your heads” she spoke out with fury, just enough to leave a trace of her anger. Then she started to pull herself back towards the door.
During this time, Tenen had already raced to the house on a horse, which she managed to take by surprise and to get on its back. The other two horses scattered within a moment, so she could not capture either one more of them, nor did she have the equipment to do that. Without a saddle or a bridle it was harder to control the animal that was not used to her, but fortunately, she was trained in her warrior school for these kinds of rides too. She dashed by the carriage and by the neighbor who created this whole mess, and who was now also confused by the events happening around him. She stopped the horse in front of the door. Dlora was behind her back in the moment and ordered her to go on.
“No clothes, huh?” asked Tenen silently while riding down the hill.
“No clothes, no horse equipment.”
“Are we taking another horse?”
“There's no time! Ride on!”
The family soon came out and watched with disbelief the girls who rode on along the main road to the south. They seemed like they did not hear any of their neighbor’s questions about what was happening.
And so the action of obtaining necessities for successful further traveling was completely ruined. It could not have turned out worse. Of everything they had planned, they got themselves only one horse. And it was a little stubborn one, apparently more often used for towing than for riding. Every few moments it showed the will to get rid of the double burden on its back. In those moments Tenen had to strongly pull him by the mane.
But now at least they had the possibility of a faster progress on their path. They could not hide their conspicuousness, which meant they needed to bypass main roads as much as possible because everyone who saw them was able to alert the authorities of their presence. And there was no doubt that the owner of the farm or his neighbor was about to do that very fast. They expected that very soon a chase patrol from Kavarr would go after them.
The big city itself they managed to go around. The road from Kavarr to the next big town, Kjell, was located in the valley, so faster and military horses that are more powerful. had an advantage over the one girls stole. And low-lying region did not offer many places suitable for hiding. They rushed next to several wagons with hay and a few groups of walkers on the main road. They all watched in amazement at the scene quite atypical for their country - two women riding
a horse.
After half an hour they finally found a larger bushy area near the road where they managed to hide and wait for the posse to ride by. And in about an hour, that was exactly what happened. Six riders rushed their horses along the road in the direction of Kjell, obviously trying to reduce speed advantage that the girls had. Crouched in the bushes, with swords in their hands, ready for the possibility that the soldiers still remembered to stop and search the bushes, but fortunately, that did not happen. Even the horse remained calm and steady for those few important moments as if it consciously cooperated.
“We'll probably have to go around Kjell because these men will alert the city's army,” said Dlora when they continued their journey.
Although not as much as her partner, Tenen also knew Waeryehen well. Trained as an Ahlea warrior girl precisely in the years of war with that country, that was why the part of the course was intended for meeting the enemy, including its geography, as well as the layout of the main roads. In this adventure, she had the opportunity to expand that knowledge. She knew well that there was no road which went around Kjell, so they would have to go around it through the plain, which spread to the east of the city or go to the west, over high mountains.
However, after they have ceased to fear of attack from the back, they let themselves to slow down. Tenen let the horse go slower, they were saving all the energy in their feet.
They still occasionally encountered travelers along the main road that connected the north of the country with the capital. Mostly walkers, sometimes a horse pulling a carriage. The conditions of those means of transport, people’s clothes and the mood of passengers, gave them some view of a country trying to live a normal life, but can not quite hide the exhaustion by war. Exactly the same scenes were found on the roads in their land of Ahleyn, at least those that were not close to the battlefield. On those that were, it was of course even worse.
“It is time for me to congratulate you on the effort” Dlora concluded that the moment was finally good for two partners, after several days of joint activities, to exchange a few loose words. She was not most skilled at complimenting but considering that the younger warrior now rode behind her back, holding her by the waist, she was still easier to give her a few commendable words “I am very pleased with the skills you have shown. Your teachers would also be very happy.”
“I know” Tenen joked, but still with a large dose of self-respect “Thank you. And you were a great teacher on this campaign.”
“Well, thank you.”
And so they rode on, talking to each other, getting to know one another. Tenen described her origin from a noble and wealthy family, which made her especially motivated to prove herself as a warrior. From her story, it became evident that she was a typical member of newer generations of Ahlea warrior girls, whom the war atmosphere had made even more fanatic and radical than their older predecessors. Their belief in the ideals of Ahlea order one could almost feel in the air around them.
Dlora remembered that once she felt almost the same, however, she seemed to have had a different, more moderate kind of eagerness and passion in her youth. Back then some beliefs could be questioned, it was allowed for them to have different views. She liked those times much more, they were more suited to her character.
She was far from doubting the system and the order in which they were born, grew up and lived. She was a faithful member of her order and her nation. But she preferred this loyalty to be judged primarily by her actions. She was becoming more and more hateful to strict fanaticism as she grew older. She saw too many useless loss of life on the battlefield, to still find a lot of sense in it. She based her success on wisdom, caution, and calculation, as much as it was possible. Such a principle did not exclude by any means willingness to bold and surprising solutions. On the contrary, this adventure proved that she had a sense for bravest actions.
She tried to pass this kind of thinking on her younger colleague, to transfer her at least some of nonsense that lays behind every war. To implant her a need for a calm approach to every situation, to explain to her that she could be very brave and very careful at the same time. But she felt her words just poorly penetrating the youthful mind, more willing to prove herself and eager for exciting adventures.
Several hours of cheerful conversation, of various life anecdotes and lessons learned, made this part of the journey look like a picnic. It was so until they arrived in front of the city of Kjell, which was about a half way from Midbay to the capital of Waeryehen. As they were able to see the roofs of the nearest town which Dlora already somewhat remembered from a siege years ago, it was time to leave the main road and the comfort that it offered.
“Getting off the main road to the left would mean going around the city to the west. Along the border with the land of Koron, or the river that divides these two kingdoms”. Dlora expressed her knowledge of this area’s geography, even though she was convinced that younger warrior girl knew a great deal about the enemy's kingdom. “That path is longer. Also, because of the river it leaves us fewer opportunities for retreat in case that the enemy finds and surrounds us.”
The waters of the bordering river were too big and too wild to cross it easily and to find refuge in the kingdom of Koron. The country was neutral in the conflict and totally indifferent to events east of it, even though it was big and strong enough to run over both kingdoms at war in a large march of its troops.
“In my opinion, much better option is going to the east of the city” Dlora continued, pointing her finger to the right, towards the hilly areas “That way we can cut a shorter path to Yaraelen. But it is a much less walkable path.”
The old and dilapidated road was located between the large trees and even bigger mountains, stretched through the north of the country like a spine. Highlands represented a great natural defense shield of the country in the first years of the war. Dlora was part of those Ahleynian troops that nevertheless tried to cut enemy’s kingdom in half along this way. They managed, with lots of difficulties, to cross the mountains and for very long, for years, to keep Kjell under siege, but they failed in their conquest. Therefore she knew this region. She doubted that they fixed the road in times of war because something like that would take a lot of effort. It also meant that the animal which they rode would have too much trouble in going over the rocks and that the girls would have to use their legs a lot more. But the fact that this unpleasant road would lead them just before the goal consoled them. It would return them to the end of the main road, just in front of the entrance to the capital, Yaraelen.
Before she even got to express her agreement with the older colleague, Tenen suddenly jerked. She felt someone's presence beside the road, behind a canal with overgrown shrubs that ran alongside the road. The very next moment Dlora also heard a faint disturbing noise.
But it was too late. A dozen armed men suddenly erupted from the canal to the road on both sides. Exclamation "Now!", dropped by their captain, startled the horse that was carrying two Ahleas. His agitation prevented the girls from taking any kind of action. They were completely surrounded by a group of soldiers within a few seconds. Two of them came closer to the warriors, holding crossbows pointed right at them.
“Put down your weapons and get off the horse!” came the order from the head of the law enforcements of Kjell. Posse group from Kavarr obviously did a great job. Although the girls hid from them on the first part of the road, they rushed as fast as possible to inform the army in the next town, in order to have enough time to set up an ambush. Crossbows were a sign that soldiers realized they were dealing with Ahlea warrior girls, from the description of the owner of the farm where the warriors stole the horse. Nevertheless, despite the greatly executed ambush and seizure, the faces and movements of individual soldiers reflected fear and uncertainty before the famous rivals. They were not sure if all their available weapons were sufficient in case the girls decided to put up a fight.
Girls, after a few seconds of holding still on horseback
and brown looking in the troop's captain, slowly came down from the horse, first Tenen, then Dlora.
“Listen” yelled Dlora for all to hear” we do not want trouble. We did not come here to fight. We are on an important mission.
“Silence!” confident commander yelled out. The Little officer obviously felt that he had the girls under complete control, so he could allow himself strictness even in talking with Ahleas “your lies do not interest me. When you find yourself behind bars, you are free to explain as much as you want! If you find someone willing to listen.”
“We are serious. It is very important for both our countries that you let us go on with our business” Dlora tried again.
“Oh, you would like to go on? Well, you do not say” now the boy started to act theatric “and could I please ask you where exactly are you headed?”
Dlora only then remembered that the soldiers would not have liked the correct answer to this question. And she had no time to think up a convincing lie.
“I thought so. Take their guns!”
There was a brief and somewhat ridiculous pause, during which none of the soldiers did dare to take the first step towards the girls, to take away their swords and knives. It was a good sign for the girls, even after the first soldier finally made the move, that it was more worth getting into a fight with these soldiers than to spend precious time in captivity, in explaining their purpose and assuring that they had noble intentions. Two Ahleas just waited for soldiers to come close enough so that they could demonstrate their explosiveness and speed in drawing their swords.
But the fight was, just a split second before it was about to start, postponed by a strong gust of the wind from the north, followed by the appearance of a small light from the same direction. Everyone present at the site suddenly turned in that direction, shielding their eyes with their hands.
A very bright light-blue dot that suddenly appeared in distance rapidly started to grow. Soon they realized that the light was actually getting closer to them with an incredible speed and that it actually represented some form, difficult to recognize from that distance. A gust of wind was hardly bearable, some soldiers were losing balance, and the dust raised from the road was slicing the skin and entering the eyes. But the gap between them and the unknown body was quickly growing smaller for them to recognize a human figure through the dust. Although, a human figure like this or of any similar kind they have never seen before. The body was shining blindingly bright. It hovered in dark robes, with open arms, in a whirlwind of air currents, a few feet above the ground.
“By All, what is that?” Tenen wondered at loud. She already had a sword in her hand, just as well as her partner. None of the soldiers around them did seem to notice or care.
Her older colleague could not answer this question because something like this she had never seen or heard that anything similar existed among the human species. She was pretty convinced that people could not fly. In fact, the only one she heard that were capable of such things were the mages, but according to the legends, they have been expelled from the Continent hundreds of years ago and for some reason, they have never dared to return. Dlora believed that they had died on their island so this phenomenon for her was unbelievable.
The flying creature came quite near, and then suddenly stopped, still hovering in the air directly in front of a small group of armed men. From the beginning, he was sending a threatening, angry look. Although he still radiated light, it was slightly lower and they could clearly see a youthful, handsome young man, with quite human facial features and a middle long, carefully groomed beard. All of his visible body parts shone with such blue light that could not have been easily compared to anything in the world known to them.
The soldiers stood frozen and shocked. Several of them were not even able to hide their fear. The horse also got scared and ran away down the road in an instant, in the same direction from which the girl got on this site. Tenen, in addition to confusion, felt the urge to immediately attack the creature, before it was too late, and before he did something unexpected and surprising. Dlora, however, felt the need to remain cautious, although she feared that such thinking could cost them their lives.
“The statuette! I feel it! Where is it?” mage Declavius finally spoke. Most of the soldiers in all that great amazement and fear did not even register that they had no idea what this humanlike appearance was speaking about. But for the girls, some things became clearer after his words.
Even since they saw the light from the distance, troops captain carefully pulled himself back in the background, behind all of his subordinates. This way having acquired again a certain security, he dared once more to issue reckless and hasty orders.
“He is with the Ahleas! A mage! They plan to kill our king together! Kill him!”
Again for a few moments, nothing happened. In the minds of the members of the Waeryehenian force, there was a big fight going on. Fear of the unknown and magical was stronger than the sense of duty and respect for commands. After all, those were the less bold and less capable soldiers. The best of what Waeryehen had was far from that point, on the battlefield. However, one of the two with a crossbow finally dared to fire the arrow. The target was quite close enough to overcome it with a precise hit. The second man with a crossbow immediately did the same. Two arrows were launched within the same second.
But then, almost at the same moment they bounced off the invisible wall, just in front of a flying creature, turned around in the air, against all known rules of movement of the body in space, and ended up deep in the chest of people who shot them out. They ended up with perfect precision, right in the hearts of soldiers. It all happened in less than a second, almost faster than the human eye could have registered it.
All other soldiers now completely panicked. Several of them instinctively stepped back, feeling the need to start running. But it was too late. They soon felt a strange force taking them of the ground, lifting them into the air and beginning to rotate their bodies in all directions. At one moment it was spinning them around at one place, at the second it was shaking them, and in the third, it was stretching them all around the air.
Declavius was having a great time. For centuries he had no opportunity to feel the joy of using his powers on weaker creatures. On the island there were no other creatures besides wizards, nature was too inhospitable for their survival. And in fighting with other mages there was always the possibility that they would return him equally. He could only hit the rocks there. But this was much more comfortable. With ease he directed the winds around the bodies of these lesser beings, made swirled, fast enough and strong to tore shields and clothes from the bodies, and to tore the skin from their bones, even to break their limbs.
He was so much into juggling of bruised and half-living Waeryehenians to ignore the presence and the movement of two Ahlea warrior girls. While watching all this, they had carefully and quietly withdrawn behind the mage. With the help of a few hand movements and their secret signals, they agreed on a strategy for an attack. Tenen had a bold idea and took the time to present it as clearly as possible. Just like the numbers of action maneuvers, Ahleas were obliged to know by heart their sign language for alternate forms of communication during the fight. This language was luckily suited enough to fairly describe action moves. Thus Dlora managed to quickly understand it. She liked the idea, in the absence of a better one.
They decided to attack at the same time. They cast their swords in the very same moment as if throwing spears, taking them for the blade next to the handle. They were not worried by questionable moral of attacking the enemy behind his back because this opponent was simply too powerful to be overthrown in a fair and honorable fight.
Declavius sensed danger behind him, he turned and tried to defend himself. He directed the powerful wave of the wind towards the swords. Dlora’s sword he managed to turn away. But Tenen’s weapon brushed his head just above the left ear.
The Wind suddenly stopped, bright ligh
t surrounding the mage disappeared in the blink of an eye and he crashed to the ground. Together with him, bodies of soldiers who were raised in the air also fell down. Most of them remained to lie on the road lifeless, but some of them were still giving signs of life, as well as signs of great suffering and pain. Their commander, spared of wizard’s torture and until that moment frozen in place from all the fear, finally felt controlling his legs again. He took advantage of the re-acquired ability to leave his dead and injured soldiers and to run away to the city in panic.
“Is he dead?” Tenen asked after they cautiously approached a downthrown wizard.
“How do I know if he's dead? I do not know what he is or what he looks like when he's dead” said Dlora nervously, though she knew this was most probably a mage. During warrior school training it was explained to her, as well as to her younger colleague, that such powers existed in this world against which it was not easy or possible to fight in traditional, physical way. They were told these forces had for long been hidden and silenced, but also that they should always be prepared to the possibility of their recurrence. However, she was still very surprised and unpleasantly alarmed by this event.
She glanced in the direction of the city, where a silhouette of a frightened Waeryehenian captain on the run was still visible.
“Well, every cloud has a silver lining. But that guy will alert the entire region all the way to Yaraelen. We have to go on.”
“Should we not... finish... this one?” she pointed at the wizard with a sword which she just picked up from the ground.
“No, it is better not to touch him. If he is even still alive, we do not know how to finish him at all. Legends say that the mages were almost impossible to kill. If feeling more pain wakes him up, there is probably nothing that would save us!”
“In this case, I have nothing against us getting us as far away from here.”
Dlora looked at a young warrior girl. The way she said it, completely calm, even with a small dose of humor, had a kind of relaxing effect. It was exactly what she needed in a chaotic situation of encountering the unknown forces. She admired the young girl and her very mature attitude. As if she encountered such events on regular basis, Tenen showed no fear of the unknown. Older Ahlea was now quite certain that she was joined with the best young warrior that the school could provide and with surely a future great of the order.
