Chapter 150: Whitefall VII
My nerves rested on the edge of a knife. Id been in countless situations where the slightest misstep meant death. It took a while to overcome the fear that came with the possibility of losing my own life. The last few years in the sanctum had beaten that fear out of me.
But the fear that others might die because of my mistakes haunted me just as strongly as it had at the beginning. Every death was a reminder of what Id lost. A fragment of a perfect future, torn away.
Eckor looked, understandably, like a man whod just been informed there was an unknowable number of explosives throughout the camp.
Youre able to use void at range? I asked, trying to pull him back to the moment.
From around here to that wagon. He indicated a wagon under repair, around thirty span from us. Im the only one in the Brand who can. Or was, anyway. Guess Im not in the Brand anymore. He muttered, walking alongside me until he spotted a chipmunk in the grass. Eckor froze in a motionless standoff, hands out to either side, face utterly serious.
I grabbed him by the sleeve and yanked him towards Maya and Melody, noting the sterling silver ring with a green gem on his finger.
What about act normal do you not understand? I whispered.
It was coming right at me. Eckor hissed back.
It wasnt. Unless there was a fragment of Eckor, buried in the ground.
Do you have any combat experience? I asked.
We pass various trials before they grant us entry.
Actual combat experience. I reiterated. Riot suppression, anything.
Not unless you count sparring. Eckor said, then mused to himself. Though most of the time I just stood there, and they threw spells at me.
Elphion.
I told myself it didnt matter. So what, he was green. No point in fantasizing about how things could be. I needed to work with what I had.
Void mage? Maya asked.
Yes. This is Eckor. I made the hasty introductions, then turned to Melody. Your men in place?
Melody wrung her hands. Yes.
Why is she hesitating? I asked Maya before directly addressing Melody. Why are you hesitating?
I may have told them the truth? Melody cringed. Not on purpose. It just didnt feel right deceiving them.
I turned, searching for the nearest hunter bearing Melodys family crest. A grizzled man with white hair was brushing a horse. The motion looked awkward until I realized why. He held a crossbow loosely in his right hand, and his eyes were locked on a cottontail rabbit hopping lazily through the clearing.
Several hunters stood on top of the armory wagon, their faces grim. One caught my eye and pressed a fist to his chest in a silent salute.
I didnt want to incite panic. I said slowly, But it seems you have that covered.
Pride shone through Melodys expression. They are accustomed to difficult prey, my prince. Many take a yearly absence to travel to the Northends and bring back frost bear pelts. Which we pay handsomely for, of course. All that to say, I cannot take credit for their nerve.
I glanced at Maya. Shed been the one to bring Melody to me. At the time, I saw it as nothing more than a backhanded maneuver, a way to voice her irritation without saying it.
Im glad we met when we did. I said honestly.
The pleasure is mine. Melody curtsied. It is not often my house serves the crown so directly.
An errant neigh drew my attention. Lord Erebus had arrived, three archers from his honor guard in tow. One was astride a white horse. Eerily white, as if it might be fully visible in the dark. He eyed the odd group before him, then seemed to shrug and slide off his horse, handing me the reins.
The stage is set, your grace. Erebus gave me a solemn nod. Kerai flanked around him and heeled at my leg.
They know when to sound the alarm?
Immediately after your signal, not a second earlier.
Doubt gnawed at me as I surveyed the camp. There were so many troops. So many potential swords and bows to augment the small force wed already gathered. But they were worthless if I couldnt trust them and didnt understand their motivation or the division that sundered them.
Ready to summon? I asked Maya.
Hes already complaining about being used to herd humans. Maya rolled her eyes. But yes.
Youre certain the primary force will branch off? Erebus asked.
Completely. Though I dont understand why.
I can guess. A darkness crossed Erebuss face.
Remember. Everything with four legs is suspect. That includes horses. If you see a horse without a saddle, stay fucking clear.
A nod went around the group.
I took the second horses reins and drew it towards Eckor. Speaking of horses. Can you ride?
Eckor looked the giant beast up and down, with a fearful expression that answered the question before he opened his mouth. Is there anything um smaller?
Youre with me, then. I gave both horses a quick estimation, handed Maya the reins to the shorter stallion, then mounted the faster-looking horse. I gave Maya a meaningful look. Try to hold off on healing the wounded until we know for sure weve delayed their attack.
Understood.
Kerai, I spoke to the beast directly. Its open season on everything in this camp youd normally eatother than humans, elves or dwarves. Dig in.
Kerai scanned our surroundings, and drew low to the ground, heading off towards the east end of the camp.
With the immediate threat gone, Eckor was left holding his soiled sleeves skyward, away from his body, looking profoundly disturbed.
Great work, I told him.
Research grant. Eckor muttered to himself. Totally worth it. Totally and completely worth it.
Wed taken too long with the first group. I waited, tense, for the resulting explosions. One came from the south end of the camp.
None followed.
My jaw worked in surprise as I surveyed the would-be battlefield. A few hunters were still finishing up, pulling their blades free of various animal corpses. It shocked me to see several guardsmen doing the same. I couldnt believe it. Any moment, several animals we missed would explode, and the drephin would attack in force.
Nothing happened. The alarm sounded. This time, everyone reacted as Id expected them to the first time. The camp moved in one panicked mass, civilians and soldiers alike retreating towards the circled wagons and carriages in the center.
airn. An errant breeze carried a fragment of my name. I turned and saw Maya galloping full speed towards a small group of drephin. It was a partial relief to see they werent a part of the greater attacking force. They were in varying states of transformation, and still kept certain aspects of their animal forms.
That relief faded as I realized they were headed directly towards the clustering forces.
I harnessed the air, jumping up onto the horse and racing to intercept. The drephin were quick on their feet, but no match for Lord Erebuss warhorse. I cut them off, only a dozen span from the circled wagons.
The drephin slowed. They looked around them, as if theyd only just realized how quickly the tides had turned.
One stepped forward. Scion, he hissed.
Its over, I said harshly. If your people were coming, theyd already be here. Surrender.
The leader of the pact held my gaze. But a few of the drephin in the rear nervously glanced towards the mountain. I flicked my eyes in the direction they were looking. The leader with the staff from last time was nowhere to be seen.
We know how the king treats his prisoners, a woman in the back hissed.
Coincidentally, I know nothing of your folk. Not for lack of desire. If you surrender here, youll be treated well. As the first envoys of your kind.
The man in front turned his back to me, facing the others. Our goddess has spoken. Should the scion live, the desecrator will finish what was started long ago.
My gauntlet shuddered with accumulated power. Images from the first time around flooded me. The drephin, obliterated by fire, screaming. I wanted dearly to stop this from escalating into a slaughter.
But I recognized the determination in their expressions, after the leader spoke. The iron in their resolve. Even in the face of death.
Please. Dont. I knew my words were futile.
Most of them rushed forward. One remained where she was, off to the side, hands balled into fists, eyes closed. The flesh of the others bubbled and expanded
I held out my left hand and released. The recoil was massive, and I felt the telltale pop of my arm twisting out of socket.
When the smoke cleared, the remains of the drephin painted the landscape in a gruesome crescent that could have almost passed for art, if the ink it drew from wasnt so ghastly.
Behind me, the mass of humans cheered. The cheer slowly grew into a roar. Some even chanted my name.
But I couldnt look away from the survivor. The drephin woman, who stared down at the remains of her companions. Her mouth worked, widening, until a horrified shriek ripped from her throat. She screamed, her fingernails tearing streaks down her face.
Behind her, Erebus came to a stop and raised a fist. One of his archersstill mounted, took aim at the woman.
I shook my head. Erebus hesitated, then slowly lowered his hand.
With a burst of mana, I called the wind, relaying a message directly to the womans ear:Run.
She turned and fled. I told myself that this was better than the previous outcome. That instead of taking heavy losses and obliterating the drephin, wed taken minimal casualties and waylaid them.
Maya maneuvered her horse, coming to a stop beside me. She looked harried and exhausted, but otherwise unharmed.
Thanks for the heads-up. I told her.
Maya glanced back at the army clustered behind the wagons. Not sure it mattered much. They were running into a killbox.
I shook my head. If the archers coordinated and cut them down at a distance? Perhaps. But if any soldiers got antsy and rushed into melee, there could have been significant losses. Put my arm back in?
Maya dismounted, grabbed my left arm and pulled it out to the side. A nauseating pop followed a flash of pain, and I flexed my fingers.
Despite knowing their abilities, its hard to believe theyd use their own people like that. Maya said.
Bad soldiers are, more often than not
A reflection of their commander. Lord Erebus fell in line beside me. He was still watching the drephin woman flee. Shed made good time and was only a few span from the treeline. Still, Im not sure showing her mercy was the wisest course. She will not look kindly on you for sparing her, and whatever leadership they have pulling the strings will be far better informed to our capabilities than they once were.
The woman disappeared into the darkness of the Everwood.
It wasnt mercy, bannerlord, I said grimly.
No?
Call it intuition, but I have a feeling our attackers wont give up so easily. If we killed their entire first wave, wed remain in the same situation we started in.
Ignoring the initial losses, theyd retain the initiative. That much is true. But.. Erebus stared at me as if I was mad. You intend to track an elf through the hells-blasted Everwood?
He didnt know, of course. That Id spent the last few years tracking equally dangerous prey in far worse conditions. Shes running scared. Traumatized. If shes smart, shell double back a few times, maybe change forms if she has the mana to burn. But after that? Shell lead me straight to the source.
Where youll what? Maya challenged. Take on their entire army?
I sheathed my sword. Cut the head off the snake.
