Rotger relied only on hand signs now. He ordered families further east and west. They were to prepare attacks.
Alena had long ago discovered why the Etari relied on hand signs instead of expressions or language. Out in the open prairies, a clear hand sign could be seen for hundreds, if not thousands, of paces. With looking glasses, people could communicate over vast distances. Commanding a battle like this became much simpler because every family understood Rotger’s hand signs.
As the Etari spread out, the Lolani began to react. They stopped, put down their packs, and faced the Etari.
Alena could not understand the Lolani’s actions. How could less than two hundred warriors on foot possibly hope to defeat the nearly five hundred riders that Rotger had brought with him?
It was hopeless.
The only explanation she could imagine was if they thought they were that much stronger than the Etari. But Alena couldn’t believe that. The Etari were some of the fiercest fighters to be found. Their clans had resisted the entire might of the empire for generations.
Whatever she thought, events had been set in motion that only moved forward.
A grunt from Azaleth returned her to the present. The Etari rode slowly. When Rotger deemed the distance ideal, he signed for a stop. Then another gesture, a definitive hand sign.
Ranged attack.
Up and down the line small rocks floated in front of the Etari.
Alena had seen the power of those stones once before, but over the years had come to realize just how important the Etari considered the weapons. Young warriors spent days precisely chipping away at the stones with their affinities. The stones were the most common currency traded between the warriors, often won or lost as the result of bets and feats of strength.
She understood the appeal of the small stones. Even she had a dozen in a small pouch on her belt, but at this distance she didn’t bother to try. She felt the warriors spin their stones, then launch. Dark dots sped into the air, then disappeared from sight.
The first launch caught the Lolani by surprise. Alena couldn’t see the stones, but she saw the bodies fall in the distance.
This far away, aim was imprecise. Even the Etari’s skilled warriors could only aim for the general area.
But with hundreds of stones, some were guaranteed to hit. And they were too small to see coming.
Alena guessed almost a third of the Lolani fell in the first barrage. The second was already on the way by the time the Lolani realized what had happened and charged. Alena grabbed a spear, sized for her, and held it in hand.
A third and fourth salvo flew into the air. As the Lolani got closer, Alena realized she hadn’t seen any of their warriors fall since the first attack. She frowned. The Etari couldn’t miss that often, especially not as the distances closed.
Rotger must have observed the same a few moments before she did. As soon as the thought came to her, he signed for the charge.
She met Azaleth’s glance. They hesitated just a moment, then kicked their horses forward, riding side by side.
Some of the Etari, skilled at mounted archery, released arrows at the incoming Lolani. Alena saw the arrows flung aside by powerful gusts of wind. There, at least, was one of the most potent uses of an air affinity. The strength behind such gusts was incredible, though.
A few Etari fell off their horses, bodies tumbling limply from their mounts. Alena didn’t understand until she saw a small dark streak pass just in front of her eyes.
The Lolani were using the same technique the Etari used.
Affinities clashed first as the Etari and Lolani pushed the stones back and forth.
If the Etari were surprised by the Lolani’s skills, they didn’t show it.
But most didn’t have time.
Despite Azaleth’s advice, Alena couldn’t help but observe as the battle unfolded around her. There, a few horses down the line, a stone wavered in midair for a moment, then slapped into an Etari’s face.
Similar events happened up and down the line.
In a contest of affinities, it appeared the Lolani held the upper hand.
More Etari riders fell off their horses, too fast for Alena to keep track.
A wall of fire appeared, then vanished nearly as quickly.
The Etari charge never slowed.
Both sides were weakened, but when horse crashed into invader Alena’s world became chaos.
She ran into one of the Lolani, a giant chiseled with muscle and baring teeth in a snarl. He swung at her with an oversized sword.
Alena brought her spear up, recognizing the gesture as futile even as she did so.
Then Azaleth was there, turning the sword away with a powerful stroke of his own, aided by the momentum of his horse.
Azaleth rode past, his momentum carrying him beyond the duel. He fought to turn his horse around in the press of the fight.
Alena didn’t think. Years of training had instilled some instincts, and now that the sword wasn’t coming at her, she stabbed at the enormous Lolani warrior.
She had aimed for his heart, but the warrior slapped the point of her spear away.
Alena’s first thought was that Azaleth would be very disappointed in her technique.
The Lolani roared and raised his sword. With his free hand he seized Alena’s spear and thrust it at her. The butt end of her own spear struck her in the chest. She wheezed at the impact.
Distracted, she didn’t notice the Lolani move in for a killing strike until it was too late for her to do anything about it.
But she had bought herself just enough time with her ill-fated thrust. Azaleth was there, his own sword cutting down, embedding itself in the man’s neck.
The Lolani howled, and for a single terrifying moment, Alena thought he would somehow survive the near-decapitation.
Then his eyes went dark and he collapsed.
Azaleth engaged another Lolani, his sword keeping both him and Alena safe. She didn’t attempt to
