“Ancestors of the forest,” she said, “disclose those who have decided to remain in the shadow of your midst. Let the hidden attackers be brought into the open.”
With a howl, the wind whipped around them violently. D’rmas saw the forest trees shake violently like they were fighting amongst themselves. Then the first of the attackers flew out. A stout male dressed in shroud-like clothing. The dressing made D’rmas bare his teeth in a visceral growl. He brought forth his sword, and stooped, ready for action. The dressing was a signature one. One he recognized all too well because his clan and these were sworn enemies.
Eldana noticed the sudden shift in D’rmas’ stance.
“What is the matter?” she asked him.
“Sandoc,” he seethed. They were one of the most violent tribes who believed in upholding the tradition, no matter what.
One by one, sometimes in clusters, the Sandoc would either run out of the cluster of trees or fly out. The ancestors of the forest were agitated. But whether they ran out or were thrown out, the Sandoc clung to their training, still standing, their weapons drawn, and poised for an attack. The Sandoc had formed a dense circle around the three of them. Siem, Eldana, and D’rmas drew close to each other, forming a tighter knot of defense against the attacking Sandocs.
“How did they find us?” Eldana asked.
“I intend to ask,” D’rmas growled, hoisting his sword higher.
“What of Hermon?” Eldana asked. “I hope none of them went for him.”
“I am not certain of that,” D’rmas replied. “But even if they did. They would realize, too late of course, that that was the greatest mistake of their lives. They would rather face us than a berserker in full form.”
“Of course,” Siem agreed. “We are about to teach them that.”
The stout man who had been thrown out earlier stepped forward. His carriage and the confidence in his scarred face suggested that he was the leader of the group.
“Listen and listen carefully,” he said without any preliminaries, “We are the Sandoc and we are here on a mission. We will show no mercy in the execution of that which is our mission. We expect no resistance, but if we get…”
“Do you usually talk this much before a fight?” Siem asked, her anger visible.
The Sandoc leader stared back at Siem, his expression a little indifferent. Then he turned and looked at D’rmas.
“We have one of the Qeltifom clan here with them, tell me, you are more knowledgeable of our culture, do you accept for us to carry out our mission unchallenged?”
Rather than answer his question, D’rmas asked him one of his own:
“How did you find us?”
The man sneered. “The Sandoc have their ways. Are you impressed, free warrior? Or frightened.”
“You wish I was,” D’rmas laughed. ‘Why are you here?”
“To take the being of Balance and Chaos and the Siem into our possession and have them delivered safely.”
“And me?”
“Our orders are to kill you. You do not feature in the plan.”
D’rmas smiled and nodded. “How classic,” he said. “Well, I must warn you, one of the Sandoc clan, that we are not afraid. And have no plans of going anywhere with you. Nor do I have any plans of being put to death by you or any member of your clan.”
The Sandoc leader looked at Eldana and Siem.
“Does the free warrior speak your mind?” he asked. “You two do not have to go down the path of violence. You have the choice of coming with us freely and willingly to avoid injury.”
“Look at us closely,” Eldana said. “What do you think we are saying?”
The man stared at them, and they stared back with a steely resolve.
“Fine,” the man said finally. “Let it be known that in line with our custom, we had given them the chance for easiness.”
“You did not have a problem with giving chances when you fired hail after hail of arrows at us,” Siem said. “Hiding like cowards in the trees.”
The Sandoc leader stepped back to the circle of his clan, and then the two parties stared murderously at each other. The Sandoc, in their larger numbers, at the three in the middle. And Siem, Eldana, and D’rmas stared fearlessly back. They could never be more certain in themselves. Then the first Sandoc ran swiftly towards Siem. The soldier was so fleet that it looked like his feet barely touched the ground. He ran towards her with his sword raised in the air. Without thinking, Siem nocked an arrow and sent it towards the soldier. The soldier rolled on the ground, dodging, but she had expected it, and so had nocked a second arrow just as soon as the first was leaving. She fired the second, which got the soldier straight in the heart, as he was coming up from his role.
As if that was the cue, the remaining group hugging the edge of the trees rushed in to join the fray.
“Kitab mezah!” Siem cried out.
Again, there was a rush of air. Her arrow glowed, and it speared through the air, its tip glowing brightly until the entire shaft was covered in bright light. The arrow hit a formation of the Sandoc resulting in an explosive blast that scattered a section of them into the air like twigs. Before Siem could nock another arrow of such magical ability, the Sandoc were already upon them.
D’rmas launched into the fight, swinging his sword, parrying, blocking, weaving in and out of strokes, and drawing blood. He danced, and it was a dance unique to the free warriors. But the Sandoc had one of their own dances and made for tough opponents.
Nearby, Eldana also had her hands full. But she was the being of Balance and Chaos, and she commanded a greater share of the warriors. She fought, unfazed by the numbers she was facing. She fought with a melee of sword strokes and magic. She would duck under blows aimed at her head, and reach out
