Chapter 7
Dazzle
There was no denying it now. We were on our way to Drad. We would spend 21 days in Drad, and then, if we came out alive, we would have go home. But before then...
Up ahead, I saw the ever familiar symbol of Table Fortro territory. The large brandished pike sticking out of the ground with their symbol brandished on the top in what could only be something dark and red...
I heard Coral behind me swish a single arrow out of her sling. We had chosen very carefully how to position everyone on the steeds. The strongest in front, the warriors in the lead, the weaker and less experienced in the back. I had Argenteus behind me. As she shifted her weight on Elvira, I once again noticed her legs. They were getting less and less smooth, and were starting to be covered in translucent bumps layering over each other...
I unsheathed my sword. Going all the way around Table Fortro territory would take an additional 4 days, and we didn't have that kind of time. We had chosen to take the risk and go through the thinnest part of the property. And just pray we wouldn't be caught.
Elvira muttered. She smelled the distinct smell that Table Fortos lay out, marking what was theirs. She halted slowly. I nudged her onward once more. Argenteus laid her hand on one of her prized short swords...
We passed the boundaries. We were officially trespassing. Everyone was dead silent. I could hear Tailan trying to remember some invisibility or silence charms, but coming up with nothing because of the dry silence that hung in the air. Natalia clenched her stick, Corr slid his sword out just the slightest bit to see it's gold surface glint, Artemis whisked out a single fan.
The landscape all around us was desert. Nothing but desert. It was just a whole load of dust and dirt, and few bushes and rocks here and there. Yet I couldn't shake off the feeling, that as far as I could see, was not even close to the end of this territory.
There was no movement. There was no sound other than all of our animals heavy footprints.
Then the worst struck us.
When I heard the first gasp, I thought someone had been struck by a Table Fortro. But when a weight was lifted off Elvira's back, and something tumbled to the ground, I realized it was Argenteus. She was holding both her legs to her chest, and her eyes were wide.
Corr, realizing what was happening, swooped off his Ginchurik and took her up in his arms. He then placed her onto his animal, took the reins and led it. Ammie, who was on the back of the beast, starting tending to Argenteus.
Argenteus began shaking. Her eyes were wide, and her lips were trembling. She was gasping noisily for air. Corr made his way close to me.
“It's happening.” He muttered. “And usually she just lets it take her. Gets it over with. But she's trying to fight it this time.”
Tailan must've overheard from the end position on Elvira.
“What's happening?” He said, a little louder than necessarry.
“Shhh!” I shushed him quietly. Then Corr leaned over to him, and explained in a quick few words what was going on.
Tailan's brown eyes grew wider. “What?” He asked, and Corr explained it to him again.
By now, there was a little bit of talking amongst everyone in the other groups. I shushed them once more. Argenteus' gasping were becoming a bit louder. Ammie held her steady as she began to tighten.
“Corr...” Ammie muttered quietly.
“I know,” He said.
There was a moment of silence, where even Argenteus seemed to attempt to be holding her breath. Then she let it out, and it seemed as though something were slowly freezing from the inside out. She squeezed her eyes shut, and her legs began to get awfully scaley.
Tailan glanced back and then whispered in my ear, “How long does it usually take?”
“An hour or two.” I said, “If it's short.”
Just then there was a mighty crack. Elvira reared on her hind legs, and I barely managed to hold on to her bristly mane. Tailan nearly slid off, but grabbed at Elvira's rubbery hindquarters and stay on.
I calmed the Mquewk down and looked around for the source of the noise.
A small something tugged at the bottom of my pants.
Looking down, I saw a young child. It was a boy, by the looks of it, and had bright sparking blue eyes. They were very icy, and reminded me of Tailan. His hair was so bright, I'm not sure you could look at it for very long without going blind. He looked up at me with enormous electric blue eyes.
“Girl,” He asked, his voice soft, yet crackly, like energy, “Why are you here?”
It took a while for me to answer, but eventually, I made out the words, “We are meaning to peacefully go through this territory to... to go on to other lands. What is your name boy?”
He paused, let go of my pant leg and then just looked into my eyes. “You don't belong here.” His voice was innocent, yet there was a hiss in there, like gas escaping a pipe.
“We don't.” I said, “But we mean no harm.”
His innocent expression turned malicious within seconds. He snapped his fingers, and out from then flew a green crackling explosive. It bolted into the air and then burst into tiny blue fragments.
“The signal!” Coral shouted. “That's the signal, Volicla, RUN!!!”
I kicked Elvira forward, and heard Corr mount his Ginchurik the same way. Our four steeds stampeded onward. As I looked back, I could make out the young boy, his bright hair and eyes. He just stood there, as if chasing us or calling after us was pointless.
“What a creepy kid,” Tailan yelped over the wind. The idiot. Even though we had managed to get away from a Table Fortro child, we definitely did not want his signal getting through to the other-
There was another familiar terrifying crack, and up ahead of us stood three figures, each with hair and eyes as bright and brilliant as the young one. They stood shoulder to shoulder, as if their only objective was not to let us pass. I kicked Elvira faster. That was the last thing she wanted to do, but she snorted onward. My only hope was that maybe I could knock down at least two of them for the others to pass safely.
I heard someone muttering from behind me, and realized it was Tailan. He was pressing his palms into my back and chanting. He moved one to the side, then the other. Then pushed hard on my back.
I felt something like an arrow crack through me. It felt as if it came from Tailan's hands and shot down my spine. Then is bolted back up my spine to my head. Half of it stayed there, while the rest raced down my arms into Elvira. She snorted surprisingly, and then sped up, her heavy feet tromping the dust. She seemed to get two times stronger in that very moment, and I felt two times smarter and agiler which was all we needed.
Steering her quickly right up to them, I steered Elvira's big front feet perfectly so that they both took out one of them. Then, quickly doing what was almost a sideways somersault, she managed to evade the other one's outstretched hands. Ooh, I knew what happened if we even dared touch those hands...
By some miracle, I managed to hold onto Elvira, as did Tailan. But then something sharp hit me straight in the back of my head. I saw four more figures with the same bright hair approaching. I heard something whizz by in the air, not inches from my ear. Something then countered it and flew back. I heard a large gasp and saw something pale blue fall to the earth. I heard a shout of astonishment, I felt energy being sucked out of the air. I felt the ground collide with me.
And then I sensed no more.
