Hello all! Chapter 7- wow? I've gotten that far? I understand most of my readers prefer other stories, but The Curses of Magic is the one I am most eager to write at the moment. So, I'll update others when I want. K?
Already the Japanese had assembled on the shore. Foot soldiers stood with leather and iron armour, the lowest of ranks easily defined by their purely leather protection, dyed with a mix of bonemeal and lapis lazuli, the colour of summer's sky. As Ekra had predicted, there were few horses and those that could be seen seemed weak and ill. Archers, dressed in thick leather and iron boots and helmets, drifted North, attempting to climb into the hills for height.
"Send a messenger to the men in the Northen hills. Tell them to kill anyone in dyed blue armour that enters the forests." The Hindi man before me, a fast runner, nodded and slipped into the crowd.
"No mercy, Sic?" Kamiko muttered this in cheerful tones; he was clearly trying to brighten my spirits.
"My uncle's soldiers would hunt us down until either they or we all perished. I cannot leave them alive." Kam knew this, but I said it anyway. He lapsed into silence, and I observed the oncoming soldiers for a moment more.
They halted before they passed fully through the empty Indian village. To the relief of many, they had let the Quilla go untouched, not raiding or destroying, as far as could be seen.
"There will be time enough for that later," I murmured, when asked why that was so.
The man thought to be commander, atop a chestnut horse, clothed in shining, purplish iron armour, steered his horse ahead of his army. In his arms was a cage holding some small creature, a blur of shadow. Ceremonially he held the cage above his head and made to open it.
"Shoot him!" I screamed, and snipers nearby fumbled with their bows. Few arrows hit their mark, and those that did bounced off, flying backwards without marking the armour. Seemingly uncaring of the attack, the commander opened the cage door, freeing a large messenger bat, folded paper tied to one leg. Its long wings beat at the air, propelling it swiftly over the Japanese army and towards the ocean.
"Oh god," whispered Kamiko. Others of my own village viewed this with equal horror, though those unfamiliar to the customs of my homeland were perplexed.
"Is that a bat?" A small girl with large, bright green eyes and brown hair, two iron daggers sheathed on her hip -one on each side- shuffled up to me. Her voice was simply
curious -did she not notice the terror upon many around her?
"Messenger bats are far-fliers, used widely during invasions. They can fly from battlefield to the capital city and vice versa, calling for reinforcements and asking for orders. If this army sent a message to the Shukun and they send more soldiers, we're lost. Even if we win this battle, we cannot hold against the entire armies of Japan."
I muttered this to her, not allowing any others to hear. She had an aura of innocence around her, yet I was quite sure that even younger children would have caught the fear that almost swelled around the army, as though a flood consumed the battlefield. Somehow I summarised that she would not be fearful of such a fact.
"Ekra's always flying around, said she knows of other villages. They'll save us.
Was this true? I doubted it was, yet maybe...
"What's your name?" I whispered, bending my knees so that I was her height.
"Kestrel," she murmured. "And I could hear you when you stood at your normal height."
Standing up, slightly shocked at her harsh tone, I informed her of my idea. She immediately agreed. I watched after her as she ran off, ducking between soldiers and vanishing from sight.
"Good luck."
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Roka Hattori grinned cruelly as he kicked at his horse's flanks, pulling on the reins and turning back to his own army. The empty metal cage, though light, was awkward to carry. Once within reach of his people, he threw the cage at one soldier, who caught it and hurried to remove it from Hattori's presence.
"They will fear us, now." The general's voice was sinister. It was clear he was pleased his plan had worked; his eyes flickered to the worried faces of his foes, bringing a hesitant smile to his lips.
"Let us remove of these people who would have us dead, along with our families and all whom we fight for! Let them regret ever facing such a powerful enemy!" With a roar of violence the army answered him, sprinting forwards to meet the other army. A familiar wave of barely hidden excitement flowed up his throat; with a roar of energy he dug the spurs on his boots into his horse's sides, galloping into the battle as the sound of metal being hit resonated from before him.
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Despite being able to fly, it took us a while to reach the battle. Leaves and branches beat us down, slowing the rate in which our horses' wings could rise and fall. Once free of the trees' clutches, we rose rapidly. The yells and cries of fighting barely touched our ears. The plan had been to fly beyond the reach of arrows, before diving down to attack.
Divonna stared downwards, her eyes flickering uncertainly.
"It's ok," I whispered. "I won't let you be harmed." I stroked her neck soothingly, then paused as my stomach did a flip.
The fear of what lay before me had finally caught me. Was it possible we could survive such an onslaught?
Without thinking, I thought of my father, and hurt, loss and guilt coupled with my terror. He should have been here, preparing to attack those that threatened his village. Not me.
"Ekra!" The only other girl in of the group, whose name I believed to be Winda, called out to me. "Are we going to go down?"
"R-right. One s-second." I blushed as I stuttered, and stared into Divonna's neck as I took my bow from my quiver and strung it.
"All archers, prepare bows!" All five riders moved swiftly to my command, expertly readying themselves.
I notched an arrow, checking that my legs were properly strapped to the saddle. "Descend!"
Heh heh heh. Tiny cliffhanger, don't worry- chapter 8 coming soon. R&R, tell me what you think and what I can change. Always welcome for more OC's. And what's Kestrel doing? (evilface)