Kel: Proctector of the Small
Chapter 10: Battle Of New Hope
Author's notes: I realize my fic is quite O.O.C. I apologize. I've only read all the series once (Song of the Lioness, Wild Mage, Protector of the Small). Yes, you heard me right only once. I hope you enjoy the next chapter. I am trying to keep the characters the same, but my own fictional characters tend to leak into them. The story still has twists and turns ^^. Also......I'm a twit! I knew Peachblossum is what she rides into battle. I blame this on my illness. I'll fix it for future readers, sorry to the rest. Um...you're my genui pigs? Oh, who knows how to spell that anyhow (btw the reason why my battle scenes are so detailed is because that is what I have trouble with most in writing...especially battles. I'm trying to improve) My statistics aren't very good Gah. I was going to change the number of troops of Scanra today anyhow, then I read that review. Thanks for helping me to remember ^^ I'm scatterbrained when it comes to those things, I was thinking too much of Two Towers. LOL. I see you guys more as my editors than anything, thanks so much! You all rock!! ^^ Now for the next edited chapter. hehe Cheers!
***
Kel looked over the horizon, and watched animals creep toward the raiders and their camps. Then she saw a few rocks levitate a moment then fall to the earth. Daine and Numair were already at work. Kel tried estimating the size of the raiders, no longer did she consider them raiders. Scanra sent almost their whole army!! There were 500 strong the least. Kel blinked hard then readied her griffen-feather arrows. She was ready to aim for any mages.
The army marched straight to the wall. "Hold your fire!" Dom yelled to the archers. Kel looked at the faces of her men (and women). Some anxious, some stern, some expressionless. "They're practically prancing toward us. Bunch of dirty cows." Dom muttered. A few men around them chuckled at his comment. The soldiers stopped a few yards from the wall and stared wickedly at the archers.
"Remember everyone, act surprised." Kel told her archers as quietly as she could. They nodded then put on their best 'shocking' expressions. The Scanra men smiled crookedly, thinking they had the advantage. Kel put her band of griffen feathers over her eyes. She saw the mages; they were currently hiding the archers that were aiming for Kel and her men. Kel grabbed her square wooden shield Dom advised them to make for arrows shot straight up to fall down upon them. "Quick grab your shields!" She hollered. When she secured hers she aimed one of her griffen feathers at the front mage. Before she could take her shot the mage exploded before her eyes. Kel winced then looked over at Numair, a look of satisfaction on his face. She then took aim for the other mage, she could see without the head mage the archers were barely visible. She shot the mage square in the throat. There was a shout of confusion among the soldiers as the archers appeared.
"FIRE!" The Scanra head archer shouted. The shields proved useful as a dozen arrows hit a few of the shields. Kel felt two arrows hit hers.
"Fire!" Dom shouted. That was the start. Dom and his men took out all the archers and a few Scanra soldiers, that numbered to about 40. Only two of Kel's men were taken down. The soldiers suddenly split leaving a path down the middle. A large group of about 60 horsed men were charging toward the gates. "Dom ready the archers. Kel ran down the wall and joined the Riders. Alanna and her men were waiting restlessly. "In a moment my lady. Peachblossum!" Her horse trotted up to her, saddled and ready to go. Kel mounted Peachblossum then readied her glaive. "Numair!" He came over and nodded, then worked his magic. Kel felt the very air around her thicken with magic. She saw the other riders, but knew nobody else could. They exited the second gate and waited for the first gate to slowly open.
***
Temeil was a Scanra soldier of 13. He was told by his king that if he fought in this war his family wouldn't go hungry. His family fought to survive starvation every day. He had just watched their mages and archers get shot down. He whispered to his brother who was fighting with him, "Temeral, I thought Commander Abran said they wouldn't know of our attack and they would be powerless." His brother just shook his head as his eyes followed a soldier with short brown cropped hair run down from the wall.
"What if they found out about our attack?" Tameral said to the sergeant next to him.
"Shut it boy. You know as well as I do that would be impossible. Unless the Wild Mage herself was there, but every bird was shot down. Just keep your eyes open." Suddenly their mounted attackers galloped toward the front of the soldiers. One of them stopped to talk to the sergeant who had just spoken to Tameral.
"Sergeant. Our food supply is scarce. Some wild animals took it all, and our weapons. The only food and weapons we have is what we carry!" The sergeant cursed under his breath.
"I thought I commanded Emil and Meren to watch the camp!"
"We found them dead sir. Their throats were----ripped out by wolves, sir. At least it looked like wolf tracks by them---there were so many different tracks. And our tents are torn to shreds, some men managed to kill a couple of bears and elk who were working together to relieve themselves in our tents and all around the camp. They also shot down a bird carrying what looked like our battle plans. It got away though."
"Working together? She must be here! The Wildmage! But how!?" He spat on the ground. "Order your men to charge at the gates!"
"But sir---shouldn't we talk to the com---"
"I gave you an ORDER!" The man rode off and the riders rode toward the gate. A group of soldiers were behind them with a large tree trunk. Suddenly the gate began to open, Temeil couldn't see anything but a second gate. All the soldiers gaped at it until the riders began to fight an unseen force. The riders were able to see whoever it was, but the rest of the soldiers couldn't. Word of the food shortage spread and many of the men began to flee. Temeil watched the escaping men be captured by various wild animals and taken to the back. He winced.
"Brother what should we do!? It looks as if we're going to starve here too!"
"They say the Wildmage is here. Perhaps if we surrender to the animals they will take us to her. I'd rather not die for our kingdom, since they were allowing our family to starve, and taking some children from their families." His brother nodded and they went off to the woods surrounding them. There a large bear growled and the boys yelled "Mercy! Mercy!" as they threw down their weapons. The bear led them toward the camp.
***
Kel was in the middle of the soldiers now, fighting to get to their commander. Alanna was beside her, slicing men at lightning speed that made Kel proud to be fighting with her. The archers were shooting whatever soldiers tried to get through the second gate (the first had been destroyed).
Kel made her way through the soldiers were she faced the commander. He had a wicked grin on his face and he carried two large axes. Kel made Peachblossum circle around him then charged. The commander swung at her but she avoided those sharp axes and managed to dismount him from his horse. She then hopped off Peachblossum and readied her glaive. The commander charged at her swinging the axes. Kel rolled out of the way, barely avoiding the deadly blades. She brought her glaive over and put a deep gash in the man's back.
"Wench! How dare you fight like an equal. You are nothing but a dirty rag. A waste of a good horse and weapons." Kel bit her lip hard.
"I am not the one injured now am I?" Just at that moment Kel felt a spear go through her shoulder, just near the shoulder blade. She fell to her knees as her whole left side went numb in pain. She turned to see a Scanra soldier fall with an arrow through his head, an arrow she recognized as one she made for Dom. Then she turned to see the commander raise his ax to behead her. As his ax came down Kel barely moved out of the way. She knew she couldn't fight with the spear piercing through her. She quickly yanked it out with tears of anguish rolling down her cheek. She then kicked the commander off his feet just as an arrow glazed his shoulder, an arrow made by the Yamani's. Anders. Kel stood quickly and swung her glaive with all her strength into the commander's chest. He was dead. Then Kel heard a crashing noise in the forest. Everything grew still, as two giants emerged from the trees hollering with all their might. Kel mounted Peachblossum and rushed over. She saw Alanna and Neal right behind her.
Alanna had a gash across her shoulder, and it was bleeding weakly. Not too deep then, good. Kel thought. Kel tried with all her might to ignore the sudden dizziness and shortness of breath she felt, along with the numbness on her left side. She had her lance secured on Peachblossum's saddle; she brought it in her right hand and ran it through the first giant. A griffen feather got the other giant in the eye, it fell as Alanna moved out of it's way then slit it's throat. Kel couldn't hold on any longer, blackness overcame her. She felt very cold, then she felt herself falling into darkness.
***
Temeil and his brother were lead through a small entrance hidden by magic. They then were lead to a large tent crawling with healers, Tameil knew for his fingers itched with magic when he felt their presence. The bear waited there a moment until a pack of wolves came by their side. They approached a bed that had the Wildmage laying in it, fast asleep. The healer explained she had flown into the camp to fetch something and was shot. The boys waited nearly three hours, when she awoke suddenly.
"Oh I'm so hungry." Daine exclaimed rubbing her collarbone, feeling where the healing took place. "I need to attend to the animals!"
"You need rest before you can start healing!" The woman healer said trying to keep Daine in bed.
"These boys are from Scanra. They're so young. What are you doing here?" Temeil was the first to speak.
"Many of the boys you caught are our age. Most of them who fled did it for the same reasons we did. We are starving in Scanra. We only fought because we were promised food. We now want to surrender to Tortall." Then it was the older boys turn to speak.
"My brother and I wish we could find a kingdom that cares for it's people. We heard Tortall was a horrible place from our king, but from the families of those who had their children taken away---they say the Protector of the Small is from here. She helped them. We wish to be helped too. Our family needs it." Daine looked at the two with sympathy. "I will speak to our King about this. I will have my friends bring you to the other pris-- surrendered boys. Our King will not allow such a thing, and the Protector of the Small will be anxious to meet you." She smiled wearily then the healer shoved food into her lap.
"Eat." The healer said sternly.
"Take them to the others." Daine told the wolves as she glared at the healer; the boys were led off. Just as they were leaving they saw the archer from the wall carried in. Tameral was surprised to see it was a woman---perhaps---
"Kel! What happened to her?" Daine said as she tried to get out of bed. The healer wouldn't allow it, she left Daine then went over and glanced at Kel, worry in her eyes.
"She was speared. We don't know if we're too late, so we need to hurry. All healers follow me!" They brought Kel to the very back of the tent into a private, curtained section and began.
***
After the commander and giants were killed the rest of the men surrendered. Alanna took charge in rounding them up into the camp--only a few men were left. The animals proved useful in guarding them. Alanna went into the tent of the wounded after they had burried their dead to see how Kel was progressing. She passed Daine arguing with the Healers to let her help the animals injured. Numair told the healer a few have died already, making Daine have tears roll down her cheeks---she thought she had felt some die. Daine finally got up and walked out toward the injured creatures. The healer just stood there shaking her head then walked over to the curtained bed.
"Is she awake yet?" Alanna asked.
"You are needed for healing, but it seems you need some yourself."
"I'm fine. Can I see her?" The healer looked flustered. "Neal is already helping to heal, but you may go in and check on her. Dom is in there waiting for her to wake up. She almost didn't make it, Neal helped a lot with her healing."
"Oh Mithros Priest! I will go heal then! Only after I eat and drink though, I'm tired enough as it is."
"Well I wouldn't let you heal without it my Lady." Alanna left the tent cursing under her breath. Temeil and Tameral watched her go.
"They allow women to fight here! I remember father said women didn't belong on the battlefield, until our sister was taken---then the Protector of the Small saved her. Can you imagine how wonderful this place is if they believe women to be equal. Imagine how they would treat us!" Temeil stroked one of the wolf pups. "Brother I believe things are about to get better."
***
Chapter 10: Battle Of New Hope
Author's notes: I realize my fic is quite O.O.C. I apologize. I've only read all the series once (Song of the Lioness, Wild Mage, Protector of the Small). Yes, you heard me right only once. I hope you enjoy the next chapter. I am trying to keep the characters the same, but my own fictional characters tend to leak into them. The story still has twists and turns ^^. Also......I'm a twit! I knew Peachblossum is what she rides into battle. I blame this on my illness. I'll fix it for future readers, sorry to the rest. Um...you're my genui pigs? Oh, who knows how to spell that anyhow (btw the reason why my battle scenes are so detailed is because that is what I have trouble with most in writing...especially battles. I'm trying to improve) My statistics aren't very good Gah. I was going to change the number of troops of Scanra today anyhow, then I read that review. Thanks for helping me to remember ^^ I'm scatterbrained when it comes to those things, I was thinking too much of Two Towers. LOL. I see you guys more as my editors than anything, thanks so much! You all rock!! ^^ Now for the next edited chapter. hehe Cheers!
***
Kel looked over the horizon, and watched animals creep toward the raiders and their camps. Then she saw a few rocks levitate a moment then fall to the earth. Daine and Numair were already at work. Kel tried estimating the size of the raiders, no longer did she consider them raiders. Scanra sent almost their whole army!! There were 500 strong the least. Kel blinked hard then readied her griffen-feather arrows. She was ready to aim for any mages.
The army marched straight to the wall. "Hold your fire!" Dom yelled to the archers. Kel looked at the faces of her men (and women). Some anxious, some stern, some expressionless. "They're practically prancing toward us. Bunch of dirty cows." Dom muttered. A few men around them chuckled at his comment. The soldiers stopped a few yards from the wall and stared wickedly at the archers.
"Remember everyone, act surprised." Kel told her archers as quietly as she could. They nodded then put on their best 'shocking' expressions. The Scanra men smiled crookedly, thinking they had the advantage. Kel put her band of griffen feathers over her eyes. She saw the mages; they were currently hiding the archers that were aiming for Kel and her men. Kel grabbed her square wooden shield Dom advised them to make for arrows shot straight up to fall down upon them. "Quick grab your shields!" She hollered. When she secured hers she aimed one of her griffen feathers at the front mage. Before she could take her shot the mage exploded before her eyes. Kel winced then looked over at Numair, a look of satisfaction on his face. She then took aim for the other mage, she could see without the head mage the archers were barely visible. She shot the mage square in the throat. There was a shout of confusion among the soldiers as the archers appeared.
"FIRE!" The Scanra head archer shouted. The shields proved useful as a dozen arrows hit a few of the shields. Kel felt two arrows hit hers.
"Fire!" Dom shouted. That was the start. Dom and his men took out all the archers and a few Scanra soldiers, that numbered to about 40. Only two of Kel's men were taken down. The soldiers suddenly split leaving a path down the middle. A large group of about 60 horsed men were charging toward the gates. "Dom ready the archers. Kel ran down the wall and joined the Riders. Alanna and her men were waiting restlessly. "In a moment my lady. Peachblossum!" Her horse trotted up to her, saddled and ready to go. Kel mounted Peachblossum then readied her glaive. "Numair!" He came over and nodded, then worked his magic. Kel felt the very air around her thicken with magic. She saw the other riders, but knew nobody else could. They exited the second gate and waited for the first gate to slowly open.
***
Temeil was a Scanra soldier of 13. He was told by his king that if he fought in this war his family wouldn't go hungry. His family fought to survive starvation every day. He had just watched their mages and archers get shot down. He whispered to his brother who was fighting with him, "Temeral, I thought Commander Abran said they wouldn't know of our attack and they would be powerless." His brother just shook his head as his eyes followed a soldier with short brown cropped hair run down from the wall.
"What if they found out about our attack?" Tameral said to the sergeant next to him.
"Shut it boy. You know as well as I do that would be impossible. Unless the Wild Mage herself was there, but every bird was shot down. Just keep your eyes open." Suddenly their mounted attackers galloped toward the front of the soldiers. One of them stopped to talk to the sergeant who had just spoken to Tameral.
"Sergeant. Our food supply is scarce. Some wild animals took it all, and our weapons. The only food and weapons we have is what we carry!" The sergeant cursed under his breath.
"I thought I commanded Emil and Meren to watch the camp!"
"We found them dead sir. Their throats were----ripped out by wolves, sir. At least it looked like wolf tracks by them---there were so many different tracks. And our tents are torn to shreds, some men managed to kill a couple of bears and elk who were working together to relieve themselves in our tents and all around the camp. They also shot down a bird carrying what looked like our battle plans. It got away though."
"Working together? She must be here! The Wildmage! But how!?" He spat on the ground. "Order your men to charge at the gates!"
"But sir---shouldn't we talk to the com---"
"I gave you an ORDER!" The man rode off and the riders rode toward the gate. A group of soldiers were behind them with a large tree trunk. Suddenly the gate began to open, Temeil couldn't see anything but a second gate. All the soldiers gaped at it until the riders began to fight an unseen force. The riders were able to see whoever it was, but the rest of the soldiers couldn't. Word of the food shortage spread and many of the men began to flee. Temeil watched the escaping men be captured by various wild animals and taken to the back. He winced.
"Brother what should we do!? It looks as if we're going to starve here too!"
"They say the Wildmage is here. Perhaps if we surrender to the animals they will take us to her. I'd rather not die for our kingdom, since they were allowing our family to starve, and taking some children from their families." His brother nodded and they went off to the woods surrounding them. There a large bear growled and the boys yelled "Mercy! Mercy!" as they threw down their weapons. The bear led them toward the camp.
***
Kel was in the middle of the soldiers now, fighting to get to their commander. Alanna was beside her, slicing men at lightning speed that made Kel proud to be fighting with her. The archers were shooting whatever soldiers tried to get through the second gate (the first had been destroyed).
Kel made her way through the soldiers were she faced the commander. He had a wicked grin on his face and he carried two large axes. Kel made Peachblossum circle around him then charged. The commander swung at her but she avoided those sharp axes and managed to dismount him from his horse. She then hopped off Peachblossum and readied her glaive. The commander charged at her swinging the axes. Kel rolled out of the way, barely avoiding the deadly blades. She brought her glaive over and put a deep gash in the man's back.
"Wench! How dare you fight like an equal. You are nothing but a dirty rag. A waste of a good horse and weapons." Kel bit her lip hard.
"I am not the one injured now am I?" Just at that moment Kel felt a spear go through her shoulder, just near the shoulder blade. She fell to her knees as her whole left side went numb in pain. She turned to see a Scanra soldier fall with an arrow through his head, an arrow she recognized as one she made for Dom. Then she turned to see the commander raise his ax to behead her. As his ax came down Kel barely moved out of the way. She knew she couldn't fight with the spear piercing through her. She quickly yanked it out with tears of anguish rolling down her cheek. She then kicked the commander off his feet just as an arrow glazed his shoulder, an arrow made by the Yamani's. Anders. Kel stood quickly and swung her glaive with all her strength into the commander's chest. He was dead. Then Kel heard a crashing noise in the forest. Everything grew still, as two giants emerged from the trees hollering with all their might. Kel mounted Peachblossum and rushed over. She saw Alanna and Neal right behind her.
Alanna had a gash across her shoulder, and it was bleeding weakly. Not too deep then, good. Kel thought. Kel tried with all her might to ignore the sudden dizziness and shortness of breath she felt, along with the numbness on her left side. She had her lance secured on Peachblossum's saddle; she brought it in her right hand and ran it through the first giant. A griffen feather got the other giant in the eye, it fell as Alanna moved out of it's way then slit it's throat. Kel couldn't hold on any longer, blackness overcame her. She felt very cold, then she felt herself falling into darkness.
***
Temeil and his brother were lead through a small entrance hidden by magic. They then were lead to a large tent crawling with healers, Tameil knew for his fingers itched with magic when he felt their presence. The bear waited there a moment until a pack of wolves came by their side. They approached a bed that had the Wildmage laying in it, fast asleep. The healer explained she had flown into the camp to fetch something and was shot. The boys waited nearly three hours, when she awoke suddenly.
"Oh I'm so hungry." Daine exclaimed rubbing her collarbone, feeling where the healing took place. "I need to attend to the animals!"
"You need rest before you can start healing!" The woman healer said trying to keep Daine in bed.
"These boys are from Scanra. They're so young. What are you doing here?" Temeil was the first to speak.
"Many of the boys you caught are our age. Most of them who fled did it for the same reasons we did. We are starving in Scanra. We only fought because we were promised food. We now want to surrender to Tortall." Then it was the older boys turn to speak.
"My brother and I wish we could find a kingdom that cares for it's people. We heard Tortall was a horrible place from our king, but from the families of those who had their children taken away---they say the Protector of the Small is from here. She helped them. We wish to be helped too. Our family needs it." Daine looked at the two with sympathy. "I will speak to our King about this. I will have my friends bring you to the other pris-- surrendered boys. Our King will not allow such a thing, and the Protector of the Small will be anxious to meet you." She smiled wearily then the healer shoved food into her lap.
"Eat." The healer said sternly.
"Take them to the others." Daine told the wolves as she glared at the healer; the boys were led off. Just as they were leaving they saw the archer from the wall carried in. Tameral was surprised to see it was a woman---perhaps---
"Kel! What happened to her?" Daine said as she tried to get out of bed. The healer wouldn't allow it, she left Daine then went over and glanced at Kel, worry in her eyes.
"She was speared. We don't know if we're too late, so we need to hurry. All healers follow me!" They brought Kel to the very back of the tent into a private, curtained section and began.
***
After the commander and giants were killed the rest of the men surrendered. Alanna took charge in rounding them up into the camp--only a few men were left. The animals proved useful in guarding them. Alanna went into the tent of the wounded after they had burried their dead to see how Kel was progressing. She passed Daine arguing with the Healers to let her help the animals injured. Numair told the healer a few have died already, making Daine have tears roll down her cheeks---she thought she had felt some die. Daine finally got up and walked out toward the injured creatures. The healer just stood there shaking her head then walked over to the curtained bed.
"Is she awake yet?" Alanna asked.
"You are needed for healing, but it seems you need some yourself."
"I'm fine. Can I see her?" The healer looked flustered. "Neal is already helping to heal, but you may go in and check on her. Dom is in there waiting for her to wake up. She almost didn't make it, Neal helped a lot with her healing."
"Oh Mithros Priest! I will go heal then! Only after I eat and drink though, I'm tired enough as it is."
"Well I wouldn't let you heal without it my Lady." Alanna left the tent cursing under her breath. Temeil and Tameral watched her go.
"They allow women to fight here! I remember father said women didn't belong on the battlefield, until our sister was taken---then the Protector of the Small saved her. Can you imagine how wonderful this place is if they believe women to be equal. Imagine how they would treat us!" Temeil stroked one of the wolf pups. "Brother I believe things are about to get better."
***