A/N~ Kyrette?
Kyrette~ :Ahh yes, my turn to put up some of what I think and the ever present disclaimer.:
Cat~ Well, you don't have to be long-winded about it! Just get it done and over with!
Kyrette~ *wearing a grin* :Yes, oh noble authoress. Well, we have 'Flame in the Pelagirs. I must say, we can't make the Pelagirs safe for her now can we? So that thought in mind, I bring you the disclaimer: Mercedes Lackey, she of the money, owns it all. We own nothing.:
Cat~ I think Yuril is corrupting him. Oh boy.
Chapter 25- ATTACK!
The mage studied his map yet again. There were so many "Vales" and so little time. The capture of just one Heartstone would begin the downfall of the Hawkbrothers. How they had kept all their power, all these years, was beyond him. Surely no one race had the right to all that power! He could feel his anger rising, and ruthlessly tamped it down.
The one thing he'd learned, ever so early in his life, was not to allow his emotions to run free. They were much better funneled through the magic, to give it life and purpose. Now he tamped down on all his emotions, ruthlessly.
He looked at his map tracing several names. His eyes glanced up at Smoke again in appreciation for her smooth movements. Even here in camp she made no sound as she moved. He wondered what went on behind those cold, dead eyes of hers.
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'Flame walked the camp again, several plans turning over in her mind. If things went well, within a week, just one week, the mage would be dead.
There was no question now whether or not she would kill him. He was too dangerous to allow to live. She also had to get that map from him! If only she knew where he had gotten it from! The small glance she had gotten of it, had been too accurate for comfort.
'Flame got out of the mage's line of sight and sagged against Darkfire's side, blowing out a breath. :How much longer can I keep this up?: She asked Darkfire, her despair obvious.
He reached around to nuzzle her cheek. :As long as necessary. Would you have him loose to do again what was done to you?: As usual, he hit right to the heart. She couldn't allow him to run loose. It was up to her to stop him.
Mayhap if she had asked earlier for help… No she wouldn't think like that. :So, we keep this up. Sleep well, my friend.: She patted his shoulder and headed back to the fire. Darkfire just snorted and went back to grazing.
She was back at the fire and was checking her knives for any nicks they might have taken in her little adventure with the kyree, when the mage cleared his throat, catching the bodyguard's and then her attention.
He looked them over for a time, causing a shiver to race up 'Flame's spine. She concealed it by drawing her sword and checking the edge. It would not do for it to become dull. As her whetstone glided along the edge, she waited for the mage to speak. She looked down into the blade, glad not to see the faces of either her brother or Starfall.
The mage didn't speak. He just rolled up in his own blankets and went to sleep. Smoke curled her lip in disgust and settled down into the first watch of the night. She waved the bodyguard to his own bedroll. He fell asleep to the rasping of her sword sharpening.
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Later that night, she was walking the perimeter when a noise caused her to stop. It was quite far away, but close enough to make her wary. She crept over to the bodyguard, tapping his right shoulder. He glanced up at her. Through hand signals she let him know that there was something close by.
They both drew steel and waited. A shape, distinguished only because it moved, came closer to the camp. Smoke could not make out what it was. The fire had been reduced to embers. Starlight was minimal due to the tree cover. The small clouds marring the sky, covered the small crescent moon.
Smoke was wary, trying to watch all around. She held her sword in one hand and a knife in the other. At her side, the bodyguard held the same weapons as she. Neither wanted to waste arrows on uncertain targets.
Another shape detached itself from a tree to their left. 'Flame considered waking the mage, but decided against it. Any moment he should wake up. These things, whatever they were, were going to be setting off his alarms pretty soon.
Sure enough, as soon as the thought had crossed her mind, the mage sat upright on his blankets. He let fly with a fireball, lighting the area, showing Smoke and the bodyguard exactly what they were facing.
Smoke bit back a curse as she was temporarily blinded by the fireball. Still, the look she got at what they were fighting, froze her blood. The beasts were almost to the size of a kyree, but there the resemblance ended. These creatures were more dog like than anything else. One's lips curled back revealing dagger length canines.
'Change-wolves', Smoke thought. 'Have to be.' She waited for one or more to begin the charge. The light of intelligence shined out of their yellow eyes. Would they charge?
The pack stalked closer, closing the circle. Smoke looked around. More had come out of the forest, making the total somewhere around a dozen. The mage conjured a mage-light, giving them something to see by. Smoke wished he hadn't. The creatures were gray. They looked to be wolves only much larger. Their fur may have been gray and they looked vaguely dog-like, but there the similarities end.
They were almost twice the size of a normal wolf. Their black claws were much longer and sharper than normal. Yellow eyes glowed from their heads, showing more intelligence than they had any right to.
The circle continued to tighten, pushing the three closer together, if something wasn't done soon, Smoke and the bodyguard wouldn't have room to swing a blade.
Suddenly, a barrier sprang up between them and the creatures. Smoke looked at the mage. His face was a mask of concentration. Smoke was the first to react. She sheathed her blades and grabbed her bow from beside her blankets. The bodyguard was only a step behind.
Her first arrow took one in the eye. The creature dropped and convulsed several times before lying still. Smoke saw none of this having moved on to other targets.
By the time the first one died, three more had fallen victim to her arrows. The bodyguard, while not as accurate as she, had taken out two more. Unfortunately, more materialized out of the woods to take their places.
Smoke knew it wouldn't be long before they were surrounded again. She let fly another arrow, this one missing the eye and burying itself in the shoulder. Behind her she heard the twang as another arrow flew from the bodyguard's bow.
How long could the mage hold the barrier? Probably not long enough. Another beast fell to her arrow. :'Flame!: Darkfire's Mindcall did not disrupt her intense concentration. :I've moved the other horses. We're all safe.: She let out a deep breath, that she hadn't realized was being held. At least the horses were safe. As was Ayren.
"I can't hold the barrier any longer!" That was the only warning either got before the barrier winked in and out and then was gone. Two more arrows from Smoke's bow, and one more from the bodyguard's, found their marks, before the wolves were too close for the bows.
Smoke grabbed her sword and held off one only by reach and luck. She was able to get a good swing on one, who lost the leg it was swiping at her.
The next time she wasn't so lucky. The wolf got in a swipe and opened her leg, the blood running hot and wet down into her boot. She managed to kill the thing but now she was severely hampered. She pivoted to strike another and was surprised to hear a bolt fly past her hair. She risked a glance and saw the partially singed carcass.
Near by the bodyguard was not faring any better. He had several scratches and what looked to be a bite mark on his leg and one on his arm. Blood was now flowing freely from both fighters. Only the mage remained unmarked. Even he was sprayed with gore from the fight, however. His robes were splattered with blood and ichor from the bodies lying around. His expression was one of grim determination.
Smoke wished she dared try to use her own magic. Instead, she stuck with the blades in her hands. She slashed at another one, drawing another bloody scratch, causing the beast to step back. Another took its place but this one was not unmarked. In fact, now that she was able to notice, finally, they seemed to be making progress against the pack. No longer were there uninjured wolves coming to continue the challenge. Now the ones attacking were hurt and bleeding. Now, it seemed they were attacking from sheer stubbornness.
Finally, with one last tossed levin bolt, the pack broke and ran. Smoke sagged, only habit keeping her on her feet. She set her sword and knife against a rock, they would both have to be cleaned. She looked over at her two companions and noticed that of the two, the bodyguard was definitely worse off. The mage was filthy with a few minor scrapes but nothing he couldn't handle by himself. Smoke helped the bodyguard to seat. Her own leg was on fire and she could feel blood seeping from the large gash across it.
Luckily she always kept the medical supplies close at hand. She snatched at the saddlebag holding the supplies and sank down next to the bodyguard. She hoped those claws were not poisonous. If they were, they were both in great trouble. She cleaned and stitched him first. Her own wounds, except for the one gash, were relatively minor. His required some stitching. She worked in silence, attempting to be gentle. A few hissed breaths and some bit off curses and he was done. Now it was his turn to return the favor. He cut away the leather from her wound and began the tedious task of cleaning it.
It did not take long. Then they were down to the cleanup of the camp. Both stood and began dragging bodies away from the camp. The mage had retreated to his own blankets, saying nothing and offering no help. Neither of them expected it from him.
That took the most of the night. The rest was taken up cleaning their weapons. As dawn was breaking over the horizon, Smoke and the bodyguard sank onto their blankets in exhaustion. The mage had graciously agreed that they rest here for a day or two, until they were healed a bit.
Smoke didn't care. She only wanted to lie down and rest. The bodyguard beat her to slumber by only moments.
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A/N~ So… We'll do reviewer thanking and then shameless begging.
Ashke-babe~ Glad you like it! Keep reading please!
Wizard116~ Here's what happens next!
Fireblade~ Yeah you like all three of my stories!
Hawk~ Well yeah, duh! And the mage is supposed to creep you out. That's the point!
Badgerwolf~ I don't know how they're going to pull this off… Kyrette wont tell me!
Shahanna~ Greedy muse dear. Not greedy author.
So now the shameless begging: 13 reviews needed for 100! Come on folks… Yuril's starting to get more reviews than poor Kyrette!
R&R!