Sergeant Garbarek’s horn blast was heard by all in the
vicinity and was relayed by others with horns until all the men stationed
around the road knew that Carra’s escort was under attack. Captain Pender and Lieutenant Cherok were the
officers in charge of the closest group of horsemen. This group of forty men consisted of superior
swordsmen and had been drawn from both of the garrisons at the Pass Gate as
well as from the King’s regiment. There
were so many men ready to do battle with the Valkea that there weren’t enough
Ranger uniforms to disguise the Guardsmen so there was a mix of red and green
cloaks in this group. They charged out
of their hiding places and pelted down the road to help Rodal’s men. They had watched Carra’s escort ride by their
place of concealment so they knew they had several miles to go before they
could intercept them and offer them aid.
As they rode to the rescue, Cherok soon felt the familiar
touch of the Valkea when she attacked Carra’s caravan for yesterday’s battle at
the altar had branded his soul with an awareness of her evil.
“The Valkea is attacking,” he hollered to the captain so he
could be heard over the galloping horses.
“Best speed!” Pender commanded as he spurred his horse into
a dead run. He knew that evil things
were happening ahead.
All the men matched his speed and raced their horses onward.
The abandoned wagon and the dead and wounded horses marked
the spot of the attack but the glowing light surrounding the Valkea instantly
drew their attention to the rock ledge above.
Her fighters were clustered around the ledge trying to give her some
assistance. They were drawn around the
light like so many moths to a flame and were totally oblivious to the arrival
of Pender’s men.
Pender threw up a hand signaling a halt as he reined his
horse to a stop and assessed the situation.
“Praise the Spirit Lady Carra’s escort has escaped.”
Cherok pointed to the carnage on the slope above them. “Those are Ostarian long bow arrows,” he
noted in a low voice. “There are Rangers
about.”
The two men turned to look at the slope across the river for
undoubtedly that’s where the Rangers had taken up their positions. A green clad Ranger stepped from behind the
trees to signal they would hold their fire.
Pender acknowledged the wave with one of his own. Then he and Cherok looked back at the
situation unfolding before them. The
light around the Valkea was now far too intense to actually gaze upon so they
had to hold up a hand to block it from view to see what was happening around it. Amazingly enough, some of the Valkea’s men
were hurling themselves against the globe of light in a futile attempt to
penetrate the energy field. They
collapsed to the ground and their comrades took their places even if it meant
standing on the fallen.
“Mindless,” Cherok remarked in disgust and spat. “It’s hard to imagine humans reduced to the
status of insects.”
“It’s time to put a stop to this madness,” Pender answered.
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