Kriki's Gift, Chapter XXIX, Reading 21

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.