Kriki's Gift, Chapter 29, Reading 4

Carra’s fear grew and she could no longer see the beauty in the landscape.  Instead, the rugged geometry of the mountainous country became wild and dangerous.  The high ground to the right seemed to grow steeper, rockier and nearer until it crowded the road so they were now enveloped in menacing shadows.  The cliff face seemed to squeeze them toward the river, which ran ten to fifteen feet below the level of the road in this place and coursed dangerously over jagged rocks.  Here in the shade of the cliff, there was ice beneath the snow and she worried about Badger falling and crushing her beneath his weight while the riders behind her struggled to avoid trampling her.

The Nameless Ones hadn’t been successful in deceiving animals so far, but was that due to inability and limits to their powers or merely due to the fact that they had not used this tactic before?  This was a possibility they hadn’t even discussed in the council!  What kind of fools had they been?  This was an obvious oversight on all their parts.  She suddenly wondered what terrible things could happen if the Valkea turned her fell will to the horses and drove them mad with fear.  A stampede of frenzied horses on the icy ground could prove disastrous.

A dribble of nervous sweat rolled down her back and she shivered, not from the cold but from nervous panic as a vision worse than the horse falling seeped into her thoughts.  The possibility of Badger grabbing the bit between his teeth and plunging insanely into the depths of the river beside her was a thought that filled her mind with dread and her heart with fear.  She had never felt comfortable standing on the lip above a steep slope and the idea of meeting her death by crashing into jagged rocks was particularly alarming to her.  She was an accomplished horsewoman but what hope had she to stop a panicked horse on slippery ground?

Her uncomfortable thoughts pulled her focus deeper into the fear until it was nearly choking her reason.  Unconsciously, her body translated her growing terror to her hands and she slowly started to tighten the reins and stiffened her position in the saddle.  Badger finally protested with a snort and he pulled against her grasp to loosen the reins.  His ears were turned toward her – not in an aggressive fashion – but as if he was trying to gauge her mood for she had so dramatically changed how she was connecting to him through rein and saddle.

Carra noticed what she was doing and eased her grip.  Fear still clouded her thoughts and out of instinct and long habit, she uttered a silent prayer for help.

“Spirit, please protect me.”

Kriki's Gift, Chapter 29, Reading 16

The excitement builds as the release of 

Kriki's Gift, Book Two of the Geometry of Power 

draws near.

His command spurred men into activity, but fear certainly added to the speed with which the men jumped to their tasks. Minds and souls had been singed by the Valkea's attack and no one wanted to linger here and chance a repeat of the experience. Soon all those who had collapsed were loaded on to the wagons alongside the wounded. The bodies of dead horses were pulled out of the way of the wagons and left on the side of the road. There were several horses that had been wounded too severely to continue on - they would have to be left behind for others to care for once the battle was over. Their riders joined the soldiers on the wagons.

As the men worked, Carra looked up the line to see if she could spot Darrine. Since tall men surrounded her, it took her some effort to see around them to spot the watcher. It was with a sense of relief that she finally saw Darrine mounted on Moonbeam. Both appeared to have survived the attack unharmed.

Carra then glanced upward to the light on the ledge above. The glow was steadily growing in intensity and was now painfully bright to gaze at. Even so, she couldn't keep her eyes from glancing at the light for just looking at it seemed to touch her soul in some mysterious fashion. The dark and writhing horrors that had manifested in her thoughts were fading as if they were mere spots on the fabric of her soul and were being bleached by the intensity of the summer sun. It was incredibly comforting to know that her beloved King and Queen were doing battle and apparently succeeding.

"My Lady, are you well?" Haxton asked again for he noted her expression was unfocused and distant.

"I am, Lieutenant," she replied as she turned her eyes to him and gave him a small smile.

"We'll be riding again shortly. Are you ready?"

"I am," she remarked and took a deep breath as she pulled her mind back into clear focus for she knew the danger of their position. "It is well that we will be leaving as soon as possible for the Valkea's fighters may be distracted at the moment, but that's not going to last. When the Valkea is destroyed they're going to go insane with a thirst for revenge. It would not do at all to be here when that happens."

Haxton smiled and bowed his head to her. "Well stated, my Lady. You've summarized our position very clearly."

She gave him a quick smile.

"Keep your wits about you, gentlemen for there are more fighters out there," the captain shouted.

Although Carra and Haxton couldn't really hear what Rodal was saying, it interrupted their low conversation. They turned their attention to the front of the column.

"Move out - hand gallop," the captain ordered. The command was repeated several times as it was passed through the ranks so all heard it.

Carra was relieved they were leaving this horrid place at a gallop, even though part of her was curious to know what was going to happen. Her common sense overrode her curiosity, however. The ruse had worked and they'd successfully drawn out the Valkea so the King and Queen could destroy her. She was proud that her suggestion had worked. However, the Valkea's soul searing assault had left her feeling shaken and a bit vulnerable and she wouldn't feel safe until they were on the far side of Karlaz.

Kriki's Gift, Chapter 29, Reading 15

The excitement builds as the release of 

Kriki's Gift, Book Two of the Geometry of Power 

draws near.

"Look up there," she called in astonished wonder. "That has to be the Valkea. I think the King and Queen must be attacking. That's why the horrible madness stopped."

Haxton turned to look, as did the men around them. High above the road was a rock ledge and perched on the ledge was an intensely bright circle of light. It shimmered with such intensity that no one could look at it for long. The lieutenant's eyes drifted down and he suddenly saw what the Valkea had been shielding from them before with her dark deceptions.

The rocky slope below the ledge was filled with fighters. Many were dead - having been killed by the storm of arrows the Rangers had sent their way. The survivors stared up in stunned shock at the ledge above them for the Valkea had disappeared from sight behind the curtain of blazing light. After a moment's pause, they charged upward forgetting their attack on the Guardsmen below. They had to go to the aid of their dark matriarch for she was the meaning behind their existence and must be saved at all cost. As soon as they moved into the open, the Rangers shot them down with deadly accuracy for they now had a clear view of their foes. Heedless of the fact that they were being massacred, the horde struggled upward with singular focus. They had to save the Valkea.

The captain could see that the Valkea's fighters were no longer concerned with his people and knew that this was their chance to get away. They had done their job of drawing out the Valkea. Now he needed to get Carra to safety. "Let's get out of here, fast," he bellowed. "Load up the wounded. Push the dead horses out of the way so the wagons can pass."

Rodal looked down the ranks to assess the damage done to his people. Far down the line, he spotted Lieutenant Haxton for he was nearly a head taller than the men around him. In the crush of riders, he glimpsed Carra and was pleased she was still astride the chestnut gelding. She was safe for the moment, but that could change in an instant. They needed to get away. To remain in the vicinity of the Valkea and her horde was insanity.

Kriki's Gift, Chapter 29, Reading 12

The excitement builds as the release of 

Kriki's Gift, Book Two of the Geometry of Power 

draws near.

Other horsemen followed the captain and helped him screen Darrine and Kulm. The vanguard closed in from the front of the wagon so it was surrounded protectively. However, it made little difference for the arrows were coming from above and not from the side so the rain of projectiles continued around the wagon.

"Where are they?" Rodal demanded in frustration as he looked up the slope and scanned the area, but couldn't see where the archers were shooting from.

Other areas of the column now came under attack and it was clear the Valkea's archers were shooting the horses for they were easier targets than the armored and shielded men. The air was filled with squeals of pain as the horses were hit.

"Archers shoot back at your best guess at where the bastards have to be!" Rodal roared in frustration.

The archers stationed on the wagons began to fire up the slope hoping to hit their unseen enemies. The horsemen began to cluster closely together so they could shield each other and their horses from a killing shot. The mounted men also were also attempting to protect the horses harnessed to the wagons. Naturally, the men guarding Carra clustered closely about her so no arrows could find her.

One of the horses pulling the decoy wagon was hit and the gelding screamed out in pain as he reared up in panic. Several arrows hit into his exposed side and he dropped to the ground dragging his harness-mate down with him. Sergeant Garbarek grabbed a battleaxe from beneath the seat and jumped down to free the horse from the harness. In a moment, he'd freed the mare from her traces and then he grabbed the reins to pull her up. The mare responded to Garbarek's urging and stood. As soon as she was up, the sergeant leaped on her back. Once mounted, he galloped her around the side of the wagon so he could help Darrine and Kulm escape.

Darrine drew her dagger and ran to Moonbeam to release her before she was hit with an arrow.

"Mount up," Kulm hollered at her when he realized her intentions. "We've got you covered." He vaulted up behind Garbarek who kept the horse between Darrine and the archers.

Moonbeam was saddled and bridled so she could be ridden in an emergency. Darrine slashed through the lead tying her to the wagon and vaulted into the saddle without bothering with the stirrup.

Kriki's Gift, Chapter 29, Reading 11

The excitement builds as the release of 

Kriki's Gift, Book Two of the Geometry of Power 

draws near.

"We're under attack!" Captain Rodal bellowed. "Defensive positions!" He spurred his horse forward to protect the decoy wagon.

The captain knew that the safest thing to do would be to charge onward and simply move out of range of the attacking archers. However, the entire purpose of this expedition was to draw out the Valkea so they had to remain in place until the monster appeared. The best they could do was to take a defensive position. All his officers knew what was expected of them so with discipline the men quickly moved into defensive postures.

To add realism to the charade they were playing, Sergeant Garbarek quickly pushed the fake Carra into the back of the wagon for this protective move would surely be expected. Then he put a horn to his lips and blew a far-reaching blast to draw in the soldiers who were hiding in the surrounding areas.

Darrine found herself on the ground in the midst of a hailstorm of arrows, although none of the bolts were being aimed directly at her now that her horse was downed. As expected, the Valkea's fighters were trying to keep her alive so they could capture her. She noticed that Sergeant Garbarek had been shot at and was now bristling with arrows stuck in his cloak and surcoat, but he appeared to be safe inside his armor. The archers avoided firing directly at the wagon so they could take Carra alive, too. Trooper Kulm's horse was down and he leaped off the dying animal to jump next to Darrine with his sword drawn to protect her as she struggled up from the ground. He had two arrows sticking from his cloak, but they had penetrated no deeper than the cloth because of his breastplate.

Captain Rodal interjected his horse between the Valkea's archers and Kulm and Darrine.

"Get back!" he commanded as he leveled his lance and held his shield high to protect them as best as he could.