Chapter 13: Retreating and Preparing (1)

Chapter 13: Retreating and Preparing (1)

A fraction of a second passed in which Xerxes perceived everything in slow motion. Bel jerked forward as the Abhorrent womans disturbingly structureless fingers stabbed into her. She flinched as droplets of blood splattered onto her face from the wound.

Also in that fraction of a second, he thought about Gandash, and how he smiled when talking to Bel. He thought about how all three of them had been close companions from the moment they arrived together at the Academy. He thought of the mischief they had got into in the capital, as well as the challenges they had overcome. He thought about how, only days before, they had been the ones to uncover the illegal machinery, and how that likely would put all three of them on the path to studying in a higher starisle.

In that brief moment, anger overrode fear. Swiveling, he flipped his sword around, grabbed the hilt with both hands, and lunged back in Bels direction.

Xerxes! Tamharu shouted. Dont you

Bel screamed as the fingers tightened and pulled, yanking her off her feet. However, shed already grabbed onto Goran, and that saved her. Apparently, the Abhorrent womans disgusting fingers had immense reach, but lacked immense strength. Bel nearly lost her footing, but she kept her grip on Gorans arm as if her life depended on it, which likely it did.

Meanwhile, Xerxes reached the scene and slashed out with as much precision as he could muster, cutting through four of the five fingers.

A guttural shriek erupted from the Abhorrent as her fingers were severed, causing them to snap backward like loosened rubber bands. The fifth one came with them. The portions which had pierced through Bel collapsed into acrid, grayish-white liquid, while at the same time, Bel herself fell to the ground. Then the fingers whipped back in their direction.

Help her, Goran, Xerxes growled. Fueled by adrenaline, he took two steps forward and slashed at the fingers again. He didnt hit a single one.

In fact, one of the flapping white strips grabbed onto his upper arm. He swung the sword again, wildly, but missed, and ended up in an even worse position as a rubbery white appendage slapped onto the blade of his sword, just above the crossguard.

What the hell am I doing? he thought, but before he could consider how to retreat, the sword was yanked out of his grip and tossed away. Then, two flailing white fingers snapped onto his ankles, and one encircled his neck. He tried to wrench himself free, but failed, and felt himself being dragged up the hill. He reached up and grabbed the tentacular finger wrapped around his neck and attempted to rip it away. It held firm.

He was halfway up the hill when, without even realizing what he was doing, he scooped a handful of crabnickel powder out of his component pouch.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Yes, sir, he said. Goran, help me get her on my back.

With the soldiers help, he wrapped his arms around her thighs and held her tightly. He took a few experimental steps to the bottom of the hill. By bending forward a bit, he could keep her balanced atop him while he ran.

Go as fast as you can, Seer, Tamharu said.

I will. Sergeant please, hurry back.

We will.

Xerxes started running and didnt look back. He dreaded the prospect of hoarse screams ringing out from behind him, but none came. Rihan was dead. Tekinalp too. No doubt about it.

Sergeant Tamharu, though, was tougher. Hed fought in actual battles. He wasnt going to fall to that monster. Was he? No, he wasnt. He would get Goran and Ap back to the camp safely. Xerxes knew it.

Soon he was in the trees, pumping his legs without restraint. Now that he didnt have to worry about non-mages keeping up with him, he could run at top speed. And Seers were much faster than Unsighted. The trees turned into a blur before giving way to rocky terrain.

At about the halfway point he stopped very briefly to check on Bel. She lay against him with her head on his shoulder, breathing shallowly.

Bel? he said. Bel!

She didnt respond.