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| Cold had begun to cling to the air causing the fierce rain to become shards of ice stinging the faces of the Bloodclaws. Winds made the rain almost unbearable, whipping hoods off of heads and cloaks out of hands. Many of the men grumbled amongst themselves about waiting this storm through, but even they didnt know how long that would be and all wanted to find the army responsible for the Massacre. Already the attack on Emani had taken a name of its own, the Massacre at Emani. Erix could have done without the need to flesh out the painful memory of that night, but he knew it was going to happen whether he wanted it or not. It was just another way to deal with the pain. Only two days from Emani, the rain had become almost unbearable and the wind unrelenting. Erix had begun to regret leaving in such haste, but he was not about to let this army get away from him. At his side rode Toul and Drax, two of the dearest friends a man could hope to have on a venture of this kind. More than once anyone of them had saved the others life at the risk of his own. It was a good company to be in. Anyone of the Bloodclaws marching behind them would sacrifice their lives for any in the company. The Bloodclaws had been together for what seemed to be a century, everyone knew everything about the other and a kinship had grown between them. A small laugh slipped from Erix. He felt like he was the head of a strange family. Someone is coming, Toul piped from his saddle. From the distance a man on horseback could be seen riding toward the small army. Erix blinked away an especially sharp lance of ice in his eyes and focused in on the rider. Even from this distance, Erix recognized Jions riding style; well lack of style would better describe it. Jion had always been more comfortable on his own feet than on horseback, but the sheer distances that he had to travel made it improbable to take any other means of travel. Watching how the man bounced around in the saddle made Erix grateful he had been raised around horses, because Jion would be sore for days just from the short gallop toward them. Within minutes, Jion reined in beside Erix, his hair slicked back with sweat and the grunting pants from his dun stallion suggested that it did not have much of a ride left in it. Jion wasted no time as he quickly bowed, flinging more water around than actually making a true semblance of a bow, and began to tell of what he had learned in Lycanos. He began by explaining that the Empress Jade had ridden to Glenmalden almost immediately upon learning the fate of the Emperor. He then spoke of a promise of reinforcements on the way, which at last seemed like good news until Erixs ears seemed to play tricks on him, Touls seemed to have done the same thing the way he reacted. He was going to ask the obvious inquiry, but it was Toul that beat him to the punch. Who did you say was leading the reinforcements? Touls low voice had the slight twinge of concern in it. The High Lady Tamra Auhven, sir. Why do you ask? Jions clueless expression would have brought a chuckle from Erix under lighter circumstances, but things had just become even bleaker. Erix and Toul looked at each other. I was not aware Tamra had experience leading an army, Erixs voice tried to hold some dignity. Me neither, Toul did not try to hide his concern now. What do we do now? Drax asked as he heeled his horse close to Erixs. There were a great many things that could be done in this situation. Any one of them held their own risks and rewards, but they all made Erixs mood all the darker. Tamra Auhven was known as one of the greatest druids in the Lycanthropean Empire, but her leadership skills didneed improvement. In truth, she was the person that rode in the midst of the party and played the vital support role. But desperate times needed desperate measures, and if Tamra was the only one in the entire Empire that would ride out to fight these creatures along side himself, Toul, and Drax, then Erix would welcome her with open arms. More support would be needed to fend off these creatures, but for now, these three people and himself were making the initial stand, that was all that mattered. We make for the creatures army and carve out a niche for ourselves in history. ~*~ Almost as suddenly as the rain and wind had started, it stopped and in the span of half an hour, the deep gray and green winter clouds had all but vanished from the sky. Fierce chill still caused Erixs armor to seem to radiate an even more intense cold, which the winter sun did nothing to break. Many of the Bloodclaws had begun to speak of good omens and of turns in tides and other such things as they began to let cloaks hang at their backs, no longer clenched around them as if dear as life itself. With the absence of wind and rain, it truly did seem to get a great deal warmer. Things seemed to finally be looking up for the small band of soldiers from Emani. Here comes our scout, Drax said pointing at a horse topping a small rise and galloping toward them. At once the three men saw something was out of place by the way the man was riding. He sat entirely to straight in the saddle and his hands looked as if holding the cantle of his saddle. Things were quickly turning for the worse. Mokai and Jion rode out to the horse and after a moment of shyness from the scouts horse, they managed to bring it in a halt and led it to the front of the line by the bridle. Issuing the order for a halt took only a moment as Erix booted Tornado toward the riding men. Tornado was not a great name for a horse Erix had to admit, but when the black horse was younger and had been surrounded for any reason, the horse broke into a spinning tornado of horseshoes and fierce bites. Once Tornado grew slightly older and a little training behind him, and once Tornado had a rider in the saddle, you could find no better warhorse, but the name now had stuck. Any suspicions that Erix may have had were too quickly confirmed the closer he rode to the scouts horse. Its rider had been propped up with a large shaft of wood and a blade through the center of his chest and out the back of the post said the rest. Once Erix had drawn rein near them, Mokai handed him a length of parchment with a clean slice through the center. No doubts that even in death that his enemy had used the scout as a messenger. With a quick prayer for the dead, Erix looked at the length of paper. In a very rough and sharp hand, someone had scribbled a few characters on the page. Erix couldnt recognize the language, but Touls brows rose visibly. Toul answered the unspoken question in Erixs eyes. It says, Come little jaguar. We are waiting. Touls eyes met Erixs with that questioning look that Erix had seen only a handful of times. Before anyone could answer though, Draxs head popped up as if the answer to an ancient enigma had finally come to him, which in truth, was not far from the truth. We sent this man out only minutes ago, correct? Erix nodded slowly, then his face smoothed out as what his friend was suggesting settled on him. If he was sent out only minutes ago and they have sent him back to us Not waiting for Drax to finish speaking, Erix heeled Tornado toward the rise, and immediately wished he had not done so. Sprawled out before him no more than five hundred yards away, an army sprawled out before him. Thousands stood at attention in those ranks as a creature floated sat on a horse at the front ranks. Even from here, Erix could recognize the reptilian look of one of the creatures in the hall of the dragons. It was not the same one, he was certain of that, but still, a twinge of fear entered his heart. Just under two hundred men in his command against well over three thousand in attendance and one creature whos power still had yet to be proven. By the gods Draxs voice sounded truly amazed and Touls gaze was one of a person calculating odds and the outcome never good. Erix had done the calculations in his mind already, and even his most optimistic outcome had been bleak indeed. Turning toward Toul, Erixs face was all cool composure and control. Toul, get the men armed and ready. Wheeling his horse around, Toul sped down the hill toward the Bloodclaws. Not waiting for Touls departure, Erix turned toward Drax. Drax, I need you to lead a third of the Bloodclaws. He raised a hand to forestall Draxs almost immediate arguments. When we draw closer to the creatures army, I want you to split off from the army with your men. That will make it a lot harder for this creature to pick us off with whatever magic it might wield. Do it, please. Its the only way that some of us might make it out of here alive. Hesitating only a moment, Drax nodded in agreement, then rode toward the Bloodclaws. A heavy sigh took Erix as he looked at his enemy sitting patiently ahead of him. This very well could be the last ride of Lord Drax RiVon, Lord Toul Auhven, or even himself. With a deep breathe, Erix made himself assume a sense of calm. The Lycanthropean armies were about to meet this new threat on the battlefield for the first time. Erix prayed that it would turn out well. LLErix |
| On the Brink By LLErix |