He came back faster than I expected with both good and bad news.
He said little, not wanting to risk more noise than necessary while redrawing a map of the post. The good news was that sentries were just on the outskirts. That meant we’d be able to get closer before engaging and alerting others. Also, several of the soldiers Ava reported were actually messengers who had already slipped away down the other side of the rise.
The bad news was that Ava had been right about the number of D’engiti. Hamath had been unable to spot the sorcerers and assumed they were all inside the tent.
I started numbering off each of the men Hamath marked, starting at the farthest one on the left. Then I assigned targets to the eleven of us.
Since the tent was our primary target, Dekar would lead his team in first to draw away as many of the D’engiti from it as possible. I thought about sending in Ira’s team, but decided I needed someone a little more cool-headed for this scenario. Ira had a tendency to let emotions override his thinking. Hamath and Ira would lead the rest of the men to cover me and Ava as we rushed the tent once Dekar had engaged the others.
“I don’t like it,” whispered Hamath. “I’m going with you.”
“No. You stay with the others. Nine against twenty-one, including the D’engiti aren’t the best of odds as it is.”
“But the sorcerers are the largest threats. Unless you take them quick, those sorcerers are going to destroy us when they’re done with you, regardless if we’ve taken everyone else down.”
“You aren’t a mage, nor do you have a resistance.”
Hamath shrugged. “If this is my time, then so be it.” He paused, listening to make sure we weren’t being too loud. Considering the sudden sorcerous explosions from the battlefield, I didn’t think he had anything to worry about.
He continued. “Look, even if I do nothing more than take a hit and die the second we get in there, it might distract them long enough to buy time for you or Ava to take down the Master Sorcerer.”
“He’s right,” said Ava. “You’re resistant to sorcery, but you aren’t immune. And I’m not a god. We might be able to survive one direct hit from the Master Sorcerer, but that’s it. We need to hit them hard and fast.”
I sighed. “All right, Hamath. You’re with us. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Hamath winked. “I won’t do anything you wouldn’t.”
I gave him a look that told him I hadn’t missed the jab. Then I turned my attention to Ira. “You’re on your own then, so, control yourself.”
“Don’t worry, Ty. I got it,” Ira said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
My voice hardened, angry at being put in the situation we were in. “I’m serious. If you don’t use your head, I’m putting my boot up your rear.”
“Only after you remove mine,” added Dekar.
Ira’s smile faded. Dekar put up with a lot from Ira. He sometimes came across as a pushover. We all knew better. Any threat from Dekar, even a mild one, sobered Ira up quick. Older brothers have a tendency to have that effect on their younger siblings.
Satisfied, I finished outlining our approach, and gave the order to move out.
* * *
Thirty yards from the top of the rise stood a brown, canvas tent. It sat in the middle of a flat patch of land with guards and messengers scattered about. Tall pines enclosed the space. Four hulking figures carried axes and swords. The weapons were so big they would have been comical if not for the creatures wielding them. Unlike the others who openly patrolled the space, the D’engiti stood motionless like stone golems guarding the entrance to some ancient emperor’s tomb. If I hadn’t known any better, I’d think their lack of movement meant I could catch them on their heels.
I knew better.
They were slower than the average soldier, but not by much. What the D’engiti lacked in speed, they more than made up for in size, reach, and strength. Plus, the abominations were specifically created to take a beating.
We got into position. Dekar and his team to the far left. Ava and Hamath at my sides. Ira and the others waited behind us to our right.
I stared at the tent, estimating the sprint to its entrance would take a good seven or eight seconds. Maybe. A lot can happen in that amount of time. Seven or eight seconds on a battlefield for a soldier who knew what they were doing could mean seven or eight dead enemies. For a soldier who didn’t, it could mean getting stabbed seven or eight times.
I silently swore to Molak and every one of the other god that crossed my mind. I had never particularly liked General Balak, but I had never hated him as much as I did then for giving us the mission. While we would deal the enemy a huge blow if we succeeded, I didn’t want to die before seeing my family again.
An elbow to the side jarred me from my thoughts. Ava gave me a look that told me I needed to focus.
I inhaled deep and gave the signal, imitating an eastern yellow-backed sparrow.
Hamath groaned ever so slightly as Dekar’s team sprinted from cover, making as much noise as possible in order to draw attention their way. We watched them take out several guards to our right while using confiscated crossbows we had picked up earlier from the officers’ post. Dekar’s team quickly dropped the weapons, pulling free swords to engage the rest of the enemy.
With the Geneshans rushing to Dekar’s location, Ava, Hamath, and I broke from cover, legs pumping with everything we had to the large tent at the center of the area. We didn’t make it far before being noticed. I raised my shield to deflect a thrown knife flying in from the left.
A crossbow quarrel zipped past my right ear. Apparently Dekar wasn’t quite as engaged with the enemy as I had hoped.
I heard Ira bark orders somewhere behind us. His team was more successful at taking pressure away from the three of us as we closed in on the tent.
The flap flew open. In the entrance stood a woman in dark blue robes with wavy blonde hair. Her fingers crackled with sorcery as her eyes darted around at the chaos. She caught us speeding toward her and raised her arm. A knife thrown by Hamath struck her in the shoulder, its force throwing her off balance. The deep purple lightning emanating from her fingers blasted off to the left.
Two steps later, I barreled into her with my shield, knocking her to the ground. I continued pushing inside, Ava right on my heels. Neither of us had time to finish off the woman with a Master Sorcerer nearby. I trusted Hamath to take care of her.
The Master Sorcerer stood in white robes at the back of the tent over a simple table. There was no sign of the other lesser sorcerer. On the table rested a plain wooden box. In that moment, I cared about nothing else. His wide-eyed expression turned to anger. Our ability to get this far caught him off guard. His hands glowed orange. An acidic smell crept into my nose.
I cursed and charged, hoping the tactic might buy Ava the time she needed to take him down.
Bright fire shot across the room. I ducked behind my shield-its etchings softening the attack. Despite it and my own resistance, the force of the blast still catapulted me backward.
I flew across the room and crashed into a table. Its legs shattered beneath my weight. I banged my head on something hard.
The tent spun. I fought to stand, but could not, vomiting instead. I turned my head toward the Master Sorcerer, blinking against the pain of what was likely a concussion. I grabbed something. A cup, I think, and threw it with what little strength I could muster. It missed him by at least six feet. It didn’t matter. It was enough to distract him half a second longer.
He realized his error and wheeled on Ava. He was too late.
Thankfully, I managed to stay conscious as my little sister engulfed the whoreson in shadow. The sound of his agony was music to my pounding ears.
* * *
We started our mission with a unit of twelve men. We charged our last target with eleven. When the dust settled we were down to six.