(eng) Markus Heitz - Legends of the Alfar 01 by Righteous Fury

Author:Righteous Fury [Fury, Righteous]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Ishím Voróo (The Outer Lands),

4370th division of unendingness (5198th solar cycle),

late summer.

Initially, Sinthoras had contemplated taking on all of the barbarians, but fifty seemed a bit on the high side, even to him. With the advantage of surprise it would have been a different matter.

They surrounded him. Leaning on his spear, he smiled politely, the essence of calm.

The barbarians could see he was not a jeembina, but were not able to place him.

It was refreshing not to be met with craven fear simply on account of his älfar appearance. Like big children. It was time to teach them who they faced.

“You are no jeembina,” one of the barbarians yelled. The man’s speech was ugly, but at least it was intelligible.

“I am named Sinthoras and am one of the Shindimar,” he lied, grinning broadly. He avoided the word älf in case they knew it. “The jeembina took me prisoner, but I was able to escape when you attacked them.” He pointed to the wood. “Some of them made off that way. They were chasing one of your soldiers.”

The barbarian passed the message on to his men via a translator and they drew their weapons and headed out along the path into the trees. Most were keen to storm off immediately, but some stayed put, deep suspicion on their ugly faces.

The leader, the one with the best armor, looked a bit like Hasban. Sinthoras assumed he was a relative of Hasban. He smiled at him. Soon you shall follow him, little barbarian.

It was this man that gave the orders to move. He even returned the smile.

“You’ll be coming with us,” the barbarian said.

“Gladly.” They moved aside for him and he strode off in front.

“You’re from over here?” the barbarian asked.

“Yes.” He kept up the pretense. “The jeembina captured me when I was out hunting here in the forest.” He was pleased to note that the men did not realize the danger they were in. The trees and sharp leaves were harmless, it was the pretty phaiu su that were lethal.

They went ever deeper into the woods, the snow crunching under their boots while Sinthoras walked silently and left no prints. You won’t forget this lesson, if you survive it. With his spear held loosely in his right hand he jogged along, light on his feet, pointing right and left occasionally to make them think he had heard something. He was diverting the barbarians’ attention away from the real trap.

It was not long before the leader grabbed his arm and forced him to stop. The warriors formed a double circle round them both, their shields reinforcing the ring. The interpreter said, “My lord demands to know what you are up to.”

“I’m taking you to where your men are in trouble. Why have we stopped?”

“Because there are no footprints,” was the sharp response. “Our soldiers can’t fly and nor can the jeembina.”

The leader drew his sword and held the tip against the älf’s throat.

There was no mistaking the threat. “We can go back if you like,” he said, raising his arms to show he represented no danger to them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.