Daughter of Llathe: A Tale of the Two Rings (Tales of the Two Rings) by Ben Cassidy

Author:Ben Cassidy [Cassidy, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Ben Cassidy
Published: 2013-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

Kili came to an abrupt stop, and Nali jolted awake.

She swayed in the saddle a moment and barely caught her shard rifle before it slipped off her shoulder. The same black, rain-soaked jungle she had seen for the last two standard rotations greeted her eyes. She rubbed her hand over her face, trying to get her bearings. Nali had no idea how long she had been asleep.

Sayla came down what passed for the trail, signaling with her hand to a point just ahead over a low rise.

Leela nodded, then gave the signal with her hand for the others to dismount.

Nali slipped out of the saddle and patted her exhausted greelak, then tied him to a nearby tree. In the darkness around her she could hear the rustle of packs, the snapping of twigs, and the whine of rifles charging as the hunters and the Gars prepared for battle.

Leela stepped up, her helmet folded into the crook of her arm. She motioned the group to gather around her.

“Sayla, Nali, Zolne, Ereta,” she said in a low whisper, pointing at each woman in turn, “you’re with me. Illa, Holna, and Merra, take up positions outside and watch the entrance.” She glanced over at the two slaves who were huddled near one of the greelaks. “The slaves will stay here with the mounts. My group will enter the ruin, locate the Fallen, if it’s in there, and force it outside.” She lifted a horn. “One blast means it’s coming out. Two blasts means it’s not, and you three come in.” She pointed over at one of the Gar’Noomren. “Merra is in charge outside.”

Illa gave the Gar an uncertain glance. “We don’t need—”

“Don’t even start,” Leela warned. “This is a Gar operation. Merra is in charge.”

“What if the Fallen’s not inside?” asked Holna.

Leela slipped her helmet over her head. “We’ll clear the ruin. If it’s not there, we’ll wait for it. If it appears out here while we’re inside, give us a long blast. You have a horn, Merra?”

The Gar lifted one similar to Leela’s, made out of a bristlespine horn.

“Good.” Leela paused for a moment. “Blow twice if the Fallen enters the temple.”

“Or better yet, just shoot the eel-choked thing,” said Zolne.

There were nervous chuckles from the assembled women.

“This is it,” said Leela. “I don’t need to tell you that the whole village is depending on us. This Fallen dies right here, right now. Bright Star guide us.”

“Bright Star guide us,” the women repeated in a chorus of low murmurs.

Nali touched the small image at her neck.

“Wayfinder,” Leela said as the women broke up. She held out a shard pistol, grip first. “It’s going to get tight in there. Your rifle might not be much good.”

Nali hesitated. “I’m no good with a pistol,” she admitted. “I can’t hit a fleshtearer at ten paces with one.”

“Trust me,” said Leela, “when you need this you won’t have to aim.”

Nali took the firearm and tucked it into her crossbelt. “Thanks.”

Leela reached for a small pack by her feet.

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