THE PRINCE OF GEMEN by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Format: epub
Published: 2010-02-13T07:09:23+00:00

* * *

Thirty-three

It was early in the morning, just after the first rays of the sun had brightened the sky, when the first alarm came. Calli sat up in her bed, confused by the sounds, then rushed to the window.

Erone wasn't there.

Throwing a simple cotton dress over her head, she sped from the room, only to come to a dead stop in the hallway, shocked momentarily by the buzz of activity. Everyone was running. Raesa and Cera brushed by her and she ran behind them.

"What is it?" she cried.

"We're under attack!" Raesa shouted over her shoulder.

Calli followed them into the large antechamber that allowed a view of the square in the center of the village. Raesa and Cera shouldered their longbows and prepared their quivers, while the terrible sounds from outside drew Calli to the window, eyes wide, her heart pounding in her breast.

The square was filled with Shadrani warriors locked in mortal combat with her father's soldiers. Everywhere, swords met and were turned away with the vicious ring of metal against metal. Before her frightened eyes, men fell to horrible deaths while all around, others stepped over them to attack or defend. Unaccustomed to the sight and sound of battle, Calli felt her stomach heave at the brutality of it.

The Shadrani hadn't even had time to saddle, and so were at the disadvantage of fighting from the ground while the forces from Soris had come in on their great war-horses.

And there, in the forefront, was the Prince of Gemen.

Calli was, for the first time, glad of Gadrel's presence. He was right there with him, guarding his back while together they hacked away at the men who threatened them.

"Calli," Raesa cried. "Please, stay in here with Danae!"

Calli turned to see the little one come to the window with her, before his mother and Cera darted out the door and into the heat of the battle. Danae's eyes widened as he watched the life and death scene before him. He quickly searched out his uncle, and Calli didn't have the heart to turn him away from the ugly sight.

"What do they want?" he cried.

Calli shook her head. "I don't know, Danae," she whispered, then cried out as Erone ducked a blade that swung at his head. Her hand at her mouth, she prayed as she had never prayed before.

* * *

Erone was echoing the question of his young nephew in the silence of his mind as he raged in the throes of combat.

What did they want?

He thought of those few soldiers he had killed a few days ago. They had been near the village, certainly, but the Shadrani rested secure in the knowledge that the Sorisi, even if they found the village, feared them too much to launch an attack. Surely it wasn't the loss of a few soldiers that had brought this on. And yet, here they were. The city-dwellers were falling quickly to the Shadrani sword. But more kept coming, and by sheer numbers, they were turning the tide in the battle.

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