Tomoe Gozen Saga (01): Disfavored Hero, The by Salmonson Jessica Amanda

Author:Salmonson, Jessica Amanda [Salmonson, Jessica Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, China, Fantasy, Fiction, Novel
ISBN: 9781453293461
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Published: 1981-01-01T02:00:00+00:00

The rokubu’s gaze did not waver. His attention was riveted to the magician-ninja, who also was oblivious to Tomoe and Toshima. The intensity between the two sorcerers caused the women to stand unnoticed; that, or the sorcerers were so ensnared by each others’ powers that the rokubu could not stop the interference, and the magician-ninja could not encourage it.

Tomoe heaved one of the two yari. The long, straight weapon tore into the back of one of the dirge-sounding shamblers, so that their circle was disheveled and their progress toward the magician-ninja halted. Half the dirge-sounders turned upon Tomoe, revealing those hideous faces squashed upon their shoulders, deformed countenances of parodic sorrow, the eyes draining a constant stream of sad, thick, yellow tears.

Toshima’s naginata carved wide arcs around herself, providing a barrier as clever as that of the magician-ninja. Her style incorporated both one and two-handed maneuvers. The fliers strove to break this excellent defense. When they tried, she clipped their wings, or sliced them through the middle.

One of them had fallen, wing completely severed, but ran upon small feet, upright like a human, straight toward Toshima. One of her daggers came quickly to hand, was thrown with deadly aim, pinning the minuscule monster to the ground. It continued to watch her with large, malevolent eyes and scratched the air with tiny razored talons as it died.

The shamblers did not immediately attack Tomoe. They had divided into two groups, the first group continuing the effort to penetrate the magician-ninja’s barrier, the others lining themselves shoulder to shoulder between Tomoe and the rokubu.

Her second spear preceded her assault, chucked into a shambler’s belly. The line-up was broken. Then, sword to hand, she cut through their rank, thinking to fight them minimally, and take the rokubu instead. As she came nearer him, she saw that like the magician-ninja, he was not breathing. The sorcerers might each be dead!

Since the shamblers were unarmed, they provided poor defense against a sword. Tomoe was soon near enough the rokubu to slash his unmoving body.

The sword of Okio met resistance, and more, something of the barrier stung Tomoe and tossed her back. She was flung through the air and landed stunned upon her quiver of arrows, bruising her spine. Quickly, she looked about, but could not see where her sword had fallen. Regaining her feet, she fought with sheath and dagger, but could not kill the tough shamblers with these minimal weapons. They knew a primitive form of jujitsu, these broad-shouldered creatures from the invisible path, and used their mean skill in a stubborn effort to bring Tomoe down.

Still fighting near the gate, Toshima had expended all her daggers, so that tiny corpses lay around her feet. Yet there remained a fair sized swarm intent upon breaking the guard of the naginata.

One of the tiny beasts managed to grab the handle of the long weapon with its feet, clinging as a bird to a perch. Lady Toshima continued to swing her weapon around and around, carving through the swarm.

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