Amorlia by Chris Wichtendahl

Author:Chris Wichtendahl
Format: epub

Breaking the Impasse

Qi Drego leaned against the rock she was using for cover and lay her head back, closing her eyes. All around her, gunfire echoed off the rocks. She feared it would deafen her, or worse, that the sound would live forever in her ears and she would hear naught but the crack of rifle and pistol the rest of her days. She must be tired, she thought, to engage in such musings. She’d lost track of how long the Gunfighters had been here, holding off the Nazean advance. If the enemy made it through the pass up to the Plateau, the entire Land would be lost. The nomadic tribes who lived on the Plateau were using their strange magic to keep the Nazean airships from simply flying over. Any that tried soon found themselves falling from the sky, the Engineers cut off from the energy that powered them. There were few airships available to the Nazeans for such maneuvers, at any rate. Most patrolled the skies of the Nazean lands, while the rest were being used in the conquest of Vega. Qi grimaced at the thought. Though it meant they had no airships to deal with, the fall of their western neighbor meant they could expect no aid from that quarter. Qi spared a quick prayer for the souls of Vega’s departed royals and her Champion. The Gunfighter remembered meeting the princess and her blue-skinned lover some years ago. Both had been pleasant and Qi had enjoyed their company. She shook her head as a young Gunfighter sat next to her. “Michra,” Qi turned to the girl, “how are you holding up?” Michra busied herself reloading her revolvers and did not look up. “All is well, ma’am,” she said, her voice steady, “Just need a break to reload.” Qi laughed. It was short and sharp, without humor, sounding more like the omnipresent gunfire than laughter. “You need more of a break than that, girl,” she said, “We all do.” “Aye,” Michra said, forcing a smile for her superior, “I suppose we do at that.” She looked off toward their camp. Men and women either took their positions or took their rest. Some folks ate, others tried to tend the wounded best they could. They’d lost their healers early on, with no way to get anyone out of the pass and back to the nearest town. Young boys and girls ran to and from the supply tents, keeping the Gunfighters in ammunition. If they lived through this, they would all be Gunfighters themselves one day. Qi was beginning to doubt any of them would live through this. She forced herself to look positive as Michra turned to her, tired eyes sunken from exhaustion and fear. “We’ll get through this, right ma’am?” Qi smiled, hoping she looked more confident than she felt, “We’re Gunfighters, Michra,” she gripped the younger woman’s shoulder, “Of course we’ll get through this.” Michra returned the smile, clearly emboldened by the comment, “Aye,” she said. Without

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