« (Faldara Swifthands) »
Faldara was accompanying chief Yondalirio the Relentless looking down at the combined encampment of the bison and horse tribes. It looked strangely deserted with almost all of their warriors away. They had ridden out gaily as if to war almost one week ago.
After riding off in the direction of Fort Victory they had turned back after they knew the Mara Feldans scouts had lost interest in them.
For two days now they had been hiding, waiting for the Mara Feldans.
When Sivarus Keeneye came riding up Faldara and Yondaliro knew it was time. After waiting just long enough to receive confirmation from their scout Faldara rode slowly to the post she had been given. She stopped on the rise behind the encampment, as if she was keeping watch. Her presence on the rise alerted the women and children in the encampment and the army in ambush.
She looked down at the combined herd that was the bait. The children acting as horse and bison guards were dressed casually in breach clout, moccasins and leather leggings. Her heart swelled with pride for Voice, her little brother who was playing the part of one of the horse herders. She noted that Loud Voice was lounging on Star, feigning boredom. Despite the fact that he would probably die, she was very proud of him and would make sure all the children won their adult names today. Whatever the result.
« (Loud Voice and Nose for Honey) »
Honey was twirling her lance, ignoring the grumbles of Black Thunder. She kept an eye out for the Mara Feldans raiders even as she grinned at the antics of her new friend Voice. She paid little attention to Sleeps, the third herd guard.
Voice had his eyes almost closed as he feigned boredom. He was just a little envious of Honey, he wondered how she had managed to steal one of Fraaldar the Crafters’ lances. Then he saw his sister ride up to the western rise, and though he didn’t show it he came to the alert.
He saw some of the long grass on the rim to the east move against the breeze, It took him all his nerve to remain slumped on his horse sister. The grass moved again and Voice assumed the Mara Feldans scout or scouts were now going to alert their raiding group.
It was an hour later that Voice spotted the Mara Feldans’ silent killers. He could see three of them, one was moving towards him, another was trying to sneak up on Honey and the third was making his way towards Sleeps all Day.
Judging that the Mara Feldans were committed, Voice yelled, revealing the reason for his name. After sounding the alarm he turned and urged his horse sister to the gallop. The other two herd guards followed suit and set the herd running towards the encampment.
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Seeing the speed with which the children moved, the leader of the Mara Feldans’ silent killers raised his head to the skies and let loose a yipping alert, before breaking into a lumbering run on his thick muscular legs.
Hearing the signal the Mara Feldans’ war party came charging over the ridge. Seeing the herds racing away they knew the plan to capture or kill the herd guards had failed. But hoping to capitalize on the chaos they assumed would envelop the encampment when the herd arrived they charged on behind it.
Then Voice had the bad luck that Star stepped in a gopher hole, the old mare went down screaming as her leg broke. Voice jumped clear and laded running thanks to his cat like agility. His bad luck was compounded by the fact that the Mara Feldans silent killer that had been targeting him had continued chasing him. And the big monster was faster than a running human.
Black Thunder snorted in fury and turned, Honey used her other stolen treasure, she cast the spirit spell flame lance on the lance even as she couched it and braced herself on her bison brother’s back.
The Mara Feldans chasing Voice heard the thunder of Black Thunder’s charge. He turned to confront the rash child opening his heavily muscled arms and readying the ten centimetre claws on his hands. He roared his threat.
Unfortunately for him a flaming lance tore through his torso before Black Thunder hit him at a full gallop, bowling him over and trampling him as he passed. Honey lost her lance when it impacted the Mara Feldans, and she urged Black Thunder after Voice once they were past the bloody, singed body of the monster.
A shrill yell alerted Voice. He turned while still running and he saw Honey and Black Thunder tearing in his direction. He saw Honey leaning over with one hand firmly grasping Black Thunder’s shaggy coat and the other reaching towards him. He recognised what she planned, it was after all, a manoeuvre all the animal nomads practiced assiduously.
Voice caught her hand and leapt, with a little assistance from Honey heaving upwards. He managed to get one leg on the galloping bison’s back. With a little scrambling and some luck he managed to clamber onto Black Thunder’s back behind Honey.
« (Faldara Swifthands) »
On her rise Faldara watched the drama with bated breath. She raised her arm to signal to the ambushing parties when the main body of the Mara Feldans entered the wide valley that had contained their herds. When her brother’s horse had fallen she had prayed for the Storm God to look kindly on his soul.
She Watched Nose for Honey’s heroics and decided that she would find out how the girl had managed to get her hands on that spell, not to mention the lance. She also intended to help the girl’s parent’s teach her not to be suicidal in the future. Despite the fact that she was very grateful.
Then she raised her hand in the signal. And watched with satisfaction as the warriors of the horse and bison tribes left their hides and came charging down on the Mara Feldans, hitting the surprised Mara Feldans war party on both flanks.
They crumbled, one moment they were chasing a fleeing mixed herd towards a virtually defenceless village. Then they were being assailed on both sides by a superior number of their enraged enemies. It didn’t take long for the first of their number to break and run. And when one ran, others soon followed him.
The Horse and Bison nomads didn’t hesitate, they chased down the fleeing monsters. Only a very few lucky Mara Feldans tribesmen managed to escape the slaughter.