Chapter 46

At least they weren’t running.

Riley could scent the tension in the air; Cid moved with predatory intent, watching the sides and the wood more than what was in front of him, while Tobias moved two steps behind and to his right, never taking his hand off his sword.

Her ears moved as if they were on a swivel, catching every sound.

“We make quite the group,” she thought to herself when a snap of a twig far forward drew her attention.

Riley’s nose began to twitch, and with it came the feeling of air with its thousands of scents, cooling the inner chambers of her muzzle as it suffused through her skull.

People. Her brain reported the scent of humans and fear; they had to be just ahead.

Drumming the ground, she called out to Tobias, “People, up ahead.”

Zorna barked, her tail rising as if in agreement with her words.

Cid drew his blade, “Hold, brace!”

A moment later, a mage emerged, following the rough hewn road out of a shallow depression. Spotting the rangers, she raised her hand in greeting.

A burst of wind brought the heavy scent of blood to Riley’s nose. Her hackles rose, forcing her on her guard. More survivors appeared, moving along the small road as if the walking dead.

People in torn clothes and bandages shuffled along, shell shocked and bewildered. Children, with their eyes red and cheeks tear streaked, moved alone.

At the very back was a cart bracketing the gloomy procession.

“Survivors from Landon.” Cid surmised.

“My companion has healing magic. Do you think it could be useful, sir?” Tobias asked.

One of Cid’s eyebrows raised from behind the patch covering his eye.

“Let’s find out,” sheathing his sword, he approached the mage.

“Good morrow, Sorcerer,” Cid said in greeting.

“Good morrow, Ranger. We could have used you a few days earlier. I am Maritha,” She said, lowering her hood. Her high cheekbones contrasted with round, almond-colored eyes, and deep bronze skin that caused her golden torc to shine all the brighter.

“Are those the rangers? The blackblades are here!” Rose a cry of hope from one amidst the procession.

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“They’re here now, but not when our mages were dying and when our families were being eaten in front of us! Too little too late!” Another voice challenged in response.

“People, peace, they cannot be everywhere. We all knew the risks when we took up the charter. What matters is they are here now to avenge our fallen and to see us through the night,” Maritha soothed.

“Is anyone in need of healing? Are you provisioned well enough?” Cid asked, ignoring the disdain.

“Many could, aye. Will you establish camp with us and help us keep watch through the night? We could use you,” Maritha replied. The cool professional mask she wore fell for just a moment. Her breath hitched while terror danced within her eyes.

“Were there any left behind? Any missing?” Cid asked.

“None, only pieces. The town is a ruin. Help didn’t come. ” She explained, firming up, fixing her facade of calm back into place.

“Then there’s little need to rush. I received the dispatch from Ranger Central just this morning. I suppose you were already evacuating then.” Cid asked, his voice showing more kindness than Riley had yet seen.

“After the first twenty came out of the woods, we knew it was bad and defaulted to the standard three and one. I gathered the villagers and prepared to evacuate while my fellows took the point and attempted to eliminate the threat with help from the town militia. They were sadly only the first wave. Their numbers were endless, eventually overrunning our defenses,” Maritha reported.

“How did you get them out?” Tobias asked.

“Our rally point for those that could not fight was a hill outside Landon. The antlions were single minded once their fellows started dying. We watched the town fall in relative safety. Once the monsters were satisfied, they withdrew for a time, allowing us to check for survivors, but still, our escape was narrow. Many would not have been content to run if they had been forced to leave family behind,” She looked back with regret towards the cart.

“We’ll make camp and keep watch with you through the night. Once established, we’ll see to the wounded. Are you well provisioned?” Cid asked again.

“Better than you, I suspect. We have enough. What we need is a night to rest in relative safety,” Maritha said.

“Tobias, I want you to start setting ward fires at the perimeter, there, there, and there. We’ll establish near the rear and keep watch in two shifts. You’ll take the second; I’ll be the first. Maritha, you’ve a long journey still ahead, so I’d prefer you to rest tonight with your people,” Cid ordered, taking charge.

“Thank you, I will try,” She replied, “People, fan out, but do not drop out of line of sight. We need to gather wood and materials so this young ranger can help keep us safe,” Maritha commanded. Without question, some, even the injured, began gathering sticks and kindling.

“I could talk to the plants and make a bramble wall?” Riley offered, desperate to help.

“Would a bramble wall be useful?” Tobias asked.

Cid eyed him with surprise.

“Your companion again? Boy, after this is over, you and I are going to have a serious talk. Until then, get to casting!” Cid snapped, sounding angry.

“I think we’re blown. There goes our edge,” Riley complained, hopping off towards the wood line.

“It’s too late to worry about it now, these people need our help, that’s more important,” Tobias insisted.

Riley sighed, “Just what I need, another voice of reason in my head besides my own.”

Reaching down towards the earth, feeling the power rise in her, she pulled at the vines and bramble that grew at the base of the trees, feeding them with life energy, suffusing them with the force of creation itself.

Channeling, the plants latched onto the energy with vigor. The ground rumbled and quaked as vines shot up, occluding the path, tracing up the trees, interlacing, and locking, stretching out around them in a circling wall, towering eight feet high before abating.

Both mana and stamina bar began to flash in warning. Riley panted, grounding out her spell, riding out the ring of tinnitus in her ears.

It was then that she noticed that Cid was watching her, staring with shocked focus.

“Oh fucking perfect,” She complained, dropping to the ground on all fours to rest as a prompt notification flashed in her vision.