chapter nine

Kiera was in sight of the town when it occured to her. If there were more than five of them she wouldn't stand a chance in a fight. She stopped on small ridge just off the road into town.
She could probably out match any given one of them in a fight, but if more than on came at her she wasn't sure. With magic she could probably take as many as three or four at a time; if she was lucky.
No, that sort of magic was to costly. SHe'd be exhausted in minutes and unable to defend herself if any more came. Which left her with one choice, set traps and lure them out.
It was a time consuming option, and left a lot to her enemies competence. But it was still the safest option. And a little magic could remove a great deal of personal danger.
She drew her sword; it seemed like this was hapening a lot recently.
she slid her hand across the sharp edge and quickly cast a clotting spell to prevent to much blood loss. The runes came more easily to her now; she had used these enchantments often recently. As her blood trickled down the blade, she marked the earth along the ridge. She wasn't sure about how effective the spell would actually be, but she doubted they'd have any way of detedting it without a spellweaver of their own; in which case she would be dead anyways. She had read tales that said Ga-Vok shaman could slay their enemies from across worlds. Child's tales perhaps, but she had seen nothing to disprove it.
That was the last of them. What blood remained on her sword would serve to poison it against her enemies. Now to lure them.
She was hesitant to spill more of her own blood; so she bent over the earth. drawing upon her own power she gave it shape. An image of a woman, nothing spectacular; but a bit of her own scent would work better against a Ga-Vok.