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.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
chapter nine warning
In case you couldn't tell from chapter eight; there will be blood and violence in this chapter.
chapter eight
Food was getting scarce. Kiera had never realised how much food four hundred people ate in a month. Anatolia wasn't exactly abudant with life in the first place, and the rather sloppy hunting techniques the guards had been using were scaring away the herds.
Then there were the Ga-Vok. It seemed like the Ga-Vok could ship in any food they needed, but insisted on hunting anyways. No matter how hard they tried the Ga-Vok hunting parties seemed to stumble on the camp at least every other day. Each time they were killed, but they still had to pack up everything and move just to be safe; they'd learned quickly what would happen if they didn't.
"Milady?"
Kiera sat upright.
"A fight is brewing between some of the others; it seems that someone over ate."
Kiera picked up her sword, she wasn't going to put up with this any more.
She climbed on to a nearby rock.
"Listen up!"
The crowd looked up, surprised to see their normally quiet leader speaking.
"I've had about enough of this. Sergant, stay here and protect the camp. I'm going into town to get some food."
She watched the shock roll over the crowd. Then jumped down and started walking. Let them think whatever they wanted; she had work to do.
And she might just get a chance to kill a few of them while she was at it.
Then there were the Ga-Vok. It seemed like the Ga-Vok could ship in any food they needed, but insisted on hunting anyways. No matter how hard they tried the Ga-Vok hunting parties seemed to stumble on the camp at least every other day. Each time they were killed, but they still had to pack up everything and move just to be safe; they'd learned quickly what would happen if they didn't.
"Milady?"
Kiera sat upright.
"A fight is brewing between some of the others; it seems that someone over ate."
Kiera picked up her sword, she wasn't going to put up with this any more.
She climbed on to a nearby rock.
"Listen up!"
The crowd looked up, surprised to see their normally quiet leader speaking.
"I've had about enough of this. Sergant, stay here and protect the camp. I'm going into town to get some food."
She watched the shock roll over the crowd. Then jumped down and started walking. Let them think whatever they wanted; she had work to do.
And she might just get a chance to kill a few of them while she was at it.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
chapter seven
Sorry, It's been a while since I updated. I had to decide whether or not to consolidate the story or not. I've decided to go ahead and stretch it out longer; in the hopes that I can manage proper character development and possibly lay background for some future scenarios.
Chapter seven
It had been three days since the attack, Kiera was begining to grow worried. The platoon that had escorted the wounded to a local hospital were going to arrive at the rendevous point in a few minutes. She was already begining to question the wisdom of meeting by night. Were the Ga-Vok nocturnal? Would they be patrolling? Would they even be looking?
After another half hour had passed she was growing restless. What if they had gotten lost, or worse? Did the Ga-Vok eat Nielda? She'd heard about some of the cuisine that diplomats had been forced to endure for the sake of diplomacy, and she could only imagine how little the sentience of a being would matter to them.
She decided to risk an attempt to signal them, in case they were lost. The Ga-Vok didn't seem to notice color, maybe just a little red...
She concentrated, thinking of the desired results, and released a small flare that hung over her position. All she could do now was wait.
"Princess, I see a torch. Just over the ridge."
"Quickly, let's go meet up with them"
The joy of having found the platoon quickly turned to horror as she saw the odies strewn across the hillock.
"Men, get them out of there!"
The sergant began barking commands to the other guards, who hastened clumsily to obey. By the time the Ga-Vok had been finished another four of her guards had fallen. She strode to the survivors, tending their injuries as they related the events that had happened since they left.
It seemed, though their words were garbled, that the Ga-Vok attack on the palace had not been an isolated incident. When they had arrived in town they found it under the control of several dozen Ga-Vok warriors. Before they could decide upon a course of action a hunting party had stumbled on their camp. In their rush to escape the wounded were abandoned. Both guards took great shame in this; Kinel went to considerable lengths to justify his actions, while Siru just broke down weeping audibly. Kinel could not be roused from his defensive state, but Siru was coereced into earfully relating what had followed. The hunting party they had escaped tracked them, and joined with several others. This larger band had cornered them here on the hill a few minutes before Kiera and her guards had arrived.
Kiera stood, she thanked Siru and Kinel for their efforts; then left them to the medic.
This was worse than she had thought; the Ga-Vok had not only attacked multiple, likely all, towns across Anatolia, but had likely managed to defeat the local garrisons and gain a level of domination over the planet that allowed them to hnt down the survivors at their own discretion.
"Men, gather the fallen and head back to camp. The longer we stay here the longer our scent will linger for them to track." She wasn't sure if they could smell quite that well, but she could smell them and it stood to reason the Ga-Vok could too.
"Sergant. Gather their dead on the hill and set fire to it." With any luck the smoke would blur the smell, or at least the pile of corpses would distract them a while.
She wasn't sure how, but she would not let the fallen rest unavenged. The Ga-Vok would all burn for this, just like their fallen comrades.
Chapter seven
It had been three days since the attack, Kiera was begining to grow worried. The platoon that had escorted the wounded to a local hospital were going to arrive at the rendevous point in a few minutes. She was already begining to question the wisdom of meeting by night. Were the Ga-Vok nocturnal? Would they be patrolling? Would they even be looking?
After another half hour had passed she was growing restless. What if they had gotten lost, or worse? Did the Ga-Vok eat Nielda? She'd heard about some of the cuisine that diplomats had been forced to endure for the sake of diplomacy, and she could only imagine how little the sentience of a being would matter to them.
She decided to risk an attempt to signal them, in case they were lost. The Ga-Vok didn't seem to notice color, maybe just a little red...
She concentrated, thinking of the desired results, and released a small flare that hung over her position. All she could do now was wait.
"Princess, I see a torch. Just over the ridge."
"Quickly, let's go meet up with them"
The joy of having found the platoon quickly turned to horror as she saw the odies strewn across the hillock.
"Men, get them out of there!"
The sergant began barking commands to the other guards, who hastened clumsily to obey. By the time the Ga-Vok had been finished another four of her guards had fallen. She strode to the survivors, tending their injuries as they related the events that had happened since they left.
It seemed, though their words were garbled, that the Ga-Vok attack on the palace had not been an isolated incident. When they had arrived in town they found it under the control of several dozen Ga-Vok warriors. Before they could decide upon a course of action a hunting party had stumbled on their camp. In their rush to escape the wounded were abandoned. Both guards took great shame in this; Kinel went to considerable lengths to justify his actions, while Siru just broke down weeping audibly. Kinel could not be roused from his defensive state, but Siru was coereced into earfully relating what had followed. The hunting party they had escaped tracked them, and joined with several others. This larger band had cornered them here on the hill a few minutes before Kiera and her guards had arrived.
Kiera stood, she thanked Siru and Kinel for their efforts; then left them to the medic.
This was worse than she had thought; the Ga-Vok had not only attacked multiple, likely all, towns across Anatolia, but had likely managed to defeat the local garrisons and gain a level of domination over the planet that allowed them to hnt down the survivors at their own discretion.
"Men, gather the fallen and head back to camp. The longer we stay here the longer our scent will linger for them to track." She wasn't sure if they could smell quite that well, but she could smell them and it stood to reason the Ga-Vok could too.
"Sergant. Gather their dead on the hill and set fire to it." With any luck the smoke would blur the smell, or at least the pile of corpses would distract them a while.
She wasn't sure how, but she would not let the fallen rest unavenged. The Ga-Vok would all burn for this, just like their fallen comrades.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
chapter six
Kiera sat on the edge of the clearing. She watched the survivors from the palace flow out of the passage. More than she had hoped, at least a few hundred of the servants and guards had managed to escape.
she quickly gathered them all together and took count of them and the meager supplies they'd brought. Without some sort of food they weren't going to last long.
"Does anyone know where we can find some food?" She yelled.
She wasn't sure if the silence bothered her more than the message it conveyed.
"How about a map. Does anyone have a map?"
Still no reply, save a few muttered groans from some of the injured servants.
This was going no where. She walked up to the top of the ridge and looked out.
She could see Ankara from here, there were fires scattered across the city. That was one option ruled out.
She continued to survey the surroundings as one of the guards approached.
"Milady, we must move. That rabble will be coming soon."
"Get the people together, we're heading east."
"The nearest town is five kilometers west of here. Shouldn't we head there?"
"Really? Send a platoon to escort the wounded there; the rest of us will move to the hills. We can hunt for food for now."
As the guard started barking commands to his fellows, Kiera strode over to the entrance to the passage. She drew her sword and began scratching arcane symbols about it. It wasn't good for the blade, but she could sharpen it later. Still etching the runes, she glanced around for something to use as ink. She stopped, she could only think of two things that could be used and neither of them were apealing.
She leveled her sword, point to the ground. placing her hand on the blade, she forced it into the ground. she winced in pain as blood trickled down and filled the marks upon the ground; this had better be worth it.
she withdrew her hand, wiped her sword, and activated the enchantment. the few drops of blood expanded, hardening, and filled each of her markings. they glowed dimmly red in the shadows of the valley. It had worked; the Ga-Vok would find it much more difficult to follow her now.
Sheathing her sword she rushed to join the plodding crowd as they headed into the mountains.
she quickly gathered them all together and took count of them and the meager supplies they'd brought. Without some sort of food they weren't going to last long.
"Does anyone know where we can find some food?" She yelled.
She wasn't sure if the silence bothered her more than the message it conveyed.
"How about a map. Does anyone have a map?"
Still no reply, save a few muttered groans from some of the injured servants.
This was going no where. She walked up to the top of the ridge and looked out.
She could see Ankara from here, there were fires scattered across the city. That was one option ruled out.
She continued to survey the surroundings as one of the guards approached.
"Milady, we must move. That rabble will be coming soon."
"Get the people together, we're heading east."
"The nearest town is five kilometers west of here. Shouldn't we head there?"
"Really? Send a platoon to escort the wounded there; the rest of us will move to the hills. We can hunt for food for now."
As the guard started barking commands to his fellows, Kiera strode over to the entrance to the passage. She drew her sword and began scratching arcane symbols about it. It wasn't good for the blade, but she could sharpen it later. Still etching the runes, she glanced around for something to use as ink. She stopped, she could only think of two things that could be used and neither of them were apealing.
She leveled her sword, point to the ground. placing her hand on the blade, she forced it into the ground. she winced in pain as blood trickled down and filled the marks upon the ground; this had better be worth it.
she withdrew her hand, wiped her sword, and activated the enchantment. the few drops of blood expanded, hardening, and filled each of her markings. they glowed dimmly red in the shadows of the valley. It had worked; the Ga-Vok would find it much more difficult to follow her now.
Sheathing her sword she rushed to join the plodding crowd as they headed into the mountains.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
chapter five
"That's the last of them captain."
"Well done men. Enge, contact the ship; We're leaving."
Daniel had no idea what it was that had gotten the Ga-Vok into such a frenzied state, but he had no intention to stick around and find out.
"back to the trucks everyone, I want to be back in camp before the first shuttle lands."
He rode in the back this time, with some of his greenest crewmen. They would need the morale boost after the fight; for several this was the first time they'd ever killed. Besides, if there was an ambush it was easier to escape from the back.
"captain!"
He turned, Enge was looking startled.
"Dalve says he's not going to risk the blockade"
"what blockade, Grell would never directly challenge me like that."
"no sir, there's a fleet of Ga-Vok transports and several smaller patrol craft in orbit. Dalve doesn't think he could get past them without the ship being tracked to camp."
"What?"
"there's.."
"I heard the first time, Enge."
"where do you think they got the ships?"
"If I knew I'd already own stock in the manufacturer."
"then what do you think it is?"
Daniel paused. He knew that there had been talk within the Daniellandish government about building ships that could protect the trade routes from piracy; but he'd have known if there were any plans to actually implement the system. To start with, they would have offered him a commission; his contacts would guarantee that much.
"I think those Ga-Vok in Ankara may have something to do with this. I've heard that one of the clans recently began consolidating power over the others. Perhaps they're trying to draw the Empire into the conflict."
"but where did they get the ships?"
"most likely the same place we did, stolen and modified."
They hadn't, Daniel knew even before he said it. The fact of the matter was that Ga-Vok didn't have the dexterity to operate most Nieldic machinery; and what they could operate they did clumsily. It wasn't that they weren't smart enough to do it; it was that they didn't like to sit down while they did. The claws didn't help either.
"what should we do captain?"
"We're going back to camp; then we'll wait till they go away." There wasn't much else they could do; it was mostly just a matter of waiting until the military came out and scared them off.
For the first time in his life, he hoped the military came quickly.
"Well done men. Enge, contact the ship; We're leaving."
Daniel had no idea what it was that had gotten the Ga-Vok into such a frenzied state, but he had no intention to stick around and find out.
"back to the trucks everyone, I want to be back in camp before the first shuttle lands."
He rode in the back this time, with some of his greenest crewmen. They would need the morale boost after the fight; for several this was the first time they'd ever killed. Besides, if there was an ambush it was easier to escape from the back.
"captain!"
He turned, Enge was looking startled.
"Dalve says he's not going to risk the blockade"
"what blockade, Grell would never directly challenge me like that."
"no sir, there's a fleet of Ga-Vok transports and several smaller patrol craft in orbit. Dalve doesn't think he could get past them without the ship being tracked to camp."
"What?"
"there's.."
"I heard the first time, Enge."
"where do you think they got the ships?"
"If I knew I'd already own stock in the manufacturer."
"then what do you think it is?"
Daniel paused. He knew that there had been talk within the Daniellandish government about building ships that could protect the trade routes from piracy; but he'd have known if there were any plans to actually implement the system. To start with, they would have offered him a commission; his contacts would guarantee that much.
"I think those Ga-Vok in Ankara may have something to do with this. I've heard that one of the clans recently began consolidating power over the others. Perhaps they're trying to draw the Empire into the conflict."
"but where did they get the ships?"
"most likely the same place we did, stolen and modified."
They hadn't, Daniel knew even before he said it. The fact of the matter was that Ga-Vok didn't have the dexterity to operate most Nieldic machinery; and what they could operate they did clumsily. It wasn't that they weren't smart enough to do it; it was that they didn't like to sit down while they did. The claws didn't help either.
"what should we do captain?"
"We're going back to camp; then we'll wait till they go away." There wasn't much else they could do; it was mostly just a matter of waiting until the military came out and scared them off.
For the first time in his life, he hoped the military came quickly.
Monday, November 2, 2009
about chapter four
I'm going to go ahead and slap a PG-13 rating on that one for mild sexuality, mildly gratuitus(sp) blood, and minor character death.
I suppose that only counts as PG these days, but in my eyes; this is PG-13 at least.
I'll try to give you more of a heads up next time.
And please leave comments, How else am I supposed to know what you think of it?
I suppose that only counts as PG these days, but in my eyes; this is PG-13 at least.
I'll try to give you more of a heads up next time.
And please leave comments, How else am I supposed to know what you think of it?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)