Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [183]
He pulled the horse to a stop and spun around, bolting back towards his familiar. She had jumped on top of a wagon and was lunging left and right, swiping at the dogs’ faces as they reared on their hind legs, snapping at her. Their skin was being torn to strips. One fell back, his jugular lacerated, pumping blood like a geyser. Another caught sight of An’ Lawrence and turned on him. Before he could swing his blade, the palomino reared, his front hooves striking the beast in the skull, driving it into the ground. Champion move! He stroked the gelding’s neck. When he looked up, the last death dog had Scylla in its jaws.
He kicked the horse forward, his sword levelled at the dog’s chest. Scylla screamed, rolling around in her skin, her jaws wide, sabre fangs catching the dog behind his neck and under his throat. An’ Lawrence’s sword pierced the dog’s side and he drove it down, through heart and lungs. It released the temple cat and fell dead.
Scylla shook; her fangs were still bared and her hackles were spiked with blood. She screamed towards An’ Lawrence and he turned to find a dozen more dogs bearing down on them.
Where are the Lupins when we need them? she asked, panting.
‘Stay behind!’ He held his sword overhead with both hands, controlling the horse with his legs only. He called on the Elementals, drawing to him Air and Fire. His blade turned red as an energy wave built up. When the dogs were a horse length away, he swung, releasing the spell and blasting the beasts with full force. They were thrown back as if flicked aside by a giant hand. Wagons overturned and tents were ripped from their pegs, the grass torn from its roots. Flames ignited everything in the spell’s path. The charging warriors were bowled over as well, swords flying from their hands.
More are coming! Scylla screamed in his head.
An’ Lawrence gave the signal to retreat, sending a blast of blue light high into the morning sky. Scylla jumped down from the wagon and led the way out of the valley, blood oozing from her shoulders as she ran. The Temple Los Loma warriors evacuated as plumes of smoke rose from the valley. They retreated to the foothills of Dumar, skirting the Goregan River gorge. An’ Lawrence stopped to take stock of his riders when they filed by. They were in excellent shape, for the most part, though a few horses came back riderless.
‘You’re still bleeding, lovely,’ he said, examining Scylla’s wounds. The tooth hole at the back of her neck was particularly deep. ‘How do you feel?’
I have a slight headache.
‘I’ll bet you do. We need to flush that wound out straight away.’ He led the palomino to the picket line, noting he was sound.
Your new horse beast is injured too.
He looked again, realising the animal had lacerations on his front legs and chest. When he ran up his stirrups he saw the tiny brass plaque riveted to the horse’s saddle. It read Fortuna.
‘Fortuna!’
The horse’s golden ears pricked at the sound of his name.
‘Didn’t you just prove right by me,’ An’ Lawrence said softly. ‘Brave lad, you are, and smart fighter too. We will see to your wounds, and your feed.’
‘The Desertwinds did well, Sword Master,’ his second said, taking the reins. ‘As did Cheetah.’
The palomino closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead on the Sword Master’s shoulder.
‘I’m pleased with them all.’
Are you taking the golden horse, Rowan?
He stroked Fortuna’s neck. ‘I’d say he’s a keeper, wouldn’t you?’
Before she could answer, a raven swooped overhead, screaming once before it disappeared. All heads turned, following the bird’s path.
‘A warning, Sword Master?’
‘More like a threat.’ He surveyed his troops, selecting twelve riders, all uninjured. ‘One hour to attend your horses, then you ride with me.’ He turned to Zero who’d come up late with his section from Half Moon Bay. ‘Injuries?’
Zero beamed. ‘None, Sword Master.’
An’ Lawrence nodded. ‘We need to keep the Corsanons moving east, but don’t engage them again.’
‘That won’t be hard. They’re heading that way now.’
‘They’ve got wind of Bangeesh?’
‘I’d say so.’
‘Good.