When the convoy of Fomorians stopped to check their load was secure; glad to be one dry land and no longer wading through the endless reeds, mud and swamp water, someone at the front of the line shouted that they could see a child ahead. Was it really the girl he lost in the river? If it was his body would be left to rot at the side of the road. Dylan shrank away between the carts and wagons. Doing so was no easy feat for a centaur of his build or the striking combination of his long, orange hair and splotchy white and golden fur. Fortunately, Dylan peered out from between the carts and wagons just in time to glimpse the small, dark blue blob in the middle distance. The blob was not pink. Therefore, this child’s survival was someone else’s mistake.148Please respect copyright.PENANAGH17RFHmwY
“It must be one of the kids that escaped.”148Please respect copyright.PENANA4FvdnmHiqZ
“They aren’t wearing the uniform.”148Please respect copyright.PENANAxDCd3QPqU4
“They could have changed clothes.”148Please respect copyright.PENANAary1IPuEc8
“You know what our boss said.” Blizzard commanded, standing up on Dylan’s rump.148Please respect copyright.PENANA4x6JYf08Mk
“KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM!” The Fomorians cheered in unison, raised their weapons to kill and charged towards the child in the blue cloak and her companions.
***
The sun shone comfortably – not too warm and not too cold. There were only a handful of light, fluffy clouds. The grass sparkled thanks to dew lingering from the night before. It was an idyllic area with very little tree coverage, even if the gentle, iridescent green slopes were scarred by the ruins of what used to be a thriving settlement. The world outside was easy to forget, since the ‘students’ were protected inside Sheehan’s school.
Greenwood, Florimal, Pan and Dawn walked through the meadow. Randolph rode behind Daisy on Snowfire’s saddle. Excalibur was tethered to Snowfire’s saddle since he was too young to be broken in and no one in this group knew how to properly break in a Nightmare for a child’s use – even for Daisy who was a skilled rider for her age. Suki rode at the back of the group while they talked and shared snacks to pass the time.
“What is that noise? It sounds like…SHIT the Fomorians found us!” Florimal exclaimed.148Please respect copyright.PENANACG11puKbuF
Dawn, Daisy, Pan, Randolph, Florimal, Greenwood, Suki and their respective nightmares scattered when the Fomorians charged after them; utilising the overgrown, crumbling ruins of a once thriving village, hills, scattered clusters of fruit bearing trees and fences to avoid being struck with curses at long range in the otherwise open fields.
Florimal, Dawn and Daisy took to the air using their wings. Daisy was dragged by her sister’s grip on her arm.148Please respect copyright.PENANAFinrvq5CGZ
“Excalibur!” Daisy sobbed.148Please respect copyright.PENANAzYZfaeeRBI
“Don’t worry about him.” Florimal lied. She was bad with kids. “He’ll warp to safety.”
Pan’s talons pierced through the fleshy nubs at the ends of his arms. Despite his stubby legs, the Short Snout kept pace with Greenwood and Randolph. Greenwood and Randolph withdrew their Magi and focused on taking down archers that could kill Florimal, Dawn and Daisy. Randolph’s Magi rapidly expanded into a three-pronged trident that exceeded his own height. Despite his aquatic appearance, Greenwood’s rusty Magi distorted into a pick-axe. This wasn’t one of Oxley or Shirley’s classes. These Fomorians intended to kill them the instant they laid eyes on Suki’s blue cloak. Greenwood, Pan and Randolph used the crumbling ruins to conceal themselves before attacking the oblivious Fomorians. It was a bloodbath equal to the fall of Equinox. Just like she did when she descended the mountain, Dawn kept both arms coiled around her little sister. One to stop Daisy from falling and the other to shield her innocent eyes. Compared to the stories about angels, the sisters looked quite bland with their brown hair and green eyes. Even Daisy’s pink wings and Dawn’s purple were solid colours.
Greenwood wiped the blood off his pick-axe on the corner of his tunic before crouching down to loot the bodies. Randolph signalled to the ‘girls’ that it was safe to land. Pan sniffed the air before running to confirm Daisy was safe. Daisy hugged the Short Snout.148Please respect copyright.PENANAk4e80Jybnx
“We shouldn’t linger here. Grab what you need. Quickly.” Randolph said quickly.148Please respect copyright.PENANAJvB9dqpJPJ
“They’ll send more when these Pawns don’t return.” Dawn agreed. “We’re missing-”148Please respect copyright.PENANAGIwlewl5DE
“We’ll find Gen’s sister on our way out of here. Her blue cloak is impossible to miss.” Greenwood added as he stood up, this Magi shrank down so he could also carry loot.
The Fomorian was only a few paces behind them as Eden carried Suki through an orchard and up a steep hill. Suki considered jumping off Eden to let him escape, but he was running too quickly for her to land without mangling herself on a stray log or a sharp rock. She clung to him with her entire body. Eden bobbed and weaved without any sense of self-preservation. He crested the hill. There was nowhere left to run! It was nothing but meadow as far as he could see. His burning lungs inhaled deeply. He threw himself down the sheer drop on the other side. Instead of slowly sloping back down into the meadow, this hill was excavated some time ago to make room for a settlement that lay in ruins. Eden’s hooves skidded on the soft, wet grass and earth. He managed to keep Suki from hitting the ground, but the impact sent pain shooting up his leg. He groaned through gritted teeth. Struggling to maintain his form. The masked Fomorian pursuing them managed to land on his feet. The Fomorian picked up his Magi; limping towards the pair to finish them off. With Eden writhing on the ground, Suki did the only thing she could think of. She lunged at the Fomorian; piercing him until he dropped the Magi. Suki screamed incomprehensibly as she slashed, stabbed and hacked recklessly.148Please respect copyright.PENANAz2uYUm6Nxg
148Please respect copyright.PENANAH2k1qu5qFt
“S-Suki.” Eden winced. “He’s dead…Stop…Please.”148Please respect copyright.PENANAfakXzX1aa2
“No. Fuck him! He tried to kill you.” She kicked the corpse one last time.148Please respect copyright.PENANAioukvOYLMD
“Ah…We should find our way back to the others- Never mind, it looks like they found us.”148Please respect copyright.PENANAaWKowmDbDs
“Who found us?” Suki whipped around, ready to fight to the death. Randolph slowed his dash to approach her. Dawn, Daisy, Pan, Florimal and Greenwood kept running.148Please respect copyright.PENANAWroQ2Zgczk
“Good. You’re both alive. There is no time to talk. There are more Fomorians coming.”148Please respect copyright.PENANANpJOmgiOtw
“I can take ‘em!”148Please respect copyright.PENANANo6TbwltPl
Randolph ignored Suki’s bravado and the fact that she was covered in blood, dragging her by the wrist until the two of them caught up to the others. Eden limped after them, trying not to make Suki worry about him. He glanced over his shoulder at the ruins. There was no point praying to the Pantheon. Not for an unnatural abomination like him.
The Fomorians did not send anyone to look for the fallen comrade. They had a deadline to meet with the chieftain of Tooms Valley. Their convoy had weeks of marching ahead of them and the inhospitable tundra of Luckybrook before they reached their destination.
By the time the trio reunited with the others, they had found Excalibur and Snowfire.148Please respect copyright.PENANAZHRRxCOZGf
“Phew! We lost ‘em.” Florimal laughed nervously. “I can’t believe that we really lost ‘em.”148Please respect copyright.PENANAMToDHoyMEM
Neither could anyone else. None of them wanted to say anything to jinx themselves.148Please respect copyright.PENANAJNC6GupcxW
“Are there any injuries?” Randolph asked, counting to make sure everyone was present.148Please respect copyright.PENANAkfCClejCG8
Everyone looked at each other before shaking their heads. Now that they could see to the horizon with no hills or ruins to hide the Fomorians, their walk felt like a funeral procession. The group continued to walk in case they were pursued again. Not fast enough to draw attention and so that everyone could replenish their stamina. Greenwood noticed Suki lagging behind on her stumbling Nightmare. Leaves and twigs were tangled in its mane and tail from a fall. That was unsurprising for two reasons. One. Suki was an inexperienced rider. Two. They were ambushed by Fomorian Pawns.
Suki noticed Greenwood approaching from the bog water stench before she saw him. Bog water was a stench that Suki became accustomed to before she almost drowned. She started to writhe in her saddle as if she had forgotten what little she had learned. Even proud warriors had to act stupid sometimes. Fomorians did not have use for a Pawn who couldn’t perform its duties. Suki saw many Nightmares butchered. Not that a single curse or blade could do Eden in. She couldn’t reveal his secret. Not like this!
“Don’t worry kiddo. Your steed isn’t going to get put down over a scratch on ‘er knee.” Greenwood let go of Eden’s leg and ruffled Suki’s mop of hair. “Oi! Man down over ‘ere!”148Please respect copyright.PENANAw6r0O1VeUl
“Is the child okay?” Randolph called back, pulling on the reins to slow Snowfire to a halt.148Please respect copyright.PENANAh8XljdWBzp
“Just a little bit shaken. Her steed needs to rest its leg. It took the brunt of the fall.”148Please respect copyright.PENANAbEvCYFtYhp
It didn’t surprise Florimal that Suki would remind Greenwood of how they met. In a lot of ways, she and Suki were similar. Discounting the short, choppy, black hair Florimal also had no idea that this Other World existed when she first got trapped here. Suki had spent her life trapped inside a castle, not seeing the world outside for eight years.148Please respect copyright.PENANAPW6j7OiDLx
“Good idea. We’ll make camp. I think everyone is exhausted.” Randolph agreed.