Sirih Bäcker - Embern’s Fate - Part 1

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Darkness pressed down on the Sparrows as they cowered beneath large roots and shrubbery. The only light was scattered around them on mushroom tops and in the crevices of the tree trunks and branches, casting a blue fluorescent shine. Above them the night sky was partly covered by dark twisting arms of trees leaving only a few stars to poke through.

Sirih could hear her closest lieutenant breathe behind her and a piece of light fabric stuck out, belonging to one of her crew's breeches but other than that signs of life were nonexistent. They were all listening and watching the same spot in the distance.

Her eyes flickered down to the hourglass clutched in her hand. It had gone on for fifteen paces and she moved it once more upside down, feeling a small itch of impatience. Her ears twitched in an attempt to hear the crew's signals or a whisper of their target but none came. The silence became ever more pressing.

Watching the sand trickle down became her passtime and she only occasionally glanced at her surroundings, making sure no Sparrows were slipping in their position. After more tedious moments she tilted her head backwards, taking a long calming breath to release some of the tension in her body. The stars which were visible before had shifted position in their wait and she smiled to herself knowing the lights had moved more than them.

A dove called out in the night and Sirih heard all of the Sparrows shift in their place, no doves lives in the forest. A series of noises followed in the distance. Roots and twigs snapped and hooves thundered against the forest floor. Sirih turned to her lieutenant, whose ears were round and deafened, nodded and unleashed her rapier. Lieutenant Aloisa smiled and tightened her grip around her sword’s hilt.

“Crossbows, alchemists ready?” Sirih called in a half whisper.

“Ready.” Came a chorus back.

“First command steady, target closing in. Alchemist, prepare sun shells.” She strained her ears further to locate the horde and waited only a few more moments.

“Now!” She shouted and the forest erupted in light.

The alchemists reloaded as the horde of horned beasts thrashed in panic. Sparrows dashed from their hidings, attacking their foes in smaller teams. Sirih threw herself into the fight with them, sticking her rapier quickly into the side of one of the confused creatures. It grunted and shook its great head in surprise. Along the horns purple scales and growths had built on each other, red irritation marked the skin surrounding the base and as the beast moved great chunks of the lumps came flying, sizzling as they hit the ground. She swiftly ended its life and dodged as the large body fell to the ground.

Behind her the fight was in a wild blur. She counted twenty beasts against her sixteen and she was forced to act instead worry. Aloisa had put down her own opponent and together they silenced yet another. A howl of pain swept through the battle and Sirih winched to see one of the swordsmen quickly being hauled away from one of the stampeding creatures.

“FALL DOWN, MARKSMEN FIRE!” Sirih bellowed through the glade and threw herself down on the ground. An array of grunts and cries from the beasts following the effective volley and Sirih dragged her lieutenant up with her the next moment.

A particularly large creature threw itself up on its hind legs in anger and stress. Its eyes and nostrils were clogged by the growths covering its face; as it thrashed upwards, scales cascaded down on the Sparrows, sizzling through their armor and fabric. More cries came. Sirih sprinted across the quickly darkening glade, darting past allies and beast alike. As she came closer she danced around the growths still scorching the dirt and then finally struck out against the panicking creature. It fell with a loud thud. Adrenaline rushed through her and she redirected her focus once more.