by Casey Odell
The men grew quiet and just looked at her, their eyes still uncertain.
“And just what do you propose we do?” asked an older man in worn silver armor, his voice clear with skepticism. “Run? Hide? Either way, they’ll just hunt us down like they did the other night.”
Claire glanced up at Razi. “He’ll protect your escape.” She started down the street, wanting to put more space between them and the slowly failing barricade. The men followed, a little hesitantly, but their fear won out. Perhaps they were desperate enough to at least hear her out.
“And what could one man do?” asked one of the men.
“You’ve seen only a little bit of what he can do,” Claire said without breaking stride. “He, like me, is no ordinary human. He will protect you, but you must be ready for a fight as well.” She had no doubt those beasts would try for the townspeople once they left the safe confines of the walls. “Are there others as well? Women, children?”
“Yes,” said the older man, grimly. “In the cellar of the town hall. It’s secure—”
“It’s not!” Claire rounded on the man. “I’ve seen what these creatures can do. So have you. The only chance any of you stand is to flee, and you know it.” She spotted Razi trailing behind, a scowl on his face. He didn’t approve of her plan, it seemed. “Razi will guard you, I will stay behind to distract them.” Besides, it’s me they want, she added silently. She gulped, not looking forward to her own plan any more than Razi.
“We could go to Lendon,” one of the younger men suggested. “They haven’t had any attacks yet, I hear.”
“No!” The word burst from her lips, the rage she felt for the General and his city and what they’d done boiling over. “Don’t go there! They haven’t been attacked, but they are not to be trusted. They’ve been using the attacks to conquer the ravaged towns and villages and expand their empire. They’re no better than those beasts, as far as I’m concerned. No, go to Alexos.” She mentioned the port city, but she didn’t know its current state. If it had fallen to Lendon or had been attacked by the centaur horde, surely she would have heard about it in Linesbrough. It seemed that the horde was staying away from the larger cities, but for how long, she didn’t know. “It should be safe there.”
The pounding of the barrier grew in intensity, the sound of cracking rock alarming the men visibly.
“It’s worth a try,” said one of the men. “She’s right— if we stay we will just be slaughtered. At least if we make a run for it, some of us may survive.”
They all looked to the older man in silver armor, who must have been the one in control, and waited for his final word. Seconds seemed to stretch on to eternity as he thought.
Finally, the old man broke his silence. “To Alexos it is then,” he said gruffly. “Round up the horses and whatever supplies you can carry. Inform the others.”
And with that, the men dispersed, disappearing into the town, set to their tasks, a new light shining in their eyes. They had been prepared to die before. They knew they were fighting a losing battle. But now, at least they felt like they had a chance, and the relief showed clearly. Claire could only wish she felt the same. At the same time that the weight was lifted off their shoulders, it was placed onto hers. And it was heavy.
“Thank you.” The older man turned to Claire and eyed Razi. “Both of you, whoever you are.” Then he was gone as well.
“This is foolish,” Razi said close behind her.
Claire turned and looked up at him. “It may be, but it might just work. You’re the only one of us that can protect those people. Besides, the centaurs won’t kill me. It’s us they’re after, remember?”
He sighed. “I still do not like it. Neither will that elf of yours. But it seems you are set in your way.” He placed a hand over the pendant and she could feel the stone grow warm once again. “Remember what I have taught you. Do not use too much magic, or else you will be left vulnerable.” He tilted her chin up to him, his deep red eyes piercing hers. “Be careful, me chaqana. Your little elf lover is not the only one who worries.”
Wind whirled around them, and then he was gone, dark wispy smoke lingering where he once stood. Claire remained motionless for a moment. She would have to learn that trick one day, even though it terrified her.
Another deafening bang brought the real world crashing down around her once again. She took a long shaky breath to help soothe her nerves, clenched her fists, shook them out, but nothing helped. Her whole body trembled, and her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest. At the rate she was going, she would die of fright way before the centaurs ever reached her. She needed to try and remain calm. She had escaped one centaur before— what was a few more?
A sudden smile broke onto her lips and some of her fears eased. She was certainly mad, choosing to face her biggest nightmare. Alone. With magic she was hardly proficient with, and blades she was even less so. Yes, it seemed she truly was insane.
But more than that, she was angry. Foolish, perhaps, but most definitely angry. These creatures were destroying everything, and for what? Why were they willing to go so far to get more power?
It didn’t matter. Because it all stopped here. Claire let the anger chase away her nervousness. She faced the gate and the failing barrier.
“What are you waiting for?” she shouted. “I’m right here!” A responding roar from one of the eyeless monsters made her flinch. She knew she shouldn’t rile them, but it was sort of empowering. If a little arrogant provocation worked for Farron and Razi, surely it could work for her, and she needed all the help she could get.
She closed her eyes and searched for her power, building it up inside of her. She would be prepared. The magic Razi had given her refreshed her a little. Even so, she would have to be careful. If she used too much, she risked having the mark grow wild and take over, and then she would be completely vulnerable. No, she wasn’t going to win with her power alone. She just needed to delay them until he could come back. And not get herself captured. Or killed.
She didn’t know how much time had passed since she’d withdrawn into herself. But her reprieve was over as the sound of crumbling rock drew her back into the present. Claire tensed, her pulse pounding in her throat, but she stood her ground. Even when the first centaur leaped over the remnants of the barrier.
As frightening and ugly as she remembered them, the centaur galloped closer to her, stopping a hundred feet or so away. Bronze armor covered his front and legs, a silver tipped spear in his right hand. An ugly sneer showed beneath a horned helmet.
The centaur glanced around before settling his gaze on her. “I expected more of a welcome,” he shouted, his voice deep and rough, with only a hint of the thick accent she’d heard over and over in her nightmares. “Where did your little friends go?”
Claire gulped. She wasn’t sure if she could answer him, even if she wanted to. Already she fought the urge to run. Not yet. She couldn’t flee so soon. Instead, she channeled the fear into her magic, forming a blue orb in her hand. The centaur’s eyes lit up and he smiled.
“I hear it’s me you’re after,” she said loudly, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.
The centaur drew closer. “We do not deal in trades,” he said as two more centaurs leaped over the barrier.
The huge creatures still beat away at the rock, trying to level it completely.
“Neither do I,” Claire shouted to the centaur, and lobbed the blue ball at him. It struck in the center of his bronze breastplate. He flinched but otherwise appeared unfazed.
The centaur reared, raising his spear up toward the sky. The other two centaurs flanked him, letting out a battle roar that spread to the horde behind them.
Chills raced through Claire’s body. She quickly formed another ball and took a step back.
“We take what we want, and you and your little friend will be ours,” the lead centaur pointed his spear at her, “as well as the lives of those that resisted us.” With that, the centaur charged at her.
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Claire gasped and threw the second sphere at him. The centaur blocked it with his spear, the magic crackling up the wooden shaft, but before it could reach his hand, he dropped it to the ground and then drew the sword at his side, not even skipping a beat. Claire paused for a split second. How did he know to do that? But she didn’t have time to dwell on the possibilities.
She dropped down to her knees and slammed her hands on the ground once more, pushing her magic into the earth, but instead of a barrier, she thought of something a little more offensive that she’d recently learned she could do. Rocky spikes shot up from the ground in front of the centaur. He reared again, just barely avoiding them. Claire continued with the attack, sending spike after spike after the centaur, pushing him back toward the gate to join his comrades. The same time the smirk disappeared from his face, one touched hers. She wouldn’t go down so easily.
The large eyeless creatures were almost through. How she would face them, she had no idea. Perhaps the same kind of attack could work for them. Before she could try it, however, one of the other centaurs lobbed his spear at Claire. Claire rolled to the right, just avoiding the sharp tip. It dug into the dirt with a loud thump. That was too close.
She rose to her knees once again as all three centaurs charged this time. She placed her hands on the ground once again, but before she could push her magic into the earth, the second centaur threw his spear. Claire dodged, scrambling to her feet. They weren’t going to let her try the same trick again. Unfortunately, it was the most effective magic attack she had at the moment. She formed another blue orb in her hand and threw it at the lead centaur, then another at the one on the left. They struck, but they had little effect on the beasts. Running out of options, and fast, Claire whirled and ran for the closest alleyway. She didn’t know the layout of the town, but neither did they. Perhaps she could lose them, or at least whittle their numbers down to make it a fairer fight.
Dodging crates and an empty wagon, she ran like her life depended on it— which it probably did. She’d succeeded in angering her attackers. Who knew what they would do in their rage? They weren’t exactly civil creatures. She tipped over whatever debris she could in her wake in an attempt to stall them, if even for a second. A moment could be the difference between her being captured or not. She turned to the right down an even narrower back alley, the sound of pounding hooves still too close for comfort. She tried a back door, but it was barred from the inside. To be expected. She moved on, putting more distance between her and the centaurs before trying another one. Locked as well.
The centaurs turned the corner then. Two of them filed into the narrow alleyway, the other had split off to try and corner her, no doubt. Claire ducked down another alleyway to her left. She would have to be more careful and watch for the third one, and others as well. There was a whole horde of them out there, and they were all hunting for her. As time wore on, more of them filtered in through the gate. She’d be even more outnumbered soon.
She reached another wide road that ran parallel to the main one. Houses and businesses lined the street, as empty and lifeless as the rest of the town. After a quick glance to make sure it was clear, she shot across to another alley, turning right once again into the back alleyway. Her breathing and feet became heavier. She was beginning to tire already. She needed to find a place to hide so she could rest and plan her next step. Door after door she tried, the distant sound of hooves drawing nearer by the second. She was just about to give up hope when finally, a door clicked open.
Without sparing even a second, Claire slipped into the two-storied building and shut the door behind her as quickly and quietly as she could. She slid the bolt to lock the door and listened, ducking low under the small round window in the wall. One set of hooves started down the alleyway, accompanied by the low guttural curses of the centaur. The other two, she had no idea where they’d gone.
Claire struggled to quiet her breathing. She felt like she was going to suffocate. She’d lost their trail, but for how long? The hooves drew nearer and she held her breath, already close to fainting. Fainting, however, was more appealing than a spear to the chest. At least that was what she tried to convince herself.
Each hoof beat made her heart skip. Closer and closer they drew. Was he onto her? Had he seen her come into the building? The hooves sounded right outside the door, the vibrations passing through the floorboards up into her feet, making her whole body quiver. It was too much. But just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, the hooves passed her by, slowly making their way down the alley. A few buildings down she heard the loud crack of wood on wood, then another as the centaur started to check the doors.
Claire swallowed hard and backed away from the door. It may have been locked, but she knew the flimsy wood wouldn’t stand a chance against an infuriated centaur. She turned and inspected the room she’d stumbled into for the first time. Small and filled to the ceiling with shelves and unmarked crates and barrels, it was a storeroom of some sort. Another door stood opposite her. She crossed and tried the knob, and with a little jiggling and a firm elbow, opened it. Whoever had left it had been in a hurry, it seemed, and careless in their haste. An understandable oversight given the circumstances. One that she was grateful for.
A quaint general store greeted her on the other side. Unlike the storeroom, however, the shelves were barren, likely picked over by the fleeing population. The front door hung open and the glass in both front windows was cracked. Claire ducked behind the counter and slid to the floor, leaning her back up against the wall. What now? The distant sound of hooves and shouts told her the hunt was still on. She couldn’t stay here for long. But her best bet was to keep hiding, keep moving from building to building. To only use her magic and fight when she had to. Wait it out until help could come.
She had a feeling that it wouldn’t be that simple, though. Nothing ever was.
The sound of hooves rang out on the street in front. They met a few buildings down.
“She hides,” said a thickly accented voice.
Deep laughter responded to the other centaur, echoing through the deserted town. “You cannot hide forever,” shouted a familiar voice. Their bronze-clad leader. “You hear me?”
Claire tensed. She did. He didn’t seriously think he would get an answer, though, did he?
“Call the mulnas,” the centaur growled. “And our new little friends. We will drive her out.”
New friends? Besides the eyeless nightmares, who else helped the centaurs? Perhaps their new friends were the reason they no longer served the Council of Derenan. In any case, whoever they were, she didn’t like the sound of them. Anyone, or thing, that would team up with such barbarians willingly probably wasn’t of the respectable variety. In any case, she couldn’t stay any longer. She had to put more distance between them.
Shattering glass and splintering wood sounded a few buildings down. Claire flinched. They were searching all the buildings. The heavy thud of the massive creatures— what she assumed were the mulnas— soon followed. A shrieking roar split the air, reverberating down the street and alleyways. A loud crash followed, more shattered glass and wood. The walls and floorboards shook so much she thought the building was going to come down around her. Claire gasped and got to her hands and knees. They were going to destroy the whole town just to find her. She had to leave now before one of those giants destroyed the store and crushed her in the process.
As quickly and quietly as she could, she slipped back into the dark storeroom, hoping the lone centaur from before had moved on. And if it hadn’t, well, she’d much rather face one of them than those large beasts. She peeked through the window, but it was too small to see very far. It was clear as far as she could tell. A deafening crash next door spurred her on. She would have to take a chance. She undid the lock and slipped out into the alley. Her head snapped back and forth as she made sure it was empty. It was, for now. A stroke of luck, perhaps. Or a trap.
In any case, she turned and headed away fr
om all the commotion, stopping at the corner of the building. She eased up to the edge and peeked around it. When she confirmed it was clear, she spun and checked the opposite direction. Clear as well. Crouching low, she scurried to the other side, repeating the same procedure at each intersection, pausing when she heard centaurs on the main streets, wincing at the cacophony that seemed to follow her.
Her luck ran out when a centaur stepped out from one of the side alleys and spotted her in an instant. Claire froze, the blood draining from her face. Was this it? No. She wouldn’t let it be. She dropped to a crouch and slapped her right hand to the ground, pushing a massive amount of her power into the earth, and before the centaur could do or say anything, a spike shot up and impaled him through the chest, a shock of red running down. He let out a dying roar and with his last breath, flung his spear at her.
Claire jumped to the side, collapsing to the ground, her pulse erratic. It was the first time she had taken a life with her powers— that she could remember, anyway— and even though it was one of her enemies, it still struck her to the core. It was them or her. It was what Farron had tried to prepare her for, but she didn’t know if she could ever get used to it. What she did know was that it definitely wouldn’t be the last time, not as long as she still bore the mark and all its powers.
After she gathered herself a bit, she got to her feet, using the wall for support. She quietly eased around the beast, keeping a wary eye on him. It was the closest she’d ever been to a centaur. The smell wafting off him was unpleasant, a mixture of sweat and mud and other things she couldn’t quite identify, and was certain she didn’t want to. Fur and leather armor hung from its back, sides, and chest. Not that it had done a lot of good. She glanced at the wound she’d inflicted, then quickly looked away, feeling nauseous. Perhaps this power was wasted on her after all. She wasn’t meant for this.