Page 83 of Lhora
It was the briefest spark that randomly repeated itself. Neither word nor thought, but a longing.
Lhora?
She reached out to reassure him.Where are you?He would sense her question as a yearning and not know how to answer it. That was all right. If the goddesses allowed, they’d have time to further develop this growing gift between them. Right now, she and Duren could draw strength from each other, knowing they were both still alive. At the moment, she could sense him drawing nearer. He must have spotted the ships and was coming to their aid.
An elbow prodded her back. She looked over her shoulder to see her father eyeing her. He’d felt her communication, but he knew it hadn’t been for him.
“Duren’s coming.” By answering the Sarpen, she’d become a beacon for him to follow, although he’d never be able to figure out how or why he was able to find his way to her.
Fallmin grunted, making her smile.
“Plug,” someone muttered.
She focused on the aliens mere vares away. They weren’t stopping. They weren’t slowing down. In fact, they seemed to be picking up the pace, their thick pincers raised in front of them.
“They’re going for a full-on assault,” Degast observed.
“The Coltrosstians are hanging back,” Fallmin reported. “They’re going to let the Tra’Mell go first and mop up afterwards.”
It made sense. It was a well-established tactic. However…
Lhora paused. “No. No, I don’t think so.”
“What?”
“I don’t think the Tra’Mell will strike first.”
Fallmin bumped her back in acknowledgment. “Eyes in front, men. Be prepared.”
She couldn’t explain where or why she’d gotten the idea. She had nothing to base it on. No proof, unless…
“The Sarpi.”
She had her father’s attention.
“He’d want to strike the first blow. Sarpi Sov would want to claim the first kill,” she said with firmer conviction.
“You may be right,” Degast agreed.
“Best to also be prepared for them to feint,” Fallmin warned.
The Tra’Mell stepped up their pace, drawing nearer as the Coltrosstians kept up their steady march. But now it was obvious the Sarpi and his men were taking bigger strides than usual. Lhora glanced behind at the approaching enemy’s ranks. It would be close.
“Here they come!” someone yelled. All swords lifted as the Tra’Mell broke into an all-out run.
“Stop,” she whispered to herself. “Please stop. You’re going to stop right at the last possible mom—”
The Tra’Mellians split into two smaller groups like waves parting at the bow. They scuttled sideways as they continued facing the Beinight soldiers. When they were within a dozen vares from them, they suddenly stopped. Then, as if on cue or command, the aliens backtracked to regroup where they’d divided.
Lhora stared at the creatures, wondering what they were going to do next, when a shout went up. She turned to look when she heard the familiar clash of swords. The Coltrosstians converged on them, screaming and shrieking. Seconds later, she felt the shift, and whirled around to see the Tra’Mell closing the last of the gap.
The enemy thought they had the Beinights trapped and overwhelmed. Lhora held back, watching the first line plow into the aliens as her father directed his group of men taking on the Coltrosstians.
Slowly, the advancing forces realized they weren’t going to be able to overcome the Beinights so easily. Especially when it came to armed combat on the ground. In the past nearly all their encounters and fights had been ship against ship in the skies above their countries, sometimes taking it to the waters. Land battles were almost unheard of when it was quicker and more convenient to slaughter scores of your enemy with a barrage of cannon fire.
Lhora could sense the Coltrosstians’ hesitancy. They were skilled from practice, but not from actual combat. They were also leery, and that acknowledgment made her smile. Tightening her grip on her sword, she prepared herself.
“Front line, retreat! Second line, advance!” Fallmin bellowed. “Everyone! Lock your ears!”
