Page 84 of Lhora
Lhora didn’t wait for the Tra’Mell to come to her. Gripping the hilt with both hands, she lifted the blade above her head and charged at them. A full-throated scream erupted from her. When she reached the closest alien, she swung the weapon around her in a full circle.
Hard, burning power shot up her arms as the shurr metal came alive. The air sizzled in its wake, and she launched herself at the nearest Tra’Mell. The blade carved through the nearly indestructible carapace, slicing off one claw and a portion of another one. The alien roared in pain and retreated, allowing another alien to take its place.
Behind her she was aware of the other shurr-lova coming into their own. The ground almost rumbled from the vibrations intensifying beneath their feet.
She sliced through another Tra’Mell, nearly dividing it in half, when Fallmin gave the order.
“Ignite the rear!”
Lifting her sword, she and the other masters plunged their swords into the packed earth. The ground heaved, throwing rocks, plants, and dirt into the sky as the accumulated songs of the blades forged together as one and sent their destructive melody outward. The metal’s energy weaved itself through her bloodstream and emerged from her skin in the form of curling, intertwining light. Reebo lights.
She watched as the Tra’Mell scrambled to avoid the quake that undulated toward them at a speed they couldn’t fathom. As the shurr power reached them, each creature was caught in the intense tremors. The music paralyzed them, sealing their feet to the ground as it sealed their fates.
One by one, the Tra’Mell began to spasm, then shake more violently as the vibrations turned their internal organs into mush, and shattered bone and cartilage like they were composed of glass.
A little more than sixty vares beyond the Tra’Mellian warriors, the shurr effect began to lessen. The ground ceased to heave, and the music eventually died, but the damage had been done. These creatures didn’t know the shurr was only effective within a short distance. They didn’t need to know, but it was why she and the others had had to wait until the last possible moment before acting.
Lhora gulped air into her lungs as she stared out over the field that was sodden with Tra’Mellian blood. Not a single creature remained. All that was left of the aliens was nothing more than large chunks of body pieces and piles of wet entrails.
An inhuman screech came from behind. She immediately took a stance to face the Coltrosstian regiment that had remained just beyond the shurr’s limitation. The two groups continued to face each other, waiting to see who would make the next move.
“Looks like the Sarpi had second thoughts,” Fallmin quipped.
“Do you think they know?” Urjo murmured under his breath. His face continued to glow from the beautifully etched pathways the reebo lights had made across his skin.
“No telling,” she admitted. She caught him staring at her. His eyes danced over her face, her own reebo lights reflecting in his gaze. “What?”
“What are you feeling from them?”
Closing her eyes, she reached out, seeking the flood of emotions rising from the enemy.
“Trepidation,” Fallmin answered for her. “Fear…concern…and doubt.”
Lhora focused on the Sarpi, who stood front and center with his men. The man’s chest was heaving like he was out of breath.Or hyperventilating.
“They’re not finished,” Degast predicted.
“No,” she countered. “Theyare, but the Sarpi isn’t.” She grinned crookedly. “They witnessed what happened to the Tra’Mell. Now they’re wondering whether to follow their leader if he calls for them to advance.”
“Stay alert,” the Gur ordered. “Whatever they’re going to do, it’s going to be soon.”
“How do you know?” someone questioned.
Fallmin pointed skyward. Above the horizon, a line of warships could be seen advancing toward them.
“Are they ours?” Lhora asked.
“I don’t know. Guess we’ll find out soon enough,” her father replied, gripping his weapon tighter. Taking his cue, Lhora braced herself.
38
Warship
“How long are we going to stand here?” Hanso asked in a soft voice.
Urjo concurred. “They’re waiting for us. We’re waiting for them. Who breaks first?”
Fallmin stared over the Coltrosstians’ heads. “They could be waiting for the ships to arrive.”
