Page 86 of Lhora
“Do what you’ve been trained to do. Go in with your ears locked, and stay out of our way. You should be all right.”
“I have a better idea,” Lhora stated. “Let the shurr-lova advance first. Let us be the front liners, and keep the regular swords at our backs to be our defense in case the Coltrosstians somehow manage to ring us in again.”
“She has a point,” Hanso stated.
Fallmin nodded. “I agree. Portand, instruct the front liners to move to the rear. That’ll keep you out of the direct line of our fire.”
“Uhh, Gur! Gur,look!” Bissi called out, pointing behind them.
Lhora felt her stomach sinking as someone else cried, “It’s another Coltrosstian ship!” It was a big warship coming up on their rear.
She looked to her father, when he yelled, “Split! Split! Split and advance!” He took off, and her first inclination was to follow after him, when her training took over, and she ran in the opposite direction. It had been pounded into her head repeatedly that in the event of an emergency, she was expected to distance herself from her mother and father. That way, in case one or two of them should perish, there would still remain one member of the Esstimin to rule. And even though Gur Fallmin wasn’t presented to any dignitaries as the Esstika’s spouse, he’d been given legitimacy by the scribes and the priests of the goddesses. Otherwise his relationship to the Esstika was kept as secret as Lhora’s designation as the Esstiss.
As she raced toward the Coltrosstians, she moved in a weaving pattern to prevent the guns on the ships from mowing her down. The vessel coming up from behind the Beinight battalion was flying low and at a fast clip. All solar sails were deployed on each of its three main masts, including the jibs. She could already hear its engines growling from the power they provided.
It was gaining on them faster than they could run to escape from it. As it neared, she could see its gunports were already open.
A handful of Coltrosstians screamed a challenge and charged toward her, brandishing their weapons. Lhora grounded to a halt, planting her feet on the ground. Holding her position, her sword extended in front of her, she waited for the moment when she knew the distance between them was enough. She prayed she could get off one good vibration before the warship took aim.
Someone yelled a warning. Too late, she realized she’d underestimated the ship’s speed. A shadow passed overhead. The guns roared as they were fired, and she instinctively threw herself out of the way to avoid being hit.
The blast hit the knot of men, ripping them apart. Rolling to a stop, Lhora sat up and stared in shock as the ship continued to fire, plowing through the Coltrosstians who didn’t move fast enough. It took her numbed mind a few seconds to realize the warship hadn’t missed her.
It had hit its intended target.
She continued to watch the vessel as it ceased its strafing run and banked as if to make another pass. She glanced at the remaining Coltrosstian troops. Most of them had made a dash for safety, only to find themselves accosted by Beinight soldiers. She spotted the Sarpi standing tall and undaunted as the remainder of his men drew a protective guard around him.
A sound much like thunder caught her attention. Ducking, she turned and glanced up to find the initial phalanx of Coltrosstian ships that had been advancing had stopped cold above them. The vessels hovered less than a hundred vares from the planet’s surface.
She swallowed nervously. “What are you planning to do?” she whispered, as if addressing the enemy craft. “What’s your next move? I have the power to throw my shurr at you, but it would be minuscule compared to your own firepower.” Lhora checked behind her. But if she could manage to get another half-dozen or so shurr-lova to join her, they could pulse out enough energy to severely damage the ships, if not take most of them out completely.
Distantly, the attacking warship completed its circle and was coming back. It made no sense that it had gone after its own men. Not unless it had mistakenly believed everyone on the ground was Beinight.
A spark called inside her head. Opening herself, she waited for it to return.Yes, Father?
Lhora?
She burst into a smile as Duren’s presence rushed into her like a warm tide. He was seeking her.
Where are you?
He wouldn’t hear the words, but he might sense their meaning.
Lhora?
I’m here! I’m here!
He felt so good inside her heart. It nourished her like food to the belly.
She abruptly returned to the present as the warship, instead of passing over them a second time, slowed until it reached the line of the other ships. There, it weighed anchor next to them. Its gunports remained open, all cannons pointing downward.
She blinked in disbelief when the center hatchway opened, and the rope ladder was released. A figure stepped onto the rungs as it started descending. A second man grabbed onto the ladder, as well as a third, fourth, and fifth man.
Lhora whirled around, seeking more of the shurr-lova. It was clear the warship’s crew meant to join the other Coltrosstians. What didn’t make sense was why they didn’t continue the battle in the air.
Why are they descending?
Knowing she was too far away for anyone to hear her yell, she raised her sword over her head and made the blade sing. The music rang upward and outward with its pure tone. Immediately, four shurrs answered the call, letting her know they were coming to her aid.
