FOOLS
1423 Words
Ussi, Phomtek and Souna stood side by side, staring at Lowland's gate in the distance.
Their army had arrived a little before sunset, and they had finished installing their campsite by now.
-Phomtek, listen... I am going down there and doing some scouting first – Ussi spoke behind his mask – I am worried about the horse situation. So, I want to be sure about what we are dealing with. You are in charge until I come back.
-Yes, Commander! – The young man nodded briefly. His eyes still fixated on the silent nearby city.
-Are you going down there all by yourself? – Souna asked worriedly in a whisper – I saw what those demons can do, and they are fierce!
-So am I – The Yahurian laughed lightheartedly – And I am taking Kohu with me. Do not worry… If I send him back alone, then it means that I need some help. Is that any better?
-A little – Souna agreed. Gulping down and running a hand over his mask – Just be careful.
-I always am – The warrior replied, unfastening Axe from his back and placing the bundle into her arms, his finger trailing her cheek briefly, while Phomtek awkwardly averted his sight – Take care of him.
With that, he readied all of his weapons, hopped on his feline's back and disappeared into the sunset.
It took them only a few minutes to cover the distance between the campsite and the city outskirts. The Yahurian leading the beast cautiously around the external walls and frowning when he found the perimeter completely deserted.
-Stay here – Ussi whispered to Kohu as he carefully paced towards the gates and found them equally unmanned. An enormous pile of rotting corpses lying around, scattered everywhere at the entrance, their stench almost unbearable, even to the consummate warrior.
-Sadistic animals! – The Yahurian muttered, meticulously managing to avoid stepping over the bodies, even if they clearly had been run over repeatedly by now.
He advanced purposefully, maintaining a vigilant eye. His rapid movements guiding him to a series of large storerooms lined up in the eastern wing of the city. Even from a distance, Ussiariah could tell their original purpose was to stock grain, but a faint noise coming from inside of them caught his attention and drove him to investigate further.
As he peeked into the dark place and his eyes adjusted to the shadows. A distressed neigh reached his ears.
Aided by the feeble moonlight entering from the window, he discovered the horses gathered in the improvised stables, and he awed at the living sight of the magnificent animals he had only ever heard tales about.
After touring the facilities and roughly counting muzzles, he realized there were just about fifty of those beasts being kept in there, which struck him as odd. Souna had described a large army, and this quantity of horses was not correspondent to one. With those thoughts whirling inside him, he silently closed the doors back and left the majestic cattle to rest.
Intrigued by this finding, he ventured further into the city premises, reaching the main hall's windows and discreetly spying inside. His brain sparkling with awareness once he realized that there were only a few dozen men inside. All visibly drunk and letting themselves loose with some obviously terrified hostages.
With a clear image formed in his mind, Ussi directed his quiet steps towards the opposite side, and he found the entrance of what seemed to be a cellar.
He was about to investigate it when he heard the distinct noise of steps approaching, so he slyly made his way farther back, staying ahead of the approaching stranger and soon finding an oak tree, which he used to climb up and then briskly reach the top of the wall, quietly sitting at the edge of it and waiting with rising curiosity.
The Yahurian´s head tilted in puzzlement when a girl appeared from the shadows, all dressed in dark clothes, her head covered by a large hood. She sat down on a huge rock, right below the wide treetop. Ussi´s eyes squinting when he realized the undeniable resemblance to Souna.
-What are you doing here, girl? – He wondered quietly, taking note that the youngster could not be much older than fourteen or fifteen years. Her features still childish in some manner, but also deeply somber at the same time.
Ussiariah´s hand darted to his spear as he spotted five men rapidly closing in to the place where the stranger sat. His muscles flexing and at the ready, his mind instinctively calculating his attack. He could tell two of them were armed with guns, and yet, when he looked closer, he realized that none looked like warriors at all. So, he waited.
-Are you ready? –He heard the girl whisper at the incoming group and his grip relaxed somewhat around his weapon - Did you figure out how to use them? Can you fire them correctly?
-Decently enough, given the circumstances… But yes, we can manage. –He heard one of the newcomers say – Them too…
Ussi wasted no time waiting to hear the rest of their conversation. He had heard enough. He knew what those damn fools were trying to pull off… And he also knew that it would never work. So, he skillfully slid around the edge of the wall, until he was far enough from the small crowd and released a faint, almost imperceptible whistle into the air. A few moments later, his feline sat in the shadows looking up at him from the ground.
-Kohu! Go to the campsite and let Phomtek see you – The Yahurian instructed - Then come immediately back here and find me!
The jaguar let out a low growl and started immediately galloping towards their encampment.
When Ussi came back to his previous spot, he could see the crew walking away in the distance, pacing towards the cellar. So, he climbed down from the tree and started tailing them.
The Yahurian decided to stay in the shadows... At least for the time being, as he did not wish to startle them. He knew he looked exactly like the people they were trying to bring down, and he saw no purpose in engaging them when it was clear they were already in full alert mode. For now, he was content with following their efforts, waiting for backup… And hoping that they would not make too much of a mess in the meanwhile.
As Ussi kept himself unseen by the rebels, he had been pleasantly surprised by the young woman's management of the situation in the dungeons… And worried at the same time.
He had thought it would take them longer to free their prisoners… long enough for the reinforcements to arrive. But they had moved faster than he had expected, the girl even discarding their own monarch without a second thought the moment she realized that he was mentally unfit.
By now, he had no doubt that this obstinate lady had to be related to Souna, and he was deeply concerned when he saw the entire group marching nonchalantly to the main hall.
He remained behind them, with vigilant eyes, watching them and waiting for his cue to step in.
When they encountered a drunk soldier taking a leak and one of the men had stupidly aimed his gun at him, he had been just about to intervene. But then the girl had prevented him from taking the shot at the last second and put him out so efficiently, that it had even made him proud.
-Attagirl!- He cheered for her quietly. Before he saw them entering the main hall and the havoc that he had been dreading, immediately ensued.
It did not take more than a few minutes for the mutineers' lack of training to be evident, as the drunken warriors were still crushing them effortlessly and mercilessly.
Only a handful of the rioters, apart from their girl leader, were being of any use at all.
He could no longer wait for backup… He needed to save those fools now, or it would already be too late. So, when he finally felt Kohu´s presence approaching beside him, he jumped on his back and urged him to charge.
-Kill everyone who looks like me, old friend – He instructed, patting the jaguar's big head – Let us see how many of them we can take down!
- Writer
