Hierarchy (Book Four of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: In The Muck

Three days later, Katerin stood among a battle line of elves, most of them taller than she, and all of them wearing masks of stoic calm. In but a few moments, there would be fighting, and her stomach knotted as she thought about the numbers. The Elves of Uhm'bantha were incredibly skilled, more unique than any army could boast, and allowed to peruse their own interests and specialties.

For all the wisdom of the plan, Katerin was still uneasy. Magic would be the turning point, and all the faith of the city rested in the chosen mage's plans. Katerin was relieved not to be one and relieved to be surrounded by people. It made her feel less like a target. As much as she hated the close confines, the smells of sweat and the aura of tension in a battle line, she hated watching the battles happen and not being a part of the fighting force, more.

It felt wrong to dictate lives and never risk her own. Even if the people she stood with were not in any way governed by her.

Risage had begrudgingly accepted her request to be here. Brazen was a few feet away, and Agrata was just behind her. Knowing that her anxiety faded a little, as they waited on the long stretch of silver and stone bridge, while Hearth-Home's army approached the other side. It was only the three of them, as everyone else was busy preparing for war to come to Rastridge. Katerin was worried about Fykes, but she pushed the thoughts away. She was the rash one. The one who had to have proof. He was safe in the city, surrounded by an army, with clerics and friends all around. She had two friends, and several elves of whom she could not tell whether or not they cared for her presence. So she waited, sharing one last smile with Brazen.

The elves knew better than to charge their enemy. They were patient. Once Hearth-Homes army held the bridge, a few mages would move a few hundred fighters to the other side of the bridge, and close the army in. Mages would then circle around the back of the city, and take out the attackers supply lines.

Katerin had told Risage of the enchantment the soldiers were under, but she could not dissuade the woman from the fight. Charmed or not, they were still trying to take her seat and kill her people. And Katerin knew she was right, despite how wrong it felt. She was here to save all she could, though it would require being close to them and keeping the book of Ralore in her hands.

The problem was that they did not stop fighting until they were so close to death that there would be little hope. Katerin's throat felt like a rock, as the first of Hearth-Home's soldiers charged across the bridge. The elvish orders sounded like delicate words, but the raining arrow-fall dissuaded any notions of beauty.

She grasped the book of Ralore and shuddered as her vision altered under its magic. This was her chance. She could prove the mark could be broken.

The elven archers were deadly accurate, and Katerin watched the second line in the charge fall, as the archers bypassed the first wall of shields. The following lines fell into momentary chaos, tripping over their injured companions, and the fighters around Katerin surged forward.

Katerin, to your right. At the forefront, Agrata told her though a spell of telepathy, and as she reached the space, Brazen blocked blows meant for her. It felt like it took an eternity as she gripped the man's shoulder, and tore apart the stands of enchantment over him, though it was only the span of three attacks, that she could not block or pay attention to.

Three strikes, that if not for Agrata and Brazen, would have left her dead. This was not efficient enough. If she had to touch the person to remove the enchantments, then she could only help one at a time.

When the man's eyes cleared, she smiled down at him. She had felt the magic shatter, dissolving under her touch. This book could do anything. "Stay here, and you'll be okay," she said sympathetically, as Agrata told her of the next target he would disable.