Warrior's Soul (Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 32

The tall, lit up structure at the door of Kings' Town was familiar, as was the Warrior in charge of it. Leyla had once met Captain Morten while pretending to be Lady Alessa of the Land of Light. She had thought his eyes kind back then, but in this moment, they were full of anger as he stared out from the second-floor balcony of the Warrior outpost and into the trees to the east.

She followed his gaze across the illuminated grounds around the walls of the Greenlands and into the darkness of the surrounding trees. The sun had long stopped casting its glow over the land, but fingers of light stretched from the large beacons lining the border and called forth shadows.

"We've arrived," Toke nodded towards the building. "Let's go, I will introduce you to the Captain."

They were just leaving the cover of the trees, when Captain Morten barked: "Arrows!"

"Damn it, move!" Toke began to run for the outpost just as a line of Warrior archers appeared along the Greenland walls.

Leyla followed the order, but they were still ten sword lengths from the tower when the first Bone Eater cry sounded in the air.

"Yaaaa-oooo!"

The sound died, leaving behind an eerie silence. Leyla's body tensed when she realised what was coming next. No!

Pulling her sword out, she jumped in front of Athiri and sliced two arrows in half while a dozen more landed in the ground around them. The three Warriors up ahead had also managed to avoid being hit and were running for cover.

A swarm of arrows now flew over their heads and into the trees while Leyla ran with the Hayvan into the shadow of the Warrior tower where Toke and his two men were waiting.

"Once the archers run out of arrows the runners will attack," he spoke gruffly a surprising look of worry passing over his face. "Are you sure you still want to do this, boy? There are more archers than we expected...You can enter the outpost and wait it out if you want to."

Did he really think she would hide, while they all fought the murderous bastards? A Warrior never ran from a fight. The only problem now was how to keep Athiri safe.

"You are meant to watch me, correct?" She asked as another wave of arrows flew through the air, towards the wall behind them.

Toke nodded.

Leyla bent down, stroking Athiri's ears as she whispered, "I need you to stay, alright boy?" Then she grabbed a stunned Toke's hand and held it to the Hayvan's nose. "He's a friend. Stay with him."

Both beast and Warrior stared at her with wide eyes as Leyla stood back up.

"What- " Toke began, looking uncomfortable with his proximity to Athiri.

"Shield the Hayvan," she said. "Don't let him get hurt and I will show you what I can do."

There was no time for Toke to think. The Bone Eaters howled as they rushed out from beneath the cover of trees.

At the same time, Captain Morten shouted: "Blue Formation!" and Warriors rushed out of the outpost and onto the field to meet the enemy.

"Stay!" Leyla said one last time to both man and beast and then she was following the Warriors into the fray.

The Bone Eaters attacked with wild eyes and hatchets pulled back. Leyla couldn't get a proper count of them before she ducked to avoid a sharp bladed swing. She kicked, spun and thrust her sword into a bare chest covered in tattoos. To her right a Warrior was fighting three at a time. Leyla intercepted the third one's swing, twisting her blade around the Bone Eaters' weapon and flicking it out of his grasp. Once the bastard was disarmed the Warrior cut him across the neck and gave Leyla a nod of thanks.