Flight of The Harpy's Heart

Chapter 41: Fluffy

*Swish!

an arrow just flew over Aden's head to the harpy mingling behind a ransacked building. The arrow hit on a wooden wall. The harpy escaped with a mocking smile.

"That is the fourteenth arrow." Aden counted on the arrow released by the rooftop units. The rooftop unit seemed to have some fun releasing arrows toward the harpies, maybe they were also practicing their aim.

The Jinn sat leaning on the courthouse facade wall under the shade. He was eating his lunch. Beef Jerky with salty bread made by the baker's couple, Laura and Eugene, and a mug of cotton milk by his side.

Aden couldn't believe that somehow this courthouse had an abundance of cotton milk than wine in its cellar. Perhaps because this courthouse also used to house important guests from many states and dominions.

It was a slow day, the villagers who defended behind the barricade were also relaxed and casual. half of them even having lunch in the dining hall.

"They are out of reach and covered by walls." Hjalmar sat beside Aden. The Vjordic pirate talked about the harpies. He took a bite half of the salty bread in one chomp. Both were wearing padded metal plates and leather armor with winter mantle over it. Every volunteer got one after Ethan managed to break into the locked armory in the courthouse. The former Crown Enforcer managed to unlock the combination padlock to the armory.

Their leather armor was knee-length like a gambeson, enough to give them coverage protection against harpies's claws and talons.

"I think, these harpies are testing our defense. They are learning." Aden cautiously spoke. He was able to see through the harpy playful facade.

By the following morning, the harpies, having decimated the village the day before, now seemed to be in a state of cruel amusement and observation. Several of the winged creatures were seen casually perching on the remnants of a ruined house and a crumbling tower, their sinister cackles and snickers filling the air. Their behavior was a chilling display of their malevolence, as they seemed to be toying with the survivors, relishing in the fear and despair they had wrought.

Remarkably, the harpies purposefully avoided the courthouse, the defenders' last bastion of hope. Their calculated positioning kept them out of the range of the archers' arrows, and the remaining village structures provided cover, making it nearly impossible for the archers to hit their marks. Additionally, the harpies cleverly positioned themselves in the blind spot below the hwachas' target line, rendering the defenders' most potent weapon useless against them.

Despite the archers' efforts, their arrows failed to find their mark, as the harpies' agility and strategic placement made them nearly untouchable. Captain Willem, recognizing the futility of the situation, made the difficult decision to order the archers to cease their efforts, realizing that any further attempts would only result in wasted arrows.

The captain's decision to allow the harpies to roam freely, as long as they kept their distance from the courthouse, was a calculated one. He understood that engaging the harpies in their current position would only lead to further losses for the defenders and that preserving their dwindling resources was paramount. While the sight of the harpies perched on the ruined structures was a haunting reminder of the devastation they had wrought, Captain Willem knew that biding their time and conserving their strength was the only viable course of action.

As the harpies continued their sinister vigil, the defenders remained on high alert, their eyes fixed on the creatures that circled above. The captain's decision to hold their ground was a testament to his strategic acumen and his unwavering commitment to the safety of his people.