The Violet Flamberge

Inferno Flamberge: Chapter 9

A/N: Again, I'm going to plead that you leave reviews on my novel The Crimson Claymore and The Chronicles of Starlyn on Amazon & Goodreads. For more information about my novels, you can go to www.CraigAPrice.com/novels

Chapter 9

Searon stalked the alleyways of the small Ikchani settlement. He glanced to his invisible hand from time to time, still amazed the mage had pulled it off. The woman they had captured was right, the Ikchani were well organized. Sh'on had told Searon his body was invisible, but to not let one of the women look at him for too long, or they may be able to see through the mirror illusion.

He passed by a small sparring field and was amazed by the talent of the Ikchani. Many of the women were more skilled with swords than most of his men. Their forms were more elegant, precise, and swift. He wondered what they were planning. From the looks of it, they were planning on war. Searon needed to get word to Noraes to keep an eye out.

He continued past the first settlement to discover one much larger, but much more empty. He walked through the center of the large area with ease. Hardly a woman walked along the path. He noticed recent activity of hundreds of women, but the camp seemed mostly abandoned. Searon noticed two women conversing near at the entrance of a building. One woman was pale with blonde hair and a white silk dress, while the other wore a worn tunic and black soot across her face holding an anvil. Searon imagined she was the blacksmith. He crept closer so he could hear their conversation.

"I know you're working hard Lilyah, but I expect them to return within a week if everything goes according to plan. If you need help, I can arrange someone to assist you. I need weapons ready for their return."

"If they're seizing the northern villages, why will they need new weapons? Surely they can take them off the dead warriors."

"They may, and most likely you'll need to be ready for repairs. If you have weapons ready for them, you'll have something to give them while you make repairs on their weapons. Remember, after we conquer the north, we will move south. We're hoping to bring in recruits first. The south is much stronger."

"Yes, Divinity." Lilyah bowed. "I will see to it at once."

"Do you need assistance?"

"Yes, I do. Two women should be fine. And make sure they aren't afraid to get dirty."

Divinity smiled. "I'm sure I can manage."

Divinity spun around and paused, staring directly at Searon. Searon froze, wondering if she could see him. He remembered Sh'on told him not to let anyone look at him for too long. His legs began moving backward, but he tripped his feet caught each other. He cursed inside of his head, knowing just because his body was invisible, didn't mean his motions or sound was as well.

He sat on the ground, watching the two women as both stared directly his way. The lady in white, Divinity, turned to whisper something to the blacksmith. Searon knew he had been compromised. He needed to escape their settlement in a hurry to reach Sh'on and his other companions. He spun around, and ran.

When he reached the first settlement, he turned around to find Divinity trailing him. One of her hands glowed blue and the other orange. He dove to the right on his right as a blue sphere blasted toward him. As he stood, an orange stream of magic slammed into his stomach. He fell to the ground, grasping his stomach. His eyes bulged when he noticed he could see himself again. He glanced around, and found dozens of women staring at him. The woman's magic had broken his illusion spell. He got to his feet, unsheathing his claymore, before running north to the entrance of the settlement. Women stepped out of his way as he ran, but when he glanced behind, he noticed they were donning weapons and began chasing him. A brass bell rang through the settlement. A chill ran along Searon's spine as he sprinted.

Searon's entire body began to ache as he reached the entrance. Three Ikchani guards stood in his path, swords drawn. He skidded to a halt as he steadied his claymore. The three women rushed him. He balanced his weapon between them, first blocking the woman on his left before sidestepping a strike from the woman at his center, before shifting his claymore to block a strike on his right. He stepped forward, holding his claymore in his right hand, as he grabbed the short sword of the woman in the center who had missed him, and yanked the weapon free of her grasp.

Searon noticed the woman on his left swing her sword toward him. He dropped to the ground, brining his claymore with him. His eyes grew wide and his jaw dropped when he saw the woman's sword cleave off the other woman's head when she missed him. Searon rolled out of the way as the woman crumpled above him. He got to his feet, shifting his claymore to his left hand, slashing it behind him as he dashed for the exit, effectively sweeping the center guard's feet from under her. Searon ran out of the camp and into the forest as fast as his legs would carry him.

When he reached the camp, he leaned against a tree, nearly out of breath. Sh'on hurried over to him, clasping him on the shoulder.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Sh'on asked.

"They're—" Searon coughed. "North. Most of them are north. They're conquering the north cities."

Sh'on frowned. "Do you know if Arria is with them?"

"I don't." Searon took a deep breath. "They found me. I had to fight my way out of there."

Sh'on's eyebrows shot up. "They saw you?"

"One of them looked directly at me and knew."

"It's as I feared."

"What?" Searon asked.

"They have magic users."

"I saw them train. They are also very talented swords ... women."

Xython ran over to them holding his ball-spiked mace. "We have company."

Searon and Sh'on turned south and saw more than a hundred Ikchani heavily armed creeping toward them.

Sh'on gritted his teeth. "We cannot defeat that many. Gather all our things, run!"

"Which way?" Xython asked.

"North!" Sh'on shouted.

Xython nodded before running back to camp.

"I wish I still had Stripes," Searon said.

"I know it's not the same, but we do have good geldings. Find one you like and pack your saddle bag. Hurry, we don't have time," Sh'on said.

Searon nodded as he sprinted to camp.