ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Eight.2 - A measure of success

A measure of success.

The fifteen hundred Eagles were already making their way down the valley towards the Pass by the time Harne had found Thomas. The High Priest was standing on one side of the pulsating staff with Arc on the other side. Between them, pale white spirals of light curled out of the staff to surround them in a cloak of power as they held the ward of protection over the horsemen.

"Are they going to make it?" Harne asked as he used a looking glass to see the massive cloud of dust behind the horses. Even from where he stood it was obvious the horses were tiring and would soon reach their limits.

Thomas held up his hand for silence. The riders were barely half way to the Pass when arrows shot out of the woods. Sparks erupted each time an arrow hit the ward over the Guard, but none penetrated its protective layers. The volley of arrows continued relentlessly until the supply was exhausted. Then the clansmen broke out of the woods and charged after the First Guard.

"Arc, you will have to get down there to help."

"If I disconnect from the ward it will weaken and soon collapse. You won't be able to hold it yourself."

Thomas knew frustration and reason but liked neither. "Josh needs all the help we can give him. If you get to the Pass as they do and put up a barrier, I can create a small ward over the last of the riders."

Arc looked to Thomas with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure you can hold it?"

"I'll survive. I can use the staff to summon forth a handful of healers to aid me if need be. Now go!"

Arc shrugged and disappeared. Harne stepped closer to Thomas, the dimming light of late afternoon made the details of the attack hard to see.

"Are they almost there?" Harne asked placing the looking glass into his belt.

"We've given all the help we can, Harne. The rest is up to them. Now, I believe Josh gave you an order to go see a healer? You best be about it before blood loss causes you to faint like Josh."

Harne frowned. "What happened to Josh?"

"An axe almost tore through his side. Broken ribs and a very deep cut, which if Honje hadn't sensed, could have led to some trouble by now."

"That sneaky bastard."

"Sometimes you young men think your made of steel. I wonder whether our enchanted armour messes with your heads."

Harne laughed. "What did you expect priest?"

Thomas tried to show a serious frown at the former street thief larrikin he couldn't but like. "Perhaps some common sense?"

"We'll then you're not going to like what Josh has planned for me then."

"I think I have a good idea. Now I believe your Captain gave you a order young man?"

Harne shrugged as he looked down at his blood-soaked hand that was a result of a heavy blow from a clansman's axe that had cut through the blackened metal wrist guard. If not for the protective armour, he knew he would be in the hospice tents with one less hand right now.

"In a minute, Thomas. I need to know Josh makes it first." Harne whispered trying to ignore the throbbing pain as he gazed out across the valley.

Thomas turned to Harne, his expression showing displeasure. Harne held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "I'm going!"

"Good. You don't want me to truly get mad, Harne."

Once Harne was gone, Thomas gave a brief smile and shook his head, then turned to look out over the Pass. Releasing his spirit, he flew over the miles of open ground, not realising the ward he held was slipping from his concentration. Hovering above the flagging horses, he silently urged them on hoping they would reach the Pass's narrow mouth quickly. Ahead of them, Arc was standing upon a high rock ledge surrounded by a shimmering blue aura. Gradually, inch by inch, the light grew outward away from his body, slowly reaching from one mountainside of the mile wide opening across to the other. It hovered presently thirty feet from the ground as he worked to complete it. By the time Arc was finished, less than half of Josh's men still needed to get through.