Death of the Elements

CHAPTER 7

Dewtl shifted awkwardly in his seat as they flew across the sloping dunes, their buggy's oversized tires spraying sand into the air. The windshield ahead of him stopped the sand from hitting him in the face but reflected the bright sun right into his eyes. The young soldier cursed under his breath as he shaded his vision with the back of his hand. He looked past his much older counterpart, trying not to stare at his wrinkled skin and patchy hair as he double checked that their rifles and armor were still in the back. Val was a hardass to work with but Dewtl had been very glad when his partner had opted for their usual sand colored vests over the much thicker black armor they had been given yesterday morning. Dwetl was not happy however about getting stuck with this shit detail, staring at the massive wall to his right as they patrolled the outskirts of Loordania. His friends from the academy had told him all about the action they had seen yesterday in the city fighting the elementals but he had been stuck outside the walls with a craggily old man who hardly spoke.

"I can't believe we got put on this shit." He said breaking the long silence. "Driving around the sand like we're a couple of inexperienced assholes."

"You are an inexperienced asshole." Came Val's curt reply.

Dewtl scoffed at the insult, thinking about how easily he had excelled in marksmanship training; those elementals wouldn't stand a chance against him.

"You should be grateful you don't have to round up those dangerous animals. Lot of us didn't make it home last night. Kinlia got vaporized last night by some fire breather hiding in a store. I mean they killed the Princess, probably both of them. I'm glad as I can be that I'm out here driving through the sand."

"They killed Kinlia? Damn, that's horrible. Her ass was perfect."

The older soldier laughed at that, nodding his head in agreement as he replied. Val really wasn't so bad when you got to know him.

"Elementals killing all the sexy women we got. Twisted bastards." He smirked, turning the buggy slightly to follow the outline of the massive city.

Dewtl sat up suddenly as the sand buggy rounded another part of Loordania's encircling wall. There had been something out there by the city wall; where had it gone? He scanned the endless uneven terrain but all he saw was sand. Dewtl sat back in his seat and grabbed his bottle of water, taking a long pull before looking back out. The heat must be messing with his head.

"There's something by the wall." Val said suddenly, pointing out through the windshield.

"What is it?"

"No idea."

"People." Dewtl said when he saw the shape bend down and pull another figure out from the ground.

"Elementals. Have to be. Looks like you might get that action you wanted after all."

Dewtl heart began to race as he reached into the backseat and grabbed both of their rifles, checking to see that they were loaded as he brought them up front.

***

They had finally reached the end, Bannon smiling as he opened the hatch, squinting at the sunlight pouring in. He stuck his head out of the hole, the wind whipping sand against his face as he felt someone push him out of the way.

"Thank the land." Rizu exclaimed as he lifted himself up out into the desert. "I thought I'd die of old age in that damn tunnel."

Bannon hopped up after the tough old man, the two of them helping everyone else up out of the secret tunnel, sand hiding the trapdoor almost as soon as it was closed. The group was now standing in the middle of nothing, the Loordanian wall looming imposingly behind them.

The dark elemental began to laugh to himself, Bannon cringing against the wicked sound.

"How considerate." He growled. "Bringing our ride to us before dying."

Everyone looked out into the desert to see a buggy speeding towards them, Bannon immediately pushing Elhar and his children back towards the tunnel.

"Don't worry, they'll never get within range." Jazun said carelessly.

"Do you just kill everyone?" Analie said harshly.

"Didn't kill you. Besides what are we going to do; let them report where we are back to your father?" Jazun countered, a ball of dark energy appearing in his upheld hand.

Bannon knew that Jazun was right but he could at least do it quickly and not leave the soldiers at the mercy of this psychopath.

"No, I'll do it."

Bannon gave the dark elemental a hard glare as white hot flames appeared in his right hand but Jazun simply smiled back. Their stare down was cut short by the strange pwang of a plasma weapon. They both turned to see Analie holding her pistol with both hands. She fired a second shot, the red flash making a hole in the windshield. The buggy began to slow down as she lowered her weapon, Analie coolly watching it come to a stop a few hundred feet away. Bannon knew she was probably one of the best marksmen in the city but he was still surprised to see her shoot anyone; regardless of how necessary it was.

"Should've shot them a few seconds later." Rizu smiled tiredly at her as he started towards the idling vehicle.

Jazun and Bannon pulled the dead bodies out of the buggy, both of them with identical holes at the base of their necks. Jazun hopped into the back and extended his hand to help Analie into the now empty buggy.

"Quite the shot." Jazun said as she took his hand, smiling at his compliment as she took the passenger's seat.

Bannongave him another glare as he searched the dead bodies for a rag to wipe theblood from the windshield. Settling on arag from the back Bannon came back and cleared the glass, leaving it clear exceptfor the two clean burn holes. Jazun andElhar helped his son and daughter into the back, the four of them squashingtogether in the back. Bannon got intothe driver's seat next to his love and pressed the foot pedals down, takingthem away from the city.