“That should be the dark-haired one, Syman,” her captors chilling voice whispered. “A leader does not throw her friends lives away so foolishly. You were warned.”
Lyra tried anew to struggle and quickly gave up. She could find no purchase against her strong captor and Syman’s screams drained the strength out of her. Suddenly she heard screaming in the other direction.
“And Antello,” whispered the death behind her. “He really needed to learn some caution before venturing out into the world. Many more experienced men have tried to slit my throat and failed.”
Lyra fought to regain consciousness as she realized that it must be HawkShadow holding her, but then who was killing Syman and Antello? She tried kicking back with her foot, but HawkShadow merely tightened his grip and defeated her attempt as she fought to breathe. The air filled with painful screams from both directions as HawkShadow dragged her back to camp. Hands grabbed at her from all directions upon entering the clearing and her weapons were stripped from her body. HawkShadow tossed her to the ground and she felt relief as the pressure against her throat was released. She looked up through her tear-filled eyes and saw the Sakovans looking down at her.
“Why don’t we finish them?” StormSong asked. “They were warned and it is obvious that we cannot afford to take outlanders into the stronghold. They have no honor and do not value their own word. How can we accept the risk to our people with the likes of them?”
Lyra heard the cries of Antello and her spirits lifted as he was dragged feet first into the clearing by little MistyTrail. With help from Goral, MistyTrail tossed the rope tied to Antello’s feet over a branch of the tree and hoisted Antello so he was suspended over the campsite dangling by his feet. Lyra could see scraps and bruises all over his body and one of his eyes was swollen shut, but she was thankful that he was still alive. He whimpered softly as his body swung at the end of the rope, dangerously close to the campfire, and Lyra lost her feeling of hope as Antello sank into unconsciousness. She wondered if he would last the night. SkyDancer emerged from the woods carrying the limp body of Syman. She laid the body on the ground next to Lyra and turned away. Lyra’s hope shattered as she caught a glimpse of Syman’s body. His clothing was shredded as if a thousand knives had sliced him. The exposed flesh visible underneath the ruined fragments of his clothing was similarly mutilated and looked as though someone had deliberately tortured him to death by peeling off strips of his skin.
Anger and fury raged through Lyra as she looked at the smug Sakovans and the destroyed remains of her friends. Casting deep within herself for the needed strength, Lyra leaped to her feet. StormSong was on her in a flash and extended her sword towards Lyra in a threatening fashion. The hatred filled scowl on StormSong’s face infuriated Lyra and the bonds of fear and caution snapped within her. She strode towards StormSong purposely until she felt the tip of StormSong’s sword touch between her breasts.
“Well, mighty Sakovan warrior,” Lyra spat, “here is your prey. What are you waiting for? All you have to do is shove and you can strike down a despicable outlander. Never mind that she is but a youngster and bears no arms. That shouldn’t matter to one who holds honor so highly. I am sure when you return to StarCity, or whatever hole you call home, they will write ballads about your bravery for this fine deed.”
StormSong hesitated, taken aback by the young girl’s fierce words and Lyra leaned forward, feeling the tip of the sword bite into her flesh.
“Be quick,” Lyra growled. “Or do you prefer to mutilate your victims first? We are guilty, after all, of stepping foot upon your precious land and threatening your very existence.” Lyra shook her head and laughed. “The mighty Sakovan warriors! Their very existence threatened by three youngsters running for their lives. You are pitiful. Need I run into your sword to join my friends? Do it StormSong! Earn your ballad. Kill me and be done with it,” she screamed.
HawkShadow reached forward and grabbed Lyra by the neck and dragged her away from StormSong’s sword, dumping her on the ground. Lyra’s reserve broke and she burst into tears, crying hysterically in the dirt as the Sakovans watched. StarWind stepped to the center of the campsite and started issuing terse orders, but Lyra neither heard nor cared what they were doing. Exhaustion from lack of sleep, and the release of a multitude of emotions, hammered at Lyra as she lay crying. She gave into her weariness and let the darkness overtake her.
When she awoke it was daylight, although daylight in the fargi forest did not offer much light. She realized she was back on her blanket at the edge of the clearing and the events of the night lanced back into her thoughts. Swiftly she sat up and saw Antello sitting next to her, watching her.
“You slept so soundly that I did not have the heart to wake you,” he soothed.
Lyra stared at Antello and he looked as normal as he had the night before, prior to their foolish escape attempt. She twisted her head and saw Syman lying on the other side of her, covered by a blanket. She detected his breathing and was thankful that he was still alive, although she was determined not to lift the blanket and see the extent of his mutilation.
“You’re both alive,” she smiled. “I thought I had led you to your death.” She reached over and hugged Antello tightly.
“It was not your fault,” Antello stated as he hugged her back. “We agreed to the plan freely and you should not bear the weight of any of our decisions. If anything, the fault was mine. I greatly underestimated the Sakovans and I will not be so rash in the future. Instead of slitting HawkShadow’s throat I was humiliated by that little MistyTrail. I never stood a chance against her and she is the smallest of them. She tossed me around as if I was lighter than air. I have never seen anyone move so swiftly. Whatever happens to us from now on, we should not attempt to tangle with these Sakovans again. We are no match for them.”
Antello hung his head in shame and Lyra kissed him gently. “I know,” she agreed. “We will do as they say from now on.”
Syman stirred and they turned to him as he sat up. He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck and greeted his friends with a tight-lipped smile. “I feel like I was run over a herd of wasooki,” he grumbled. “There is still one stomping inside my head.”
As Syman sat up, the blanket covering him dropped and his bare chest was revealed. Lyra gasped as his smooth skin was uncovered and there was no sign of the mutilation she had seen the night before.
“We healed them,” explained StarWind as she seated herself across from the three youngsters. “Say nothing yet,” she cautioned as Lyra’s mouth opened to spit venom. “I have some explaining to do and you need to listen.”
“First off,” she started when she saw that she had the youngsters’ attention, “we did not mutilate your friends. Syman had the misfortune of not knowing that the chokas are trained warbirds. Their talons are razor sharp and only Sakovans can approach them unless they are instructed otherwise. You would have been in the same shape if HawkShadow had not grabbed you in time, Lyra.”
Lyra stared anew at Syman’s chest with wonder. She remembered the shredded remains she had seen the night before and shuddered at the thought that they had been riding these animals for the last two days without comprehending what it was that carrying them. For just a moment, she was grateful to HawkShadow for grabbing her.
“Antello can tell you his own blunder if he wishes,” StarWind continued, “but it is not important. You made some stinging accusations last night, Lyra. While there is some truth and logic to what you said, you need to know the whole truth about us. To allow you an insight into the Sakovans though I must go back many centuries.”