The patrol was largely uneventful, as the unit proceeded along their designated path around the northern farmlands and to the borders. It was a very warm day and Kaya could feel her skin burning under the unusual weather conditions. Well unusual to her at least, living in the cold bleak mountains had ill prepared her for a life in the south, where the sun shone almost all the time. The days were hot and the nights were almost just as warm. She wiped her brow, the sweat staining the cuff of her shirt, as for a brief second she felt kissed by the gentle breeze across her face. She breathed in the smells of lavender and wheat from the nearby farms and held her breath for a moment. As they made progress they checked in with various gateposts along the route and discovered that the day was largely business as usual. A couple of stray livestock, a few minor quarrels among the townsfolk but nothing in need of military intervention.
The unit was in high spirits, as they joked and made merry on their meandering wander. Stories were being told, anecdotes and embarrassments shared and laughter heard all around. It was a good day Kaya thought as her injuries had not given her much discomfort on her first return to active duty, she and her soldiers had been given the chance to visit the grand library at Gromarg and perhaps find answers to the history and such as it was the future of her path in this world. Her mood darkened slightly as she pondered what had transpired recently. Being taken in by the Lighthand and mentored under Soren and Salec, the brothers she had come to see as her family in these short months, had done nothing but guide and nurture her to becoming the best Captain and friend she could be and she was overwhelmed by the connection and fellowship she felt among the recruits of the light. All it seemed had a similar story of conflict or desperation that brought them to the Lighthand but each so individual and different, yet here, equals, brothers and sisters in arms. She was feeling tumultuous, when she felt Sorens hand on her shoulder.
"You ok lass?" his eyes dropped low in concern.
"Yes, Soren, I'm fine. My mind is just… erm, wandering a little." she responded vaguely, her thoughts still not focused.
"Well, keep sharp," Soren fussed with various belts and straps holding what seemed like an infinite amount of blades, "never know whats a'waitin' over a hill."
She looked over her shoulder to see Salec rough housing with a few of the troops and smiled, "He doesn't seem to concerned." she chuckled gesturing to Salec behind her.
Soren looked at her direction and scoffed, "Aye, he'll be the first to get a stabbed back at this rate."
Kayarona had never seen Soren this serious. He always had an easy confidence about him and a relaxed posture, even in combat, he moved fluidly and with grace, but he seemed stiff and rigid. Kaya couldn't help but probe, "Soren, whats really on your mind?" she spoke in a soft, comforting tone, and
Soren realised he was not being as covert with his emotions as he believed. "'Tis nothin' lass." he smiled a fake smile and tried to loosen his frame but Kaya could see the deception clearly.
"Somethings wrong." she stated bluntly and matter of factly, urging Soren with her eyes to confess his worries.
"I just can't be helpin' me mind right now, lass. So much I don't understand." his guard dropped and
Kaya could tell he was in turmoil. She tried to console him, "I don't understand it either, but we can figure it out together." she smiled gently.
Soren returned her smile, "Aye. Aye, thank you, lass." he stood up straighter and his whole body seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "Right, enough of that." he spoke boldly, "isn't it bout lunch time?"
Kaya chuckled and looked up at the blazing sun over head, and it seemed to sap her will to continue as the heat began to get to her, "I don't know but I'd be very happy for the chance to remove this heavy armour." she shifted under her plates, still not used to the heavy metal having only worn simple furs and skins as a hunter.
"Lighthand!" Soren shouted, the recruits all giving him their attention, "Its lunch!" the unit cheered and chose a spot of the road to start setting up. Before long there was food being cooked and several recruits playing dice games, some training or practising forms, Soren and Salec were mingling among them and after stripping the heavy metal plate armour, Kaya felt much relief as the breeze caressed her sodden clothing and chilled her, she sighed. After a time spent just enjoying the feeling of weight loss and coolness on her skin Kaya started working with her sword, still not really used to a heavy blade. Several of the soldiers were helping her improve her form though, and they were all exceptionally well trained under the Lighthand, and gave her a variety of tips and tricks to help improve her ability rather rapidly and sparred with her to help her solidify her teachings. She in turn, was teaching the units archers how to use a bow the Mal'Katai way, how to move with the bow, understand the flex and bend of the wood in your hand, be able to aim and loose on the fly and not be bound by timing and solid footing, and most fundamentally, not rely on your quiver, be able to reload from your off hand and hold several arrows at a time. There was no question she was the most gifted archer the Lighthand had ever seen, and after a few patrols, the units bow users were using this style more and more effectively. Kaya was proud to see her peoples skills and traditions living on among her new family, and she was just as proud to see how completely and thoroughly they had assimilated the techniques.
As the unit started to break camp after lunch, Kayarona was strapping her armour back on, already sweating with the thought of wearing it in the baking southern sun again. Soren and Salec moved over to her as the recruits finished up and readied themselves to move on with the patrol.
"Ready lass? We still gotta go o'er river before the Eastern Plains and then we loop back to the capitol." Salec looked eager to move, Thunderstrike resting on his massive shoulders.
Kaya nodded, "I'm good to go, Captian."
"How you feeling in yourself?" Soren said quietly.
Kaya realised he was asking after her wounds, and she smiled, "Feeling strong Soren." she replied confidently.
Soren returned her smile and sprang forward, "Then off we go!" "Lighthand… Move out!"
Kaya shouted, and the recruits all grunting their approval, beginning to follow their captains on the latter half of the patrol route.
They made good time, heading to the river that marks the border of the Eastern Plains. So many creatures stalked the Plains and river that Kaya had never seen before, although there were a few she recognised. Bunfs, Kyrini, Flophares and the occasional bird she could name were all present jumping and flying over the grassy lands. There was a peaceful feeling in the air as they brigade made their way around the edge of the river and Kaya allowed her thoughts to become lighter as she too joked and joined in with the revelry of her troops.
"We got trouble!" suddenly one of the scouts shouted and pointed in the distance, where a plume of great black smoke was slowly ebbing into the clear sky.
"Lighthand, with me!" Kaya screamed and the unit moved into action in an instant. Bows were held loaded, many of them in the Mal'Katai style, and swords were drawn. Salec stormed through the ranks, getting to the front with Thunderstrike held aloft and Soren filled the grooves of his hands with blades. They knew battle was upon them as they marched with fervour, increasing their adrenaline and speed as they grew closer, and before long the source of the spewing smoke became fearfully clear, a Nelocon. Easily eighteen feet tall, black charred scaled skin covering a blood red fleshy hide underneath, five claws the size of a field plough lined each of its four limbs. An uncanny human like face sat atop its broad and muscular shoulders, bracing its two enormous wings, stretching wider than its height and each blazing with flame. It roared loudly and reared back before slamming into its target, a small temple dedicated to Duchan, as the stone likeness of the God of Earth was smashed into rubble by the demons assault. The building was already burning and the temple attendants were doing everything they could to staunch the spread of the inferno.
Without hesitation, Soren and Salec let out a rallying cry, "Lighthand, defend the temple!" and charged forward. Kaya drew her own bow and loosed an arrow, aiming for the creatures eyes. Her shot was good, but struck the demons scales and was deflected. The rest of the unit rushed forward and fires their own shots against the beast and the battle was joined. The soldiers did what they could to draw the beast away from the temple, dodging and moving to avoid being struck by the creatures flailing attacks as it swiped its massive claws attempting to shred them to ribbons. They held fast and surrounded the monster, as volley after volley of arrows rained into the beast from Kaya and the archers. Soren threw blade after blade at the face of the thing, trying to disable it as quickly as he could as Salec leapt into the air, channelling lightning into Thunderstrike and slamming the broad face of his might hammer onto the demons shoulder. None of the arrows or blades found their mark, as the scales of this thing were far too strong, but Salecs Hammer found purchase against its defence.
The creature howled and staggered back at the strike, clearly enraged, it followed its howl with a screeching roar, as its flesh ignited and an eruption of white hot flame burst from its scales. Soren was too close, and the flame whipped his frame throwing him back and crumpling him into nothing, be lost consciousness from the strike as he tumbled and folded, his armour was smouldering and blackened when a handful of soldiers got to him and tried to pull his body away from the conflict. Salec was driven to near madness at the sight of his brothers injury and screamed into the sky as he charged his hammer for another strike, true and strong into the chest of the beast, but it would not be felled so easily. It lashed out at Salec forcing his retreat, as a soldier appeared from the sooted ground and through the smoke, raising his shield to defend his captain but was swatted aside by the weighty claws. Gathered up by other recruits they stood firm and re-braced their shields, steeling themselves for the next attack.
"Defend Salec, distract that thing, Archers, the wings!" Kaya fired another arrow, hoping to slice through the weaker skin of the wings in an effort to disorient the demon while Salec could bring it down. Her arrow hit the mark and cut clean through the creatures wing, as the other Archers followed her example, peppering the thin leathery wings full of holes, as the rest of the unit moved to stand near Salec, shileds raised in defensive formation. The demon wrapped its torn wings around its body in an attempt to protect the softer material, but in so doing obscured its vision, and this was the opening Salec needed. He called Thunderstrikes conduit once more and it began to crackle with energy, "Shields!" he screamed, and several recruits positioned nearby moved in front of him, bracing their shields above their heads as Salec jumped onto them they all pushed up, and forced their captain high into the air. Kaya was stunned at the display, not only an impressive tactic but a flawless manoeuvre executed with precision and perfect timing. She wondered briefly what other such tricks the unit had in store for her, as the archers around her kept the pressure up, raining a storm of arrows at the raging demon. Flame and smoke kept spouting from its skin as it fought against the pain, and it erupted in another fierce and blood chilling scream, flinging its wings out wide, just as Salec reach the apex of his jump. He looked down, taking aim, and in an instant with a mighty heave he threw his weight behind his hammer and brought it crushing down on the demons head, collapsing its skull and sending its burning blood spraying out of the wound, and it soon fell silently to the floor, its fires quickly glowing from red, to orange and finally to black as its life is taken Salec landed on the things chest and quickly made his way to solid ground, as despite its death, the demons skin was still hot enough to burn.
The recruits cheered at their victory, but Salec was preoccupied, "Where's Soren?" he shouted.
"Captain" a soldier screamed, and Salec and Kayarona snapped their attention to where the scream came from. They rushed over to see the medics working on Soren, his face was burned, and his armor scorched, a few of his own blades had skewered him and he had a huge gash across his thigh. He was alive, but barely, "He should be ok, Captain, but we can't take him back to the Capitol like this, we need to stabilise him."
Salec began to tear up but remained focused, "Any other wounded?" he looked around and saw only a few burns and cuts among the brigade, each already being seen to.
"A few Captain, but they are being treated by the other medics." the medic yanked one of the blades out of Sorens arm and he winced feebly as she began to wrap the wound in a linen bandage.
Kaya did what she could to keep control of the rest of the unit, giving out commands to have the Lighthand help to control the fire at the temple and control the blaze in the plains around the battlefield before joining Salec at Sorens side. "Salec, what can I do?" she asked frantically, watching her friend fight back his emotions, but he couldn't and began to cry.
"I can't lose him, lass…" he wept.
"My Lord?" a loud cry came from behind them, "bring him to us!"
Kaya and Salec looked up to see the priests of the temple coming out to help tend the wounded, bringing water and fresh linen, helping to bind wounds and offer blessings and comforts to the soldiers.
As the head priest made his way to Salec and Kaya, "I'm Joraf, head priest of this temple. We have a small infirmary on the grounds, which, thanks to you still stands. You can treat him there, and we would offer shelter and food to your brigade, for without your timely intervention, we may all be burned to that demons rage. We owe you our lives." he bowed in reverence to the captains and his attendants mirrored his respect.
Salec gestured to his medics, "Take him in there, keep him alive… please." he begged of the priests and his medics.
"You are all welcome to rest and eat in our grounds, please come." Joraf motioned for them to follow him inside.
"Hayd!" Kaya called for a scout.
"Captain?" she ran to greet her captain.
"Are you fit and well?" she enquired.
"Well enough Captain, aye."
"Head back to the capitol, tell Velixar what happened here, full report, understood?"
She nodded, saluted, and left in the direction of the capitol with two other recruits as an escort. With that taken care of she turned to the soldiers remaining, "Lighthand, to the temple, we make camp here tonight." weary and some wounded they made their way inside what was still standing of the temple, a few of the least injured soldiers remained outside still tending to the flames and embers of the beast onslaught. When Kaya made her way inside she saw the priests and priestesses of the temple shuffling around, some offering praise and prayers to the soldiers, some bringing water and food, others fashioning sleeping arrangements for the Lighthand, others still brining supplies to the medics and assisting in the duties of healing and treating them. Kaya looked around for Soren and Salec and saw his huge frame vanish into a room on the left of the main hall and moved to follow. Eventually catching up she saw them lay Soren down on a large feather stuffed bed and the medics began to tend to him with the help of the priests, but she could see he had been bleeding gravely and was burned worse than they thought, Salec stood nearby, knees shaking and sobbing for his brother, he fell backwards into a chair that had been brought out for him.
Kayarona approached her distraught friend and embraced him tightly, "He'll be ok."
"But what if he ain't lass?" he wept even more fervently into her shoulder as he weakly held her hug, "I couldn't stand to lose 'im Kaya."
Kaya started to silently weep with him, feeling his pain as if it were her own, she recalled how she felt when she lost her brother and mother and she wouldn't wish that feeling upon even her worst enemy. "He's not dead, and he will live through this my friend." she tried to reassure him, but her voice cracked as she spoke, "the medics are all working hard, they have shelter and clean equipment…" she didn't know what else to say, as Salec sobbed deeply, all she could do was hold her friend… and hope.