Page 147 of Earthbound

‘We need to go while they’re distracted!’ Mortah shouted. She had regained the drum she had stolen from the soldier and was retreating backwards from the fight.

Though the obeah had taken Malak unawares, his soldiers were retaliating with their full strength. Alder could no longer tell whose blood flowed quickest, the obeah’s or Malak’s people.

The ground was laden with bodies, but where the elves were careful to circumvent their comrades, the obeah simply climbed over them, continuing their onslaught upon the bones of their brethren.

Another platoon of soldiers joined Malak’s side, all with the singular symbol of Waning on their uniforms. They were quick to lend their might against the beasts.

Though drumfire was silent, the damage it made was not, and Alder wanted nothing more than to close his ears to the cries and whimpers of the obeah as they fell.

‘All the obeah are going to die,’ he choked out.

‘Then do not let their sacrifice be for naught,’ Mortah said, urging them away from the fight. The wound at her shoulder had clotted in a bloody mess.

A commotion drew Alder’s attention backwards. His stomach sank as a new group of soldiers marched their way, their bows held up to attack.

‘We’re trapped,’ Alder cried, but Lettle shook her head, some of her old spark lighting her eyes.

‘Look!’ she said.

Alder saw the glint of a silver cloak amongst the newcomers and Shaman Namana pushed her way through the soldiers.

‘Lettle!’ she said. ‘Are you all right?’

Lettle ignored her concern. ‘What’s going on? Who are these soldiers?’

Namana pointed to the soldier at the front who was directing her officers into formation opposite Malak. ‘That’s Colonel Lorna, she was already mobilising her regiment against Malak. Your warning only confirmed her suspicions.’

Alder watched as Lorna’s regiment began to add their firepower to the fight. The sounds of the battle reached a new cacophony.

But Alder had no time to revel in this new hope, as the obeah were still dying. He wept as they were struck down by Malak’s army, one by one.

Namana said hurriedly, ‘The rest of the diviners are spreading the news about Malak’s uprising, but the camp is big and it will take some convincing. These are the only soldiers we have so far.’

It wasn’t enough. Even with the damage the obeah had done, Lorna’s regiment was vastly outnumbered.

‘Tell them Malak killed the other chieftains. The grave is behind his tent if they need the proof,’ Lettle said.

Namana’s face momentarily crumpled and Alder wondered if she’d known one of the chieftains personally. But then it quickly smoothed into the face of a leader.

‘We’ll get the word out.’

Drumfire skimmed past Lettle’s head and she ducked just in time.

Namana grabbed Lettle’s wrists. ‘I have to go. We are not soldiers. We are truthtellers.’

‘Stay safe!’ Lettle shouted as Namana dashed off into the depths of the army camp.

More drumfire followed the first salvo and Alder looked back to see Reena focusing on their little group.

‘This way!’ Mortah said, tugging on both their arms.

Together they began to run, haphazardly, almost drunkenly through the camp.

‘Faster,’ Mortah urged, but Alder’s feet felt numb.

When he walked, whose footprints did he leave behind? His own or Afa’s?

He stumbled, his gaze fixed on the bloody ground. Lettle grasped his hand, steadying him.