Desert Thirst Ch.9

  • Morning broke with screams and shouting. It was the noise of his tent being ripped open that actually stirred Kotara from his dreams of war to the reality just outside. A shadow fell across him, brandishing a bloody sword. Instinct took over, and Kotara's hand grabbed for a weapon. Feeling a wooden shaft, his hand closed and he stabbed upward at the towering figure. He was rewarded with the wrenching sound of metal punching through metal. The sudden attack jolted Kotara's would-be assassin, shaking the momentum from the still raised sword and causing it to fall limply down. Kotara gave his weapon a twist, and tugged it to the side, causing his attacker to collapse to the ground inside the tent.

    The dim morning light flooded in, revealing an Altmer woman who lay still, taking ragged breaths, eyes shifting between the short spear piercing her gut, and the Redguard holding it. She found the strength to smile thinly, eyes drifting through the gap in the tent wall. Kotara's gaze followed, and he saw Dominion soldiers storming into the camp, Cyrus' men rushing to defend it in varying states of wakefulness. Kotara looked back at the woman, but was met with a sightless stare. He pulled the spear from her body, looking at it curiously. He couldn't recall taking any throwing spears from the armorer. Looking down he saw a leather wrap with several of them, unrolled beside his mat. Someone had known the Dominion was coming.

    Kotara spared only enough time to buckle his sword to his waist and scoop up a couple of the spears before running out into the morning air. Barely a pace from his tent, he saw a pair of Altmer emerge from another tent several meters away. He was throwing the first spear even as they noticed him, and came charging after it. The spear took the nearer of the two soldiers in the throat, staggering him back into his companion. The second Altmer pushed his dying companion aside and lunged to meet Kotara.

    The Redguard planted his feet and led with a jab from the throwing spear in his right hand, which the Altmer handily avoided before making an overhead slash. Kotara's raised sword intercepted the blow, and with the spear still extended, he rapped the shaft against the exposed mail at the elf's ribs. There wasn't enough space for a hard blow, but he stepped back and spun away, bringing the spear around to land a vicious blow to the side of the elf's head. The dazed Altmer had not time to react to the sword that quickly followed, and fell as the blade pierced the mail on his other side.

    Freeing his sword, Kotara turned in place, taking in the chaos throughout the camp. The Redguards were slowly gaining the upper hand, but bodies were strewn everywhere. The elves were being beaten slowly back. Or was it...

    "They're giving ground!" A voice called his attention, and he turned to see Alazir striding towards him, his steel axes dripping with elven blood.

    "Why?" Kotara mused, turning back to the dunes and the retreating forms of the last few Dominion soldiers, while the Redguard cheered their victory.

    "This was just a scouting party. All they had to do was find us. Thinning our numbers was just a bonus. If their raiding parties have found us now, a whole Dominion army isn't far behind, and now that a few have escaped, they'll know exactly where we are."

    Kotara swore, fist clenched, "You learned this from Cyrus?"

    "After a manner," Alazir said evasively as the pair began making their way towards the center of camp, where the remaining warriors were gathering, "News of the danger came last night. There was hardly time to act."

    "Last night? Then it was you who left the spears in my tent!"

    Alazir shrugged, and Kotara clapped him on the shoulder.

    "Looks like I owe you! I guess I was right, there is thought for your brothers in that thick skull of yours!"

    They reached the gathered Redguards before Alazir could reply, for which he was grateful. It was better that the coming blow be dealt by Cyrus himself. He stood at the head of the crowd, armor stained and battered, but none the worse for the wear. Alazir could read the sorrow in his face like a book. Many of the warriors were still excited for their "victory" over the elves. Only a few besides Alazir realized what was about to happen.

    "My warriors!" Cyrus shouted, reigning in their attention, "The elves have withdrawn, but not for long! We have received word that the Dominion are quickly gaining ground. Whole armies now bear down on us. If we are to retake our home, if Hammerfell is to survive this invasion, we need help. Our brethren are gathering to meet Imperial reinforcements at Skaven, and we must do the same."

    Stunned silence fell across the camp, a few heads turning towards the north, and the shimmering desert horizon that waited there.

    "We must cross the Alik'r."

    Whatever else Cyrus tried to say was drowned out by shouting and confusion as the warriors went into an uproar. Kotara turned quickly to Alazir.

    "You knew this? Nothing could be done?"

    "I spoke to Cyrus. He is decided."

    Kotara's shoulders sagged. "He would have us flee to our deaths."

    "We won't retake Hammerfell with what's left of this camp," Alazir shrugged.

    "What? You accept this so easily? Where has your blood rage gone, Ugatka?"

    "I can kill many more elves with the combined strength of the Redguard and the Imperial army at my back."

    "If you live long enough to reach them," Kotara sneered, turning back to the head of the camp as Cyrus was making himself heard again.

    "There is no other way, Redguard. We will survive the desert, and bring our strength to bear against the Dominion in due time! Break camp! We march at sundown."

    Alazir leaned over to Kotara. "I can say I have had the limits of my will to live tested, Kotara. Now, it is your turn."

    ~~~

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