194 Rapid Fire (2/2)

”Just a little longer… I think—”

The flash of an explosion caught my attention and my eyes darted eastward toward the Redbull's battle where another one of those magnifiers had just blasted a charred line through the troops.

”Sh*t… we need to pick up the pace, men,” I called.

”We're nearly at the end of the line, boss,” Shanks explained. ”Edo's signaling that we should stop soon…”

I took one last look at the battlefield from above, burning it like a photograph in my mind before I released Fool's Insight and found myself back to ground-level.

Shanks let me down, and we resumed our stealth march to the western end of the sand dunes.

Above us, the number of scouts was beginning to increase, but we'd kept low enough that they didn't notice our passing. But it felt like a balancing act of walking on a tight rope where one misstep would ensure we'd be discovered.

Stealth was the key. It was the reason why I insisted that no heavy armor was allowed among the troops who were joining us. It was also why our weapons were wrapped in cloth so that any chance of them reflecting light was non-existent.

After another ten to fifteen minutes in which I had no doubt that the enemy had fired another blast from their magnifiers, my four-hundred soldiers finally reached the corner of the sand dune.

We stopped our march there and waited for the signal that I hoped would come soon.

”What now, Dean?” Edo whispered. ”There's no word from Luca yet…”

I gazed up at Idunn in the sky and noticed that she was nearing her zenith.

”Won't be long now…” I whispered back.

”Lookouts above,” Azuma called.

As these enemy lookouts gazed down from their positions above us, their eyes went wide at the sight of our troops hiding below. Sadly for them, we were the last sight they'd ever see. For in the instant of our discovery, they were silenced by the shadows that had come to life beneath their feet.

I looked up and watch as Enna danced in the moonlight as she slew two of the lookouts. Her cousin, Thom, slew the other three in quick succession.

”All clear,” Thom called from above.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one to breathe a sigh of relief. Now was not the time to stumble.

My eyes gazed up, and I saw that Idunn had finally reached her zenith.

”Luca… now or never,” I whispered.

As if in answer to my call the horns of war began to play not too far from where we were. It came from the east, somewhere between our landing zone and April's ten thousand forces.

”Looks like Luca's right on time,” Azuma noted.

”As expected of the boss' little brother,” Thor agreed in his gruff voice.

”Here we go,” Shanks added.

I looked over my shoulder and gazed back at the line of men behind me.

”I hope you're all ready for some glory,” I whispered, and although I was certain my voice wouldn't reach the ears of the guys behind, I think they could tell from my face that I was encouraging them. ”We're going to claim another general's head.”

My soldiers didn't cry out an affirmative but there were many fists pumped in the air at my declaration.

”Now we just have to wait for Luca to kindle the flames…” I said. ”Let's see how he's doing.”

I called on Fool's Insight one more time and sent my sight into the sky.

Below me, the personal guard of Amon, Shield of Rah, was in an uproar for the southern line of their square formation had just been attacked by a four-hundred-man unit comprised of cavalry and fliers.

Luca's Ravagers, Xanthor's Dash, and Qwipps' Talons had arrived, and they'd brought kindling for the fire.