207 March or Die (1/2)

It really was a question of ”Will they or won't they?”

Will they catch up or won't they? Will they kill each other or won't they? Will they escape or won't they?

See, so many scenarios for this one gruelling escape.

Dawn had come and gone, and our march across the desert continued at double our usual pace. We had no choice as we were being chased by a rather stubborn fool.

Great General Garm hounded our heels, and although we managed to keep away for now, every hour brought him ever closer.

”You know, if we don't shake off Garm soon he'll chase us all the way to our secret oasis,” Luca commented.

He was riding his swifthart to the left of me and readying to take our cavalry back to delay the enemy for as long as they could without incurring casualties.

I know, I know, sounds like wishful thinking, but it wasn't. Luca and I had a pretty good plan.

”Hopefully, the traps we set along the way will help somewhat,” Aura added.

She was riding her swifthart to my right and readying to lead her Magehand ahead of us using the few sand gliders we had left so she could set up the traps that might stall our enemy.

”If you two manage to get your jobs done quickly, we'll make it out of this okay,” I reasoned. ”Get to it… and take care, please…”

”I've never heard you sound so worried before, Dean,” Aura said in a light tone.

”You don't have to worry, Dean,” Luca assured me. ”We'll get the job done.”

On that final note, each of them took a hundred soldiers and left my side — Luca to the north and Aura to the southwest.

”What do you think the odds of us getting through this alive are, Commander?” Varda asked me.

She and her much smaller swifthart — the kind that could accommodate a dwarf's smaller stature — had replaced Luca on my left side.

”Heck if I know,” I lied.

I knew that the odds weren't great but she didn't need to hear me say it because I was certain she knew it too. The situation was dire and there was just no point in confirming her worst fears.

”We'll get through it,” I managed to say.

”You don't really lie so well, Dean,” Qwipps commented.

He had replaced Aura on my right.

”Muddamit,” Qwipps cursed. ”It's just another day for the Foolhardies, huh…”

I looked up at the dull glow of the Fayne's sun and said, ”Yup… just another day.”

One thing had happened with the rising of the dawn. We'd lost over a hundred soldiers including most of Azuma's Immortals. Since they were all viseres, most of them didn't carry a sun ring that would allow them to stay during the day.

I could have probably gone with them, but I was afraid of leaving Luca, Aura, and the rest of my unit in such dire circumstances. Azuma had stayed behind as well. So did Ty, which was a real boon for his magic played a huge role in the traps Aura planned to set.

Now, instead of the original five-hundred soldiers I marched south with, our main force was down to two-hundred. But our smaller numbers also meant we moved faster than originally planned, and it was nearly lunch before our enemy managed to get within striking distance of us.

It was at this point that the first stage of the plan bore fruit.

Luca and his mounted Ravagers along with Xanthor's Dash Riders, a total of a hundred cavalry, had stayed to the rear of our march this whole time. But now they were turning around to engage the enemy cavalry that was getting ever closer.

”Steady, boy,” I told Myth Chaser as I caressed his neck. ”I need you to make sure I don't get thrown off while I check on Luca, okay?”

Myth Chaser grunted with an affirmative. It gave me enough confidence to close my eyes and leave him in the driver's seat.

”Oh, great fool, let me see the unseen that I might know the unknowable,” I whispered.

This was immediately followed by a stabbing pain in my irises that was indicative of overusing my fairy gift, causing me to cry out in pain.

”Are you alright, Commander?” Varda asked in concern.

”Fine…” I breathed. ”Watch the road for me.”