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| Art by: Pedro Lara |
Part 2: The Battle and the Gift
As the rest of the caravan was left behind at a safe distance and guarded by warriors in case of a potential trap, Ellya moved her vehicle to enter combat range followed closely by one of her battle skiffs. As she speed up while trying to keep as close to the sand as possible, her eyes focused on the four pirates riding the famous black terror birds known as Iras. Their target was not the water caravan but a small scout skiff from a neighbouring clan, battered and heavy damaged the skiff was still in once piece. Judging by the way the Iras birds carried their heads Ellya learned 2 important things, that the chase had been long, and that they were quite exhausted.
She knew the pilot was injured, for the vehicle was covered with enemy arrows and spikes; yet the punishment had not been able to break the fighting spirit of the driver. Impressed and inspired by the courage of the pilot, Ellya didn't waste time, she pulled a couple of levers and let the flags carry her instructions to the other combat skiff at her side, as well as the pilot escaping from the pirates.
Putting on a heavy war helmet and pulling the cord of her upper armour, she moved the battle skiff to a collision course with the first pirate.
Following the flag instructions, the scout driver quickly moved in between the approaching vehicles, lifting his hand in a signal of victory as Ellya and her warriors continued their path to engage the enemy pirates. She braced herself for impact as the look of terror from the bearded men riding the monstruos birds turned into a disappearing cloud of blood, dirty feathers and pieces of armour.
Turning her skiff around, Ellya saw how the long spears of the other battle skiff crew took care of a second enemy and his beast, while the remaining pirate survivors stop the chase and evaluated the new situation from a safe distance. A little surprised by the fact that the enemies were still within view, she turned her eyes towards the scout skiff... whatever he was carrying was valuable enough for this savages to risk their lives, and that make them a potential threat.
She stood up and and silently picked up a black flag and pointed at the 2 pirates on top of the dunes, her crew and the other battle skiff prepared the long range bomb throwers and wait for the signal to throw the spore capsules. Casting a final look at the pirates she smiled as they started to run away; but it was a little late for them to escape. Ellya gave the command and the deadly projectiles flew with mortal accuracy, striking both their targets and covering them in a deadly cloud of poisonous spores.
Even though they ran away, they will be dead in less than 5 minutes...
As she send the other battle skiff back to the caravan, and her crew collected any useful remains from the dead pirates and their mounts, she took a water skin and got down of the vehicle, walking towards the damaged scout skiff. The pilot did his best not to struggle as he came out of the vehicle, he stretched his legs and back then bowed in gratitude and greeted her in formal fashion.
- Skill and water (He said, bowing a second time and taking the right hand to his forehead)
- May they never leave your side (She answered, making the same motion with her hand, looking at the metal dagger on his belt and the skill in his greeting; this was not a simple pilot) You need to be more careful if you are to become a new leader for your people.
- Your eyes can indeed see through sand and stone! (Exclaimed the young pilot, with respect and awe) I am Rollut at Maller dal Mabdish.
- I am Ellya at grennar dal Ishdad
- All my clan know who you are (He answered, looking at her once more) Ellya the maiden of the wind, the knife of the sands...
Ellya smiled and gave him the water skin, trying not to laugh at the "titles" she carried for winning the Red canyon gauntlet 3 years in a row; and for killing the pirate lord Oghmed during the last pirate invasion. She waited until he was ready to speak once more, and as the water skin parted from his lips she saw that his eyes were sparkling with new energy.
- I see the travellers spoke the truth when mentioning your famous water skins
- And I see the skill of the Mabdish lives up to their fame (She said, looking at the clan insignia on the damaged scout skiff) I look forward to hear interesting tale behind your long ride.
- You honor me (He responded, drinking a little more water.) To share words with you and your clan will be a most welcomed experience.
- I see your strength is returning (She turn her eyes to the skiff) Now, please tell me if whatever you are carrying there could endanger my caravan?
Rollut paused for a second, took a deep breath and looked at the members of the skiff crew behind his rescuer, then he said...
- The ones that know what I carry are friends to your clan (And looking at the pirate corpses he added) And as for those that could have an idea, you already return their bodies back to the sand.
- Well said; but you did not answer my question.
- My apologies for my poor answer... (He began, but was cut short by her voice)
- No apologies required (Ellya said touching her forehead slightly) I understand now that you are following a dream quest.
- You mind is even faster than your battle skiff!
- I wish that were true (She smiled a little and signal for the crew to return) We shall continue our chat in a place with fewer eyes.
- As you command (And getting back on his skiff he whispered) It is a gift for you
Ellya nodded and waved to Rollut, wondering what could a clan from the other side of the desert could be sending to her or her clan
- Follow close, we have much to talk
As the rest of the caravan was left behind at a safe distance and guarded by warriors in case of a potential trap, Ellya moved her vehicle to enter combat range followed closely by one of her battle skiffs. As she speed up while trying to keep as close to the sand as possible, her eyes focused on the four pirates riding the famous black terror birds known as Iras. Their target was not the water caravan but a small scout skiff from a neighbouring clan, battered and heavy damaged the skiff was still in once piece. Judging by the way the Iras birds carried their heads Ellya learned 2 important things, that the chase had been long, and that they were quite exhausted.
She knew the pilot was injured, for the vehicle was covered with enemy arrows and spikes; yet the punishment had not been able to break the fighting spirit of the driver. Impressed and inspired by the courage of the pilot, Ellya didn't waste time, she pulled a couple of levers and let the flags carry her instructions to the other combat skiff at her side, as well as the pilot escaping from the pirates.
Putting on a heavy war helmet and pulling the cord of her upper armour, she moved the battle skiff to a collision course with the first pirate.
Following the flag instructions, the scout driver quickly moved in between the approaching vehicles, lifting his hand in a signal of victory as Ellya and her warriors continued their path to engage the enemy pirates. She braced herself for impact as the look of terror from the bearded men riding the monstruos birds turned into a disappearing cloud of blood, dirty feathers and pieces of armour.
Turning her skiff around, Ellya saw how the long spears of the other battle skiff crew took care of a second enemy and his beast, while the remaining pirate survivors stop the chase and evaluated the new situation from a safe distance. A little surprised by the fact that the enemies were still within view, she turned her eyes towards the scout skiff... whatever he was carrying was valuable enough for this savages to risk their lives, and that make them a potential threat.
She stood up and and silently picked up a black flag and pointed at the 2 pirates on top of the dunes, her crew and the other battle skiff prepared the long range bomb throwers and wait for the signal to throw the spore capsules. Casting a final look at the pirates she smiled as they started to run away; but it was a little late for them to escape. Ellya gave the command and the deadly projectiles flew with mortal accuracy, striking both their targets and covering them in a deadly cloud of poisonous spores.
Even though they ran away, they will be dead in less than 5 minutes...
As she send the other battle skiff back to the caravan, and her crew collected any useful remains from the dead pirates and their mounts, she took a water skin and got down of the vehicle, walking towards the damaged scout skiff. The pilot did his best not to struggle as he came out of the vehicle, he stretched his legs and back then bowed in gratitude and greeted her in formal fashion.
- Skill and water (He said, bowing a second time and taking the right hand to his forehead)
- May they never leave your side (She answered, making the same motion with her hand, looking at the metal dagger on his belt and the skill in his greeting; this was not a simple pilot) You need to be more careful if you are to become a new leader for your people.
- Your eyes can indeed see through sand and stone! (Exclaimed the young pilot, with respect and awe) I am Rollut at Maller dal Mabdish.
- I am Ellya at grennar dal Ishdad
- All my clan know who you are (He answered, looking at her once more) Ellya the maiden of the wind, the knife of the sands...
Ellya smiled and gave him the water skin, trying not to laugh at the "titles" she carried for winning the Red canyon gauntlet 3 years in a row; and for killing the pirate lord Oghmed during the last pirate invasion. She waited until he was ready to speak once more, and as the water skin parted from his lips she saw that his eyes were sparkling with new energy.
- I see the travellers spoke the truth when mentioning your famous water skins
- And I see the skill of the Mabdish lives up to their fame (She said, looking at the clan insignia on the damaged scout skiff) I look forward to hear interesting tale behind your long ride.
- You honor me (He responded, drinking a little more water.) To share words with you and your clan will be a most welcomed experience.
- I see your strength is returning (She turn her eyes to the skiff) Now, please tell me if whatever you are carrying there could endanger my caravan?
Rollut paused for a second, took a deep breath and looked at the members of the skiff crew behind his rescuer, then he said...
- The ones that know what I carry are friends to your clan (And looking at the pirate corpses he added) And as for those that could have an idea, you already return their bodies back to the sand.
- Well said; but you did not answer my question.
- My apologies for my poor answer... (He began, but was cut short by her voice)
- No apologies required (Ellya said touching her forehead slightly) I understand now that you are following a dream quest.
- You mind is even faster than your battle skiff!
- I wish that were true (She smiled a little and signal for the crew to return) We shall continue our chat in a place with fewer eyes.
- As you command (And getting back on his skiff he whispered) It is a gift for you
Ellya nodded and waved to Rollut, wondering what could a clan from the other side of the desert could be sending to her or her clan
- Follow close, we have much to talk
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