Challenge... The word brought Raken out of his trance. He vaguely remembered them reaching the river, finding the rafts. Mara had cut the ropes...the people had come. The company with the Ainereg. He snapped to attention, back to his normal self, and drew out his sword. "You're scared, aren't ya?" he whispered. "Those pointy eared cows scare ya? Well, I'll just have to kill one for ya!" Raken chuckled quietly. "Yes," he said even more quietly, more to himself, "it is time." He looked behind him at the rocks and shrubs that hid Dunlendings. They were doing a good job staying unseen; Raken never knew they had that in them. "Get ready to scream your lungs out," he said, turning back to Mara, "Some of the boys are a bit hard of hearing." He grinned, his eyes still, then sttod up and raised up a cry "The storm comes, little ones! With no mercy, with wrath and ruin, and the tearing of flesh! We come!"
Raken threw back his head and howled like a wolf, and the rest of the Dunlendings emerged from their hiding places, including Mara, screaming, "The wild men of the hills!" Then they switched to howling just as Raken and charged at their enemies. Raken decided to draw his axe, too, and with both that and his sword he ran with wild men across the flat, grassy land, soon reaching the head of the mob. The wild men's feet thumped on the ground, rumbling like the hooves of running horses. Their spears and short blades swung wildly around them, their hair wipping around their shoulders. They cried out all different kinds of yells, whoops, and screams, growls and laughter. Raken howled amid his laughter, smiling and licking his lips. Then, still smiling he closed his eyes, with a dreamy look. He was savoring this moment, imprinting it into his memory. Maybe there are certain pleasures in life worth living for… "We will make the river Isen run red!"
[ May 11, 2003: Message edited by: Durelin ]
|