Rolling Shadows - Chapter 2

The manticores did not stop with the temple. Once they had ravaged the place and destroyed the tapestries they headed towards the mainland. The Wardens of the elf people were ready for them, archers on the ground and staff-riders in the sky. The black cloud died with the Dark Elves, the manticores were airborne.

The wardens wore dark blue robes. They had long plaited hair down their backs and each carried a slender sword. They were gathered around Tha'cloyth forest, on the river bank. Most of the trees in the forest were very old, some were former staffs. There were also brambles entangled together making the area impassable. At that moment the ship from the island arrived, it left the water and flew with newly spawned wings over Tha'cloyth. As it landed the ship began to twist slowly as it became a tree once more. The elves aboard it stood up as their ship metamorphosed. The leader of the temple elders approached the commanding officer of the Wardens. They exchanged a couple of meaningful looks before the elder bowed his head and led the temple community away from the forest. They walked only a little way from the field of battle but still in sight of it.
The leader of the Wardens was Thicol Thrin'elgen. He commanded the nine-hundred or so personal in the field of battle. The lead archer approached him. He touched the tips of his fingers together and inclined his head. Thrin'elgen returned the salute with the same finger formation, he however bowed his head.
“Place archers around,” he ordered, indicating the perimeter of the forest, “we don't know if they have control over their magic. Wait for my command.”
“Sir,” the archer said in acknowledgement.
The archers deployed and Thrin'elgen mounted his staff. He and his team deployed above the forest in a tight formation awaiting the arrival of their enemies. Not all of the manticores came to them. They were disorganised with their sudden freedom and only a fraction of them headed towards the mainland. They snarled and slashed as they flew as if the air was their nemesis. The elves maintained their quiet expression then suddenly shot through the sky with slender swords drawn. They only whispered commands to propel their staff. The manticores they faced had faces in stark contrast to their otherwise animal appearance. They had an almost elf like quality about them. Fortuitously they were unable to use their magic ability. Nevertheless they remained able to use their sharp claws and poisoned tipped spines in clubs on the ends of their tails.
Thrin'elgen led from the front, his skills on the staff were legendary. He twisted dodging the poisoned spines. Once to the left, then to the right and spiralled upwards as they began to come in from all directions. He used his sword to deflect the remaining spines. Suddenly there was a loud snarl, as his face was slashed by a large claw. He grimaced and jabbed his sword into the neck of the beast, blood poured out as it fell to the ground. Smack!
The body hit just short of an archer. He stepped back, nocked an arrow and fired. The arrow met its mark and another foe fell from the sky. The battle was not all one-sided and some elves too fell. Those elves that did were caught by vines from the trees, pulling them down to decelerate an otherwise fatal decent. The same was done for the manticores, except they were entangled in vines and brambles. Arrows shot to the sky, swords were swung atop staffs, claws slashed , wings flapped and tails flung darts – the battle continued.
Though the manticores were vicious the elves ultimately prevailed. Thrin'elgen was not complacent in victory however. This time the elves had posessed the advantage in numbers and arms. If the manticores ever learned the skills of magic, that their former masters had taught them, they would become a formidable enemy. With these thoughts in his head Thrin'elgen touched down. The moons were now shining in the sky. The trees that had caught those elves that had fallen cradled them onto stretchers, which were then carried away. The elves operated silently as they carried the injured away. Others, he knew had died this day and would be taken for cremation. It felt like the area should have been silent, however silent it was not. The manticores who remained entangled made a hellish chorus of growls and wails. Whether it was simply the distress of being confined or a call for help Thrin'elgen couldn't say.
“What of the manticores sir?” an archer asked.
“Those of the temple will cast a spell and lead them back.”
“Is that wise sir?”
Thrin'elgen was silent for a few moments as he considered the question. It was not wise, that much was certain. He could think of no other course of action. Though he didn't really believe it he told himself that those few freed manticores might make a difference in the Dark Elf Dominion. The fauns who lived there needed all the help they could get. The archer was still standing by him, awaiting an answer.
“I don't know if it's wise,” he said, “but I can see no other course of action.”
The archer inclined his head walking away, leaving Thrin'elgen to his thoughts.