The Bridge

That night Katnir had another nightmare, but that one was different. He didn’t dream about his fall and the fission of Zaria, the khorii crystal he used to have in his right palm. He also didn’t dream about his failed attempt to reconstruct it. In his dream the crystal was still in its place, fused with his hand.

He was knees-deep in snow, braving a harsh blizzard. The cold wind pierced his flesh to the bone. Black rocks and tall ice spikes loomed on both sides, barely visible through the thick precipitation. Undeterred by the weather, he marched on.

Finally, he saw his destination. A lonely mountain emerged from the mist, jugged and intimidating. He made his way to the base and he saw the opening: a dark maw crowned with human-sized icicles which seemed as if they were about to fall at any moment. After a brief hesitation, he entered the cave.

Suddenly, he woke up and realized he was clutching something in his fist. It was the pouch where he kept the dust that Zaria had turned into in his botched binding attempt. The dust was glowing purple. It still held some power, but it was out of his reach, despite being in his hand, an inch from where it belonged.

He put the pouch back in his pocket. The sharp pain in his palm which accompanied him the whole night at last started to fade away.

When he fell back asleep, the night sent him no more dreams.

***

Having departed the abbey at the first crowing of the rooster, the five sisters made it to the rope bridge just when the sun was at the zenith.

The bridge spanned two vertical walls of dark, ragged rock. Moza roared deep beneath, hidden under a dense fogbank. Howling wind swayed the bridge there and back again. Still wet from the morning dew, the ropes creaked. The mist started to rise and soon the other bank was barely visible. It seemed as if the bridge ended mid-air, amidst the fog.

There was no sign of the sorcerers, and no wildlife, apart from a single raven that flew overhead and disappeared into the mist.

The bridge was barely strong enough to allow a single person leading a horse to pass. The guerillas would be separated and easier to pick up.

“They will come from the other side” – Sonia said. – “This will be a good place for an ambush.”

Satine agreed and gave each sister appropriate orders to prepare the ambush. Sonia and Liesë took their positions on the high ground, Sonia with her longbow and Liesë with a crossbow. They were to let loose at the unsuspecting sorcerer as soon as the aim was clear. The rest hid among the rocks, ready to pounce into melee should the need arise.

Soon they heard a loud creak and the ropes tensed up. Someone had entered the bridge. Liesë raised her crossbow, aiming into the fog. Sonia put an arrow on the string. Both were on edge, their hearts racing as the steps on the bridge grew louder. In any second the outline of the sorcerer would breach the mist. Suddenly, the steps stopped.

“I wish you no harm, sisters of battle!” – a loud voice came from the fog. – “Stand down and let us pass, and none will be harmed.”

Satine was thunderstruck.

How could that be? – she thought. – We’re completely hidden and have catharite on us! How can he sense our presence?

“This has to be a bluff” – Taevine whispered, clinging to the stone even closer. The grey cloak almost made her invisible. – “There’s no way he knows we’re here.”

This gave Satine some relief, but soon they heard the voice again.

“Well, what will it be?”

What would have Lynette done? What would have Lynette done? – pounded in her head.

Satine could wait no longer.

“I’ll go face him.”

“I’m coming with you” – Taevine said.

“No. The bridge is too narrow. I’ll try to draw him out to the solid ground and then you can join the fight.”

She emerged from hiding, despite Taevine’s protests. When she stood at the abutment, she saw a faint silhouette in the fog. Something took off from the sorcerer’s shoulder and soared high. It was the raven they had seen before.

So that’s how he knew we were here… – she thought. – The bastard can communicate with animals.

She wanted to let out her anger for the death of Lynette and other sisters, but she held back. She was now the decurioness and as such she spoke with dignity in her voice:

“Why did you attack our sisters a week ago?”

“We did not” – the sorcerer matched her tone. – “We crossed the border two days ago and haven’t yet met a soul in this country.”

“Liar! Are you telling me you’re not one of Einhart’s men?”

“We’re not associated with anyone from Rainhoven. We’re free wanderers.”

“State your business here in Rainhoven, then.”

The response came after a short pause.

“Our business is our own.”

“I will not accept that answer.”

“I urge you, for your life and the lives of your sisters, let us pass.”

“I will not.”

Angered even further by the stubbornness of the sorcerer and his lies, she didn’t realize when in her vengeful rage she drew her twin swords and stepped onto the bridge.

***

The female figure emerged from the fog, brandishing two shortswords. Whatever hope Katnir had held for a peaceful resolution, was now gone.

“We needn't fight” – he said nevertheless.

She pointed one of her swords at him. Her black eyes were burning with fury.

“Stand your ground, sorcerer.”

Katnir calmly drew his weapon. An orange spark danced on the runes etched onto the blade. He pointed it back at her. He held a clear range advantage, and there was no way to bypass his defences on the narrow bridge. The battlesister had no choice but to attempt a frontal assault.

Each stood their ground, gauging the opponent's skill. The wind wailed on the naked blades. Finally, the battlesister lunged forward, knocking Katnir's weapon aside with one sword and thrusting at his neck with the other one. He dashed back, out of her range, and slashed at her arm, trying to disarm her before she could recover. However, she deflected the blow and the sword hit one of the bridge planks instead.

Katnir tried pushing her away with telekinesis, but it had no effect. He realized she was completely invulnerable to magic as long as she had catharite on her, which he sensed as a bubble of void surrounding her. It was up to his fencing skills to defeat her.

His swift slash almost caught her shoulder, but bounced off from a last-second parry and flew over her head instead. That gave her an opening to strike with her free sword, and scratch Katnir’s arm. He disengaged to rethink his strategy.

He still had an undeniable range superiority. There was no need for a close melee. Instead, he decided to rely on denying her an advance while keeping her busy with strikes from outside her reach. Once exhausted, she would be vulnerable to a knockout with the pommel.

Yes, that would be ideal – he thought. – Reiny should be on the other bank by now. If I can knock her out and get off the bridge, together we can incapacitate the rest.

He cut wide, leaving her no room to dodge, and too strong to be stopped with just one blade. She had to parry with both. Before she could regain her composure, he kicked her in the chest, trying to knock her down on the planks. Instead, she used the momentum to land a perfect backflip. Katnir was impressed, but didn’t let himself get lured. He suspected her sisters were waiting on the other bank, ready to shoot him, but he was safe from them as long as he remained shrouded in the fog.

Fortunately for him, the battlesister seemed to have no patience, and charged at him again. She dove under his preemptive thrust and slashed at him from below. He stepped back and spun his sword, forcing her into a bind. She tried stabbing him in the face with her free blade, but he let go with his left hand and grabbed her wrist, stopping her blade an inch from his neck. Before he could wrestle the sword out of her hand, she broke free from the bind and with a twist of her body, landed a kick on his ear. Staggered almost to the point of falling off the bridge, Katnir had to retreat a few more steps to regain his composure.

Damn it! I underestimated her.

The battlesister attacked with renewed vigor, forcing Katnir into defense. With each clash, the steel sang closer and closer to his face. He began to lose ground, being pushed further and further into the middle of the bridge under her barrage. He lost sight of the bank and the bridge was now giving an illusion of floating in the air.

The fog rose a little and for a second he saw the roaring river far beneath. The bridge was less stable here, swayed back and forth by sudden gusts of wind. He found it increasingly difficult to keep his balance, but still managed to exchange blows with his opponent. It became clear he was now fighting for survival. For the first time in that duel, he was afraid.

Suddenly, his foot slipped on the wet planking and he nearly plunged into the gorge. Before he could recover, the battlesister pushed his weapon aside and charged at him, ready to thrust her blade into his exposed armpit artery. By her omission, Katnir’s sword was now in the perfect spot to strike fatally at her thigh.

This is it. It’s kill or be killed.

He made the decision and swung his blade.

***

Sonia and the rest stood at the abutment. They could only hear the clashing of steel and see occasional glare of a blade cutting through the fog. Taevine was itching to join the fray, but Katria's strong arm kept her in place.

Without any warning, a loud crack filled the valley and the ropes loosened. They caught a glimpse of the two figures tumbling down into the mist as half the bridge smashed against the rocks.

“Satine!” – Sonia screamed, grasping a limp rope dangling from the postument.

When the echo of her scream faded away, there was only the distant hum of the river which had now claimed their friend. Taevine snapped out of the shock first, and grabbed Sonia by her shoulders, her nails biting into her skin.

“Why didn't you just shoot him, Sonia?!”

“I told you I was afraid he would hurl the arrow back at me!”

“Oh yeah? And now look!”

She pointed at the gaping void beneath the collapsed bridge. Sonia said nothing.

“Katria, come with me. Sonia and Liesë will cross the river at the nearest ford and then check the opposite bank. Go downstream and meet us near the Addago Rapids. All of you, be on the lookout for the other sorcerer. Now move it!”

Without even waiting for Liesë, Sonia walked away, kicking herself over her failure to aid Satine.