“Don’t break formation,” Perry roared asseveral men moved toward their fallen comrades. “Grieve later.Raise your sword and avenge your comrades.”
There was a long drawn out scream that onlybroke long enough for the man to draw breath.
“Why don’t they kill him?” Clark asked.
“Intimidation,” Shea said, scanning the treesfor movement. “They’re trying to get in your head and scare you.It’s not easy listening to a person you know being eatenalive.”
“How many do you think are out there?” a manasked.
“Fifty, maybe more,” Eamon said.
“Here they come.”
Revenants crept from the cover of theunderbrush, their heads lowered and teeth gleaming white as theydarted up to the line of men, testing their defenses. They woveback and forth, avoiding the slash of steel.
“Stay on line,” Perry screamed as several menstarted to rush to meet the revenants.
“Come on, you demon spawn,” a man shouted ontheir left.
The revenant tormenting him slunk back andthen lunged, never coming into range, and letting out an eeriecackle when the man hacked at him uselessly.
“Where are the rest?” Shea asked, softly.
There were only ten or fifteen of the beastsin the clearing with them. From what she knew of the beasts, theyenjoyed fresh prey and wouldn’t miss this, especially after theirpack mates had been slain.
So, where were the rest?
A set of teeth closed around her boot,yanking her feet out from under her and dragging her off the line.It shook its head fiercely, trying to get at the skin beneath theleather. She kicked at it with her other foot, the blow glancingoff its head but not deterring it at all. She’d dropped her bladewhen it grabbed her, and her hands scrabbled at the dirt searchingfor a weapon.
Getting nowhere with her boot, it dropped herleg and lunged at her torso. She raised her hands protecting herface and neck. A blade pierced its eye, freezing it in its tracks.Shea followed the blade to Eamon who planted a boot in its side,pushing it off his sword.
“Stop wool gathering. I don’t have time to bebabysitting,” he snapped, keeping a watchful eye out as Sheaclimbed to her feet.
She turned to get back on line, glancing upas she did. Her eyes widened in disbelief at the revenants amassingon the ledge above. They were preparing to jump on the menbelow.
Guess she’d found where the rest of thelittle bastards went.
She pointed up, yelling, “Behind you. Coveryour backs.”
As if on cue, half the men pivoted while therest stepped forward swinging their blades to meet the ones on theground. Arrows flew, picking several of the revenants above off,but there were too many.
Shea swung her sword as one leapt, catchingit in the throat. It went limp as it landed, taking her back to theground. She cursed and wiggled out from under its dead weight. Anululating cackle sounded to her right. She pushed harder as anotherrevenant peered around its dead companion. The weight on herdoubled as its saliva dripped onto her face.
She whimpered, her hand creeping to her waistand pulling her dagger. The beast leapt, and she brought her armup. It screeched as it buried itself mouth first on the blade. Sheangled the dagger into the soft tissue of its palate and then intoits brain.
Great, now she was pinned under two of thedamn beasts.
The sounds of battle continued around her asshe grunted and shoved her way out from under the dead revenants.Bit by bit, she shifted the combined weight until she was finallyfree.
She reclaimed her sword and looked at thecarnage. Bodies, both revenant and man littered the ground, and thepreviously tight lines had degenerated into a free for all as mendefended as best they could.
This wasn’t going according to plan, but thatwas the way life went out here. You start with one idea and thensomething happens that totally fucks everything up.
Eamon, Buck and Clark had formed a group andwere fighting the beasts as a unit, relying on each other to watchthe other’s back against the devious things. It looked surprisinglyeffective as they killed one beast after another.
Shea turned her head, looking around theclearing. There had to be something that might make a difference.She reviewed what she knew of the beasts. They were pack animalsand might or might not be afraid of fire. Not that it mattered,because she had no way to make fire.
Shapes moved in the trees beyond theclearing. Darting in and out of shadows with only the occasionalreflection of light glinting off their eyes. She’d thought this wasthe entire pack.
