With a wave, she issued the next person to cross.

The group over on the opposite side.

Noticed her signal.

They held a few discussions about who would next.

They all were scared.

Kairui inspected their mini frenzy on the other side.

She stood in a stern position her hands on her hips. The crossbow rested on the floor.

She mimed to them to hurry up, noting the searching soldiers beneath them.

Yannu stepped up.

"Well, am a Man! If you're all scared, I'll go first!"

"Yeah, yeah calm down… Emir of Caciccaci and Eein now" Quine mocked.

"Nah, his one of the Śeingtt of R'einsel…" Aya joked, jumping in.

"Did the Śeingtt of fortitude send his will into you to protect us! Fair maidens!" Shassii teased gawking at him.

The three girls wailed and sobbed.

The humor overcame then.

"SHHHHH" Ussu motioned trying to steer them back on track.

Yannu rolled his eyes, he was used to this. Being the only guy in the group.

Kairui now sat down. Her hand on her cheek annoyed by their failure to register the seriousness of the situation.

"Okay, okay… whatever. Am going across, you guys stay here. Making jokes and deliberating like the council of old aging elders in the academy.

If they find you it's on your fault" he said.

Tightening the sack on his back with the rope.

"Wait, Yannu you can't leave… Am scared. Let's go last" Ussu said tugging on his arm.

"First of all.." Quine spoke out, pointing her finger at him.

A hand reached out stopping her.

"Wait, Quine did he just call us Old!?" Aya questioned confused.

Ussu thought for a moment.

"Old" Shassii repeated, flaunting her chest out proudly.

Aya admired her, Shassii did the same.

Staring at each other they asked again.

"Old??"

"Now, that I think about it? This is the second time…. Yannu so it was you that called me ..old…" Ussu realized, gaping her jaw.

Yannu raced off, smirking and cackling as he grabbed the rope.

The trio was startled at his sudden sprint.

He made his way about halfway before making the mistake of looking down. Stupefied he felt his stomach drop.

Kairui was waving at him, to approach.

He took a deep breath, tucking in his nerves.

Taking a quick glance behind he saw the girls worried except one.

Ussu dragged her finger past her neck, with an evil grin.

Yannu goggled at her, embarrassed. Turning back around he heaved himself, drawing all his strength. He used his legs fastened firmly on the rope, to launch his weight faster and safely to the rocky plateau.

Inhaling and exhaling he gathered his strength. Bent over, he was met with a thankful rub of his hair.

Glaring up, Kairui smiled at him.

"Nice one…"

"I don't know what trouble you brewed over there or said to them. But they seem ever so determined to make it here"

"What were you discussing?"

"They…. Were… talking…"

"Take your time"

On the other side.

Aya was fastening the rope securely around Shassii's waist.

Then she yanked the rope twice from the side of the oak tree to secure it.

With a thumbs up.

Shassii returned with a thankful nod.

Aya made her way to her, grabbing her head. The two's foreheads met, they both closed their eyes.

"Śeingtt bewith!"

"Śeingtt bewith!"

The other two drew close. Offering their prayers over her.

"Śeingtt of fortitude watch over you!" Ussu prayed over her head. Kissing her forehead.

"Śeikl of wonder, Śeikl of strength & motherhood beseech you!" Quine wished. Rubbing their foreheads together.

"Why the Śeikl of strength of motherhood hehe" Shassii questioned her, confounded.

"Well, the Śeingtt of strength. Honored as he is. Is of no concern here. You're a girl and at this point, you need a woman's strength, that of motherhood to haul this sack over there!

We all do!!" She explained, humbly.

"Never thought of that. Thank you"

"Has Quine been a mother before?? Just asking? Haha," Aya cracked up teasing him while waving her arms around.

Quine turned round in a nonchalant manner with a look that spelled really?

Aya massaged her shoulders, giggling at her response.

"Lighten up"

"I hate you sometimes, really I do"

"No, you don't!?" Shassii said, grabbing their hands.

"Aya, stop it! You two need to get along better…"

"We, will... come on let's get going"

Shassii walked cautiously to the edge of the hill holding Ussu and Quine's hands on each side.

Gradually helping her mount, the rope.

Shassii had a technique that let her glide on the rope like she was a snake.

It came almost natural to her.

The audience was surprised, seeing her move.

Her hips and but would lift and she'd use her arms to pull them all at once as if she was like a snail.

Then she would tug with both hands and her legs crossed over, each hand moving ahead of each other. Stroke after stroke she made it to the other two. Greeted with helping hands pulling her up.

Fatigued and tired.

She stood up kicking Yannu's leg hurting his ankle three times. Before pulling his shirt and letting out a soft friendly threat to him.

"Ouch… come on Shassii"

"Don't ever call me old again!!"

"You called her old!" Kairui hopped in.

Yannu rubbed his hair, quiet as a mouse.

"You never call a woman old!"

"Kick him again!"

Shassii gave him one more kick.

"Okay, okay am sorry"

The two laughed it up, in is pain.

Aya sighed seeing Shassii make it safely across.

"Okay, who's next?"

"Ussu, you want to go next…"

"No, ill go!" Aya proclaimed.

"I think Ussu, should go. She's the most scared out of all of us!" Quine defended.

"Guys does it matter!?"

"YES!!!" they both shouted out.

Covering their mouths after.

The soldiers heard the sound but were confused about where it came from. Three of them entered the forest. Looking for the source.

"Aya, I think you should go next. Besides if I leave you both here, you'll rip each other apart!"

"Your right, we probably will"

The men had spotted the sound and were drawing closer to the hill.

"Oooo oh" Kairui muttered under her lips.

"What? What is it!?"

"Listen you see those men they'll spot the two if we don't do something!?"

Kairui thought on her toes.

"Not to worry draw your bows"

"Why?"

"We're going to lead them away from there? But for them some time… this canyon has a narrow path of around one hundred and fifty meters.

If we follow we should be able to jump onto the next then from there we'll have to keep running"

"You expect us to hop from canyon to canyon!?" Yannu questioned.

"Yeah, that's crazy. We can't all bunny hop like you.." Shassii said.

"There are other routes. Too, of course, it'll take longer but as long as we run on these long pathway surfaces and stay in the middle we should be able to fend the soldiers off....."

"They won't follow us past the desert"

"What makes you so sure?" Yannu asked suspiciously.

"Their scouts, they wouldn't have been ordered too. Plus it would be a waste of time for them. The desert is hard to navigate even for them in all that armor, they'd die capturing us or even following us and ….."

"And??"

Yannu spoke out following along.

He laid his arms out waiting for a conclusion to his question.

"What else is stopping them?"

"The Labaeyi!" Shassii chimed in, finishing Kairui's last words.

"Exactly!"

"They have no charm to protect them, not like we do!" Kairui warned, removing her pendant from her neck.

Understanding everything, Yannu drew his bow. Firing an arrow into a soldier entering the forest.

Shassii aimed too. Waiting for the partner to reveal himself.

Aya stretched out her hand latching onto the rope.

Peeping back at the last two girls she made one last humble demand.

"Quine, take care of Ussu! If they find you guys here…"

Quine held her head down, pouching her lips.

Ussu punched her arm.

"Ouch, okay I will," she said witnessing Aya climb onto the rope.

A gust of wind came swooping down lifting her robe, leaving it flapping in the wind. With the girl's hairs swaying violently before resting back down as it left.

Aya had one leg wrapped around the rope. With her butt sticking out. It exposed her womanly figure.

Turning back one last time.

"You like what you see!" she jested, poking her eyebrows up. Patting her butt.

"Ughh" Quine rotated annoyed, flinging her head into the sky.

"Śeingtt be with!" Ussu launched a prayer, ignoring her seductive taunt.

Aya bowed, receiving it before departing.

The two watched her pass to the other side.

"I can see why you hate her sometimes" Ussu whispered.

"Thank youuuuu"

"I heard that!!" Aya yelled as she clumsily pulled herself.

Back on the other side.

The trio had spotted the men returning back to the lake.

Shassii aimed down, holding her breath. Kneeling down to secure her shoulder strength.

Aya kept moving and was now three-quarters of the way there.

A soldier raced underneath spotting her above him. He had a long spear which he planned to launch at her.

"There to your right, Shassii!" Kairui commanded.

Shassii turned instructively, the bow rested on him.

Gazing down her arrowhead she fired.

Shooting through the sky the arrow landed, hitting his shoulder. His arm fell back along with the spear.

Aya saw him and quickly rushed across.

She drew again, pulling the bow rope further.

Firing once more, she hit his head. Not intentionally but because of the wind and the elevation targeted above.

"Ohh my…. Did I just kill?"

Kairui rushed drawing her spare bow from Yannu's sack.

She took one of Shassii's arrows from her quiver and shot the man in his head, penetrating through his skull.

"No worry child, now I just killed him"

Aya was now at the canyon head.

Her foot rested on the side.

Reaching out Kairui and Shassii pulled her up slowly making sure her footing was secure.

"That was close uhh" she joked.

"Yeah it was"

Above Yannu's bow aimed at her, his left eye closed. He towered over the two girls bent over the cliff.

Aya saw it and was frightened.

"Yannu, what are doing?"

A look of grief and terror conquered her. Time slowed down.

Was this it? Is this how she ended? An accidental arrow to the face?

Questions puzzled her, as she raced for answers.

Shassii turned to Kairui, trying to look back.

It was too late though.

Kairui caught in the corner of her eye of the two soldiers from earlier emerging from the forest.

The arrowhead now aimed at the men.

He let go, the arrow skimming past Aya, cutting directly through her hair.

She let go instinctively fearing for her life, her eyes sealed shut.

Kairui and Ussu instinctively reached out over the edge before she could fall.

The arrow tore through the air.

It span viciously tearing through the sky, striking one of the soldier's nose. It dug deep, borrowing into his nasal area.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" he screeched out.

Aya looked over her shoulder, seeing the man squirm in pain.

The other trying to help and remove the arrow.

On the canyon, the trio was Pulling Aya up, she felt relieved.

Doubt nearly overcame her for a second.

"Quine, Ussu let's go!!" She shouted over the cliff.

More men scurried, hearing the cries of the fallen men. They raced back to the lake.

From within the narrow entrance.

Orders barked out!

More men rushed into the entrance trying to get through.

Kairui steadily walked to the opposite edge of the canyon. Where she spotted the lieutenant.

His Lion mold spaulders with a red jade ball in its jaws caught her eye. She flicked through her thoughts trying to remember.

I know I've seen that Jade before…. I'll need to consult the others to inquire about this.

"Those lions and the jade sat in… I've seen him before," Shassii said.

"You have where…?"

"Back at the Śeingtt of fortitude statue. He spells Serious trouble!?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, we meet him. He commanded a unit of deadly archers they killed the civil guard at the town entrance. Also, our innocent people too.

"Sanni Sai' Śeigtt"

If he calls the archer unit we're doomed!"

"Yannu?" Kairui called.

"Yes"

"You and Shassii run off ahead,..."

"Okay"

"Shoot some arrows to draw their attention and then hide!"

"What do you mean hide?"

"Stay in the center where they can't see you and then fire some arrows. Do this for around two hundred meters and then return here"

"We'll meet you halfway, hopefully with everyone. From then we will race to the realm past!"

The two dashed off, distancing away. Following her exact order.

Yannu being faster took the lead.

Sliding as he came to a stop. He drew his bow.

"Arrow"

"Yes!"

Shassii removed it from his Quiver.

He aimed down sights, closing his right eye once again.

"Breathe…" Shassii advised.

Correcting his arms so he could steady his muscles.

Letting go of his shoulders she left him once he was firm.

Yannu placed his arrowhead on the Lieutenants head.

Then he aimed to the sky, to make up for the distance.

They sat around sixty meters away.

Archery was a skill they were all taught from a young age but it was mainly to hunt animals. Coming to terms to shoot or wound to kill people was a new experience.

"You remember the plan Shassii, don't you…"

"Yeah"

"Wait here and rest while I take off. When I hug the ground you shoot and run to me to regain their attention. But keep your head down and watch the path carefully. This surface isn't exactly homely even for us"

"No worries… just make sure you don't fall first. Or Ussu will kill me!"

"True"

Yannu stopped talking. His braids flew with the wind, he waited for a point where his vision was clear and unobscured. Releasing the tensed arrow.

Gliding through the sky it flew straight to the lieutenant. Twirling through the desert sky, piercing through a sky before descending. Looking like it would hit.

The duo had faith, chanting to the Śeikl for perseverance.

His men caught eye and drew his shield, protecting his higher in command.

The arrow landed five feet from his target. Sank into the ground.

The lieutenant grinned.

He had an arrogant manner he was surprised someone would dare face off against him.

Being that he was the second only to the Commander Nidd of the Great Army of Tal Morenn.

"Damn I missed" yelled out Yannu. Punching the ground.

The soldiers saw him and made a shield wall formation, cautious of whether he had another arrow.

Appearing from behind them, the Lieutenant took some steps to the arrow lodged in the ground.

Gazing at Yannu, the skinny boy. He was impressed. He could muster the strength to shoot him from afar.

Kairui saw him squatting down to inspect the arrowhead.

She stuck her arm out to Aya.

Aya quickly removed her bow and quiver from her sack and handed it to her.

Kairui aimed down at him, this was the opportunity to take out future adversity if needed. The jaded stones rung a bell, she knew one thing for sure she had crossed paths with him before.

"Take the shot!" Aya suggested.

"Mhmm" Kairui aimed down her sight. The arrowhead pointed at his head. She pulled back with all her might.

She couldn't miss at this angle.

She could hear and understand the disgruntled mumblings of the men in the formation.

Flinging the arrow, the bow rope twitched at the force she released it shot down as quick as lightning.

The Lieutenant was still admiring Yannu and the arrowhead, unaware.

A soldier witnessed Kairui at the last moment, he shouted out a warning.

"Lieutenant Yidd!!!"

The arrow raced closing the distance between the two. It was ten twenty inches away.

Instinctively the lieutenant unsheathed his spiked shield resting on his back. Twisting his joints to pull off the maneuver.

His armor constrained his movement, he fought past that.

Lifting the shield from his back to above his head. As the arrow kissed his shield, volleying away. He opened up his arm, staring up into Kairui's eyes.

A staredown commenced. The men were shocked.

It was like he had a sixth sense.

Atop lay Kairui who gritted her teeth, her bloodlust could be felt from up above.

He spoke out in his tongue once again.

"Klksadkdslkask Nsseiq!"

Kairui kept quiet annoyed at his words.

She hid again. Resting down with Aya.

The lieutenant entered back to the safety of his men.

He gave an order pointing to at Yannu.

Then sent a few men to monitor Kairui and track her closely.

Seven of his men, mounted their horse and chased after him.

Twisting his shoulder joint back in place.

He chuckled at the thought.

The Nsseiq we've found them finally!

He entered his War Wagon.

Whipping his twin horses, he retreated to R'einsel.