Demon Hunters: Slayers Part 5

Her piercing scream attracted the other soldiers and they rushed to us. Amelia looked absolutely furious as the scream of an Elf carried so much resonance, it could be heard for miles around. Imagine the scream of an eagle…
  
They all stopped short when they saw the shuddering figure on the ground. They were fascinated by the bloodied elf, who was gasping as his blood flowed. Elves were not easily killed, as they were half immortal creatures who lived a very long life. When they did die, they did not rot on the soil, but disappeared into thin air, their spirit joining the energy of Sunwell. Or so I heard, but I had never seen an elf die.    
   
Jademere fell down before Tyger and gently lifted his head to rest on her thigh. Tyger squinted at all of us, a brief smile forming on his torn lips.    
   
“The legion of Stormwind…” he whispered.  
   
The mocking nuance in his voice did not escape Amelia, and the commander scowled at him even as she squatted and looked closely at him.  
   
“What happened, Elf? Why are you in such a sorry condition?” she asked.  
   
Tyger swallowed and answered, in just above a whisper, “I was caught when I flew too low near the horde. They are many of them. Their marks are straight and sure, their death arrow found me even when I camouflaged myself in the mist.”  
   
“Sister, go home. Tell our parents that I join Sunwell.”  
   
Jademere sobbed.  
   
“No Tyger…No. I will help you, knit your spirit within your body and we will fly home. We will sleep in  Silvermoon City tonight. We consult the spellbreakers and the sorceress. Your years are long yet brother…we are sin'dorei! Children of the blood,” she spluttered through her tears, her hands gesturing to create a spider web of green and blue string like lights and folding it over her dying brother.  
   
“They pierced my heart, sister,” he sighed and seemed to glow. He shuddered and the most beautiful hue of green, purple and yellow encased his body. They turned into coloured dusts and then Tyger was gone.  
   
Jademere’s keening wail was a sharp sound that pierced the ear. Her green eyes, gleamed yellow and then orange and then back to green. The true and terrible beauty of the Elfin race manifested in her for a brief moment. I stared in awe and fascination at her and then she was just a heap on the ground mourning the passing of her brother.    
   
Amelia cleared her throat.  
   
“Well I hope all that noise did not get us undue attention,” she said, turning away and gesturing to the other soldiers. But not before I saw the glint of tears in her eyes. I wept in my own way, quietly. I helped Jademere to her feet and she clung to me. We walked back to our shade, and rested through the night both lost in our own thoughts. Occasionally I heard her hiccupped and I patted her shoulder in sympathy.  
   
Dawn welcomed us in its cold grey light. We stood up and got ready to hear Amelia’s command. Although we were not on official mission, we always looked up at her as the leader, due to her rank and her vast experience in battle.  
   
“Three of us will fly to the front, four on the left and four on the right. Jademere and Grace you will fly above,” she ordered.  
   
I nodded and looked at Jademere, who looked too calm and collected for one mourning the death of a loved one. I knew she was seething inside and that such anger could at times be an impediment in such a mission.  
   
Suddenly there was a muffled boom from the portal and a strong gust of wind blew against us. We stared in horror as several flying contraptions and their drivers appeared in the glowing blue area in the horizon.  
   
They were heading straight towards the undead horde!  
   
To be continued…