Other Snips
The sound of the early morning bird calls cover the sounds of our steps. I creep through the tall grass alongside Feam, watching the soldiers ahead talk quietly as they pack up their camp. I hold my hand up and our troop pauses. The smoke from the many dying fires falls gently into the low-lying fog.
My eyes meet Feam’s and I nod ahead. He puts his hand to his mouth, whooping quietly, mimicking the sound of the le’on bird. Responding to the sign, Jul from Aira’s troop begins singing loudly and incoherently on the other side of the camp, across from us. The entire camp rumbles as the soldiers gather; some to get on guard, others to just to see what is going on.
I close my eyes, letting Jul’s voice and the scene fade.
“Ma-hali.”
Follow Feam; pull out daggers. Move quickly. Quietly. Put dagger to neck of everything. Jul screams. My troop stays unnoticed.
Separate. Open tent flap. One buttoning pants. Hit its neck; it falls silently. Next tent.
Empty.
Turn. Everything yells at once. We have been found out. Shadow over tent. Lean back. Sword pierces through the cloth. Stance. Three enter tent.
“Only a woman.”
Grin. Only.
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