Zshurii's Song (Snippet 13-3)

A story fragment from the Eastsong Cycle

(Read Zshurii’s Song, Snippet 13-2)

One of the prefect’s soldiers rammed the standard bearer with his red rectangular shield. Anntica’s companion went sprawling. Before the commander or Rhecah could move to assist, another red-shielded warrior swung the curved fang of his scythe into the hapless standard bearer’s chest.

Zshurii hastened her progress through the maze of duels and skirmishes. A steppe-folk archer, wielding his bow as a cudgel, threw a sea-folk swordswoman out of a bind directly in her path. Zshurii suppressed the urge to wind around, or to stop and help. Instead, she darted through the momentary gap between the soldiers.