Arrow

[Nineswords]

A rejection from BL, so here's another from my own chapter (Index Astartes: Storm Sons) for your reading entertainment.

 

 

– Arrow –

The Emperor’s Excubitors gazed up with a tinge of panic as thunderclouds crept across the plains, slowly shrouding the city of Al Terek in unnatural darkness. Unflustered by the encroaching storm, the Emissary resumed his demands.

‘Your bodyguards do not scare me, woman, nor does your Imperial Governor who clings to his life only by the grace of the Emperor.’

By some unseen signal, the giant in bronze standing behind the Adept began to raise a heavy metallic box. The bone white gauntlet of his companion stayed him, and he dropped the box back to his side. Instead, the hulking warrior stalked over to the nearest Excubitor and slowly took an ansalwood bow from his grasp, along with a single arrow from the quiver at the guard’s waist. Despite their superior numbers, none of the Excubitors dared move.

Testing the bow with a nod of satisfaction, the giant then reached into a leather pouch and produced a small silver cylinder, thrusting it upon the arrow’s iron tip. It began to pulse red, like cooling embers trapped in a goblet, and the giant unhurriedly nocked the arrow on its string, aiming it straight towards the city beyond the plains.

The Emissary scoffed. ‘You're at least three time fur--’

With a sudden twang he loosed the arrow and it soared quickly into the darkening sky.

‘...ther than th…,’ the Emissary’s voice trailed off, his mouth agape as the slender profile of the ansalwood arrow vanished in the backdrop of the clouds, replaced by a diminishing red glow. The Excubitors collectively took a step back in astonishment as the arrow completed its trajectory into the city’s merchant quarter, almost a dozen furlongs away.

Without warning, the giant in white and blue raised his skull staff and thrust it into the earth, eyes glowing with the unnatural magick of a man possessed.

A searing, blinding white light pierced through the clouds a heartbeat later, accompanied by an almighty cacophony, followed by a shockwave that knocked the assembled warriors off their feet, piercing screams rendered mute by burst eardrums and a dust storm that enveloped the parley and miles beyond.

After what seemed like an eternity, the screams transmuted into a low, moaning dirge as both the Excubitors and the remnants of the Imperial Army attempted to stand, barely recognisable as human in the dust. Only the two giants and the woman appeared unaffected.

Blinking furiously to rid himself of white spots that throbbed dully in his eyes, the kneeling Emissary gazed out at what was once the city of Al Terek, sobbing uncontrollably. The devastation was utterly complete; save for barely recognisable foundations that protruded out of a vast crater, a gaping void where civilisation once proudly stood.

‘We are the sword of Jaghatai,’ said a booming, sonorous voice in Low Gothic, distorted by dust storm. It was the shaman, his ebony face and polished armour now caked in dust. ‘There is only one Emperor, and his light is both benevolent and extinguishing’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Kelborn]

I like it. :)

Think I will upload my story, which was rejected by BL, as well.

[Servant of Dante]

Awesome!