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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4757486" data-attributes="member: 3285">Serpentine Path: Part 10a – Run for It!A grim-faced squad of Patrolmen met them just in front of an advancing group of Ssethregorans,“Holden?” asked Vlad in disbelief.  “You’re stationed here?”Holden Ash’ur, the Milandisian who had loyally fought at their side at the Gate of Tears, nodded grimly.  He took Vlad’s arm in greeting. “We will buy you as much time as we can.”  He handed Vlad his empty flintlock rifle.“You’ve come a long way from being a clerk,” said Kham.Holden shook his head. “I’m still a clerk.”  His silence indicated the hopelessness of the situation.  Even the clerks were fighting.“But Holden, you can’t…” Vlad trailed off.  He could see a bitter determination and a quiet acceptance in Holden’s eyes. “We will not die easily,” Holden said grimly.  They would not survive the day and they knew it.Holden drew his sword.  The other Shining Patrolmen did likewise. Although they were dirty and bloody, they formed up into a line with perfect precision.  He looked them over with a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth.  Then, with tears in his eyes, Holden faced the Ssethregoran horde.  “CHARGE!”Holden led two hundred mounted Shining Patrolmen through the gates of Semar across the courtyard.  Behind them, the people of Semar watched from the battlements.Ilmarė lifted her arms and closed her eyes.“What are you doing?” asked Sebastian in confusion.“Singing for the dead.”Holden’s men fanned out to form one straight line of two hundred horsemen.  The Ssethregorans watched as the Patrolmen approached.“Bar naadel, I ardhon nîf,” Home was behind them.  The world lay ahead.The patrolmen increased their gallop as a Ssethregoran scout noticed their approach. “A ennas nameneg padalond.” There were many paths to tread.Holden’s Patrolmen were seventy-five yards away, thundering towards the Ssethregorans. “Godref dae an I lanc ned daw.” Through shadow unto the edge of the night.One of the larger Ssethregorans knocked an arrow. “Abielenath na calad.” Until the stars were all alight.Then five hundred Ssethregorans turned as one, serpent arrows already strung on their bows.“Hîth a dae, fân a gwath:” Mist and shadow, cloud and shade:Holdun shouted defiantly. Two hundred Patrolmen rode straight into a black wall of flying arrows.“Pân innas thinna, pân innas thinna.”  All would fade, all would fade.As one, the horses and horsemen landed upon the Ssethreograns with a mighty clash as steel met tooth, claw, and flesh.  “Now’s our chance!” Beldin raised Windcutter, spittle flying from his lips. “For Calactyte!”Vlad strapped Holden’s empty rifle to his back and drew Grungronazharr. “For Holden!”Kham drew Talon and Coomb’s dagger. “For Dril!”Together, they charged towards the Citadel.</blockquote>

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