Chapter 51: Strength And Weakness Part 3

Andrea expected to hear "shields up" or some other order, but Mlan just raised his own wooden shield and stepped in front of Trals.

"Would you follow Turtle's example then?" Trals asked, as if he hadn't been interrupted by a rain of pointy death-sticks. "If your sentiments are true, why are you not back there with her mad angel Chris? He's dangerous and powerful."

"Chris? Please." Andrea squinted and her HUD-vision sharpened. The warriors fleeing the battle had almost all turned around now, bringing their animals up behind the line that Driver Mlan had already arranged. The only place where reinforcements weren't going was right here, at the center. "Chris doesn't have real power. He has...power lite. Artificial power-flavored sandwich spread. Now in a can!"

"I am the one," said Trals, "who is supposed to be babbling."

Andrea swallowed her reply. Then a foot-long arrow slammed into her shield.