Page 22 of Game on Askole

Oh, dear God. Enough already. Out of sheer desperation, I tried mind talk.“We really enjoyed the dance, but we’re not quite sure whatka nate khakatu tutu ngarahumeans.”

“We proclaim our promise to vanquish the vile destroyers,”the warriors yelled mentally, and in unison no less, as they hopped over and around their twirling swords.“Waewae tama-nur-ra. We are the death bringers.”

“Okey-doke. Good to know.”I edged away from a spinning sword.“Who you plan on killing?”

One warrior stepped forward.“You. Mistress Lilkee wants your heads.”

“Me? Why?”Grabbing a chair, I blocked the warrior’s attempt to disembowel me.“I’ve never met Mistress Lilkee.”

“You are vile destroyers,”the warrior answered, hacking the chair into pieces.

Aunt Tess dodged a sword thrust.“What exactly are we destroying?”

“Your foul blood will dilute the purity of the Coletti race.”

With a backward leap, I avoided the slashing sword. “Hey, we would be more than happy to go back to Earth. We just need a lift,”I cried.

“Waewae tama-nur-ra!”the smallest Genghis Khan wannabe screamed and threw his weapon into the air. The razor-sharp blade severed one of his antlers. The bony spike bounced off his shoulder and fell to the floor. Completely oblivious, the wannabe caught his sword, stepped on the antler, stumbled off balance, and slammed into another dancer. That dancer collided with the next dancer, who slipped on the antler and bam! Down they went in a tangle of arms and legs.

“Gotta say these death bringers are a clumsy bunch,” I commented drily.

Aunt Tess grabbed a sword and handed it to me. “Unlock the door. I’m gonna teach them a lesson they will never forget.”

“You got it.” I sent a tendril of power into the lock. A muffled click sounded.

Aunt Tess cracked her knuckles and rolled her head. “Ready?”

“Oh yeah.”

“Play time.” She threw open the door. A gazillion lime-green alien insects shot into the room. My aunt yelled,“Welcome to hell!”The flies swarmed the warriors, covering their eyes and climbing into their helmets.

“Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee!” In a desperate attempt to escape the biting horde of creepy-crawlies, the warriors thrashed wildly on the floor.

To my utter astonishment, they locked their helmets’ antlers together. The more they yanked, the worse it got. “Wasn’t there a vid of two deer with their antlers locked on the Internet?”

“I think it was two moose that got tangled up. Too bad we don’t have our phones. I’d love to post this.”

The warriors’ cries grew louder and louder. “Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! “Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee! Aiieeeee!”

Aunt Tess snickered. “Dumbasses. All they have to do is remove their helmets.”

“Yup. They’re piss-poor assassins.”

Voss and Rho teleported into the room. They watched the Genghis Khan wannabes’ struggles in disbelief.

The Battle Commander fastened an annoyed gaze on Aunt Tess. “Send the sand flies away.”

Aunt Tess twirled a finger. The sand flies buzzed Rho’s head three times before flying out the door.

Rho growled deep in his chest. “Do you have a death wish, female?”

“Your security has been penetrated. These idiots were sent to kill us, and you have more assassins roaming nearby,” I quickly inserted.

Rho’s expression was downright terrifying.

Voss raised an eyebrow. “They told you that?”

“Are you calling us liars?” Aunt Tess gasped in outrage.

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