Page 83 of Tusks & Saddles
“Help!”
“It’s alive!” Welborn cried, hand wrapped around her wrist in his dismay. “That ball thing! I think it’s like Bit! It’s aconstruct, Miss Eaves, it needs our help!”
Fuck,Welborn was right. Now that it was getting closer, Beatrix could see the soft glow of an ocular piece near the center of the metal. An eye—whatever eyes meant for constructs—that was flickering as it rolled rapidly toward the boulder. Something akin to terror made the being weave through the dirt as it continued to cry for help. Whether a construct wasaliveor not was something left up to debate by scholars and arcanists. Some theorized they were no different than arcane intent crafted into reality, and thus had no desires outside of their creators.
Luckily, Beatrix had more sense than that. Survival was always the priority, but her father had taught her privilege was knowing when to reach a hand down to someone who needed it. While she didn’thave ten minutes to setupGambler’s Luck, with Welborn at her side, they might have just enough time to save the helpless creature.
“Got any magic today?” Beatrix asked as she aimedBad Company.“We need to come up with a plan, quick.”
“Magic—” Welborn’s eyes darted along the dirt, before his eyes widened. “Plan!Yes, yes!”
“Then do it. I’ll cover you!” Beatrix ordered just before her finger pulled the trigger.
The bullet struck the hide of one of the infant Sand Slithers as it breached the surface. The monster’s shrill cry echoed throughout the expanse before it dove back into the earth. Slowed, but not easily scared away. Sand Slithers had no fear when they were made to be the dominant predator. The hungrier they were, the more aggressive they became. Each one would breach the surface in a mad dash toward their target.
Her next shot clipped a spike off another Sand Slither, but unlike the first, this one showed no distress over the impact. If anything, the Sand Slither doubled it’s efforts. They were running out of what precious time they had.
Whatever he’s got up his sleeve, he—
Beatrix’s eyes widened as she caught the form of Welborn descending the boulder.
“Welborn!” She cursed. “What are you doing?!”
“I have a plan!” he shouted before stumbling down the side of the boulder.
Beatrix felt her heart jump the moment Welborn disappeared from her sight. She bolted toward the edge, ready to fire atanythingthatso much got within ten feet of the cleric. Welborn had made it twenty feet down the side of the boulder, boots slipping as he leaned against the rock. He quickly ripped his glove off his hand with his teeth, exposing the mysterious hole in his hand.
“Be ready to catch!” Welborn called from below.
Catch—
A wave of arcane energy burst from Welborn’s hand. The force nearly enough to knock Beatrix back from her position, even so high up. The blue light slammed into the earth, and before Beatrix could blink, suddenly the earth had exploded. Rock formed beneath the construct, elevating to what appeared to be some kind of platform that arc—
The construct screamed as it flew through the air.
Catch them!
Beatrix holstered her weapon as the construct’s rotund body flew at her. Her hands flew up, preparing to catch it the same way she caught apples her brother would toss her. Except, this wasn’t an apple, but a fully metal being the size of her own head. A fact Beatrix realized almost too late as she felt the impact against her hands. The force of the hit knocked her flat on her ass, gasping as pain ricocheted throughout her.
“Thank you!” the construct cried, a warbled thing that echoed in her ears.
A single, glowing blue eye stared up at her.
“Miss Eaves!”
Welborn!
“Get off the ground!” Beatrix choked, pushing the construct to the side with a clack against her belt. “Climb, Welborn!”
She scrambled to her feet, skirts catching on her boots. Beatrix yanked at the material, darting toward the edge of the boulder just in time to see Welborn reaching a hand out. All the while the shrieks of the Sand Slithers echoed around them. Beatrix fell to her knees, her own hand outstretched. He was so close, she just needed to extend her arm a little bit more—
Welborn slid down the side of the boulder.
Beatrix could only shout in horror as he fell to the ground. The impact wasn’t nearly as hard as the metal flying through the air had been, landing on his side with a groan. Beatrix wasn’t certain if anything had been broken, as Welborn pushed himself off the ground. They could worry about his injuries later. The trail of dust catching up to him made her eyes go wide.
“Welborn!”
There were three Sand Slithers within ten feet of him! Beatrix pulled her weapon into her hand and fired. The bullet impacted one of the Sand Slithers, tearing a chunk out of its face. A hard hit, painful, but one that wasn’t stopping the monster from chasing.
