A decrepit streetlight flickered and flashed its weakened beams onto the corner of Fain Drive and Scar Crossing. It sputtered and then burst forth with renewed energy before subsiding again.
In the moments between the sudden brightness and the return of dimness, small wisps of shadow flitted across the lighted surface. They were so small and so fast the casual eye would immediately dismiss them as a trick of the light or their own eyes.
This, of course, was exactly the way they wanted it to be. All Kefi are trained from infancy to avoid detection in any way necessary. The members of the Neslah1 tribe were no different, but they took this discipline to duplicitous extremes.
Kefi of the Gicha tribe used their stealth for their protection; The Neslah used their skills to plunder and threaten the Gicha and take whatever they wanted from Hanuk homes.
The group of shadows passing through the darkness specialized in theft, violence and, if necessary, bloodshed.
They did not seek conflict, but they refused to shrink from any manner of violence or trickery that helped them accomplish their missions.
Unfortunately for all creatures who crossed their path, the Neslah had all but perfected theft and plunder to the point where these aims became effortless and boring. They became restless and dangerous.
Freed from any pangs of personal or communal hunger or want, now the Neslah actively sought opportunities for chaos and cruelty as diversions for their unchecked urges. Food and plunder raids become errands of fear and death.
Neslah razkods2 went forth at undisclosed times to wreak havoc and death without apparent purpose or predictable motivation. Gicha parents refused to let their children out of their houses after sunset to protect them from death or abduction.
Just behind the razkod’s path, a dismembered frog lay in a mangled heap. The remains of the creature’s head leered at the darkness, skewered on a metal lance stuck deep in the soft earth.
Their leader Keres marched silently at the front of razkod. He walked in near-total darkness, but he set an unfaltering path for the rest of his men to follow. Practice marching at night and overall familiarity with the terrain made the task easier.
Four Kefi marched silently in his wake. Marth walked with an arrow fitted onto the string of a longbow. A dark hood covered his face completely.
A few feet behind him, Azrail walked with his body hunched low to the ground, sniffing the air and remaining alert for signs of something to hunt, although it was too dark to make out much.
A bit further back, Balo walked upright. His gait was relaxed; he moved as if he were out for a stroll down an open street. His body language suggested absolute indifference, but his eyes told a different story. They flitted in all directions, missing nothing.
Bringing up the rear, a shadow twice as large as the others loped and lumbered along. Cleon munched loudly on the remains of one of the deceased frog’s legs, making a host of revolting noises. A withering look from Keres made him stop in mid-bite.
“Shut your oversized gob, Cleon,” Keres hissed. “How the fask3 are we supposed to move silently with you glomping and chomping like that?!”
“Sorry, K,” Cleon muttered. He threw the rest of the frog leg into the high grass on his left side and fell in step with the rest of the group once more.
The razkod marched on silently throughout the remainder of the dark heart of the night, making virtually no sound and attracting no attention as they moved inexorably forward.
They traveled a great distance, finally making camp on a grassy spot on Cattle Pass Ave in the heart of Gicha territory just before first light.
Murderous, amoral tribe of Kefi residing in the Fain province. Mortal enemies of the Gicha tribe.
Neslah death raid.
Kefita profanity.
Very interesting development indeed. I’m curious how these Neslah will interfere with our Gicha heroes!! This chapter really fleshes out the world in a way that adds so much depth without saying too much. Great job!