A field of bodies -- Three Stones of Destiny

warriors side second looks2 (Photo credit: auchard)

 

Mitac retched when he saw the headless and badly mauled body of a man behind a clump of wild grasses. He was dark skinned and almost naked except for a skirt of leather covering his midriff. There was a huge hole in his chest corresponding to the gash in the mail shirt. His heart had been removed and it seemed that his head had been taken as a trophy of war. Worms and maggots now infested the open flesh where wild animals had taken their fill.

Treetam covered her nose and mouth, muttering. ‘They do not entomb their dead. They are left for the creatures to eat.’

Ezof grabbed the end of a spear and prodded the body. ‘The softness is gone … dead maybe a half moon. That be if they have any moons here.’ He sneered at the body then threw the spear end away.

Mitac retreated from the scene. ‘Let us be away from this before these beings add our bodies to the pile.’

The other two acquiesced, leaving the body to whatever scavengers inhabited the area.

However, the march ahead was strewn with more bodies, broken armour and weapons. Some of the bodies were nearly black, contrasting with the lighter shades of brown skinned warriors. Clearly, there had been a great battle with much loss of life on both sides. They began to encounter squabbling flocks of ugly birds that feasted on the carcasses, and other larger creatures with jaws armed with flesh-tearing teeth and greedy yellow eyes.

 

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