Stranger of Tempest: Book One of The God Fragments by Tom Lloyd

magic-charged glass core against the porcelain. That would shatter into dust, which for reasons Lynx didn’t understand was the best medium for the magic to explode forwards faster than any arrow. Icers had greater range and accuracy than other types – powerful enough to kill at almost half a mile – but lacking the terrifying destruction of a burner or sparker.
    Lynx closed the gun up again, hands moving out of habit, and stood ready until Payl signalled for them to advance. Unwelcome memories intruded as the group slipped forward through the trees, moving quiet and swift towards Kas. His army career had been relatively short-lived, but the So Han elite commandos had fought this way – tearing a quick and efficient path through the unprepared militias they faced. From the outset, Lynx had learned in a baptism of fire as months of intense fighting had carved them a path hundreds of miles east across the continent. By the time the main army had caught up with their progress, most of the fighting was done and the defenders already shocked into capitulation.
    Payl led the way, with Varain and Tyn slipping to the right so they were twenty yards away by the time she reached Kas. The bluff, light-hearted woman of the previous night was all business now, briefly describing the camp up ahead without a second glance at Lynx.
    ‘Hundred yards, I count five. No watch, just the lookout on the road. Tents in a hollow, small fire burning. Bracken all around. Teshen or I could get within ten yards without being seen. There’s a big oak up ahead, follow me and you’ll be close enough.’
    Payl nodded and gestured forward with her gun. It was a heavy, blockish weapon – one that could be used as a club without much risk to the integrity of the barrel. The shorter barrel limited the accuracy, but given fire-bolts exploded into flames when they struck, that wouldn’t prove much of a problem.
    Kas scuttled forward, all three moving at a cautious crouch. Lynx kept his eyes on Kas, doing his best to ignore the fact his view was mostly of her buttocks. Twice she paused, the second time for long enough that he almost raised his gun, ready to fire. She kept an arrow nocked and three more in her draw hand, but both times started forward again without a glance back. When they came to the oak Kas paused and looked right to check on Varain and Tyn. They were barely visible through the brush, but Lynx followed their progress forward until they had found a good position to wait.
    The oak was ancient and low, split by a lightning strike further up so the top branches were twisted and withered. The lower ones had spread wide, a green canopy shrouding the ground around it for ten yards in every direction. Lynx could smell the rich, dark earth underfoot, mingling with the peppery scent of bracken hanging in the air.
    Payl spared Lynx a final look and nodded towards the left-hand side of the oak. Seeing he understood, she gave Kas a pat on the shoulder and moved right herself, mage-gun levelled. Lynx skirted behind Kas before all three of them stalked forward through the oak’s gloom until they reached the edge of the branches. No more than thirty yards away he saw faces, three turned away from him and one facing their way. Pale-skinned under all the dirt and tousled hair, the man didn’t see them at first and when he did there was a moment of surprise that froze him to the spot. Before he could do anything Payl surged forward, her voice crashing through the peaceful forest.
    ‘Move and you’re dead!’ she roared, aiming her gun straight at the man. Lynx and Kas both held their ground, obvious enough to be a threat as they each picked a target. ‘Pull your weapons and I’ll burn you all!’
    There was a frantic flurry of movement off to the right. A tall man jumped up from a tent, bow in hand, and Lynx turned to line up a shot, but never had a chance to do more than that. The whip-crack of an icer split the air and a white streak slammed into