War Cry of the Wind (1)

Griffith walks his horse through the town square under the stares of soldiers and captives alike, Silat too stunned to react as the Falcon of Light passes him and rides straight to the Kushan general. Without a word, Griffith runs his sword through the general's eye and kills him. In the silence that follows, the second-in-command orders a volley, and the arrows streak at Griffith, who never turns his head. Every shaft buries itself in the ground on his far side, leaving him looking merely bored.

Unable to explain how their arrows missed a man who never moved, the Kushan write it off as chance and ready another volley. Before they can loose it, an armored, human-formed Zodd cuts them down from behind with a huge sword and war axe. As the soldiers wheel to face him, the front ranks are run through by a single sweep of a long lance. Its wielder reins in beside Griffith, lifts his visor, and names himself Locus, saying an oracle guided him to the city. He pledges himself to the Falcon of Light, and Griffith accepts.

Zodd and Locus turn together on the Kushan while Griffith looks on, sword drawn but still. The women held prisoner overhear the exchange and rejoice to learn Griffith truly lives. Sonia, the silent girl among them, is so overcome that she frees herself from her bindings with her teeth and runs toward him, growing more entranced with every step until she simply stops and gazes up at him.