dissipated altogether.
The guards were not the target of that particular assault, and remained untouched by arrow. Now that the centaurs had seen Xu Liang’s defense, they were unwilling to bother further with projectiles. The horde of beastly men rushed to the center of the stony field. Tristus was reminded instantly of the ambush that had forever altered his life. He felt the grip of his soul burner at the back of his mind already, as if it never rested, as if it were constantly prepared to draw itself up out of its dark corner, as if his very spirit were a rope set down for the demon’s convenience.
The Order Masters of Eristan might have believed that true, but Tristus could not continue to accept that. He knew not how to cut the line the demon followed to the surface of his being, but if he could make his focus a gate behind which to trap it…
With that in mind, he firmed his grip on Dawnfire , recalling the being of grace who had passed it to him. “Concentrate,” he whispered to himself, watching the force of unholy warriors coming at them.
When the Moon Blade’s dome fell, he charged over the uneven surface, toward what felt as if it were a horse and rider in one. There would be no way to unseat the man, and the man controlled every aspect of his mount. Fortunately, that would also mean that he felt any injury the body he was mounted onto received.
The first centaur to reach their unprotected ground attempted to run over him. The front hooves raised to stomp, and Tristus drove Dawnfire toward its exposed underside. The centaur reconsidered his attack, maneuvering to the side of the spear so that he might seize it by the shaft. Under normal circumstances, Tristus would then attempt to pull the rider off balance, but pulling here was as pulling a man with the strength of a team of horses, and the balance of a mountain goat.
“ Ellum lather Aerkiren! ” came the familiar cry of their Verressi hunter, followed by the swift flight of an arc of purple light that shot between Tristus’ opponent and a centaur that thought to rush past his fellow and toward Alere. The edges of the magic grazed both beasts, as if a pair of twin daggers had been hurled expertly at them.
Tristus’ attacker let go the Dawn Blade, and Tristus wasted no time in delivering a swift strike. The platinum shaft slapped against the collar of the centaur, causing him to rear back again, only to be shoved aside by one of his own, who came down upon Tristus with a heavy club laden with sharp protrusions.
Darts of the Moon Blade’s power sang past Tristus’ head, shredding the wooden club to splinters and blue ember. The centaur bellowed with rage, at a register that was more beast than man, turning its face from the sparks of magic that flew at it. Tristus drew back with Dawnfire , and braced himself while he drove the weapon upward with enough force to pierce the flesh of his opponent. He was assisted by the momentum of the centaur as it was coming forward. With the sensation of tearing, and the sound of breakage, the centaur gave a howl of agony, and keeled heavily to the side. The man-beast’s immense weight pulled Tristus several steps toward where it awkwardly fell among its fellows. A club came down onto his back in the meantime, jarring him harshly. His armor protected him for the most part, but he could not maintain his footing against the force of the blow. He used the shaft of the Dawn Blade for support and drew his sword, slicing at the legs of the centaur nearest him.
Whatever damage he’d managed wasn’t enough to fell the creature. He caught a glimpse of Alere nearby, fighting with the skill of the most celebrated of swordsmen, dealing injury in precise, swift strikes. He attracted enough attention that Tristus felt he had at least an instant to recover Dawnfire . He dropped his sword for the moment and used both hands to grip the spear. With a foot on the elk portion of his victim, he twisted the head of the Dawn Blade
The guards were not the target of that particular assault, and remained untouched by arrow. Now that the centaurs had seen Xu Liang’s defense, they were unwilling to bother further with projectiles. The horde of beastly men rushed to the center of the stony field. Tristus was reminded instantly of the ambush that had forever altered his life. He felt the grip of his soul burner at the back of his mind already, as if it never rested, as if it were constantly prepared to draw itself up out of its dark corner, as if his very spirit were a rope set down for the demon’s convenience.
The Order Masters of Eristan might have believed that true, but Tristus could not continue to accept that. He knew not how to cut the line the demon followed to the surface of his being, but if he could make his focus a gate behind which to trap it…
With that in mind, he firmed his grip on Dawnfire , recalling the being of grace who had passed it to him. “Concentrate,” he whispered to himself, watching the force of unholy warriors coming at them.
When the Moon Blade’s dome fell, he charged over the uneven surface, toward what felt as if it were a horse and rider in one. There would be no way to unseat the man, and the man controlled every aspect of his mount. Fortunately, that would also mean that he felt any injury the body he was mounted onto received.
The first centaur to reach their unprotected ground attempted to run over him. The front hooves raised to stomp, and Tristus drove Dawnfire toward its exposed underside. The centaur reconsidered his attack, maneuvering to the side of the spear so that he might seize it by the shaft. Under normal circumstances, Tristus would then attempt to pull the rider off balance, but pulling here was as pulling a man with the strength of a team of horses, and the balance of a mountain goat.
“ Ellum lather Aerkiren! ” came the familiar cry of their Verressi hunter, followed by the swift flight of an arc of purple light that shot between Tristus’ opponent and a centaur that thought to rush past his fellow and toward Alere. The edges of the magic grazed both beasts, as if a pair of twin daggers had been hurled expertly at them.
Tristus’ attacker let go the Dawn Blade, and Tristus wasted no time in delivering a swift strike. The platinum shaft slapped against the collar of the centaur, causing him to rear back again, only to be shoved aside by one of his own, who came down upon Tristus with a heavy club laden with sharp protrusions.
Darts of the Moon Blade’s power sang past Tristus’ head, shredding the wooden club to splinters and blue ember. The centaur bellowed with rage, at a register that was more beast than man, turning its face from the sparks of magic that flew at it. Tristus drew back with Dawnfire , and braced himself while he drove the weapon upward with enough force to pierce the flesh of his opponent. He was assisted by the momentum of the centaur as it was coming forward. With the sensation of tearing, and the sound of breakage, the centaur gave a howl of agony, and keeled heavily to the side. The man-beast’s immense weight pulled Tristus several steps toward where it awkwardly fell among its fellows. A club came down onto his back in the meantime, jarring him harshly. His armor protected him for the most part, but he could not maintain his footing against the force of the blow. He used the shaft of the Dawn Blade for support and drew his sword, slicing at the legs of the centaur nearest him.
Whatever damage he’d managed wasn’t enough to fell the creature. He caught a glimpse of Alere nearby, fighting with the skill of the most celebrated of swordsmen, dealing injury in precise, swift strikes. He attracted enough attention that Tristus felt he had at least an instant to recover Dawnfire . He dropped his sword for the moment and used both hands to grip the spear. With a foot on the elk portion of his victim, he twisted the head of the Dawn Blade
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