tongue. A spear point disappeared inside the man’s gaping mouth. It retracted, and the man fell dead. Another took his place.
The enemy surged. They pushed Kaz and his men back. He glanced over to either side, noting the blank expressions on each of his soldier’s faces. They continued to kill, but each thrust seemed mechanical, out of an inability to do anything else rather than out of passion for their cause.
They’re exhausted. Did Crusher make it over to the other catwalk? Or can we expect the enemy to come up from behind us at any moment? Where’s the signal?
As if on cue, the sky darkened. A red mist trickled down on the enemy. Panic filled their eyes. They may have been willing to throw themselves at the bite of steel, but like all men not talented in the arts, sorcery played on their darkest fears.
Especially, having seen that sorcery first hand.
The enemy climbed over each other to get away from the strange effects in the air. They screamed hysterically. Kaz wished to push forward and reclaim the first wall, but saw the mistake in that.
Even with the mist, our losses would be too heavy. And it isn’t a guarantee we’d succeed. This is our best chance to pull back.
“Withdraw!” he yelled.
His men retreated to the middle wall. A glance over his shoulder told him the enemy had begun to figure out their ruse. The mist did nothing but hang in the air. They turned furious and humiliated eyes on Kaz and his men when the catwalk erupted.
Thousands of bits of granite and limestone blew skyward. Descending like hail, it pelted both sides, clinking off armor and shield. Clouds of smoke and dust replaced the red and black mist. As the air settled, a forty-foot gap in the catwalk separated the two armies. The other catwalk suffered a similar fate.
Surprisingly, the enemy didn’t bother trying their luck at the stairs leading to the killing ground between the outer and middle walls. They retreated, confused by the explosion and lack of death from the red mist.
A lone figure dressed in blue and gray appeared on top of one siege tower. Guwan barked orders and jumped down afterward, losing himself among the masses.
The enemy began dismantling their towers while others protected them with raised shields against arrow fire ordered by Yanasi. They managed to kill a few warriors here and there, but not as many as Kaz had hoped. Slowly, the enemy erected an interior wall of wood to protect them from Kaz’s men stationed along the middle wall.
Yanasi saw the futility in continuing to waste arrows and called for her men to stand down.
All the while, Kaz continued to the think about the lone figure issuing orders. It still surprised him that Guwan led Nareash’s army.
I always assumed someone like Durahn would be the one to betray our people.
It all made him think more about what had happened in Hesh since he left.
And why hasn’t Guwan used the Kifzo more? I hate to admit it, but they would have taken the outer wall long ago.
He shook away his thoughts. Satisfied that Guwan would dig in before mounting another offensive, he turned his attention to his men.
His captains had the army working frantically to prepare for the next assault, bringing in fresh barrels of arrows, racks of javelins, and wood for braziers. Nora, one of the younger mages, led several crews of healers, each carrying stretchers, as they moved the wounded to safety.
Yanasi stood in the middle of the activity, directing as needed. He went to her.
“Everything under control, captain?”
She saluted. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry if I’m overstepping myself, but Crusher wouldn’t let anyone near you.”
“You’re doing fine.” He looked her up and down. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you get a rest?”
“Plenty of men are tired. I’ll find time to rest later. Rygar’s bringing up some food for me. I’ll be alright.”
Kaz grunted. “You can stay for now. Next bell, I want you off the wall and in a bunk. No excuses. Leave Captain
The enemy surged. They pushed Kaz and his men back. He glanced over to either side, noting the blank expressions on each of his soldier’s faces. They continued to kill, but each thrust seemed mechanical, out of an inability to do anything else rather than out of passion for their cause.
They’re exhausted. Did Crusher make it over to the other catwalk? Or can we expect the enemy to come up from behind us at any moment? Where’s the signal?
As if on cue, the sky darkened. A red mist trickled down on the enemy. Panic filled their eyes. They may have been willing to throw themselves at the bite of steel, but like all men not talented in the arts, sorcery played on their darkest fears.
Especially, having seen that sorcery first hand.
The enemy climbed over each other to get away from the strange effects in the air. They screamed hysterically. Kaz wished to push forward and reclaim the first wall, but saw the mistake in that.
Even with the mist, our losses would be too heavy. And it isn’t a guarantee we’d succeed. This is our best chance to pull back.
“Withdraw!” he yelled.
His men retreated to the middle wall. A glance over his shoulder told him the enemy had begun to figure out their ruse. The mist did nothing but hang in the air. They turned furious and humiliated eyes on Kaz and his men when the catwalk erupted.
Thousands of bits of granite and limestone blew skyward. Descending like hail, it pelted both sides, clinking off armor and shield. Clouds of smoke and dust replaced the red and black mist. As the air settled, a forty-foot gap in the catwalk separated the two armies. The other catwalk suffered a similar fate.
Surprisingly, the enemy didn’t bother trying their luck at the stairs leading to the killing ground between the outer and middle walls. They retreated, confused by the explosion and lack of death from the red mist.
A lone figure dressed in blue and gray appeared on top of one siege tower. Guwan barked orders and jumped down afterward, losing himself among the masses.
The enemy began dismantling their towers while others protected them with raised shields against arrow fire ordered by Yanasi. They managed to kill a few warriors here and there, but not as many as Kaz had hoped. Slowly, the enemy erected an interior wall of wood to protect them from Kaz’s men stationed along the middle wall.
Yanasi saw the futility in continuing to waste arrows and called for her men to stand down.
All the while, Kaz continued to the think about the lone figure issuing orders. It still surprised him that Guwan led Nareash’s army.
I always assumed someone like Durahn would be the one to betray our people.
It all made him think more about what had happened in Hesh since he left.
And why hasn’t Guwan used the Kifzo more? I hate to admit it, but they would have taken the outer wall long ago.
He shook away his thoughts. Satisfied that Guwan would dig in before mounting another offensive, he turned his attention to his men.
His captains had the army working frantically to prepare for the next assault, bringing in fresh barrels of arrows, racks of javelins, and wood for braziers. Nora, one of the younger mages, led several crews of healers, each carrying stretchers, as they moved the wounded to safety.
Yanasi stood in the middle of the activity, directing as needed. He went to her.
“Everything under control, captain?”
She saluted. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry if I’m overstepping myself, but Crusher wouldn’t let anyone near you.”
“You’re doing fine.” He looked her up and down. “You look exhausted. Why don’t you get a rest?”
“Plenty of men are tired. I’ll find time to rest later. Rygar’s bringing up some food for me. I’ll be alright.”
Kaz grunted. “You can stay for now. Next bell, I want you off the wall and in a bunk. No excuses. Leave Captain
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