“You must wait until the gates are down and we vanquish the archers before you charge,” warned Nehrutu.
“My fury does not make me a fool,” Linis snapped.
“Of course, not,” Nehrutu replied. “And you are not alone. The sight of my kin displayed with such malice and contempt fills me with rage as well.” His eyes fell on the mutilated bodies. “I swear that you will have vengeance. They will understand wrath and fear after this day.”
“Then ready yourself to advance,” commanded Theopolou. The shield bearers lined up in front of the archers. Nehrutu and Mohanisi just behind, weapons drawn. “Attack!”
Slowly the column inched forward. Trumpets blared from behind the wall. Men scrambled about just behind the bowmen atop the battlements as orders were shouted frantically. Theopolou and Linis stood shoulder to shoulder watching as their forces came within range of the enemy arrows. The thwack of dozens of bowstrings rang out and streaks of death flew across the sky. The shields came and the elves crouched behind them. But the arrows never found a mark. Both Nehrutu and Mohanisi stood, their arms outstretched. A blast of wind gusted up, knocking the arrows back. The clatter of wood on stone punctuated what had happened, and murmurs of shock and approval carried through the elf ranks, soon followed by loud cheering. The humans on the wall stood in silent fear.
“Why would they need the shields?” wondered Linis.
“I would think it is for when they bring down the gates,” Theopolou answered. “It may be beyond their skill to do both at once.”
The elves drew closer until finally they were in range. The archers stood and fired. All but one found its mark. Bodies slumped, then disappeared, and some fell screaming from the wall. This brought another round of cheers from the elves. The humans returned fire, but again Nehrutu and Mohanisi sent their missiles back. Four more volleys and the wall was clear.
Nehrutu and Mohanisi stood, their heads down and arms folded. The earth began to shake violently. Then the gates to Valshara burst into flame. The heat could be felt all the way to where Theopolou and Linis stood. Several arrows flew from over the wall, but they were completely random and undirected. Only a few came close enough to strike the shields. The ground continued to shake, until finally the gates burst into flaming splinters. They crept forward as the archers kept their eyes on the ramparts.
“Forward!” cried Theopolou.
At a quick march the army moved in behind the archers just as they reach the shattered gates. Smoldering pieces of wood littered the ground, but were soon stomped out by elf warriors. Smoke obscured their vision, making it impossible to see more than a foot beyond the gate, but the sound of clashing steel and the pounding of boots, told them that the battle had yet to begin.
“To me!” roared Nehrutu, holding his sword high.
Black-cloaked figures appeared in the acrid, gray smoke. First, one, then another, until five stood in the entrance. Five more were standing just behind them. The elf archers fired in a volley. The arrows struck home but had no effect.
“Vrykol!” shouted Nehrutu. “You must take their heads!”
The elves dropped their bows and drew their long knives. The Vrykol were tall, menacing, and motionless. A thick ball of flame shot out from in front of Nehrutu and Mohanisi engulfing the beasts, but the flames died the moment they reached them. When the shield bearers were only a few feet away, the Vrykol stepped forward in unison. Their blades struck with tremendous force, shattering all but two shields and throwing the soldiers to the ground. The elves leaped over the fallen humans hacking and slashing maniacally. Two Vrykol were laid open across their chests. Foul, black ooze poured out of the wounds, but this did nothing to stop them.
The humans scrambled to their feet, but the elf line blocked their way, and they could only watch as the Vrykol cut the elves down, one by one. After the first wave of elves were slain, the Vrykol fell back to the gate to await another charge. With fury the Althetan soldiers attacked, and were immediately cut to pieces.
Nehrutu and Mohanisi charged in together, followed by a dozen elf warriors. They clashed with the Vrykol; a wave of air erupted as they struck, throwing the Vrykol back and slamming them into the others standing at the rear. Nehrutu took three heads with unearthly speed, and Mohanisi two others. The Vrykol countered, killing three elf warriors and pushing them back past the thresh-hold. Another blast of air knocked two Vrykol off their feet. Nehrutu moved in and took another head. Ten elves were at his back moving to engage the rest. Soon the Vrykol were overwhelmed and hacked to pieces by vengeful blades.
Beyond the gates the center of the courtyard was empty. At the rear, just in front of the temple, a six-foot wooden wall had been erected, spanning the breadth of the yard.
Nehrutu held out his arms and halted the attack. “I need archers now!”
The words were barely out of his mouth when arrows flew from behind the wall in a low arc. Nehrutu and Mohanisi tried to deflect them by blasting a current of air, as they had done outside the battlements, but their actions were too late. Only a few were sent back, and three elves were struck, including Mohanisi.
“No time to wait,” shouted Theopolou, from behind. He forced his way by Nehrutu, followed by Linis and a stream of screaming elves.
Nehrutu looked down at Mohanisi and saw that a red-feathered arrow protruded from his belly. His anger boiled as he drew in the flow. Theopolou and the others were already halfway across the yard. He let loose all the power he could muster. A ten-foot section of the wall heaved up and flew against the temple, sending both wood and men back.
From the left and right on the battlements and atop the roof of the temple, more archers appeared, ready to rain down hell on the advancing elves.
Mohanisi struggled to his feet. Blood soaked his tunic and trousers. “Bring down the wall. I will handle the archers.”
A tempest erupted just above the heads of Theopolou, Linis and the others. Arrows were thrown clear just before they would have pierced their target. Nehrutu destroyed another section of the wall, just as the elves engaged the enemy. The archers abandoned their positions, dropping their bows, and unsheathing their swords.
“That's enough,” said Nehrutu to Mohanisi. The tempest dissipated. He helped his friend to the wall and allowed him to gently slide down.
“I will be fine,” said Mohanisi. “Attend to the more seriously injured.” He looked up to see Linis and Theopolou cutting a path through the humans.
Elves poured through the gate, joining in the fray. Soldiers exited the temple and descended from the wall to meet them.
“The temple will soon be ours,” said Nehrutu. “I will need your help, my friend.” He pulled the arrow from the wound. Mohanisi grimaced. “Be still.” He placed his hands on Mohanisi stomach. In moments the bleeding stopped.
“You can complete this once the battle is done,” said Mohanisi, smiling. “You have done enough for now. Go aid Theopolou.”
Nehrutu squeezed Mohanisi's shoulder, and leaped to his feet. “I shall return as soon as I am able.”
The battle continued to rage. The Angraalsoldiers had formed a shield wall around the main entrance to the temple and managed to stop the elf advance. Several elves fell to spears thrust from over the rim of the shields. Nehrutu drew in the flow and a blast of air pushed the humans back. He could have easily destroyed the line, but dared not use more force with the elves so close at hand. Another blast pushed them back farther creating a small gap. This was all Theopolou needed. He ordered the elves in, and in seconds the line was scattered. The cries of the dying mingled with the sound of clashing swords.
Nehrutu held back as the elves finished off the remaining soldiers. Dozens simply threw down their weapons and fell to their knees once it became clear the fight was lost. By the time the courtyard was secure, hundreds of soldiers lay dead, along with several dozen elves.
Without wasting a second, Theopolou ordered the courtyard cleared, and began gathering the wounded. Several elves wanted to enter the temple, but he told them to wait. Linis climbed the wall and retrieved the bodies of his fallen comrades.
“The interior is vast,” said Theopolou to Nehrutu, as he helped carry a wounded elf. “There may be many more soldiers inside. And they will have had time to set traps and prepare a defense. It may take time to dislodge them.”
