Ra’Gren has any sense, there are a few thousand more soldiers hidden in the city as well.”
Commander Escott nodded his agreement. “Let me know when you’re ready to send your kinsmatic wave, or whatever you called it. I’ll order the attack on your mark.” The commander spurred his horse back into the ranks of soldiers, calling out orders for them to follow across in an orderly fashion.
The Seaward commander was an intimidating looking man, with his huge muscles and bird of prey body tattoo. The point of the ink-worked beak started at the bridge of his nose and ran back over his bald head giving his brow an extremely angry looking ‘V’ shaped set. Nearly all of the Seaward soldiers were heavily muscled, covered in tattoos, and in prime fighting condition. Commander Escott was bigger than most of them.
The Seaward soldiers wore sleeveless chain mail hauberks that belled into knee length skirts below their wide leather belts. High plated boots and similar gauntlets finished the uniforms. Some of them wore helmets. Some chose to let the wicked ink that covered them from head to toe work as intimidation. Dragon skulls, fierce demon eyes, and huge toothy shark maws could be seen among the ranks.
Master Amill didn’t envy the commander for having to send his men to face the gargantuan demon beast, but deep down he had more sympathy for the huge monster. These men looked like they would savage it to pieces if they had the chance. When he was ready to cast his spell, and in a favorable position for his work, Master Amill gave the commander a nod. After making a few last minute adjustments and calling out orders, the commander returned the nod and raised his long serrated sword up into the sky.
Master Amill made the finishing gesture and spoke the word that released his spell. As the crackling static roar of it shot forth from his outstretched arm, Commander Escott dropped his sword, sending several hundred arrows hissing up from the thumping bowstrings along the riverbank. They seemed to be chasing the hot purple swath of magical energy that shone plainly in the brightness of the day.
The ray of magical force hit the gorax full in its slick black chest, but it only staggered back two steps and growled. The heavy clawed hand that wasn’t clutching the huge knotted bone club shot out, pointing directly back at Master Amill. Powerful magic flowed from the demon in a searing streak. The blast exploded a divot of earth out of the Valleyan shore before the Highwander wizard. Master Amill and a few dozen Seaward archers went tumbling through the air. One was shredded to bloody pieces. Another man impacted a tree like a limp sack of grain. Master Amill hit the ground hard, but rolled to his feet. Blood and angry disbelief poured from his face equally. The demon seemed indifferent, even as arrows came raining down about its head and shoulders. The missiles all seemed to tangle in the beast’s thick silvery pelt before they could actually pierce its flesh.
The bone club came crashing down into the first wave of pike men who crossed the bridge. Several were smashed flat and others were severely maimed. Then the monster took a full swing with its weapon, batting several more of them across the ground. A small group managed to get by the huge monster, maybe a hundred men, but the demon was making short work of anything that came within range of its deadly weapon. The middle of the pike men’s group halted midway across the bridge, stalling the flow of men to a complete stop. None of them wanted to face the creature.
“Retreat! Come back,” Commander Escott yelled. He watched in horror as the group of Dakaneese cavalry came riding up and started harrying the knot of his men who had managed to get across. On foot, the Seawardsmen had no chance against the swift horses and expertly wielded spears of the Dakaneese.
The screams of a drowning Seawardsman, fighting with all his might to keep afloat in the river with his armor on, added to the horrible chaos of the debacle. Less than half an hour after the crossing had started, the bridge was empty. The Seaward army was two hundred and seventy-four men lighter than it had been before. Other than a few arrows that had found the demon’s hide, the Dakaneese force hadn’t taken any injury. Whether to discourage further attempts at crossing into Dakahn, or just out of sheer meanness, the Dakaneese cavalry made a show of herding the last few of the Seawardsmen they had corralled toward the demon. Tired and utterly defenseless against the forces around them, the stranded men were either crushed by the pounding club, or run through by the cavalrymen’s spears. It was a sickening sight to behold, and both Master Amill and Commander Escott swore to avenge the brutal show of butchery.
Their oaths wouldn’t be easy to keep though. To kill the heartless Dakaneese cavalrymen they had to find a way to get across the river. And at the moment, that seemed like that might be impossible.
Chapter Forty-Five
Hyden’s abdomen swelled to the size of a small melon, but only for short time. The dragon’s tear medallion he wore around his neck was like a fountain, sending warm sparkles of healing magic showering over his body. Mikahl was adding to the effect by using the melodies of Ironspike’s song as well. The damage the poison was doing to Hyden’s body was being continually healed, but the poison itself was still inside him. Its potency didn’t seem to be diluting. Its deadly effects were still trying to shut down his vitals. Over and over he felt the horrible explosions of pain the venom caused in his gut. It was unbearable. Hyden found himself on the verge of wishing that death would take him so that he didn’t have to stand the pain.
Mikahl was at a loss. He was scared out of his wits. Every time he touched Ironspike to his friend, he prayed to the gods that the sword wouldn’t take Hyden’s life. Mikahl could see plainly that Hyden was in a bad way. His friend’s normally tanned skin was a sickly greenish color and his clothes were soaked with perspiration. Hyden was trembling as if he were freezing cold, and Mikahl had no idea what to do about it. He found himself having to fight back tears as Hyden’s nearly unconscious body began to shudder and shake violently.
“All the gods be damned!” Mikahl yelled at the dingy stone ceiling. “If this man dies, then you‘re no gods at all!”
Hyden’s hand found Mikahl’s. “Go,” he rasped. “Save Princess Rosa.”
“I’ll not leave you to die alone,” Mikahl said with tears flowing freely down his face. He couldn’t help but hiccup as a sob overtook him.
The magic of the teardrop soothed Hyden, if only slightly. “You have to go,” he said, a little more forcefully. “They’ll know you’re here now. Get Rosa and go.”
“Not without you.”
“I’ll not be leaving.” Hyden stopped to cough. The pain was debilitating. It was a long time before he found his voice again. “Not leaving with you.” His hand fell away from Mikahl’s and his eyes rolled back into his head. Through tears and curses Mikahl used Ironspike’s magic on Hyden again. After a few moments Hyden’s eyes fluttered open. “You’re still here?”
“I’m not leaving without you,” Mikahl promised.
“You have to.” Hyden’s greenish face split into a weird grin. His hand went to the medallion at his neck. “I have a trick left up my sleeve, Mik. Trust me. You have to go.”
“What are you going to do?” Mikahl asked.
“If you’ll go away, I can call the dragon, Claret. She’ll come and heal me properly.” Hyden had no idea if Claret could heal him, or if she could even answer his call. He didn’t doubt she would come if she knew he needed her, but he didn’t think she could help him while he was down in the dungeon. She could be on the other side of the world. He just knew that he had to do something to get Mikahl on his way. He would rather die miserable and alone, with the hope that Phen and Princess Rosa might escape the Dragon Queen. He definitely didn’t want to go thinking that their only hope was down here waiting to get caught because of him.
“What do I do?” Mikahl asked himself more than Hyden.
“You go. You get Rosa and get her safe.” Hyden squeezed Mikahl’s hand. He was starting to tremble again. “Once she’s safe you come back and try to get Phen.” He coughed again and the pain made him drain of all color.
“Aye,” Mikahl agreed. He leaned down and hugged Hyden tightly. “Are you sure you want me to go?” he asked through his anguish.
“Aye, Mik, before you get caught.” Hyden managed to get his trembling arm around Mikahl and hugged him back weakly. “Hurry, before Claret comes.”
“Aye,” Mikahl agreed, making his voice sound as confident and hopeful as he could. “Sir Hyden Hawk, I love you like a brother.”
Hyden released him. “Aye. Go, Mik. Hurry.”
