“Your majesty! You are hurt. How did this happen?” the green hawk cried immediately.
Relam scowled at the noble, eyes flicking from the sheathed sword at his side to his dragon-spit-splattered armor.
“We’re in the middle of a battle, Lord Garenes,” Relam replied. “Perhaps this is news to you though?”
Lord Garenes flushed angrily, looking to the other great lords for help. But the silver stag and red boar did nothing to support or defend him.
“I have been coordinating our forces,” Garenes replied stiffly. “Somebody has to, after all.”
“Not much to coordinate,” Relam replied grimly. “After all, we are surrounded. There are no complex maneuvers or reinforcements to allocate. Just push and shove, kill the next monster in line. Or have you managed to so distance yourself from the front line that you have no concept of how this battle is going?”
“I think I have a better idea of what is happening than you, your majesty,” Garenes snarled. “We are losing, that is what is happening. We need to get out, and now!”
“Did I mention that we’re surrounded?” Relam asked Khollo innocently, wincing.
“Might have, at some point,” Khollo agreed.
You did, now can we get a move on?
“Kanin says we need to hurry, before the mountain comes down on our heads,” Khollo interjected.
“Hurry to do what?” Sermas asked, frowning.
“Cut a path to the canyon and run like hell,” Khollo replied grimly. “The heavy lancers can lead the charge. You should be able to cut your way through to safety.”
“And what about you?” Relam asked.
“We’ll stay with the catapult men. They’ll be the last to leave and we’ll cover their retreat. In the meantime, we keep putting boulders into the mountain until it’s ready to collapse.”
“Will it collapse?” the silver stag asked doubtfully.
Khollo opened his mouth to reply, but the canyon suddenly resounded with an earsplitting CRACK! as another boulder calved away from the cliff and tumbled downwards.
“Let’s get the men ready,” Garenes suggested nervously, turning to go.
“Best idea you’ve ever had,” Relam said scathingly. “Khollo, don’t take any foolish chances. I want everyone out of here the minute that cliff begins to fall.”
Khollo nodded, gazing up at the stone, noting faults and cracks and crevices. “Don’t worry, we’ll get everyone out of here. Kanin and I will deliver some flame to cover your escape as well. When we take off, get everybody running around the lake to the left. That will be the signal that the mountain is coming down.”
Sermas was watching Khollo, pale faced and tight-lipped. Khollo drew the young warrior aside, leaning over to speak to him.
“Get Relam out of here alive. You and Hern. I don’t trust Garenes or the others as far as I can throw them. The Sthan kingdom needs its king.”
Sermas nodded slowly. “Be careful. The kingdom needs the Keepers too.”
Before Khollo could reply, Sermas turned and began assisting the king to where their horses were picketed. Khollo turned to watch the catapults fire another volley, and saw the cliff continuing to crumble ominously. The damage had caught the attention of the vertaga as well now, and they were pouring out of the gate at an increased rate, even as some of their comrades were crushed beneath falling boulders.
One more volley, Khollo said to Kanin. Then it’s time to make ourselves scarce.
The catapults launched two more boulders, smashing into the cliff side. Huge chunks of stone tore loose falling, shattering into thousands of deadly pieces.
That’s it, Kanin said, rising into the air. Time to leave.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Khollo muttered, clutching the fighting straps.
As soon as Kanin rose into the air, a horn blew and soldiers began streaming towards the left side of the lake. The heavy lancers rode straight through the middle of the Sthan army, exploding through the front line and carving a path of broken and battered vertaga. Behind them, what remained of the plainsmen funneled into the gap in a wedge formation, widening the escape route. Then came the main body of the army, thousands of soldiers running as fast as they could. In their midst rode Relam, Sermas, and Hern, shouting encouragement and orders. As Khollo watched, he saw Sermas heave a wounded man up into the saddle behind him. The soldier slumped forward gratefully and they were soon lost in the mass of bodies.
Khollo looked down at the place where the Sthan army had been. Everyone had been evacuated, but the vertaga were in hot pursuit. A large force was hurrying around the opposite side of the lake, aiming to cut Relam’s army off.
Before Khollo could even point out the enemy force, Kanin dove towards a point some meters ahead of the frontrunners, fire flickering in his maw. Then, a torrent of flame rushed forward and Kanin created a wall of fire in front of the advancing vertaga. The beasts ground to a halt, frustrated, and were forced to watch as the front ranks of the Sthan army ran past, making for the open land at the end of the narrow canyon.
We did it! Khollo crowed, patting Kanin’s neck affectionately. I can’t believe –
The young warrior broke off, frowning. He turned slowly and looked back at the cliffs and his heart sank. Somehow, against all odds, the latest avalanche had slowed to nothing and the cliff had stabilized. Vertaga forces were emerging from Dun Carryl and taking up defensive positions to guard the cliff and the Sthan catapults. Khollo saw many crossbows gleaming in the monsters’ hands.
The cliff did not fall, Kanin said, horrified.
Khollo sat there for a moment, speechless. We will bring it down ourselves, he said finally.
How?
Grab a boulder, fly full speed at
