Soul Slave

Dawn

"We're not going to make it if you leave me here." -Vindaes

Edward looked all around him, saw the docks and to his right a tavern set up right on the boardwalk. The elven fleet were fleeing, out of the harbor yet before they left they all began to get in a formation blockading the city. Then that's when Edward could see it, behind the galleons and frigates the ocean; the sun began to rise on that ocean and it was a glorious site. He had survived the night from the undead horde.

Then that's when he heard it.

Cannon fire.

The ships were firing at Saltire, looking to decimate any survivors remaining, no doubt Varanthar had made it back to his men. Edward quickly tossed his sword against the wall of the tavern to his right, then covering his ears with his hands and cheeks with his arms he'd toss himself onto the ground as cannons began to destroy the docks.

All surrounding buildings began to shatter and flay from the cannonballs. The tavern Edward was hiding behind became nothing more than three feet of rubble, as the rest of the structure had collapsed into the ocean with the docks.

The cannon fire stopped as fast as it had begun, that's when Edward peeked over and saw the sails of the ships dropping again. They all moved in formation whipping back around and heading towards land before stopping and all anchoring before sinking their boats on the shore. The crew began to board smaller row boats and begin to seek land.

Edward's heart sank at the thought of another battle, yet he pushed his aching body up. Picking up his sword he'd look at the carving on the blade that was usually glowing upon his grasp, he knew he needed to kill someone to empower it. Plenty of options were coming, but maybe they would kill him instead.

Turning around to head back into the desolate port city, he'd look over his shoulder at the boats docking. Soldiers with mauls, polearms, longswords, zweihanders, crossbows, recurve bows, longbows, and even some had muskets pulled themselves up from hooks attached to ropes they tossed onto shore.

Edward held his sword with his left hand a bit under the middle and his right hand up towards the crossguard as he ran into town. Slowing down to catch his breath he'd walk through destroyed buildings and alleyways north of town.

It wasn't long until he found the remains of the fort Quintus had used, it was destroyed. The game, the tower, the walls; everything had been blown to pieces by the cannonfire. The knight's hopes to take up shelter in the most fortified building in Saltire came to an end, he was going to have to rely on stealth as the elven forces were arriving now.

Hiding behind a wall that remained from a destroyed house, he heard several elven men and women approaching. They talked amongst themselves then passed Edward, their shadows in the moonlight passed over the alleyway he was hiding in. Leaping out of the shadows he'd drive the tip of his sword into the back of an elf wearing leather armor, a quill filled with arrows attached to his waist and bow in his hand.

He'd make a horrific noise as the sword entered right above his pelvis and exited out his lower abdomen, pulling the blade out and kicking the body to the ground. The small elf would smash his face into the dirt and lay in like a shirt folded in half. Edward adjusted both hands onto the hilt as the other two screamed in anger.

They both rushed up, the one on Edward's right held a one handed mace and a small brass shield that covered his wrist and forearm. The one on his left held a dagger in her hand and was much faster than the other.

He'd step to the left and allow the woman to slide right past him with her attack. Then looking at the shield user, he'd block the strike coming from his right overhead. Then riposte off a jab the man took with his mace right after in combo, the blow sliced up the left side of the elf's face pretty good causing blood to pour from his cheek and forehead.