arin's beginning

Chapter 14 Casualties ~~ Taggart

My body screams to go chase after Ax. I can't see him through the trees, but before I can move the forest is alive with the sounds of hundreds of Wildmen screaming as they run towards the keep. I draw my sword and plant my feet. I take a deep breath, Ax will be ok. He is capable of defending himself. The sound of pounding feet behind echoes off the stone walls. Malakai's broad form shadows my peripheral. "What is it? He grunts.

"Ax said it was Wildmen before he went down," I rotate my wrist, flexing the muscles in preparation for the fight rushing toward us.

"Did he say-" Malakai's voice drops off. The Wildmen are breaking out of the trees now. A veritable wall of men is rushing toward us. "Well that answers my question, I guess" He looks over at me and says, "On three?" I nod. Together we rush forward to meet them. Just before the charging line reaches us Tenzin races past, his long legs carry him past us with ease. He becomes a blur whirling into the mass of men before my focus is snapped to the Wildmen who surround me. The first foolishly throws his weight into a bodied swing with his warclub, I duck under it and the air whooshes as it passes over my head. I shove my shoulder into his gut and whirl around. There are more than I can count and I've lost sight of Malakai.

A chorus of roaring shakes the earth and the men around me freeze. The air feels like it's vibrating, and five draconids appear over the walls. The wyverns all send fireballs across the field, splashing fire across the Wildmen. That shatters the moment of frozen terror. A fist connects with my jaw and it spins me around. I catch myself mid-stagger and bring my blade up just in time. The Wildman in front of me runs right into the point, sliding halfway down the sword. I tug the handle back, but he only snarls and grabs the blade in a bloody hand. I tug again, but he won't let go. I yank my knife out from behind me and sink the heavy blade into his throat. His eyes go wide but he lets go, my sword slides free from his corpse as he collapses. I try to ignore the gurgling sound from his throat. All around me the sounds of fighting, of war, rage on.

I see Arin on Brann's back flying back and forth over the Wildmen. The Wildmen all throw whatever they can get their hands on at her, but nothing connects as she races by, leaving trails of fire in her wake. There are fewer Wildmen left standing now, I can see across the field. Emric is dancing back and forth with a broken lance fending off four WIldmen at once. The Wildmen can't get close to him and I can see the grin on his face. Suddenly a sword is swinging at me. I throw myself backward and stumble over a corpse. The blade sings over me harmlessly. I try to raise my sword but a hand grasps at my wrist, I look over and see a Wildman grinning feebly as he sputters out a laugh. I roll over and swing my fist into his face but his grip doesn't loosen. Another pair of hands roughly grabs my shoulders and hauls me to my feet. Someone kicks my fist forcing me to drop my sword. The Wildman in front of me breathes heavily while he looks me up and down. He says something to the men holding me. I am roughly shoved forward, but thankfully let go.

"So what's this, you're ready to surrender? Well, on behalf of the Council of Riders, I accept." I rub the back of my hand where it was kicked while I observe this new foe. Around us, the Wildmen continue to throw themselves at each of the Council members. This man is different though. He is observing me the way I would. He sets the tip of his greatsword in the dirt and leans on the crossguard. "Look around you, you brought more than 200 hundred men with you, and were held off by 6. How utterly shameful that must be for you."

"You know nothing." He says. His accent is thick, but understandable. He spits at me. His shoulders are covered with a fur cloak over a set of metal pauldrons. I look around, none of the other Wildmen have metal armor like him.

"Ah. You do speak Common. You must be the Warchief." I say. Aubin's white form glides overhead, but he is not fazed. The lackeys that were holding me couldn't contain their flinch though.

"You have too much power. Not right." He shakes his head. "Power make evil. Evil must be kill." He lifts his sword and hefts it up to his shoulder.

"You aren't even going to give me the chance to die honorably in single combat?"

"No." He says simply. The hands grab at me again, yanking my arms behind my back. Someone grabs a fistful of my hair and I hiss in pain. The warchief raises his sword above his head, ready to cleave me in two. I close my eyes and cast my thoughts to Ax.

I'm sorry my friend. I hear his roar through the woods as I close my mind to his. He doesn't need to feel this. I open my eyes and look at his. A slight grin twists the corners of his mouth up and a light of approval shines in his eyes.