ANGEL OF JUSTICE (2014 revised)

Chapter Twenty Three - A Day's Reprieve

A Day's Reprieve

Baras saw that the ladders were so closely grouped now that trying to drag them sidewards with the poles was futile and the sheer weight of so many was making it impossible to push them over. In the gaping hole before Baras three more enemy had climbed onto the wall followed closely by a handful more.

Jonas took one man high in the chest, pulling his sword free he kicked the man over the wall. Baras nicked the temple of one then swung his sword wide to slice across the unprotected back of another.

"Jonas!"

The young Corporal instinctively ducked low as Baras swept his blade across the neck of the black garbed swordsman. The dying man tried one last lunge but Baras kicked the sword from his hand. Catching the hilt, Baras rammed it home into the man's chest then sent him sailing over the edge. Jonas jumped up nodding his thanks before turning to face yet another opponent. Someone called out from behind. Baras spun around to see ten black garbed soldiers had suddenly appeared on the wall and were running towards him.

"To me!" he cried calling out for support.

Several soldiers nearby led by Jonas ran forward. Yet even before the enemy could be dispatched another group of ten soldiers appeared out of thin air, several feet away. All along the wall, pockets of enemy started appearing relocated by sorcery; some had landed right in the midst of the close fighting knocking men from their feet. One group had even appeared briefly over the wall where the buttress was missing before they fell a hundred feet to their deaths.

"The bastards are everywhere!"

One black garbed warrior lunged at Baras. The Captain stepped back then spun on his heel slicing his blade across the face of his attacker. The numbers of men defending the breeches at the wall were now being strained as they had to split up to fight off the new threat. There was no way the enemy could be allowed to gain a foot hold inside the citadel walls or it would spell the beginning of the end for all.

"Baras!" Jonas called out.

Another ten men appeared behind Baras. He spun around taking one in the back. The man twisted and fell, his sword slashing wide cutting Baras's wrist as he turned to fend off another opponent. A dozen of his men helped Baras fight off the group before they turned to defend against another group that appeared from the sky.

Then the appearance of ten purple robed war priests brought a sudden end to the death toll as they stood in a group summoning their power to strengthen the wall. The humming of their collective power brushed against the senses of the soldiers nearby as they re-established the ward and those enemy soldiers still on the wall were quickly cut down by the defenders. To the relief of all, the ward flickered and buzzed back to life overhead sealing the wall within its protection against the intruders. In the distance a single drum tolled from across the river calling the attackers back to their lines.

    "That was too close for comfort." Baras stated as he wiped his bloodied sword on a fallen tribesman's robes before sheathing it. "What are the casualties?"

"Twenty-five have died and another forty-two wounded. Most will be able to stay on the wall, sir." Jonas replied. "Well we know how easy it must have been for the city wall to be taken so quickly. Just like termites creeping out of the wood, the sorcerers just drop their men on the wall and take over."

    Baras nodded agreement then turned to War Master, Van.

    "Thank you for your assistance. We could not have held out much longer with it."

    Van nodded his bald head, his expression one of concern. "We will do all that we can to ensure it remains active, Captain."

The war priests left the wall and Baras turned to see Jonas holding his arm.