Harry Potter and the Berserker

Chapter 69 War Demons

Disclaimer- Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling and Berserk is owned by Kentaro Miura. I own nothing.

"So this is all of them?" Guts' sole eye drifted along the rows of cowled Bakiraka Silat had assembled. He could tell that there was only a few hundred present as the Kushan had told him previously.

"I've seen the work you're capable of doing on your own," Silat crossed his arms. "Adding a force like this, despite how foolish it is, still greatly increases your chances of success, does it not?"

"And you're committed yourself, too?" Casca inquired of the assassin as she adjusted a strap on her arm guard. The ruby on the pommel of her sword shown brightly in the light.

Dark, narrow eyes regarded her. "Is my presence not enough of a confirmation?" he sounded like he was doing his best to sound irritated to mask the fear that he felt. Guts had seen that plenty of times before. The men who did that usually lived through the battle. Just as long as Silat didn't abandon them in a dire moment, he had nothing to fear from their side either.

"So is it time then?" Isidro asked as he tugged on Guts' cloak. "We going to kick some teeth in or what? We haven't heard from Harry in ages and Farnese said she thinks he might have been caught." Schierke shifted on her feet nervously. "Let's go bust him out already! We have more than enough stealthy people now."

From their position in the open Doldrey courtyard, Guts looked over to the gate that led out to the dust-covered field beyond where the Skull Knight was facing. It was as he was awaiting someone. The fighters from Elfheim perhaps? The bone head did say he had made a deal with the elf king there and that they could expect some help. Perhaps they had their own way of arriving that didn't require his sword.

Looking back to everyone else Guts could see the underlying restlessness that was gripping at all of them. Silat hid behind bravado and aloofness, Isidro was embracing his to hide how scared he must be. Schierke was really doing whatever to try and occupy her mind such as fidgeting on her feet and twisting her staff in her hands. Casca had a more neutral expression on her face, her eyes set straight. The only indication of her anxiety came in the form of skimming an armored finger across the hilt of her sword. Since both were of goblin make, Guts wondered if one could scratch the other.

And then there was-,

"Do you really have to go?" Erica was clutching tight to Rickert's free hand, staring up at him with pleading eyes.

"Yes, Erica. I really do." Rickert tried forcing a brave smile on his face. "This isn't goodbye forever, alright? I'm not going to be where the fighting is the thickest. And if I do get in trouble, I'll find Guts, and you know how strong he is."

"The strongest there is!" Erica praised.

He was far from the strongest, he could always get stronger, but he would let the young maiden believe that. If Rickert was in trouble, he wouldn't be alone. Guts turned his attention back to Skull Knight who remained seated near the gate. Best talk to him before any more sentiments could be thrown his way.

"Hey, you ready to go?" Guts asked him. "If Harry really is in trouble there, we're not going to risk Farnese and the others getting captured as well." Their untimely arrival could be just the thing to rile Neo Griffith into acting.

Skull Knight regarded him from the corner of his glowing socket. "Is that your desire? To leave now?"

"Tch! If you know something, you better share it. Cut it with the cryptic crap for once."

"I know only what I speculate. A stirring has occurred inside. The feeling of pulling a sword from the gullet. A behelit."