Sword of Stars

Chapter Thirty One. City of Darkness.

“For the Queen and Andrill!” General Neu roared over the wail of a cleaved monster. The streets were littered with the dark beasts and the people of Andrill engaged them with all their might. The big general had never seen such loyalty and ferocity in the people, but in this moment it seemed they would do anything to protect their homeland. The soldiers rallied with a shout and the line was pushed forwards.

General Neu charged forward and cleaved the head off an attacking Shadowed One. It squealed in pain as it died in writhing convulsions. He turned to block a blow from a human enemy and General Neu allowed himself to be pushed back. He wondered about the humans with the Shadowed Ones. Why would they join the creatures at a time like this? Perhaps they saw it was no use and had simply given up. Or had they been made to join? The attacking man swore profusely at the general. He spat and cursed and used every dirty trick to try and slip through General Neu’s guard but the general was by far the more experienced warrior.

He lashed out with the Queen’s Blessing and the man gasped in shock as his entrails splashed out onto the stone. He fell to his knees and with his remaining life tried his best to put his insides back into his body.

General Neu sniffed and the smell of blood and excrement filled his nose. That wasn’t the worst thing he had smelt on this battlefield by far. There was something about the stink of the monsters that seemed to penetrate and offend more than just the nose. It felt like a taint that affected the whole body, as if it were poison.

An explosion rocked through the city and people cried out. A wave of wind washed over them, knocking over several and kicking dust into the eyes.

“What in the stars was that?” a soldier called as he struggled to stand.

General Neu looked up and down the streets but only saw the same old battle. It sounded like it had come from the market.

“General.”

He turned to see a messenger, covered in sweat and wide eyed in panic. “What is it man?” the general demanded.

The messenger looked around nervously. “The strategists want to see you in the control room at once, sur. They say it’s urgent.”

General Neu growled. Not at a time like this. The men needed him. It was good for the soldiers to see their commander in battle. But if the strategists had come up with a plan he needed to hear it. He hoped it would end this nightmare. “Fine,” he said as he wiped his sword on the dead man’s shirt.

“Sur,” one of his personal guards said. “Let us escort you there.”

General Neu shook his helmed head. “No. I want you all here helping with the defence of the city. Understood?”

“But sur-”

“Understood?” the general repeated.

The guard sighed. “Yes sur.”

General Neu put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Listen Dann, I’ll go see what the strategists have hatched up and then I’ll be back to organise the plan. The enemy is in the opposite direction. I’ll be fine.”

Dann cleared his throat. “‘Never be certain where the enemy lies in wait. Always assume that the enemy already has the knife to your heart.’ That is something you taught me sur.”

General Neu grimaced. “You have too good a head on you boy.” He smiled. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.” Dann began to protest but the general turned and quickly strode away.

He sheathed his blade and broke into a light jog. He ran past boarded up houses that had long been abandoned as most of the population had been moved to castle. What most people didn’t realise was that the castle extended well into the base of the mountain, were a serpentine labyrinth gave plenty of safe room for the civilians.