The Shadow of All Worlds

by Shane Porteous

Ged looked away from Uraod and looked to Eraloi, a companion he could trust, a capable warrior who was one of the first to join his cause. He knew she wouldn’t try any tactic with him, she would be as direct as an arrow to the throat.

  “We outnumber them two to one, an advantage that rots like a flower in autumn when fighting in city streets, but in the open field, those flowers are easy to pluck.”

  Instantly Ged agreed, the conflict inside weakening. He convinced himself further that the city guard would be aware of the approaching Red Army and as Eraloi pointed out it would be a whole lot easier to defeat them in the open field. Surprise was still an ally and he would use it. Eraloi’s words were practical, the very thing the Sack Swords had been built around. They had little desire to avenge the attacked refugees, this course of action simply made sense. In another more fruitful time they may very well have protected the refugees. But this wasn’t that time, that weren’t heartless just not heroes.

  Ged nodded his head slowly, sharing glances with Uraod, Eraloi and a handful of others, before motioning his head in a certain way. He watched as like a ripple in a wave the hand motion was repeated again and again through the ranks. In silence he had been able to inform all ten thousand troops about his course of action. There was no doubt in his mind, the training had greatly paid off. As he slowly rose from his stomach and crouched, each Sack Sword followed him. They were an united army, one that was about to rain down death.

  Every Sack Sword echoed his bellow as they ran down the mountain slope, they were no longer silent, because they no longer needed to be. They might not be crawling any more but they maintained the skill of ants, none slipped or missed a step. They moved fast enough that by the time any Red Army soldier had turned their heads the Sack Swords had already smashed into the flank of the opposing army. Match Head Ged struck the club hard enough into the chest of the closest monster that its whole body spun in the air, landing so hard its neck snapped.