by Jon Bender
Seeing him she turned her horse in his direction. “Jaxom I am so happy you are here, I was afraid they would catch us before we made it back,” she said.
Jaxom could see the dirt and blood staining her clothing and face, dents and scrapes on her plate armor attesting to how bad it had been. Her eyes had dark circles underneath them from lack of sleep and he could see how exhausted she was. “You are here now, I promise to pour you a hot bath and cook you a meal myself once we are with Corin again,” he said.
She starred at him for a moment before tears well in her eyes and she reached out for him. Hugging her as best he could mounted, she sobbed into his shoulder and he could not find the words to comfort her. He had no idea what she had been through but knew that it had taken a toll on her physically and emotionally. Quickly she regained her composure leaning away from him, and beyond the streaks that her tears had made in the dirt on her face, none would have known what had just happened. Looking around she waved to a man riding into the line of men who joined them. General Blackburn looked as bad off as she, but from the usual hard expression you would think he was simply out for an afternoon ride in the woods.
“I am glad to see you made it General,” Jaxom said offering his hand.
The general took it shaking with no less strength than he always had. “Me to lad, there were a few times back there I thought I would finally be able to lay down and take a break but somehow I survived,” he said looking around. “Who leads you?”
“Lord Wilbrin is in command,” Jaxom said pointing to the plated lord who rode hard towards them.
Reigning in his horse Wilbrin brought his fist to chest in salute. “I see they haven’t killed you yet General.”
“Not yet my lord, but the day isn’t over. How are you set here?” Nelix asked.
“What you see is what you get,” Wilbrin said waving his hand at the line of soldiers. “We have four mages with us including magus Jaxom here. Do you know how many the enemy has and how far behind they are?”
“At least three from the ice, fire, and earth schools, but there could be more with over a thousand soldiers with them,” Nelix replied. “They have been after of us for three days so they will be just as tired, that may swing the advantage to us.”
“Let’s hope it is just three mages. Do wish to take command?” Wilbrin said.
“No, I will reform my men who are not too injured to fight sending the rest on. Celia will you see to it,” he said looking to her. She brought her fist to her breast plate and moved her horse off in the direction of the new arrivals who were simply milling about catching their breath. In that simple gesture of respect Jaxom could see how much she had changed in the weeks since he had last seen her. “We will support your line wherever it falters, but I am afraid my men are in no condition to lead a charge.”
“I think you and your men have done enough General, we can handle it from her. Who knows, maybe they will decide they do not wish to fight today and turn around,” Wilbrin said, giving another salute he rode away to the center of the formation. Nelix looked to Jaxom and nodded before riding to where his men were now getting into formation.
When Celia and Blackburn had organized their men, Jaxom estimated that over half had continued north leaving around two hundred and fifty to stay and fight. He could see his two friends in front of the worn men talking to each other, and he could only hope that they survived the next hour after having come so far. Horns blew all along the line giving the signal to ready themselves as Jaxom saw the first of the enemy moving out from the trees to form a line of their own. When it seemed they had all emerged wearing black armor and clothing, he could see that the estimation of both Adriana and Nelix had been off, there was over twelve hundred of the southerners facing them. Horns began blowing from the enemy formation who began moving their horses forward, and was answered by the Ale’adarians in kind. Jaxom kept pace with the men in front of him realizing that he would have to be much closer to be of any use. Urging his horse to a faster pace he drew his skull hilted sword and moved into the rear of the line. Making room for him the two men beside him nodded their approval at his choice to be among them.
The horns sounded again with urgency, and the men on both sides roared as they charged at one another. The clash of steel on steel and of horses and men impacting one another was deafening. Pressing forward Jaxom swung his sword at any of the enemy who came close and the charge quickly changed into hundreds of duels as men on horseback fought back and forth. One enemy soldier seeing him wearing only his black shirt and pants thought him an easy target rushing forward and swinging a sword aimed for his chest. Jaxom parried the blow throwing it out wide then whipping back to deeply cut into the chainmail covered arm of his opponent. Screaming the man lunged forward the tip of his sword pointed at Jaxom’s stomach. With no other choice Jaxom pulled back on the reigns forcing his horse away and avoiding the blade. The southerner had overreached, allowing Jaxom to swing and connect solidly with the man’s chest, knocking him to the ground to lay unmoving.
Seeing one of his men being pressed hard by two others, Jaxom urged his horse forward to strike a blow on the back of one of the attackers. The chainmail he wore deflected most of the blow as small metal links and blood flew through the air. Spinning his horse the enemy soldier brought his mace down in an attempt to crush Jaxom’s skull. Blocking the strike he pushed the heavy weapon back and plunged his sword into the man’s chest. Withdrawing the bloodied blade he looked to see the soldier he had helped fall as well, his killer in turn impaled by a short spear.
The ground beneath him began to shake rhythmically and he could see a rock golem ten feet in height moving towards the fight on his right. When the animated stone was no more than a few of its large paces from the embattled men, vines sprouted beneath its legs growing around them to travel further up the rock body and slowing its approach. The golem tore at the plants ripping them away only to have more replace them, and more of the animated plants shot from the ground to wrap around its large arms. Like long green worms they began to burrow into its body forcing the stone to crack in many places. A few of the Ale’adarian soldiers had moved to the entangled creature to smash maces into it, and it was not long before the whole thing crumbled to rubble under such abuse.
He could see the mage in brown robes who had created the golem cast his hand downward, the ground raising up to form the head of another. Cutting his way through two more of the enemy cavalry, Jaxom was ready to charge the earth mage when a shadow passed over him quickly followed by two arrows streaking down. The first struck the mage in his shoulder the second hitting the neck of his horse causing the animal rear and throw him backwards to the ground. Recovering quickly the mage slammed both hands down into the dirt causing it to erupted and form a dome of stone over him. Jaxom saw Adriana let loose another arrow at one of the southerners, taking him from the saddle before moving on. He could not help but smile at the woman’s prowess in a fight.
Returning his gaze back to the fight around him, Jaxom was just in time to find three men in black rushing towards him. Releasing the reigns he raised his hand and the blight flowed forth, the tendrils wrapping around the men and their horses causing all to scream as one, before collapsing to the ground. They had lost many men near the center already and he could see more and more of the Ale’adarians fighting against two or more of the Southerners. Casting again ten of the fallen rose to take up weapons again, attacking the enemy soldiers from the ground. Soon his risen had restored the balance but they could not turn the tide alone.
Balls of fire began striking men all around him one at a time. The combatants too intertwined to risk throwing larger cast, the enemy mage had opted to single them out one a time. Seeing the fire mage astride a dark brown mare, she sat calmly flinging her hand out again and again striking men down one after the other. Heeling his horse to speed Jaxom charged sword held out wide, and the fire mage seeing him fired three more times in his direction. Bringing his sword forward Jaxom inte
rcepted each cast feeling the blade pulse with the energy it had just absorbed, and her calm face turned to one of worry as she realized it was another mage that confronted her.
Changing tactics a long cord of flame spilled from her hand to reach the ground. Bringing her hand back and then forward quickly, the flame whip cracked forward forcing Jaxom to bring his sword up to block. The reach was cut short but with still enough length swing over burning a swath through his shirt and his shoulder. His sword could not consume the magic that was still directly under her control, a flaw he wished he had discovered earlier. Pulling back she prepared for another strike, but Jaxom poured the blight forward forcing her to create a shield of flame to burn away his cast. It bought him the time he needed to retreat to a safe distance, the fire mage swirling the whip about waiting for him to advance again. Raising his hand the black veil flowed out filling the area around them till nothing could be seen save the glow of her weapon. When he was certain she could no longer see him Jaxom circled to the right just as heat from a jet of flame filled the space he had occupied. Casting blindly she had come close to burning him but he had reached his goal. Seeing the glow of the whip handle Jaxom struck above it with his sword, feeling the edge cut through flesh and hearing her scream. Striking again higher this time, the scream cut off abruptly and the light from the fire died with it.
Banishing the veil he found the dead mage laying on the ground with a deep rent in her chest and the arm half severed. Looking back to the men fighting showed that the situation had not improved, the fire mage had done too much damage before he had taken her down. Half of the risen soldiers were now down again, having their heads destroyed or bodies been chopped apart. Casting at the unmoving mage she again gained her feet, but the arm he had cut hung limply at her side, attached only by part of the muscle and skin. Reaching down from his horse he quickly repaired the limb enough to make it functional again and commanded her to join the fight. He had expected the risen mage to charge forward and find a weapon, instead it surprised him by using the memories of who she had been to cast her own magic. Burning missiles began landing among the men again, this time striking the enemy soldiers. In a matter of seconds the Ale’adarians had the upper hand as confusion took hold of the Southerners.
Leaving the risen mage to work, he turned his attention to the right where Darian and Danika had placed themselves. The stone mage still incased in a dome of stone now with a small opening allowing him to see, had constructed half a dozen smaller golems who were much quicker than their larger cousin. They were causing havoc among the men by attacking the horses they rode and then bludgeoning the dismounted soldiers. Danika was having a difficult time of countering them as they were too fast for the vines, moving away at speed whenever the plants appeared. Darian was trading cast with another ice mage both having lost their horses, with neither seeming to be gaining advantage they were locked in a stale mate. Bolts of ice hitting each other midair, streams of frost being met by more of the same from the other mage.
Jaxom would have to help Darian first as he saw no immediate way to get at the stone mage. Riding round the center of the fight he moved towards the dueling mages behind the enemy who seemed to only be aware of Darian. Charging his horse forward he readied his sword to finish the distracted man having to pull up short as a wall of ice appeared in front of him. The mage must have heard the approach of his horse’s hooves beating the ground and erected the wall to stop him. Circling around the obstruction he gained more ground and the enemy ice mage was forced to turn and face him flinging two bolts of ice in his direction. Jaxom pointed his sword at the bolts and released the trapped energy contained there. The previously absorbed balls of fire spit out in succession, one colliding with a bolt the other two speeding at the mage forcing him to create another wall of ice to stop them. Jaxom had ducked low against his horse as the second bolt flew above him still managing to tear a shallow cut along his back. Sitting back up he saw the mage jerk as a blue crystalized sword erupted through his chest, Darian standing behind him holding the other end. Stopping his mount next to the man the Ale’adarian ice mage let the body slide to the ground in a heap.
Jaxom looked down to see Darian with a grim look of satisfaction on his face as he stared down on the man he had just killed. “I thought you said you would not seek out the other ice mage,” Jaxom said.
The other man looked up to him and shrugged at the comment. “I didn’t, he sought me out and I was happy to oblige,” Darian replied.
Jaxom nodded and stretched his hand down to the dead ice mage, if it had worked once it should work again. Darian jumped back readying his ice sword as the risen stood and remained still waiting a command. “This should make it easier to help Danika with the stone mage,” Jaxom said. Sending a thought to the risen to cast a bolt of ice at the ground it complied and Darian jumped again. “Simply instruct it in what you want it to do.”
Darian nodded and looked to his new ally. “Follow me,” he told the risen unsteadily, leaving at a trot to help Danika with the earth mage.
With a moment to think, he looked to where Celia and Nelix should be and finding they had moved to the other side of the fight. It looked as if a majority of the enemy had shifted in the hope of collapsing the flank. He could see both durgen above the dense fighting and watched as arrow after arrow rained down among the combatants. At the center the battle had pressed towards his risen fire mage, and the occasional flash of red light told him that it was still in the fight. It appeared that some of Ale’adarians had encircled the risen mage to protect it from the enemy who were trying to destroy it. As the fighting continued, the Ale’adarians gained the advantage with many drifting to the flanks and adding more pressure in those areas.
Deciding that it was Celia and Nelix that needed his help the most, he moved his tired horse around the back of thickest part of the battle. The animal now laboring for breath, did not move as quickly as it had at the outset. Coming around behind the fight he braced himself before throwing himself back into the fray, swinging his sword in controlled strikes at any who came near. Finishing two enemies in an attempt to work his way to the center, Jaxom was confronted by a skilled adversary wearing silver decorated plate armor who stopped his advance. The man fought calmly as if he and Jaxom were simply sparing, his strikes measured never leaving himself open and parries perfectly aligned to stop Jaxom’s attacks. Becoming frustrated Jaxom thought to cast the blight at the man but could not gain a moment to do so as the southerner kept his horse moving, forcing Jaxom to move with him or allow a blow from behind. With his offhand occupied controlling the horse and the other holding his sword, Jaxom could not find an opening to cast his magic.
From outside of Jaxom’s vision another sword came down landing a heavy blow on the back of the plated foe’s armor staggering him. Whipping around to face his new attacker, his calm attacks became faster and less precise in anger. Jaxom could see that Nelix had saved him but the general was now hard pressed himself, the long days of fleeing taking its toll and showing in the slowness of his parries. Now free to cast Jaxom dropped the reigns and the black and grey twirling blight wrapped around the armor plated man’s upraised arm and chest. Seeping through the spaces in the armor to find the flesh beneath, but even the magic did not stop him from fighting as his body rotted. He screamed as he continued to swing his sword until finally he could fight no more, and the plate armor fell to the ground almost and empty shell.
“Thank you,” Jaxom said to Nelix who looked weary. The man had a deep gash almost exactly where the scar had been letting blood flow freely down his face.
“Thank me when it is over lad,” he said looking about. “For now follow me.”
Jaxom followed the older man deeper into fray until they found what he thought was the center, and at its core was Tamrick. Around his horse several plants had sprung from the ground keeping the enemy soldiers away from the area. One of the plants stood on a thick green base and sprouting from it were four vines tipped with ba
rbs lashing out any unfortunate enough to come to close. Another plant looked like a bush with large red flowers blooming on it, and at the center of those flowers thorns the length of a man’s hand would shoot forth embedding themselves into armor and flesh. Several other plants lay hacked to pieces on the ground beneath horse hooves as they shifted about.
Jaxom was tired and could feel exhaustion begin to take over from the constant strain of the fight and continuous casting. Riding up to Tamrick, Jaxom and Nelix positioned themselves near the green mage who nodded and looked to be relieved as it was clear he was tiring as well. Deciding to put his effort into one more powerful cast, Jaxom sheathed his sword and stretched both hands out to the many dead on the ground. As one fifteen of the dead soldiers stood and began attacking the Southerners with abandon and ferocity that living men rarely showed. He did not have them pick up weapons, only attack with hands and teeth as they leapt upon the mounted men or pulled them down to the ground. They gouged out eyes with dead fingers or tore out throats with bared teeth, hammering with fist or stomping on those who had fallen to the ground.
It was pure carnage around Jaxom as his risen killed one after another in the most horrific manners possible. In the end it was too much for the Southerners who began fleeing one by one, and then in mass until it was a full retreat. The Ale’adarians gave chase and all along the line those left of the enemy ran for their lives as they were cut down from behind. A loud long horn blow calling for a halt to the charge and was repeated by every man with a horn until all had stopped. Jaxom saw a flash of red in the forest and knew that the risen fire mage would have not heeded the call, only following the last instruction he had given it. Reaching out through his connection he called it back to him and soon saw the risen returning at a trot. The drain of reanimating so many at once was weakening him quickly, so much that he felt that any minute he would fall from his saddle. With a thought he cut the flow of magic to the remaining risen soldiers causing them to drop to ground still once more. The relief was immediate as he steadied himself on top of the horse, and it was then that he heard the sound of men crying out in pain. Already those able began helping the injured by binding wounds and getting them back on to horses or pulling them up to ride double.
