Chapter 28
Like a spear into the side of a red skinned beast, one force had attacked the other, infecting the red with an assortment of dirty colours. Upon the attack a series of screeches had flown into the air, truly making the entire battalion appear like one monstrous beast. Like a vase being shattered the unified screech had broken into smaller sounds, each just as hideous and bloody. It was a spectacle of slaughter in every sense of the word and its audience consisted solely of three, each watching from on top of the first Ebulon entry point.
Captain Juruz, accompanied by Regent Jenner and his valued lieutenant, a woman called Luvis watched the bloody battle unfold before Ebulon. He didn’t need to guess who the two sides were, the army led by the red cloaked woman was apart of the Red Army. Captain Juruz had heard the stories about them, but it didn’t take a man of his experience to know this wasn’t the entire enemy army, it was too few in number, even exaggerated by fear this batch wouldn’t be believed to be anymore than a few thousand. The spear that had attacked them was the Sack Swords, far better armed than any report had described. He didn’t have to search his mind far to guess why. The Sack Swords must have discovered the bodies of the dead orcs in the mountains, the ones slain by Cada Varl. Juruz wouldn’t lie to himself, with so many enemy numbers so close to the city he wished that Cada Varl had answered the call. That red eyed man could have single handily dealt with both of these armies. Juruz rarely wished for anything, wishes weren’t reliable, but his courage and valor were.
He had brought up the potential idea of the refugees finding the dead orcs in the mountains, but Ebulon could never spare the manpower. Not to mention the truth that Juruz didn’t want to see that place again, the power of Cada Varl was surreal. He found himself looking beyond the battle before Ebulon and into the distance, the direction of Sorn Field. He had little idea of what monstrosities his fellow soldiers were facing there.
His gaze returned to the battle before Ebulon and within the melee he could see Ged, fighting with the skill and maddening savagery Juruz remembered. He didn’t need to know why the Sack Swords had attacked the Red Lady, his best guess was vengeance for the refugee lives they had taken. But he had to have a plan for action, strategy would be his greatest asset in keeping the city safe.
Carefully he moved away from the wall, walking towards a stockpile of bows and countless arrows. He had never liked the bow, he was use to leading from the front line and a bow did little good against a swinging axe or sword. But they could kill at a distant and that is something he needed. Most of the bows had been taken from the bodies of dead orcs and were designed to be pulled with the bull like strength most orcs were capable of. He knew he was capable of using such bows effectively as was lieutenant Luvis, Regent Jenner was clearly a different story. Picking one of the few non-orc bows he passed it to Regent Jenner who did not say a word.
The Regent had expected Juruz to be angry with him, to ridicule him at every pass. But the Captain had done no such thing. Juruz was many things, but a petty man he was not. He was a warrior, an experienced captain and knew such smallness was useless in battle. More and more Jenner was starting to feel completely out of place as Juruz corrected his handling of the weapon.
“Have you ever fired a bow before?” Juruz asked, no condescension could be found in his tone.
“A few times when I was very young,” Regent Jenner expected Juruz to scowl him but he didn’t, surprisingly he nodded at the information.
“Well at the least that is something. If any of them whether Sack Sword or Red Army begin to attack the gate, I want you to aim at their chest.”
Regent Jenner glanced down nervously at the battle unfolding, there was an ugliness to it, a barbarity he hadn’t experienced since the Battle of Ebulon. He was also horribly aware that there were only three of them and at least 10,000 potential enemies below.
“Forgive me, captain I do not mean to speak out of place…” Juruz patiently waited for him to finish. “Since most of them are wearing armor wouldn’t it be better if I aimed for their heads?” A valid point, few wore helmets in the battle below.
“It would be better to hit them in the head, but because of your inexperience if you aimed for their heads your arrows would harmlessly sail over their scalps. If you aim for their chests, there is half a chance that your arrow will strike them in the neck or face.”
To this Jenner merely nodded, unable to stop his hands from shaking. He took great notice that Juruz wasn’t trembling, his eyes remaining hard lined. Even with only one experienced soldier and a man who wasn’t built for battle by his side, the Captain didn’t flinch at the possibility of this horde turning their hatred towards the city. It stirred many things in the regent, questions that wanted answers.
“Why didn’t you accompany the king and the others to Sorn field Captain Juruz? Captain Torrin would have been adequate to look over the city.” Regent Jenner, wasn’t surprised that his inner diplomat was coming to the surface. Even now as a chorus of bloodied screams and metal clashes ascended the winds like powdered poison. The point Juruz had made sometime ago that he was more suited to words than action was becoming more apparent.
“In times such as these that would be good enough for you?” Juruz asked, not once looking away from the battle. “That the defense of this city be satisfactory not a priority? Besides Captain Torrin will serve much better on an open field than he would watching over Ebulon.”
“He would serve better than you?” Regent Jenner asked. To this Captain Juruz didn’t respond as he watched men and monsters hack through each other like wild brutes. “Alongside Commander Alatearame you are the finest officer this city has, your hands and sword are just as skilled as your mind, you are needed at Sorn Field, not in a nearly empty city.”
“This city is my home and it needs to be defended.”
Jenner stepped forward, his conviction giving him newfound strength. “Dam it captain what is the point of defending a city if there is no one to live in it? Didn’t you learn that from the Battle of Ebulon?” Captain Juruz kept his eyes upon the field, Jenner was amazed that he could perform the two tasks of careful observation while fending off his accusations.
“What is the point of surviving without a home? A place to keep the evils of the world at bay? A place where there is enough food and warmth? Without this city our people would’ve shared the fate of so many refugees, how pointless to survive a battle if death comes for you anyway, through freezing or hunger or both? These questions give you an answer as to why this city needs protecting.”
“But why by your hand?” Regent Jenner asked, noticing that the lieutenant had her full attention on the battle, making sure no one broke away and attacked the city gate. “Why was it so important that you stay behind?”
“Because…” Juruz began, his voice softer than usual. The slight change in tone struck Jenner like a hammer to the chest. “City walls are full of stone, not doubt…” Regent Jenner noticed his words were enough to make the lieutenant break her gaze if only briefly. “I am surprised that you never noticed it, or maybe you did but kept it to yourself. You are a man that has to rely on the strength of words and the tactfulness of tone, but it is not the language of the tongue, but rather the language of the body that tells the truth. I have seen doubt in the eyes of King Yadi ever since the battle of Ebulon was over. No matter what words he used, I could always see it, whenever any of the captains spoke of military action, there it was…” He paused, remembering the last thing Yadi had said to him, I haven’t lost faith in you, keep our city safe until I return.
It was the first time in three months that he hadn’t seen doubt, that emotion that felt like a rain of acid upon his soul. But that didn’t automatically erase the prior months, something Juruz knew well. “I have never seen such doubt in his eyes before, not when we were surrounded by dwarves at Eckle, not when we were outnumbered 20 to one by goblins at the battle of Foad. It is hard to believe in a king that doesn’t beli
eve in you.”
Regent Jenner stayed silent, even his sharp mind could find no words of retort for such reasoning. The lieutenant clearly agreed with the captain, although she said nothing. In that moment Jenner cursed himself for not picking up on it earlier, he considered himself one of Yadi’s best advisors and now he felt like a failure. Captain Juruz showed no sign that he was shaken by his revelation. His eyes remained focused on the engagement before Ebulon.
During the conversation, he had been doing more than answering questions or keeping an eye on the enemy. A decision was being constructed in his mind. He knew neither the Sack Swords nor the Red Army were allies of Ebulon but the two opposing sides were coincidentally keeping Ebulon safe by fighting each other. Juruz didn’t have enough troops to fight either army off, he needed to ensure that the two sides were fighting neck and neck. It was difficult to tell who had the advantage, for although the Sack Sword ambush had given them early favor the Red Army was beginning to stabilize. Instead of what lay before him he thought about all the reports. It stuck out in his mind how this Red Army somehow gathered recruits from their enemies. He didn’t know what dark magic they used, but he didn’t want to give them a chance to take control of the Sack Swords and swell their own ranks. Lieutenant Ulka had made mention that the one he had captured mentioned the Red Lady over and over again. It was likely she was the source of this sorcery.
Juruz took an arrow from the stockpile that leaned against the city wall. He was quite confident that he could kill the Red Lady as soon he could get a clear shot. When that moment came, his muscles tensed in preparation. The bow was half risen when a sound away from the battle blew into the air. The echo of the war horn caused all three of them to look towards the inner city, wide eyed with alarm.
“Regent Jenner stay here have your war horn at the ready, I want you to blow it before you even think about using the bow, if the enemy attacks the gate,” said Juruz.
“I understand,” Jenner replied, his voice distanced by concern.
“Lieutenant Luvis, you’re with me.”
“Yes Captain,” she replied as they both placed the bows back into the pile before descending the closest walk way. Both soldiers knew what the sound meant, enemy troops had entered the city. Taking no time for discussion both of them mounted horses and began rushing through the city streets.
With only a thousand troops under his command Juruz had given each soldier a war horn to blow in the first sign of enemy attack. Out of necessity the thousand troops had been scattered all through out the city so there wasn’t a single place that wasn’t observed. Any horse that had not been eaten had been positioned all through the city to ensure that the 1000 troops were as mobile as possible. The winter hadn’t just been hard on mankind it had been hard on the animals, these horses were half-starved, weakened by never having a full stomach. Juruz could feel how much the horse was struggling just to carry him, let alone gallop at full speed. He heard the war horn again, glad that it hadn’t been joined by a chorus of such sounds, meaning this attack was occurring in one place. He glanced around as he rode, there simply hadn’t been enough time or resources to repair every wall, meaning there were plenty of places an enemy force could easily break through without the need of siege weapons. He didn’t know what enemy would be waiting for him when he arrived at the scene. For all he knew this Red Army had gone after more than just humans, they may have taken every orc tribe under their control and he could be riding right into a massacre. The concern wasn’t lost on him though he didn’t slow his horse down.
Having placed many catchers of orc weapons throughout the city he had a plethora of steel and twisted metal to choose from. He grasped a long spear from one of the catchers and as he got closer to the sound of the war horn he grabbed another spear, riding with expert maneuvering even though he didn’t have a free hand. He heard the war horn begin to be blown again before it suddenly fell to silence, whoever had been using it had been struck down. Glancing to Lieutenant Luvis he saw that she had unsheathed her blade, grasping it out to the side. Faintly during his ride he had heard the footfall of other horses, clearly more guards had heard the war horn and were rushing to help. It wasn’t long before he could hear the clashing of steel and the chants of battle from up ahead.
Rounding a corner the conflict came into view as Ulnath were plunging into the city from a relatively small break in the wall, they looked like vomit from a disfigured mouth. About ten Ebulon soldiers were already in the fray fighting in a frenzy against the vastly superior enemy number. Several guards from the surrounding walkway were peppering arrows into the driving enemy force. One such woman archer’s arrows were almost perfect in ratio, one arrow one kill. It was the kind of skill any archer desired and any enemy easily noticed. An Ulnath launched his spear, impaling its dark metal through her neck and sending her blood pouring corpse to the ground below. As a reward for his accuracy this Ulnath would be the first Juruz killed.
Knowing the horse was too important to risk in the skirmish, Juruz leapt from the stallion, a spear raised in each hand. The elevation he achieved easily surpassed what a man of his size should have been capable of. Descending like an iron bird of death he plunged his spears into two Ulnath. One spear pierced the throat of one while the second spear impaled through the skull of another. Neither attack was particularly clean, but both Ulnath were dead. Juruz pulled both weapons free, creating sickening sounds of metal leaving damaged flesh. He pushed his way into the skirmish, showing no fear of the superior enemy number. Lieutenant Luvis soon joined him, separating the lower jaw of an Ulnath from the rest of his vile body. The Ulnath may have been the most elegant of the orcs, but they were still orcs and they died screeching like the pigs they were.
Juruz showed his immense combative skill spinning and swinging his spears like they were weightless. If he was not stabbing or striking, he was blocking and countering enemy attacks, he wasn’t letting up, no quarter was given and no quarter was sought. He could taste Ulnath blood in his mouth as like a saw he gruesomely sliced opened the throats of several enemies. He spat the blood out into the eyes of one of his many attackers, stopping them for the spilt second he needed to end their lives.
The corner of the city that the fight took place in was blocked off on three sides, meaning there was little room to maneuver. This was more of a meat grinder than a battle as both Ulnath and Ebulon guard fell in the flurry of swords, spears, axes and other such weapons.
Juruz fought on using the spears like the horns of a bull, he thrust them forward and then back, repeating the cycle until a dozen enemies had been slain in a few moments. With one spear he blocked a strike meant for Luvis and slew another Ulnath at the same time. In spite of his skill and speed it wasn’t enough, there were simply too many Ulnath and too few Ebulon soldiers. Out of sheer necessity of survival the few soldiers had to pull back, moving as a group, keeping the Ulnath blades at bay. This was bad, it was allowing the enemy more room which meant more could emerge from the break in the wall. Juruz wasn’t sure how many Ulnath were still alive in this world, but it felt like every one of them was coming through the wall. He ignored an Ulnath sword that almost buried itself into his scalp as he slew its wielder and fought on.
Other Ebulon warriors soon had reached the skirmish, following Juruz’s example, they left their horses behind as they charged in to aid their fellow soldiers. Out of the original dozen soldiers only three were left still breathing, Juruz, Luvis and an axe wielding woman. So the arrival of new soldiers hadn’t come a moment too late. Even with the reinforcements the Ebulon warriors had to give ground time and time again, the Ulnath weren’t mindless brutes they too were skilled fighters and it was beginning to show.
Amongst the screams, blood and clashes of steel Juruz could hear the whisper of arrows as more archers reached the walkway above. They were defending their city, their home and this point only strengthened and increased their skill as almost each shot found its mark. Juruz felt no differently, he wou
ld keep fighting until his head had been removed from his body and even then he hoped it would be thrust hard enough that the severed limb would collide and crack the skull of an enemy.
Now forced to fight in a more open area the Ulnath numbers were working in their favor and the Ebulon troops were beginning to be surrounded on three sides. This only spurred them on as they fought with a brutality that matched the orcs they were facing. Juruz buried one of his spears so deep into an Ulnath body that he couldn’t retrieve it and was forced to abandon the weapon. He made the most of having only one spear, spinning it like a sword he brought down four Ulnath in the same moment. He swung around blocking an enemy strike before taking that enemy’s life. He attempted to kill another when a powerful brunt filled his spear. An Ulnath had taken its axe to the spears tip, breaking it off like glass against a boulder.
Before Juruz could counter act the axe came down once more this time breaking the shaft in half. Juruz didn’t panic, his many years on many battlefields keeping him alive. Before the Ulnath could swing the axe again he grabbed onto its shaft with both hands, preventing the Ulnath from killing him. Man and monster struggled for control of the weapon as they pushed upon it with their combined impressive strength. Juruz was the first to act beyond this test of strength, smashing his head into the face of his enemy. The steel of his helmet worked well with his strength, as foul blood exploded into the air followed by the sound of breaking bones. Juruz didn’t allow the Ulnath’s suffering to continue, he used the momentum of the injury to push the spike of the axe into his foe’s neck. Juruz didn’t bother to admire the blood that bubbled from its mouth for he now had a new weapon to wield.
He wasted no time, swinging it hard enough and skilled enough to take an enemy’s head off of its shoulders. He struck his next enemy hard enough that the axe cut through its armor, ending its life in a grinding of bone, blood and steel. He could feel the momentum of the skirmish shifting once again, more Ebulon soldiers had arrived and they didn’t hesitate to enter the fight.
The conflict still was far from being one sided, the Ulnath were not so easily defeated. But the reinforcements gave Juruz a brief opportunity to witness a small group of Ulnath moving away from the battle, seemingly led by a young man.
The Shadow of All Worlds Page 30