“How are we going to do this?” asked Skarde.
“The flashes of light in the distance must be them, though we don’t have an idea if it’s an organized retreat of the entire force or just separate groups trying to make their way to the fortress. Either way, the quicker we make contact with them, the better,” replied Kobu.
It took me a magical spell to see what Kobu had concluded from what he could observe. In the dark.
As the companions went to join the queue preparing to leave the town, Tyler saw Kobu hand Tyndur a thin extended object. The einherjar unwrapped it, examined the item for a few minutes, and gave it to Habrok. Despite the light of the torches, Tyler couldn’t see what the thing was. He was momentarily distracted when Aage called out to him about the mages who were going to accompany the force. Turning his attention back to the companions, he asked Tyndur what he had given to the ranger.
“The mace I promised him. I asked Kobu to look around. He’s got a better eye for weapons and gear. Now Habrok’s got the proper weapon to crush undead heads, not that pig sticker of a sword. The undead will just slide forward when you stab with it and then bite one’s nose off. A lot of girls would be unhappy if ever that happened. At least that’s what he told me.”
***
The force that left the fort arrayed themselves into the configuration Kobu wanted after getting past the deadly traps guarding the approach to the town. The ten companies were arranged in a wedge formation, five on each side. Shields were held facing the vulnerable frontage of each flank.
Skarde took charge of the left flank, while Tyndur was assigned to the right. At the tip of the wedge, where the warriors from both flanks meet, was a force of heavily armored dwarves with warhammers and mauls, led by their two chieftains. It was a last-minute change made by Kobu when he saw the battle gear of the dwarves. The ornate armor and equipment the party saw in the throne room was just their ceremonial dress. Apparently, armor was deemed daily attire by both dwarven races, except when at home.
Behind the battering ram of dwarven steel were Tyler, Kobu, and Habrok, together with four journeyman mages. The mages, already awed and overwhelmed by being in the presence of a High Mage, were strictly instructed by Tyler not to use flame spells. Instead, given their limited magical repertoire, they were to focus on illuminating the battlefield once the fighting started, with the spells of light to be cast in front of the wedge or where fighting was going on.
Two had some knowledge of barrier spells, so were assigned to support a flank each. Magical shields were to be used as walls to support sections that appear to be sorely pressed. One mage knew healing spells, so Tyler told him not to get close to the fighting. There would be wounded, and there was no way he could attend to all the injured, both from the sortie force and the warriors they intended to rescue. From experience, he knew healers in a battle were worth their weight in gold. Potions can’t compare to a healing spell in terms of immediate effect.
As they marched forward at a fast pace, Tyler could see the flashes were nearer, though couldn’t account for their cause. He suspected magical weapons, but then again, the retreating dwarves might be using tunneling spells as explosive charges. But curiously the flashes were not accompanied by the sound of loud explosions, a characteristic of Tyler’s flame and lighting spells. As he peered into the far darkness, the mage thought he saw a two-toned blackness, one of the night, the other moving like an undulating wave.
“Kobu, I think I see the outline of the pursuing enemy. If that’s but a small part, then I shudder to think about how truly massive the main host is,” whispered Tyler.
“Thank you, sire. How far do you think they are?”
“About two miles. They seem to wear the darkness like a cloak. But we’ll be running into the lead elements of the retreating force any moment now,” advised Tyler.
“I believe so, sire. Normally, it is at this time a formation change is warranted, one which I call the scythe, but it is nighttime and we don’t have the men to cover our flanks. I respectfully ask for a constant update on the events in front of us.”
“You don’t have to ask, Kobu. I’ll tell you whether you want to hear them or not,” responded the mage.
The march continued, though Tyler kept on looking at their rear. The wedge assault pattern was intended to break defending lines and was open at the rear. He appreciated Kobu’s adoption of the arrowhead configuration; it enabled the fastest way to make contact with its heavily-armored tip, it also guarded the flanks and widened the coverage at the sides as compared to a regular column. The flanks could also swing forward and envelop an enemy once the tip of the arrowhead came to grips with the foe. But Tyler doubted if that was the plan of the exile. The lack of warriors in the sortie worried the mage. It was a negligible force meant for a quick rescue, nothing else. But Tyler knew Kobu had long realized that fact.
The mage earnestly hoped the exile had tricks up his sleeve. At least they haven’t encountered flank attacks so far, but the mage put it down to the mass of the enemy still gathering strength. The delay in attacking Hedmark merely confirmed his sinking suspicion that the undead, once they started their offensive, would quickly fan out over Namdalen, crushing any resistance they encountered with sheer numbers and brutal savagery. Yet the size of the force sent against the reinforcing dwarves was a harsh indication of the numbers they were going to face.
They’re going to blitzkrieg our collective asses. Not that those in Hedmark would be alive to care when they start rolling over western Skaney, grimly reflected the mage.
Suddenly, through the dark murk, the mage saw several large groups moving fast toward them, though he doubted if they could see the wedge. Nobody was carrying a torch, and right now, only the tip of the formation was visible to anyone watching from the front – quite a small group to be seen at night. He immediately advised Kobu.
“Wedge, halt!” ordered the exile. “Rear companies, cover the back!
The loud voice made Tyler flinch. After the silence of the quick march, disturbed only by the sound of walking feet and some clanking of armor, Kobu’s voice sounded like thunder. The mage guessed that this close to the enemy’s vanguard harrying the scouts and the dwarves, the noise of the rescuing force wouldn’t be noticed.
“Watch for friendly incoming!” the exile again shouted.
The mage immediately heard the rattle of armor and weapons. Men and dwarves were shifting to ready mode. Tyler could see the people hurrying toward them, a motley group of men and dwarves, some carrying wounded in makeshift stretchers. There were other clusters at the rear following in their wake.
“Front ranks of the left and right flank, go forward and assist! Dwarves, maintain your position and prepare for battle!” Kobu’s voice and commands were in the tone of a commander accustomed to his orders being followed. It inspired confidence as it projected the image of a leader who knew what he was doing and expected his instructions to be carried out.
Kobu in his military commander persona greatly surprised Tyler. It was a different man, far removed from the unassuming and quiet exile who tried his best to guard the mage’s back. Men from the flanks immediately moved forward and met the retreating groups. The mage could now see the retreat was far from a well-organized one; it was but a collection of groups of men and dwarves trying to flee, burdened with wounded and hauling ballistae.
“The enemy, sire? Are they in sight?”
“Not yet, Kobu. But I could make out fighting in the distance,” replied Tyler. The retreating groups were already passing through the ranks of the rescue party. Ballistae and wounded were gathered in the formation, and tired warriors dropped heavily to the ground, grabbing much-needed rest. Tyler ordered the healer-mage to look after the wounded.
“That must be the rearguard. They’re doomed unless we move closer. I doubt you could cast spells at this range,” said Kobu as he looked into the distance. Faint sounds of combat could already be heard.
“I can, if I could see clearly. But this darkness is to
our disadvantage,” replied Tyler. His area-of-effect spells were liable to kill off the warriors they were intended to rescue.
Kobu then ordered four baturs worth of warriors to remain and protect whoever was coming in. What remained of the wedge adjusted their ranks and marched forward for about half a mile. Along the way, several groups of retreating men and dwarves were encountered and instructed to proceed to the impromptu laager at the rear. The mage saw that almost all of those retreating were exhausted, some had injuries, and the condition of their armor spoke of a difficult withdrawal.
Skarde had left behind one of his men as the commander of the protective screen of the camp, with instructions to get the wounded, the ballistae, and the survivors back to the fortress as soon as possible. The way back to town seemed free of enemies, and those who got to proceed to Hedmark needed no protective screen. The camp was to be a temporary waystation for the wounded to get some aid, and for weary men and dwarves to get some respite. Or at least, for them to get their nerves back. If any undead got past the rescuing host, the warriors of the reserve would take care of such advance groups. From Tyler’s observation, the better part of 4,000 men and dwarves had passed through them, in separate bands, though they all looked tired and battle-scarred. He noticed they all still had their shields and weapons.
At least widespread panic is absent, observed the mage. We still haven’t come across freaked out individuals.
The retreating warriors were in groups and always had wounded or the odd ballistae with them. But there was no way they could join the rescue force and fight effectively, if it came to that. The exhausted and dirty faces, with dented or broken armor, clearly indicated such a possibility was nil. The two dwarven chieftains were quiet, except when they instructed the dwarves they met. The mage couldn’t understand how the two dwarven hosts were driven from the field that quickly, so he asked Kobu while the wedge was marching forward.
“I guess they were caught unaware by two large-scale ambushes, the human scouts luckily coming up later, getting them away from the ambush sites. Only our party recognized that the undead could fight like living men. I recognized the tell-tale signs of battle shock on the retreating faces, only seen in some truly unexpected, catastrophic event. It quickly wears out the urge to fight, swiftly demoralizing the defending forces,” replied Kobu. “I think they expected to fight the usual slow-moving, witless revenants. The encounter must have been a severe shock. But the will to fight, though diminished and affected by the encounter, is still there. Discipline and battle experience maintained it.”
“I’ll put out a magical barrier when our front is clear of men and dwarves,” said Tyler.
Suddenly, a mass of flesh crashed against the dwarven wall at the front. It was a sickening sound, the meaty thud of undead flesh and the crack of bones as they smashed against the large rectangular shields of the dwarves. As Tyler and Kobu turned to look at the unexpected disturbance, they could see the warriors at the front furiously trying to beat back the attackers. The mage immediately cast a light spell well forward of the dwarves, just as the two flanks also erupted in melee combat. What he saw was a relief to his worried mind, but a nauseating view to his senses. The green radiance in the sunken eyeholes was there, reminding the mage of the undead back in the forest trail.
What attacked them was a much smaller force compared to what the rearguard was keeping back, an occurrence for which he was thankful. Despite the heavily-armored dwarves and the protection given by wedge battle formation, he doubted the small relief force could withstand a massive attack from the entire pursuing force. He could now see the group of men and dwarves in the rearguard fighting in a circular formation, surrounded by a sea of revenants. They were but half a mile away, but right now it was a great distance to cover.
Why didn’t I see those green dots before? It might be dark, but surely, I should have glimpsed the glow from those eyes! Unless the emerald radiance only glows when they are about to engage in combat. Bad news. They could sneak up on the fort at night.
To the mage, it looked like the attackers were undead which had bypassed the rearguard and smashed against the tip of the wedge. As the front ranks were engaged, the rest of the attackers flowed around the tip and met the ready flanks of the formation. But the assault, though minor in relative terms, still comprised a vast horde. The illumination spell nicely showed gaping skulls, armored skeletons with shreds of decayed flesh, and tattered banners at the back. The disgusting smell perfectly complemented the revolting sight.
Tyler thought of his cloud lightning spell, but immediately discarded the idea. It was bound to hit members of the rearguard. A chain lightning spell also was dangerous to the dwarves at the front as the fighting was already hand-to-hand. Some undead were grasping shields and pulled them to their ranks, bringing the unfortunate warriors with them. He settled for a force blade blizzard, the old reliable standby. Cast in a downward arc, the tightly-packed small rectangular blades sliced through undead flesh and bones, returning many to their disturbed rest. At the same time, he created a prow-shaped shield conforming to the structure of the wedge, giving time for the warriors to recover and dress their ranks. But he immediately felt the immense force exerted on it by the sheer mass of their enemies.
Dizziness started to set in, though it was too early for magical exhaustion to set in. He had barely started casting spells.
“Hal! Why am I getting dizzy?” he asked immediately.
“An after-effect of the animating spell. This close to that number of revenants, the spell was bound to affect those who are magically sensitive. Similar to what you experienced in the woods but on a higher scale. But our proximity to such a concentration of the strange energy would enormously help us in examining and assessing it.” It was X.
A lab progress report is not what I need right now, thought the mage.
Tyler looked around and saw the three mages who had accompanied the continued advance of the foray already on the ground, grasping their heads, and from their loud and terrible cries, clearly suffering from terrible pain.
“Can’t we do anything?” asked the mage urgently, even as he let fly force blades again, but this time on the three engaged sides of the wedge. Tyler also cast healing spells on the suffering mages. It was all he could do at the moment.
Abruptly, he was thrown to the ground as several magical blasts smashed the barrier he had created.
What in the world? The surprised thought erupted in his shaken mind as he picked himself up.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Through the Valley of Undead
Skathi spake:
49. “Light art thou, Loki, | but longer thou mayst not
In freedom flourish thy tail;
On the rocks the gods bind thee | with bowels torn
Forth from thy frost-cold son.”
Loki spake:
50. “Though on rocks the gods bind me | with bowels torn
Forth from my frost-cold son,
I was first and last | at the deadly fight
There where Thjazi we caught.”
Kobu looked at the young mage starting to get up.
“I know. Mages,” said Tyler quickly.
Fucking undead mages. No magical exhaustion for them, he swore.
Tyler quickly cast a scrying spell around him, trying to locate the mage, or mages. At the same time, he unloaded another barrage of deadly slicing rain around the wedge. The sudden disappearance of the barrier had resulted in an immediate surge of the swarm against the defenders. A thunderous rumble echoed through the air as the undead mass slammed into shields.
Almost immediately, the mage found the ones responsible for destroying his barrier. Two spots radiated a concentration of magical energy. He quickly let loose two lightning bolts toward the beings. Mage battles being what they were, the first to act usually had the advantage. Tyler knew the two were also searching for him. To the mage’s relief, the two bright dots of magical energy winked out as the destructive lightnin
g attack reached them.
Only two? The question arose in Tyler’s mind. Either the ancient battles involved fewer mages than he expected, or magical practitioners were very difficult to kill during that period.
Tyler looked around. The furious and deadly battle was at its height. Even the rear of the wedge was also now engaged. The din was unbelievable, though the shouts and battle cries were all being made by humans and dwarves. The enemy was silent as ever.
We’ll lose this battle of attrition, he observed. Let’s see if the rearguard is still there. Otherwise, there’s no reason to stay a minute more.
A spell of light flung over the spot he’d last seen the encircled warriors revealed the surprising spectacle of about a thousand dwarves and a few humans still fighting and holding their own. The circle had become smaller but gave the defenders less area to defend. Rectangular shields had been linked and embedded in the ground. Many dwarven warriors were already dual-wielding weapons. But he could see signs of flagging – a lot of warriors had stepped back to regain their strength. Many, even those in the front ranks, were wounded or wearing damaged armor. The tide of opponents didn’t look as if the multitude of fallen undead made any difference.
Tyler’s mind raced. He could force a way to the encircled warriors in front, but the vast horde of opponents would still be there, and such an attempt would undoubtedly result in an increased tempo in the fighting as the enemy reacted. The result would be just a bigger group of surrounded mortals fighting for their lives. He had to quickly stem the flood of the undead, or slow down the steady and increasing influx of reinforcements replacing fallen revenants.
“Birki! Does anybody know how to dig channels, pits, earthworks?”
“That would be me, sire,” replied the being with muted indignation.
“I’m sorry, Birki. Totally engrossed right now. Not thinking straight,” answered the embarrassed Tyler.
“I understand, sire. We could see what’s happening.”
The Accidental Archmage - Book Five Page 26