Achil & The Rise Of The Mandrake

by David Papa-Adams

  ***

  Jin stood watching wave after wave of attack his arms folded, his face stern, uncompromising. Marshal Ti standing next to him seemed unconcerned, self-assured, barking orders to the men to get into the siege towers and start climbing toward whatever fate awaited them.

  “My Lord at the moment every time we make a break through we are driven back,” said the Marshal.

  Jin was dismissive of that, “These are only the first waves, soon we’ll be upon them with our full force. Then we’ll truly test their mettle. But first I sense something is up with the Elementals, I can feel it in the air.”

  He took his crystal out, held it in his hands and whispered an invocation; the words had no effect, something had blocked his path. He concentrated harder, if they had managed to lock one door, he would just have to find another. With a great effort he forced his mind to overcome what it was that had stifled his powers, an old adversary he had once called friend. There was a sudden rush of energy, light leapt from his crystal and disappeared upwards, as it did so, he afforded himself a smile. The Sage was no match for him, and nor for that matter were the Elementals.