I entered our last battle before reaching the safety of Haven Hill filled with doubt for our success, worried about the mud and the eight hundred souls our thin line defends. But when the hour arrived and we approached our attack position, Chief and I crawling on our bellies to avoid detection, the misting rain and distant thunder rumbling filled me with excited joy and power; a new confidence. Not lust for blood or rage, nor false courage - fear had not completely left me but neither did my bones hear its council but a calming knowing that the Storm Lord who hath favored us each day of this venture was now aroused to anger and at my back driving blindingly against the monsters eyes.
Chief Horaz, stood and he flexed his muscles behind me you could the wood strain against him crackling as it was pulled taught. Shayla notched her first shot and I signaled them to loose their volley. The enemy were caught completely unaware - a distant crack of thunder concealing the arrows hissing flight towards them. Two enemies fell instantly dead, we saw one tumble to the roadway below and the Chief was frightening to behold as he snarled and launched another arrow.
I signaled Na'il and his dwur companions to move next, they were to execute a wide hook to the right flank of the enemy, and I would follow on an inside hook route to support him. The enemy was not thrown into complete disarray - it was clear they were well prepared and they were able to react rather quickly but their hurried rally to attack Na'il's flank brought their cavalry into my trap. I stepped out of the brush and as Na'il loosed a bolt of lightning into a near group of foes - killing most of them instantly, I put the flanking enemy forces to sleep, the Storm Lord blessed me with great power and their flanking attack was halted in its tracks.
Our archers continued their barrage; Na'il pressed on leading his team and loosed a second and third bolt devastating the enemy cavalry. As I sent a second group into a deep slumber I became increasingly aware of the horrific smell of burnt flesh and fur and enemy archers trying to get a bead on me. I moved behind Cade and helped him bring down an orc with a pair of hurled daggers before I was struck by an archer from above. I looked for help but everyone was engaged.
I staggered - there the arrow was projecting from my chest like a spar or bowsprit, it had penetrated my armor spell and become lodged in a rib, thankfully the armor spells protection guided it so it would not bounce into vital organs or I would have been killed instantly. Still I was now rendered hors de combat and decided to retire. I tried to call out to Horaz to join me he seemed to hear but not understand. He later told me that he had heard my cry but didn't understand it so he intensified his fire and finished off the archers on the hill.
I pulled my traveler from my coat and opened it to the bookmarked page - burning hands as a pair of enemy worgs set upon me. I was able to stumble away from their lunging attacks and read the spell from my book destroying the page but I succeeded in sending the beasts howling away badly seared for their trouble. I saw behind them an enemy archer previously not accounted for - he was moving in for the kill and all my allies were preoccupied. I looked to my book Charm Person was the next page open now, it was not damaged and so I began to read as I fell to a knee and Church leapt from his hiding place in my messenger bag. The archer seemed perplexed by my action - reading, kneeling in the rain, bleeding and the sight of the cat leaping from my side he hesitated before drawing an arrow from his quiver – I belted out the incantation and watched the page burn “Come friend” I shouted motioning with my hand to the archer.
Success! He lowered his weapon and scurried toward me. I pointed to a worg on Cade’s flank he understood me and fired on the beast. I then turned to survey my situation. I knew I had to withdraw so I looked to find a clear path away. Wind began to drive the rain upwards from the ground into my face, lightning sliced open the sky and the thunder slapped my breath away. There over my right side Na’il had somehow harnessed more lightning and struck the enemies commander with enough force to disintegrate him. I saw him explode in a grayish cloud of bone and burnt flesh in response to a simple touch by the dainty olven man. If Na’il continued to follow the plan he would finish his hook maneuver and I could retreat past him so I started towards him. My archer followed firing again at enemy reinforcements coming out of the darkness brought by the storm.
I got away; safe beyond even seeing the battle. I heard it faintly in the distance for a moment. I fell to the ground and allowed myself a moment of rest. Lightning struck a distant hilltop and I decided to cut this arrow away lest the sky mistake me for a tree. Rain poured over me washing fatigue away. I stood, alone and though I knew the Storm Lord was with me, I also knew it would not be wise to remain out of doors much longer – his fury being unpredictable. Na’il’s voice somehow reached me “more orcs” he cried. I looked at poor miserable Church; there is nothing quite as pathetic as a cat soaked to the bones. I tucked him back into his hiding spot and took him with me back into the darkness towards the din of battle.
My thoughts drifted oddly to Perry and the refugees. Knowing he was there to guard them let me then forget them and focus again; I turned my traveler to Sleep knowing that burning it would leave me defenseless should I live to need it tomorrow and that under these conditions I might not succeed in reading it and destroy the spell book for naught. As I approached the hill and figures became visible through the torrent I sensed Horaz out there alive and vibrant in a murderous rage, and my archer was struggling to recover after being struck by someone. I saw Shayla controlling the road checking the sleepers – with the water on the ground I suspected they may have drowned. It was knee deep in places, and rivulets poured from atop the hill around which the battle flowed.
Na'il sprinted up beside me and disabled the bulk of the remaining enemy with a powerful and frightening spell, Horaz, Shayla and Cade took care of the rest. Drazil tended to Ruggin and we hastened to return to the refugees. We found the bulk of them safe, and we hurried down the road to Kaska. The Storm Lord relented and we were greeted by friendly troops as we approached Havenhill. I finally felt that it was over, I could breathe easy and take some rest, relieved of the burden of looking over my shoulder constantly on guard for angry enemies. Seven were lost on the trail [The navigator recorded their names but the entry is illegible] to the arms of the gods, one taken for each hero who fought that day and lived who also numbered seven.
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