Page 132 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
Steel clashes against steel as the front lines collide.Our army pushes them back, battering the ranks of theincoming orcs.
“Be prepared,” Darstan whispers.
The enemy reaches us swiftly and before I know it, I am faced with my own opponent. I make each of my blow count as they surrounds my warhorse. Briallen’s constant movement and skillful maneuver assist me greatly in countering their attacks. Darstan abandons his steed to challenge a vicious orkan commander. The orc has leisurely downed dozens of our soldiers with his war hammer, laughing gleefully as he does it.
Darstan points his great sword to the beastly warrior, drawing his attention. He is standing tall at the same height with the enhanced orc, going toe to toe with him. I’ve always wondered if the knight share some kind of lineage with the long disappeared giants.
He is a formidable foe on hand-to-hand combat, but his back is wide open. There is no such a thing as a fair duel in the midst of a battlefield. The other orcs are taking the opportunity to attack him from behind.
“Go to safety, Primrose!” I pat the stallion’s back. I ditch my warhorse to climb behind my knight’s broad back. My steps are nimble and light as I cover him from the incoming assaults.
Darstan’s strikes become more aggressive with my help. I try not to wince when he swings his great sword with ease, slashing his opponent from shoulder to abdomen. The other orcs balk momentarily at the death of their commander. But the Asterdust’s influence soon overcomes their fear and they storm to raid us once again. I stay on my position behind Darstan.
Our coordination is perfect. Aelfric became my knight after Aerin’s death twenty years ago. But Darstan has been with me since the early days of my reign. The only person to answer Rainer’s summons to be my knight. We’ve perfected this defense and attack technique.
Right beside us, Shade is picking up the monsters that I maimed. Of all the Grimsbanes that were assigned to protect me,only he remains by my side. The rest of them have scoured the battlefield like a pride of hungry lions. They have been starved of blood and violence for far too long.
“It’s time!” I shout, sparing a glance at Lord Wesley.
He nods and begins signaling to the rest of the war generals.
“Retreat!” the lord utters the simple command with a hoarse voice. It soon bellows all across the battlefield.
“Retreat!”
My heart is pounding so hard, I swear I can hear it thudding against my breastplate. The drug crazed orcs chase after us, snapping their teeth at our heels. “They’re running away. After them! After them!”
“I’ve got you now, elven bitch!” A corpulent orc pulls me from Darstan’s back. Pain ricochets up my spine at the fall. I scramble up quickly and strike my blade through his abdomen without hesitation.
He bawls out in pain, flashing his yellowish rotten teeth. I did it.
I hit a critical spot just below the liver. But my blade refuses to come out no matter how hard I pull it back.
Gods help me.
It’s stuck inside his thick muscle. I had not anticipated that.
The orc staggers, pushing me away from him. “You little shit…”
He wrenches my long sword from his body. The Asterdust in his system heals his injury fast. Flesh stitches together and covers the open wound almost instantly. I stare at him like a startled deer as he licks the stream of blood off the sword.
If he’s trying to intimidate me, then he’s successful.
Shade and Darstan are overwhelmed by their multiple opponents. No one can come to my aid.
I should have listened to Svenn. If only I took better care of my sword, oiled them like I was supposed to…
The orc’s eyes glow with a sickening gleam. “I’ll add your ear to my collection.”
I have no weapon now. Is this to be my end?
A war cry resonates through the air, shattering through the chaos of the realm.
Chapter 22 Rhianelle
Everything pauses for a short moment at the bone-chilling roar from that shatters the heaven and the earth. It’s the kind of bellowing that echoes to the deepest bowels of Hel and silenced all its denizen.
I blink. Once. Twice.
