City of IF

[Chinaren]

Chapter 13.5 - Betrayals and Dark Deeds.


”They’re breaking!” A shout from the right distracted Gerund and nearly caused him to miss the Swarm fighter’s lunge. He brought his shield round just in time to deflect the blow, and then countered with one of his own, scoring the man on his arm.

Before he had a chance to do more the fighter backed away, turning to flee from the steel wall that was the Gerwain troops’ line. Gerund looked about, waiting for the command to pursue. The knights were too well trained to break into a chase that could easily turn into an ambush. The order didn’t come. Instead the ‘Hold position’ signal was beaten by drum.

“What’s going on?” Asked Hester, who was standing panting by his side.

Gerund looked at his friend. The man was slightly older than he was, his youth fading slowly into middle age, dark hair thinning under his helmet. Like Gerund’s, Hesters’ armor was dented in several places, and no longer shone in the sun that managed to filter through the ever-present cloud cover.

“I have no idea,” he replied eventually, wiping his brow and glancing about. “Though I’m sure we’ll be told in good time.”

“Well, I didn’t fancy chasing these scum down on foot anyway,” Hester said, cleaning his sword on a nearby corpse.

“You’re getting old,” chuckled Gerund, wiping his own blade, though he felt the same way. The latest swarm counter attack had not given them time to mount up, and the knights had been fighting afoot, their steeds still in the corral.

“You’re not getting younger either,” retorted the soldier, with a laugh. “Hello, what’s this?”

Gerund looked about. A group of mages had pushed through the troops and were spreading out in a long line ahead of them. At the same time the legion commander stepped forward and addressed the men.

“Once again you have fought bravely!” He shouted. “However, new orders from the emperor have been given. As you know what the emperor decrees is done without question. Our support troops, with assistance from our skilled mages, will build a barrier at this point, sealing out the scum of the Swarm for good! In the meantime we shall withdraw north some way. The emperor has spoken, we obey!”

There was a cheer from the knights, but Gerund frowned. Emperor Keldric was hardly renowned for stopping half way through a fight, especially one that was going well. There was something else going on here. He sighed as they began to move back to camp. No doubt we will find out soon enough, he thought to himself.

>

Rufus the Strong stood snarling as he watched the battle from his position on top of the slight rise. He had chosen the location for his command tent as it gave the best view. At the moment he rather wished he couldn’t see it.

The Desert Troll army under his command was at the center of the fight that was currently raging with the massive horde of insectoid creatures that made up the Centic army. Cries and shrieks mingled with the sound of metal striking chitin. Insect blood ran and merged with good honest Troll blood as lives were claimed on both sides.

To his left the elves held their position, anchored to the outcropping of rock that made up that flank. They were slowly being pushed back, and he could see an elven messenger making his way to him as he watched. No doubt they would request more assistance from his reserves. Curse those damned elves! Why couldn’t they commit more men? The glorious army of Muhmmiel Garrundi, his beloved leader, was already bearing the brunt of the fighting.

He swung his gaze to the right, where the lizard mages had conjured up a wall of magical black fire, which was wavering back and forth as the Centic magic users tried to snuff it out, or send it back upon its creators. Currently the skill of the Iswyle wizards seemed up to the task, but Rufus wasn’t sure how long they would hold out. The bugs had overwhelming numbers.

His own men held, fighting a battle that would no doubt go down in history. Assuming any one was left. He shook his head as he contemplated the odds against them. How could they survive such?

His thoughts were interrupted by the Elf messenger, who arrived panting. A trickle of blood ran down the side of his face from some minor injury. The elf bowed in a perfunctory fashion and then delivered his message.

“My war leader has a plan sire, but it needs your aid.”

“I’m listening,” said Rufus, eyes still on the fight before him. As he watched several Trolls climbed up on to the back of an enormous black and red beetle creature, hacking away at the eyes with dull iron blades. Others cut at the legs, until with a resounding crash the giant Centic fell sidewise, crushing several Trolls and more of its own kind.

The Eleven mages, along with the Iswyle wizards plan to cast a huge death spell, but we require the assistance of many troops. We need the Glormp fighters to hold the line whilst we perform the conjuration.

“Hold the entire line ourselves?” Rufus asked incredulously. “We are mighty warriors, but what you ask…”

“It would only be for a short time,” replied the messenger, “and the right side will remain protected by the Black Fire. You are the only one with men to spare.”

Rufus snarled. “Very well then, but you need to perform this magic fast, or we will all fall.”

The messenger nodded. “Indeed, you will see the outcome very quickly.” He bowed. “Such bravery will save many lives.”

“Elven ones maybe,” muttered Rufus.

“Send you men forward, ours will withdraw.”

The Troll general nodded. “Very well. Go.”

The elf saluted, then turned and ran for his own lines.

Rufus watched him with a snarl on his face before turning and giving his orders for the support to begin.

Within minutes the Troll reserves began moving towards the elven front, slowly taking over the battle from the weary soldiers there. Immediately the Centic were pushed back as the fresh troops made their presence felt.

The elves backed away, withdrawing to a large group further back.

Rufus’s attention was distracted by a sudden surge in the center of his own lines as a new Centic push, led by a creature with a huge red and yellow spider torso, threatened to break through. He issued orders as the troops sagged in the middle, bending under the assault but refusing to collapse.

Just as it looked as if they would contain the situation a shout went up from the left, quickly echoed from his right. He swung about and stared with astonished rage.

Betrayal!

The elves had broken, and were retreating in good order at speed. On his right the lizards were doing similar! They had been set up!

As he watched the Black Fire guttered and died on the right, as the mages that had kept it alive ran like cowards. The breach was instantly filled with Centic troops, swarming around and burrowing into his unprotected flank.

Cries of anger and pain rose up as the right collapsed under the attack.

Gritting his teeth, Rufus shouted commands, trying to adjust his formation and save his men.

As he did so he swore an oath. Should he live, the Elves and Lizards would pay, and pay dearly for this betrayal!

Along the battlefield, the cries of the dying rose into the air, into an uncaring sky.

>

Gerund looked left nervously, as the Dwarves peered over the battlements of their formidable border fortress. “They don’t look too pleased,” he said to Hester.

“Who cares?” His friend replied. “We aren’t in their territory.”

“Barely,” said Gerund, bringing his attention back to the long line of knights as they filtered along the narrow line between the mountains and the Grum lands.

“You fret like an old woman, you know that?” His fellow soldier said, taunting. “They aren’t going to come out and start a war with us. You know the dwarves, they keep themselves to themselves. Anyway, the emperor buys good weapons from them, he wouldn’t want to jeopardize that business relationship.”

“Maybe,” said Gerund, but he was still nervous.

The traveled for the rest of the day, making good progress through the mountain trails. The emperor must have been preparing for this for some time, he mused, as he watched several Karak light infantry gallop past, performing their duty as scouts for the main column.

“I hear the Karak royal family and ours will be joined in wedlock soon,” said Hester, nodding at the passing horsemen. “What do you think that is all about then?”

Gerund shook his head. “I try and keep clear of politics,” he said.

Hester nodded, and they trotted onwards.

>

Pil-gost scratched his rump as he shifted from foot to foot. His leather armor itched, and he was tired from standing watch most of the night. What was he watching for anyway? The dwarves were hardly likely to raid Neil-so suddenly. In any case, the small border outpost was nearly deserted. Most of the troops had been sent north to help with the unrest in Farn.

The rising sun shone into his eyes as he peered over the battlements. Something had moved, right on the edge of his vision. Before he could investigate further, a hand slapped him on the shoulder, making him jump.

“Nar-hil!” He exclaimed, turning to see his fellow soldier grinning at him. “Don’t do that! I could have jumped clean off the parapet!”

“Is that any way to talk to your relief? Don’t you want any rest? I’m happy for you to stand morning watch as well if you want.”

“Bah, you would too,” Pil-gost complained. “No, you’re welcome to it, though I would rather share my bunk with that new fruit seller. I would wager her melons are fresh eh?” He laughed at his own joke and nudged Nar-hil, but his comrade wasn’t listening. He was staring, mouth agape, over the wall.

“What?” Pil-gost asked, turning around to see what had caught the other man’s attention. He soon emulated the pose.

Approaching at speed from the north was an army, the flags of Gerwain and Karak flying proudly at the head.

As he watched, archers loosed a swarm of flaming arrows at the fort.

“Invasion!” Screamed his friend. “We are…”

Nar-hil’s complaint was cut short as a shaft fell from the sky, piercing his leather armor and killing him instantly.

The invasion of Neil-so had begun.


>>>>>>

Finally then, we see some movement on the set-player front. I was beginning to think everyone was going to be all lovey-dovey and nice for the whole damned story! ;)

Anyway, just an interlude chapter, with some events from the north and south. Enjoy!

~Steps back and waits for the screaming to begin~

<<<<<<

[Jack_D.Mented]

Woohoo. Big stuff. Rowdy times.


Looking good with the new chapter, Chinaren.

This is gonna change things up a bit in the world. And it should make things quite interesting.

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[D-Lotus]

Wow, those trollish guys are stupid to a degree even I wouldn't have thought possible.

I wonder who their player is- he/she must be feeling like a real dope right now.

Well, that's what happens to those idiots when they mess with the Centic. Not that it matters, since everyone is going to get overrun.

Nice chappy, though.

[Jack_D.Mented]

I doubt that. Truely, I do. :-x

[Chinaren]

The next chapter is being written, so locking this thread down.

Thanks for reading.