Chapter 20

Moira asked “What's the plan Drakon? Looking at it the ones from the gorge side will be on us first.”

“We need to keep them busy for as long as we can, each minute they are fighting us is a minute they cant go after the caravan.” I pointed to the trees on the side of the road. “We make a few roadblocks by cutting down trees. That we might be able to spread them out a bit. I estimate we have about 5 minutes before they get to us so get cutting.” And I handed Moira one of the handaxes I had on me.

With my own double-bladed axe I only needed a few chops to bring down a tree and was able to down two into the road. Moira was able to down one behind us.

“Moira, you get on your mount and hide in the trees. I will stand here with Luna and we will try and get their attention. When we are engaged you can charge in.” And with that Moira went and hid in the bushes.

I stood on the first treetrunk two-handed axe planted but first on the ground beside me. And as soon as the wave of rats crested the ridge I shouted.

“Come on then you asshats. Your mother was a gerbil and your father smelled like a troll.” Wich appeared to have gotten their attention. At that, I dropped back down behind the trunk and waited for them to start jumping over. Luna was a few meters off to my left to keep well away from my axes swipes.

They hit us hard, each axe swipe would kill two or three. And Luna was ripping them apart but both of us were taking wounds fast. I could hear Moira's charge on the other side of the trunk and could see the bodies flying. I have no idea how long we spent there fighting, but the ground became slick with blood, and it became hard to keep a sure footing.

That's when I heard the horns coming from the other side. This is it, this is where I would have my first death. I knew that if I died that I would get resurrected in a day back in Storm Cove. But that primordial brain still had something that told me that dying should be final and I was scared out of my mind. The fear gave a boost to my already adrenaline-filled body and I was able to redouble my efforts.

I first thought I was hallucinating from blood loss when I saw a green shape charge past me shouting “Stay away from my brother.”

After a few moments it dawned on me, Grim was here. “What the hell are you doing here, I told you guys to get out.”

While he was wielding his cleavers, he pointed behind me “We ran into a patrol of guards and they quickly sent for reinforcements. They gave me a spare mount and well, here we are.”

And I saw at least two dozen heavy cavalry come charging over the fallen tree trunks. And with heavy, I do mean heavy. They were elephant-kin mounted on rhinos. Their weapons were gigantic clubs. The horns I thought I heard were the elephant-kin battlecries. the rats stood no chance. Most were simple trampled into a paste. The lucky ones were only bashed to death by the clubs instead.

After only five more minutes the battle was over. the rats that were left scattered to the woods where the cavalry would have difficulty following them.

I walked up to the commander of the cavalry unit, saluted and said thanks for the save. Then I passed out from the blood loss and exhaustion catching up to me after the adrenaline wore off.