Cino came, but there were fewer with him than I'd have anticipated. Perhaps he felt that he needed to stand alone, or that there needed to be some showmanship, I didn't know or care. Much of our fire was redirected at him, bolts and spells, and spears bounced off some form of shield he seemed to be singing up around himself.
In his unit were a few singing along with him, one of which I recognized instantly even at this distance. Cala had come, the girl who'd gone to him, the girl who'd told him about the pool and its effects, the girl who'd caused so many terrible things to happen. This war may have been unavoidable, but she'd made it so much worse, caused so much pain.
After observing us for a moment the ancient elf took a deep breath in.
“WALLS!” someone screamed from nearby, training that must have been given to all of the mages here, for none hesitated.
Cino screamed, the ground before him scored and ripped apart as spellcaster after spellcaster upon our walls threw up the same type of shield I'd used against the other singer I'd fought. I joined in of course, a beat behind after realizing what was coming, but still doing my part.
His magic tore layer after layer apart from the barriers we created as he moved what seemed to be a rippling column of sound up and down the wall. There was damage, but manageable amounts of it, for it didn't matter how strong his ability was if it simply couldn't reach us. From his people there was visible shock as his scream subsided, including the old monster himself, who looked incredulous. How long had it been since someone had stood up against him.
Of course the ruckus attracted attention, and moments later a disturbance made its way around the far side of the walls. At first it was unclear what was going on, merely that there was some kind of roiling mass, but as it came closer we all got to see. I hadn't realized that the enemy had no physical magic users for this part of the siege, but now it was clear where they were.
It was like watching a flock of starlings fight an eagle as they came into view. Atal stood at the center, with dozens circling him, darting forward to try and get a strike in where they could. I watched as he caught an attacker, ripping the man to shreds in a second, but in that second others pulsed in, hitting, striking, aiming for anything they could.
There were too many. In the end Atal might have been able to win, to beat them down until there weren't enough to divide his attention, but they were dealing attrition against him. All along his body I could see small cuts and darkening bruises. He was covered in blood and not all of it his enemy's, unready for a real fight, injured. If possible he needed to retreat and heal, to get the weapon I made for him, but would he?
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“ATAL!” I shouted, hoping to get him to come to me, if only for a second, but he paid no mind.
“Grandfather!” Jina screamed from beside me, she too wanting him to fall back.
No, he wanted this over as much as we did. This seemed to suit Cino fine, as the other Ancient shouted a series of orders before taking another breath. I tried to throw a shield around him, others did too, but it wasn't to be.
All the warriors who'd been fighting Atal scattered like roaches before turning towards our wall. In a blink they were upon us among our ranks. Near to me a man, covered in scars and blood threw himself forward, catching the stone edge and swinging over as he came, club in hand.
I barely had enough time to turn from the fighting rulers and protect myself, a second to throw a shield between us before he slammed into it, club blurring as he delivered blow after blow upon it. He should have known better though, most of our forces were still fairly fresh.
The normal warriors, those like Ian used to be, those who'd had little to do in this fight other than sling stones and deliver ammo to the ballistae were ready. They couldn't rain hell upon our enemies, they couldn't kill dozens at a time from so far away, but now that the targets were among us? Spears thrust at the intruders, knives were drawn as brave men stepped forwards against those they had no chance of beating alone. They weren't alone though, weren't separated to keep the mages and strongest held down, they were in groups, groups that as one fell upon the soldiers who'd been harassing Atal.
A half-dozen rushed at the man who'd attacked me, weapons leading. I knew these men in passing, people I'd made weapons or armor for, old friends of Ian's or guards from Atal's palace. One who'd requested a spear from me took a club to the face, head imploding as the weapon he so valued fell, but those around him didn't falter. Before I could even cast a proper spell to take on my attacker he was pinned like a butterfly to the wall, three copper and iron points buried in his gut.
I gave them a quick nod, theirs in return was equally fast as I turned back to the front, trying to think of how I'd get the weapon to Atal, with something he could use perhaps there was a way.
However I was wrong, as I looked on our leader charged at the master of the enemy forces, leapt, and bounced upwards. Cino it seemed had tricks of his own, an unseen barrier that sent Atal flying.
It was enough, stripped of his arms, alone, and with nothing against which to push with his monumental strength Atal was vulnerable. He turned in the air and looked almost regretful, almost sad, he knew, knew what came next.
Cino screamed once more, a tight, concentrated beam of power which slammed right into Atal's chest, sending a spray of gore, blood and bone outwards as is passed through and through, ending the life of one who'd seen so many years.
The fall of Atal didn't end things immediately, not everyone saw it, and those that did didn't always stop. Near me Jina paled, terrified and trembling, something that had served as the rock of our home was gone now, broken and no more.
“ENOUGH!” the voice of Cino said, some spell boosting it until all could hear his declaration.
He walked forward, as if he hadn't a care in the world, no worries upon his mind as he strode, confident that the only one who could truly oppose him now lay dead at his feet. He didn't hurry, didn't rush, he didn't need to. Cino didn't stop until he came within about thirty feet of our gate, most of his people, the living ones, forming up behind him.
“Your master is dead, but you need not die with him. Surrender to me, open your gates, drop your weapons, and some of you may yet be allowed to live under my rule. Refuse and you shall perish, your families shall perish, your friends shall parish. I am done playing.”
My mind raced, could I get my people out? Could we escape? Could I get Isha, Atie, and Ida? What about Chien and Ian? What about some of the others, those I'd met in passing? What about the girls in the street of flowers or the soldiers? Even Jina, could I even save her? She was here with me, but I doubted we could flee in time.
“Fuck it,” I declared, reaching my conclusion, my hand reaching down to grasp the handle of the hammer I'd spent so long making. It thrummed in my grasp, responding as if it were part of me, welcoming me, ready.