Shortly after our early evening meal, one of the hunters stumbled into the camp panting and bloodied.
“Trolls… Un-undead…outnumbered…” She warned of trolls and undead before she collapsed.
That was all the warning we got before we heard the shuffling and groans of the undead.
An archer shot a magical flare into the air illuminating the area. In the trees hundreds of undead could be seen with large trolls smattered throughout their forces.
Seeing this LT Simmons yelled, “Defensive formations! Now!”
Swords were drawn, arrows were lit, and everyone seemed to immediately fall into formation.
Like a swarm of undead skeletons, zombies, and several trolls rushed us.
‘When did trolls work with undead skeletons and zombies? Wait a minute, those trolls look weird.’ I thought as I looked at the forces heading our way. Then it clicked, those trolls looked weird because they were undead!
Captain Spears came out of his tent and called out, “Protect the Prince! Don’t let them get to the carriage!”
I had to give it to Reggie, he was quick under pressure. I was nowhere near the carriage. He immediately implemented our previous plan of using the carriage as a decoy. Meanwhile LT Simmons and several other knights seemed to form a protective detail around me but in such a natural way as it just looked like our fighting formation.
It looked like our plan worked as the undead seemed to surge towards the direction of the carriage. As the knights and soldiers were centered more around the carriage it meant the undead were bashing up again the main bulk of our defenses. Looking out at our attackers, they outnumbered us at least 5 to 1.
The undead savagely attacked the defensive line. The zombies attempted to scratch, claw, and bite. The skeletons swung swords and maces. Each doing everything they could to overwhelm our people. However, these were trained soldiers, and they held the enemy at bay long enough for the royal knights to arrive.
As the royal knights joined the fray, they laid waste to the undead, some crushing the heads of the skeletons with their bare hands. Each royal knight had some level of body enhancement magic to empower their attacks. It was clear the undead skeletons and zombies were no match for the knights. Our soldiers knew how to work with and take advantage of the openings the knights made in the enemy formations causing the initial undead surge to slow. These men and women were well coordinated, as the knights pushed into the undead forces, the soldiers would advance their line as one. This allowed the soldiers to re-enforce the knights’ efforts and ensure only friendlies were at their backs.
Then the 8’ trolls arrived. Their brute strength was too much for a regular soldier as several were knocked back and into the air from each swing of their clubs. As soldiers fell on the battlefield, the noncombatants would pick them up and carry them farther into the camp towards what looked like a makeshift medics’ tent. Seeing that our soldiers were no match for the trolls, the knights stopped their advance. Once again, the royal knights proved to be seasoned warriors. Without any prompting from their captain the knights divided themselves up into small teams to intercept this new threat. Each troll required coordination between the knights to keep them countered until they could find a weakness to take them down.
I watched all of this occur, my guards on all sides. As all this unfolded, the enemy’s focus remained getting to the carriage. To further our ruse, Reggie remained near the carriage to give the appearance he was guarding something precious inside. A troll got through the line and headed straight for the carriage. To Reggie’s credit, where it took a team of royal knights to counter a troll, Reggie took on the monster without any assistance. It was an impressive feat to watch. More importantly, it gave me an idea.
Someone intelligent had to be nearby controlling these undead. I activated my Truesight ability which allowed me to see the true form of anything I saw. This ability also lets me see auras and magic in a more visible spectrum. Which is how I saw strands of purple black energy that reminded me of ominous puppet strings coming out of the heads of every undead, flying up into the air and off into a canopy of trees in the distance.
‘Looks like I found the puppet master of this little raid.’
Leaning over to my small squad of guards, LT Simmons, Sergeant Callus Thorn, and Mira Nightshade, “I found the one controlling these undead.” I pointed in the direction I saw the purple lines going off into the forest, “They are behind that canopy of trees.”
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Mira looked at me confused and just said, “How?” Before shaking her head and continuing, “Never mind the how, let’s go kill that bastard!”
“Do not forget your duty, Mira! We must protect the prince!” Chastised Sergeant Callus Thorn.
Hearing the sergeant’s words, I looked over and smiled at LT Simmons and prepared myself for action.
LT Simmons saw the determination in my eyes and said, “Looks like our prince has a plan. Don’t think we are going to be able to change our Prince’s mind either. He has the look of determination to do something reckless.” Shaking his head in resignation he looked at Mira and Sergeant Thorn, “I’ll take the flack. Follow the Prince!”
I nodded once in appreciation to LT Simmons and rushed forward. Before they realized, I was already in front of them moving quickly to the frontline.
Sergeant Callus swore, “How in the ...” as he realized I had gained such a distance so quickly and then chased after me.
As I headed towards the frontline, I quickly surveyed the battlefield. Our forces were doing well to hold the enemy at bay, but I could tell some were starting to get tired. It would be only a matter of time before mistakes would be made from exhaustion. Time to pick my target.
I made a beeline for a side section of the frontline starting to spread thin as two knights were struggling with what looked like a 15’ tall undead ogre. This brute made his appearance after the royal knights had intercepted the trolls. Its size alone was intimidating but with each swing of the tree trunk it wielded like a club the knights would have to dodge and then attempt to re-engage. This was making a clear hole in the defensive line, if not for the ogre’s swings being just as deadly to allies as enemies we would have been swarmed already. It had to be dealt with first.
As I approached the line, charging my spell as I yelled with all my authority, “Separate and GET DOWN!”
The knights and nearby soldiers instantly responded to my order by either falling way back or jumping a good distance away. Seeing them clear of the collateral damage I made my move.
I unleashed my “Fireball” as I continued to rush forward. The giant ball of flame rocketed straight into the undead ogre and the surrounding undead. The explosion incinerated the top 3/4ths of the ogre’s body and all the skeletons in a 20’ circle in the area.
I arrived at the aftermath, without slowing down, grabbed one of the ogre’s remaining ankle bones, and leapt over the still smoldering remains right into the skeletons not blasted back. Shattering any skeletons that got in my way using their buddy’s ankle bone as a giant club.
“Time to make a path!” I called out as I was oddly finding it very therapeutic smashing skulls.
The two knights who dived out of the way just looked at the remains then at me in shock. As Mira ran past them, they looked at her, she shrugged and said, “That’s our Prince” and took off after me.
Sergeant Callus following right behind Mira and chastised the dumbstruck knights, “What do you think you are doing just staring?! That’s our Prince! Get your ass moving and help provide escort! Now!”
That seemed to snap the knights out of their shock and got them to remember their duty as they immediately ran to help protect their prince.
Captain Spears’ Perspective
Captain Spears was on the other side of the battlefield finishing off a troll, using that moment to glance over in the direction of his prince to make sure he was safe. That is when he saw the prince do the unthinkable and run straight into the danger right towards an undead ogre!
‘What was LT Simmons thinking?! They were supposed to be protecting the prince, not allow him to run head long into battle. I will have to have words with the Lieutenant should we survive this!’
Then his prince did yet another unthinkable and cast battle magic, not just any simple spell but a devastating ball of flame that took out the ogre in one shot and all the skeletons in the immediate area! Then he just grabs the ogre’s ankle bone and uses it like a giant club to smash his way through enemy lines!
“How...?”
As much as he didn’t want to do it, he had to trust his prince. After their spar he respected the young man even more, then he goes and does that unbelievable display of battle magic, his prince must have a plan. He would help hold the line and do his part.
Like him, several knights and soldiers were stunned at what they just witnessed. Seeing this, he had to snap them out of it.
“Hey! You are royal knights and kingdom soldiers; you have seen magic before! Focus! We must trust the prince! He has a plan! We must do our part! PHALANX FORMATION NOW!!!”
Mira’s Perspective
Mira heard her captain call for phalanx formation, which would make the kingdom soldiers link shields and the knights would cast what defensive magics they had to help tighten the frontline. She knew Captain Spears saw what Prince James did, how could anyone miss an explosion like that?! All with one spell! This prince was not only an amazing melee swordsman but clearly talented in magic as well. Usually, people excelled in one or two areas, but this man seemed to exude competence and skill at everything he did.
The prince was all man. Every female in the convoy would catch glances and stares as he did his morning routine shirtless. ‘Talk about fit, not an ounce of fat on the man. Focus Mira, thinking about the prince now can be a distraction. His safety is what matters right now.’
As Mira ran for her life to catch up to her prince, her thoughts once again wandered, ‘How is he this fast? Well at least I have a nice view of his butt. Wait, where did that come from? Focus Mira!’
Looking back to see Sergeant Callus following with a few men in tow, I called out to them. “Best pick up the pace sergeant!”
Clearly winded Sergeant Callus replied, “Doing everything I can Mira! How is the prince so fast especially after casting that fireball?!”