CHAPTER 86 – REDEMPTION BY FIRE
Axion was found by his faithful horse and rode Huntross into the congressional houses where he saw a front forming. This was one of the most visible parts of the city. Most of the buildings down here were low to the ground with few stories. But huddling in the center of the crosswalk were two joining parties of shadow meeting from the roads leading back north to the Gatehouse and the downtown gates. Axion watched as they decided whether to go left or right. Left would be the east side of the city, back towards Jericho and Mortikahn and the Necrogallion through the broken eastern wall. The Necrogallion was swift and tenured. They ran through the city with one target in mind, the courtyard.
For now, the ragtag gang of thieves, pirates, and soldiers decided to go right. Axion simply could not allow this. He galloped out onto the road in between them and the bridge to the Citadel. As arrows whizzed past his ears, Axion rode Huntross at them fearlessly. With quick swipes of the sword, Axion cleared the group with ease.
Some fellow soldiers of the Lion Kingdom rallied around Axion. He looked into the darkness of the east side. They were near. It was now or never. This fight would determine whether or not the city would be overrun. But from the brewing light in the north, back at the main gates, fire and carnage lit the way of a surging front of darksiders. From two angles, Axion would be hit. If he was lucky, it would remain at two. Out from the Governor’s Office blew a horn. The dust shot out of its valves as it summoned the city. The door opened after the horn stopped, and out ran a soldier clad in glistening gold armor. As the warrior got closer, Axion realized who it was.
The warrior coming to Axion’s aid was none other than Demeter. The despicable governor bowed down before Axion, bidding his forgiveness and offering his allegiance. Axion leaned down before him and said, “Stand, for now in the hour of our kingdom’s final judgment, all the children of the Lion must fight together.”
Axion held out his hand and helped Demeter up. They looked at the two fronts, growing ever closer.
“It does not matter that you do not wear the crown,” spoke Demeter.
“What?”
He continued, “You are King.”
The entire gang of soldiers gathering around them in the middle of the street cheered at Demeter saying this. Axion felt his heart turn and pump with new found courage and resilience. And then a new idea popped up in his head; one thing that might make the difference necessary to win this battle.
“Reform the lines!” he yelled as he ran Huntross around to the front of their blockade.
Demeter was given a horse and made Axion’s captain for the skirmish. Only the gods knew where his cousins and uncles were at the moment. His plan was simple. They were guarding two streets, so they would stick together in the middle, have Demeter lead the charge against one street, while he led the other. He would also set flanking battalions on the far sides of the battlefront, so they were not caught in a double-envelopment.
They barely had any time, but measures were set, and everyone was in position. The Necrogallion was the most worrisome. Demeter and his men would be able to handle the main bulk of the Dragon Army. Axion on the other hand, would have to battle the great Necrogallion, an order of practical immortal dragon soldiers, extremely lethal.
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The two fronts hit at almost the same time. Axion was pushed back, but Huntross did not remain bunkered down. He kicked and flipped the soldier’s push on them. Axion charged into the enemy lines of the Necrogallion alone. At first he cut through his enemies with ease, but as he realized how far into the ranks he was, things took a turn for the worst. Huntross was slowed and trapped. Axion jumped down off his horse. Only wielding his sword, he looked like a titan among men. The Necrogallion backed away from him at first, feeling the effects of his presence. This gave Huntross an opportunity to make a break for it. He escaped out of the enemy ranks unharmed. Axion, on the other hand, might be so fortunate.
He swung his sword high and cut the face of one of the warriors in two. Elbowing the one to his right, he cut through the throat of one to his left directly after. He had to turn around and stay spinning to keep his back safe. Chop after chop he deflected and kill after kill he landed. But there were still too many, even for a prince. Axion began to grow tired and slow down. He was reaching the end. He screamed in frustrated rage. ‘Not like this,’ he thought. This was not how he wanted to meet his end, not before he did what he was meant to do.
A current of troops were pushed aside as a horse galloped towards Axion. It was Demeter, coming to his rescue. Axion slipped onto the governor’s horse, and they rode out of the enemy lines together. When they got back to their side, Axion had noticed their short, retreated stance. Their lines were failing. Huntross rode up next to them, and Axion jumped across.
“Get them to the Courtyard,” he ordered, preparing to hold them back all on his own.
Out of the soldiers that could, they ran past Axion making for the courtyard. The ones that did not leave were slain. Now all that stood between his city and damnation was Axion. He heard a gallop beside him.
Axion looked over… it was Demeter, “If I leave now…”
“Say no more,” consoled Axion.
Together the two riders of the Pride charged forth against the hundreds of dark soldiers. Demeter ran in front of Axion and caught the majority of the clash. He was thrown off his horse into the crowd. Axion cut through to try and find Demeter. He ran through the lines ducking arrows and dodging strikes. He could not stay here for long. If he did not find Demeter soon, he would die as well.
Axion jumped off Huntross once again, and together, master and horse, surrounded Demeter, lying still on the floor. But he was not dead. They protected him until he came-to. Huntross screamed into the air and parted a lane for them. Axion helped Demeter run as they both followed behind Huntross. Then Axion, with all his might, lifted Demeter up onto Huntross’ back along with himself, and they rode back to the front of the line. It was too far to the courtyard for them to get away. There was no way out of this one. Axion tried as hard as he could to find an option, but there was nothing. So many times already, he had narrowly escaped death, just to come closer again and again.
Demeter looked back at the stampeding enemy front nipping at their ankles. He looked ahead of them at the Citadel, still some ways away. Demeter closed his eyes and backed off of Huntross, falling to the ground. Axion looked back but did not stop riding. He knew what Demeter was doing. In the hour of the nation’s redemption, their governor had finally found his courage and his way to pay back his kin and country of his misdeeds and betrayals. By Demeter giving up his life to ensure Axion’s return to the courtyard, he gave the survival of his race one last chance. No one could ask for more from one person. Had things unfolded differently from the start, Demeter would be amongst those revered as heroes.
Demeter took one final exhale holding his sword before the infinite battalions of darksiders. He deflected three cuts, killed the foe in front of him, and was stabbed thrice in the gut by spears, scimitars, and swords. His air was gone. He sucked on empty winds. Demeter took solace in his sacrifice, in the fact that he was ultimately able to make up for his transgressions.
“I am sorry… my king” he said as his body died.
Axion ran his horse Huntross over to the courtyard but was stopped when the bridge over the moat was broken. Standing all along the edge were the soldiers he had ordered to retreat. He was almost glad to see this. He got close to the edge, wondering if Huntross could make the jump, but it was too far. The closest bridge was to their left, over in the east side of the city. Maybe, if they stayed off the roads, they could out run the takeover. He immediately moved Huntross down beside the road paralleling the moat and broke his militia off into a backfield.