The three Militia officers furrowed their brows, with the lead man working his jaw. News of their northern neighbor falling was something they needed time to digest. Liam examined then, noticing their uniforms all carried the same rank insignia, despite the lead man clearly being their senior and the most differential of the trio.

“But the church! They have a mage-” Said the lead officer.

“Father Sebestian watched them die, he barred the cathedral’s doors while his flock perished outside. Had I not arrived and judged him, they would have surely perished.”

Liam pounded the dirt with the butt of his staff, drawing the attention of several older villagers who recognized it by the symbols carved across it.

“We are under siege, explain yourselves! The entire barony is under attack. State your name and make your report, be quick about it!.” Shouted Liam.

Nyota sidled up beside him, standing an inch out or arms reach and making a deliberate effort not to touch him. So close, but the gap between their hearts seemed insurmountable.

“Eldred sir! Ah, Corporal Eldred, we were… We came home for the peach harvest. M’lord.” Said the man, unsure if he should be confused or angry.

“Tis an old saying, there are no bandits during harvest when food is plenty. Captain Arlet gave permission lord, said there wasn’t nothing for militia to fight, so we may as well earn some extra vittles by aiding our kin. Honest M’lord.” Said Eldred.

The man seemed truly sorry to be there, sincere lines of worry criss-crossing his face. Liam struggled to decipher the man’s fear.

He is squirming like I would if I had to ask a professor for an extension. Hmm, how would a professor get me to spill the beans…

“Do you know why I am upset?” He asked.

“I’m sorry m’lord! I should have been at Avignon! We didn’t know what would happen! It’s never happened before! Please spare our families!” Eldred cried, falling to his knees and begging.

Surprised by the sudden confession, Liam took a step back as the man threw himself in front of him. The desperation in the man’s begging made him gravely uncomfortable. Why the man was begging for his family to be spared made his skin crawl. Green, what the blazes did you do to your own men?

“Enough! On your feet soldier!” Shouted Liam, lifting the man to his feet. He leaned in close, whispering into the man’s ear.

“The creatures that destroyed Avignon would have killed any number of militia. Their deaths are not your fault. How many men have you saved here?” Whispered Liam.

“Uhm, thank you m’lord. Yes, men left, ah uh, we have fifteen militia, and about two score farmers organized, when they aren’t working the fields that is.” Said Eldred.

When they aren’t working, oh baby! Finally, a capable town with real leadership!

“Excellent work!” Snapped Liam, confusing the man further.

“Oh, Thank you kindly sir.” He swallowed, knowing he needed to give the least favorable part of his report next.

“Tis not all good news, two score people are missing, we’ve found about a dozen bodies, and seven militiamen are dead. We got lucky today, these beasties are like fish outta water, flopping around ‘armlessly.” Said Eldred.

“Fortune smiles on us today, but-” Liam paused, unsure how to explain his survival strategy.

“But what…? My lord?” Pleaded Corporal Eldred, a hint of his prior desperation creeping into his voice.

“I cannot allow you to stay here. We need soldiers to rescue those who remain in Avignon, then defend Greenhaven, already the city is down to its last score of men. It is imperative you evacuate to Sintra, with your numbers and their wall Greenwood has a chance to survive the onslaught.”

“My lord, Abandon our homes? Surely you jest-”

“Do you see me laughing?” Snarled Liam. “Sintra suffers the same tribulations, even now the hour is late, you might perish on the road. Which is why I have come, to lend you strength and healing while there are still bodies to heal.”

“It’s harvest season! If we leave now, the peaches will rot!” Cried Eldred.

Liam was growing tired of this man. An officer should have been able to appreciate the situation and obeyed him. That was their purpose, to answer the same logistical questions he was throwing at Liam. Annoyed, Liam clenched his jaw, understanding why Green sank to threatening his family. He raised his finger gun and pointed into the sky.

“Pew.”

Lightning shot across the sky, soaring above the village to intersect a purple orb. The portal imploded, gushing mana as it vanished. A dozen portals twinkled into life throughout the town.

Rhendal hurled a fireball into one of the portals, popping it with practiced ease, while Liam’s finger claimed another portal.

“TO ARMS MEN!” Shouted Eldred.

At the sound of their commander the militia and farmers broke from their stupor, surrounding the nearest portals with spears. Liam nodded in approval, he had never been talented at RTS games, but the tactic was immediately understandable. No matter what monster appeared through that portal, a dozen spears would greet it, wounding or slaying it outright.

Liam let them fight, prioritizing the portals which were out of reach, or too distant for the militia to encircle. He aimed at the highest portal, sniping three portals before they vomited their contents. His last bolt seemed thinner than the others, and his finger was beginning to ache, as if he had dropped a physical copy of wikipedia on it.

Drat, I’ll have to limit my mana consumption. He hefted the staff of Avignon, sensing the spare power within.

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“My Lord Liam, do not overexert yourself. Save your strength for beasts they cannot handle.” Said Rhendal, coming to stand opposite of Nyota.

Liam nodded, leaning heavily on his staff. Exhaustion filled his old body, making his aches feel tired of aching. I’ve never felt as impotent as I do right now…

Purple energy coalesced into the distinct shape of a flat disc. Signs of the first portal opening, emanating a chilling and eerie sound that Liam knew instantly. Triggering an immediate fight or flight response and starting as an almost imperceptible buzz, gradually gaining intensity, akin to a dry leaf rustling in a gentle breeze.

Rattlesnake, thought Liam. A shiver converged with the auditory terror to build into a crescendo of bone chilling rattling. Loud enough to make the militia quiver with fear.

He had not heard it often, but once in his previous life he had been trail running in Park City, moving so quickly he had ran past a rattlesnake, narrowly avoiding stepping on the serpent. The buzz of it’s rattle had been his first warning, and one that stuck clearly in his mind despite his earbuds and music.

A figure appeared in the portal, towering over the militia. Tall, slender, and with a head that seemed to move with it’s gaze, swaying hips carried it forward. A bow coming into focus through the murky lens of the portal. It leaned forward, bringing it’s head closer, peering through the portal with glowing green eyes.

A radiant green viper poked its diamond shaped head through the portal, hovering to and fro as it surveyed the militia. Its forked tongue flicked forward, tasting the air. The figure in the portal tried to withdraw, jerking to a stop.

“Look how it tries to escape, a shame, it musn't know portals are one way.” Whispered Rhendal.

The creature struggled for a moment then relented, pushing forward with intent. Brilliant green vipers covered the head of a scaled woman. Her torso was nude, save for a leather strap holding a quiver at her hip. While her lower half was that of a serpent, a series of dark, diamond-shaped patches, bordered with contrasting light scales, ran the length of the serpent’s body. Oscillating to create a mesmerizing effect. Like a scintillating chain of lethal jewels.

Liam’s education had included the Greek classics such as the Iliad and The Odyssey. Despite their forewarning, nothing could have prepared him to meet a medusa in the flesh.

“Don’t look into her eyes!” Shouted Liam.

Few heard his warning, and to their infinite fortune, the medusa blinked, blindly passing through the portal. Apparently dazed by the transmigration of her flesh. The militia took full advantage of her lapse in vigilance, thrusting a dozen spears into her flesh. Her scales turned many, proving to be stronger than steel, even her human colored skin was a weave of fine scales.

Of the dozen spears only three struck home. The first came from a man standing around her seven o clock, the flank and rear, his spear slid in between the fine scales on the back of her neck, clipping her spine as it penetrated into her esophagus. A second spearman was knocked on his ass by her thrashing tail, and by sheer luck the gorgon fell onto his spearpoint from above. Her incredible weight driving the tip through her ribs and into her dextral lung.

The third spear was the one that truly mattered, a single soldier had misheard Liam’s warning, and instead of avoiding the medusa’s gaze he aimed for it and struck a blow that slashed across her face, opening both her eyes and spraying glowing green ichor across the blade.

“HHHHHHSHSSSSSSSSSAAAAAHHHHH!” She shrieked.

Her otherworldly howl pierced the skulls of all those within earshot. Liam’s vision went blurry from the pain, and he fell to one knee, heaving from the dizzying confusion.

Staff in hand, Liam drained the rod’s power, bringing his finger gun in line with the medusa’s throat. A militiaman moved into his line of fire, thrusting with the determination of man who did not care for his own life and thought only for the lives of those around him. His spear entered the creature’s mouth and pierced the back of her neck, abruptly staunching the shriek.

Freed from her hellish enchantment other militiamen followed suit, thrusting their spears into her eyes and chest. Rabidly hacking at her flesh with all the desperation of a cornered honey badger. The gorgon died, twisting and coiling in a death rattle that battered the unarmored militia like children in a halfway home.

“Follow me!” Shouted one of the officers who held a spear buried in the gorgon’s ribs.

Leaning on his spear he bore down on the monster, driving her torso into the ground and pinning her. Three farmers followed his example, pinning her torso under their combined weight. With her torso anchored she twisted awkwardly, thrashing at the dirt one last time before her soul left her body.

A cry of pain drew Liam’s eye. Three other portals were opening, and two had already divulged their serpentine contents. Fortune had not smiled on the militiamen around those portals. Four of them were already stiffening, turned to stone by the medusa’s gaze.

“The eyes! Do not look into their eyes!” Warned Liam, his bellow dawing the gaze of all three medusai.

He raised a hand, covering his own eyes with his fingers. Through tiny gaps in his knuckles he saw the medusai draw their bows, aligning three arrows with Liam’s chest.

A fatal error on their part. Warned of the danger the men closed their eyes and prayed to Taloc as they lunged with their spears. God favored his Lightning Lord and guided his servants spears. Two medusa were flensed, blinded by blades. But the third was quicker, pivoting away she loosed an arrow into the nearest man and ducked under a spear, unleashing her gaze on the man. Liam watched the man die, jerking in awkwardly halted motions his face contorted in agony.

Two spears planted themselves in her chest, knocking her to the ground. Reinforcements from the first portal had arrived at the second portal, employing their recent tactics; and plunging their pitchforks into the snake woman. They pinned her to the ground, thrusting at her face. She twisted and dodge, turning away from their points, clawing for life with every fiber of her being until an officer —with a woodcutter’s two handed axe— found her neck.

With the successful tactic cemented in their minds the men repeated their attacks, blinding then pinning each medusa as they appeared. Soon the portals vanished and the three militia officers worked quickly, reorganizing the squads by dissolving the fourth and absorbing its members into the three other teams.

Impressed by their display Liam clapped, too sore for anything more than a golf clap. The soft noise seemed so out of place amidst the scene of death and carnage, drawing a cautious eye from the militia.

“You did well. If Avignon had men like you, they might have lasted another day.” Said Liam.

“We won!” Shouted an officer. Face turning red with indignation at the backhanded compliment.

“You are a damned fool if you call this victory. How many portals did I close? You could barely handle four medusa, now you can only handle three. How much longer can you keep bleeding?” Barked Liam, annoyed that his sincere compliment had been taken so poorly.

The man shook with anger, rage building in his eyes until he was forced to look away, stomping away from his squad.

“Go to Sintra, stand with your kin there. There have been enough deaths, I give this order to protect everyone. Please, for your own sake, heed my orders.” Begged Liam, appealing to the soldiers directly.

Hooded eyes avoided his. Men grumbling as they sought to justify remaining here. Stubbornly refusing to abandon their homes. Liam’s mouth dropped open. Stunned by their inability to see reason, turning to Rhendal he whispered.

“Why won’t they listen?”

“My lord. They behold monsters, but do not comprehend the danger. You speak to them like equals in spite of the chasm between you. Give them time.” Replied Rhendal.

“They don’t have time!” Hissed Liam.

“Portal! Above us!” Someone shouted.

Fingers were raised to point heavensward, guiding every eye in the village to the sky above. Sure enough, a portal was there. Already flattening, soon to release its monstrous load.

Whoa, that portal is big enough for a freight train!

“Ready your bows! Spears, form a line! Shields in front! Pitchforks on the flanks!” Shouted Eldred.

Six men produced bows, nocking arrows. A score of men formed a rank of spears, three meager shields in front.

Are they too stupid to feel fear? Wondered Liam.