PART 1

“To arms!” men shouted through the walls of the castle. A bell ringing the alarm loud enough for all to hear. Several guards dashed past the door where Kyburn was resting. His hand was wrapped in bandages while his two broken fingers were splinted with thin pieces of metal.

Standing to his feet, Kyburn awkwardly dressed himself and strapped his sword to his hip. He left his armor on the armor stand and headed for the door. More shouting and commotion could be heard from the courtyard outside. Reaching the cool night air, Kyburn saw the sun had gone down but a sliver of light could be seen coming over the mountains to the west. He saw six horsemen in the yard yelling their Kligirian language, arguing about something. Kyburn noticed one man was wounded, an arm missing. He was carried away beneath him.

That brought his attention to the seriousness of the situation, “What could have torn his arm off?” he wondered. “There were several large beasts roaming these lands, perhaps they were attacked by animals but why would the alarm be going off if that were the case?” he thought.

Hazam was in the middle yelling and shouting as most if not all of the men in the castle were preparing for an attack. He caught sight of Trygve barking orders from below him. “Regent!” Kyburn shouted at him.

Trygve looked up from his spot, seeing him bent over the side looking down at him. He gestured to him to wait a moment then continued with his shouting.

Kyburn waited patiently on the Regent while he organized his men for whatever was coming. Finally, Trygve broke off and made his way up the steps toward him. “Lord Kyburn. I was just about to send someone to fetch you.”

“What is going on, Regent?” Kyburn asked curiously. “This looks… serious.”

“I’m afraid it is.” Trygve’s face looked pale with worry but he kept calm. “The Thrak… they’re here.”

“What?” Kyburn stiffened.

“I sent a scouting party to investigate strange reports of hundreds of holes in the ground at the base of the mountain just outside a village near there.” he started to explain. “They were attacked by what they described as Thrak. Only six in total returned. One in critical condition.”

“You said hundreds?” Kyburn’s tone turned to a grim-sounding commander. “If that is true there may be thousands of them underground. Are you equipped for something like that?”

“Honestly?” Trygve said, glancing at his feet. “We don’t know what the Thrak are capable of and haven’t the slightest idea if we are ready for such an attack.”

Kyburn paused thinking, hesitated then reconsidered, “You need to let my men out of your dungeons. Every one of them is highly trained and would be invaluable in a fight. I give you my word that once this fight is over with you may put them back wherever you like.”

Trygve looked at him, measuring him up, unsure if he would actually be stupid enough to try something. “Very well. I will have them released and armed immediately but they must follow my commanding officers.”

“Do it,” Kyburn said. “Now. Where are Erik and Henry? I haven’t seen them all day.”

Trygve froze in place, “You weren’t told?”

“Told of what?” Kyburn squinted.

“They went into the Ancient’s ruin and haven’t come out. The entrance has been closed half the day. We haven’t been able to communicate with them or open the door.” Trygve told him. “Honestly I had forgotten after the news of the imminent Thrak attack.

Kyburn groaned in frustration. “We can’t deal with that right now. You are right to put the safety of Riqun first.”

Kyburn and Trygve looked down over the valley as a long horn blast warned them of incoming enemies. For several moments they saw nothing but then both their mouths dropped open as they realized how many moving bodies poured over the ground below.

The ground was black and shimmering which at first glance would only seem odd but after staring for several seconds, Kyburn saw the black shimmering movement were creatures completely covering the ground, not a trick of the eye.

“How many men do you have?” Kyburn whispered.

Trygve gazed out into the valley, flabbergasted at the number of Thrak. “Three hundred. Give or take,” he mumbled back.

Every soldier on the wall went silent as they saw their foe sprinting closer. Even the horn stopped mid-blow as he realized their imminent doom. Tens of thousands of Thrak covered the entire valley, pouring over the land coming straight for the castle.

“Let’s hope Erik and Henry can wake the Ancients,” Trygve said quietly, still in shock.

Kyburn was in utter shock as well but he snapped out of it an instant later and started barking orders to the Kligirian guards. “Every man with a shield to the walls! Fifty men to the gates with spears and shields. Archers up here on the second level! Move!”

For a moment everyone hesitated but jumped into action. Trygve didn’t seem bothered by Kyburn giving orders to his men. In fact, he looked grateful, for he was no commander but rather a politician. Hazam was the man for that.

Hazam didn’t seem to mind either as he yelled and screamed at the men to hurry as the Thrak drew closer.

“You!” Kyburn screamed. “Release my men from the dungeons immediately!”

“Uh. Uh. Yes, lord.” he looked to Trygve for confirmation and he nodded his approval.

“You don’t need to be here Regent. Go inside where it’s safe.” Kyburn more told than asked. “Find out a way to open the door to the Ancients. I fear they are our only hope now.”

“I won’t abandon my men,” Trygve said stubbornly. “I appreciate your concern for my safety but I’m staying here.”

“No,” Hazam said, walking up behind Trygve. “Lord Kyburn right. Please go inside, sir. Help Henry and King Erik.”

Trygve stared at Hazam for a moment, hesitating from his general asking him to remain inside. “Very well. I will find a way to wake the Ancient, even if it kills me.”

“Thank you, Regent.” Hazam bowed to his leader. “We hold castle till then.”

“Kyburn.” Trygve turned to him. “We cannot hope to beat that many Thrak. Hold as long as you can. Pull back into the castle itself if you have to.”

“We will do everything we can,” Kyburn said. “But if you see that there is no hope, take everyone you can and escape through the caves. Promise me this.”

Trygve hesitated again, looking into Kyburn’s stern face, unbending and determined. “I promise.” He knew the Xerian meant that if he died, that Henry was to be protected. Trygve knew the man before him cared deeply for the boy. “May Hashem give us victory.”

“Go.” Hazam looked worried and wanted his leader to get to safety. “Not much time. We hold them off.”

“Stay alive!” Trygve yelled to no one in particular. “It has been an honor serving you all! May Hashem have mercy on our souls!” with that the Regent disappeared inside making his way to the ruins below.

“We all dead,” Hazam whispered to Kyburn, gazing out at the seemingly endless horde of Thrak.

“Some can escape through the mountain,” Kyburn mumbled back. “Not all hope is lost.”

PART 2

Minutes passed after Trygve left and everyone was frantic to get into position. Fifty men with spears and shields bottlenecked the gate whereas two hundred men lined the walls in three rows also with shields. Little more than fifty archers and crossbowmen stood on the upper levels at the ready with thousands of arrows and bolts stocked in large baskets.

The Thrak were nearly upon them, swarming up the narrow mountain path like a stampede.

“Archers!” Kyburn and Hazam yelled at the same time.

Every man visibly tensed as the ground shook beneath them. The rumble of the stone not only drew fear into their hearts but also threatened to shatter their wills. The mere sight of the Thrak army would make any man shiver in fear, yet, every Kligirian swallowed that fear and stood their ground bravely, facing off their imminent doom.

“Fire!” Hazam yelled as they came into range.

The volley of arrows seemed to make a dent in the flow but that quickly became wishful thinking as hundreds more took their places.

Kyburn couldn’t help but be impressed with the Kligirian's iron will, unbending even at the sight of what charged them. Kyburn held his breath as the Thrak reached the wall. The sound of the army was thunderous and the inhuman screeches that followed even more so. Howls of rage and bloodlust pierced the dusk air as their red eyes gleamed through the dying sunlight.

“Fire!” Kyburn bellowed, as hundreds of arrows loosed over the wall and hit their marks. It was nearly impossible to miss with the amount of Thrak that charged them.

To his surprise and dread, the Thrak ignored the gate altogether and climbed straight over the walls. Each man bellowed a war cry and thrust their weapons overhead, slashing and cutting into alien flesh.

Not one part of the wall was untouched by combat, threatening the entire perimeter. A roaring buzz of intense fighting ensued. The Thrak swarmed up and over the walls, clawing their way through in a feeble attempt to slash any exposed flesh, the well-armored humans kept the onslaught at bay. Each row held their shields over their heads, protecting themselves from above. Swords poked through the cracks and killed scores of Thrak then shoving them over the inside of the wall to keep them from pilling up.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Kyburn saw a score of Thrak leap entirely over the wall of men and land directly in the courtyard behind the fifty spearmen at the gate. Unable to react in time, the Thrak slashed their way through ten men before being defeated.

Unable to stand by and do nothing, Kyburn wrapped the bit of bandage on his fingers and quickly tied his hand to his sword as two fingers were weak and hardly gave him a grip. Tying his hand to his sword remedied that problem. Jumping down a flight of stairs, Kyburn joined the battle from the back, protecting the shield men's flank.

“Pull back and make a circle around the courtyard!” he yelled to the men at the gate.

With this strategy, any Thrak that made it over the wall would land on the ground below surrounded by spears. This proved to be extremely effective as they formed ranks and followed his command.

Any Thrak that leaped over and landed in the courtyard was quickly dispatched with a dozen spears at the ready to skewer them in an instant.

A lone Thrak jumped toward Kyburn, seeing that he was relatively exposed but he saw the attack coming before it happened. The creature lunged straight at him, arms swiping wide. Kyburn dodged to his left and sliced off the arm and in one fluid movement brought his sword back down into the head of the revolting animal.

It was the first time Kyburn got a close look at the monkey-like creature. Standing on four legs, the Thrak stood to the height of his chest, its long boney arms made it look lanky. Its thin body twitched as its leathery skin showed off its back to reveal razor-sharp spines the size of a finger lining its back. However, those spikes twitched again and folded back down to the point where he couldn’t tell if they were deadly razors or not.

Kyburn focused on its face, it was round and elongated, its mouth was egg-shaped and filled with hundreds of teeth. The closest comparison Kyburn could think of when looking at the head was of a leech. The rest of its body looked like a black, hairless monkey if not for the spikes jutting out from its back and its short pointy tail. Though it had no fur or scales, Kyburn couldn’t help but compare its tail with a lizard’s.

Its short but thick hind legs were the reason for their incredible jumping ability. The sight of it up close sent a shiver down his spine.

The dead Thrak before him, drew his attention for an instant, taking in the sight for memory. Kyburn whipped his head around at the sound of blood-curdling screams.

Thrak continued to pour over the walls, the weight from holding the large beasts on their heads took its toll. Morale and strength were failing fast. A break in the line was the first part to make the rest crumble.

Turning their focus to the Thrak beside them now, took away from the slowed flow of Thrak coming into the courtyard where the spearmen were already becoming overwhelmed.

The archers had a continued rhythm of arrows and bolts showering the Thrak but it wasn’t enough. Lines were breaking, soldiers being flung aside and shields being ineffective due to their sides being exposed. Once the Thrak got a foothold on the wall itself, Kyburn knew it was the first step to their demise.

A portion of the archers averted their attention to the Thrak that were slaughtering the men on the wall. Their focus of arrows gave the men a chance to retake the opening. However, it was short-lived as more Thrak collapsed the lines of more sections, opening for more breaks in their defense.

Because they had averted their attention, the other part of the wall quickly became overwhelmed in mere moments. And that... was the second step to their doom.

Kyburn saw Hazam was on the front lines, unable to command as his full attention was on what lay before him at that moment. He debated whether or not to call a retreat to the next level but it was risky as they could leave large groups of men to their deaths as the Thrak already were separating them.

A war cry from the courtyard, boosted Kyburn’s own morale as he saw his men pour out to re-enforce the Kligirians. Captain Arne led the charge in full armor, pushing past the line of spearmen and cutting their way up the stairs to the men on the walls.

Erik’s personal guard, Durlan, led several men up the right side as Arne led the rest up the left side. Their skill with weapons became clear as they sliced their way up to aid the Kligirians.

If they were surprised by the Thrak, it didn’t show on their grim and determined faces. Everyone here knew, if they didn’t fight, they would all die. Shoulder to shoulder, they cut through the enemy without mercy.

They were a welcome sight as they fought back dozens of Thrak swarming the soldiers on the wall. Kligirians and Xerians fighting side by side was a sight to behold. Instantly, he thought of the picture Armin had drawn, fighting together. Former enemies, working together to overcome a common enemy.

“Could King Armin’s visions actually be true?” he thought to himself. “Were they really meant to fight with the Vog and Ancients as well? Fight as one against the Thrak that threatened their world?” Kyburn had his doubts but in that instant, he truly believed in those visions.

For a moment, Kyburn saw hope of holding out from the endless onslaught but that hope was quickly squashed as more and more Thrak poured over the walls, relentlessly.

Watching more of the lines break, even as his men rushed to re-enforce the Kligirans, Kyburn knew this was it.

“Retreat!” Kyburn screamed at the top of his lungs. “Retreat to the second level! Retreat!” he repeated.

At this point, there were so many that they were getting dangerously close to reaching the archers above which seemed to be their immediate goal. Kyburn noticed the flow change dramatically, leaving the left side almost entirely unchallenged as the bulk of the forces rushed the right side, causing a panic.

Kyburn watched in horror as his own men were swarmed and overwhelmed. Arne and a few men lept from the walls in a last attempt to escape death and landed on the stone below. Hazam and a dozen more men were cut off from the main force, stuck in the middle with no way out. Jumping from the walls as Arne had done was their only option now but they didn’t, they kept fighting, slashing, and stabbing like madmen.

“Protect the archers!” Kyburn pointed with his sword but was interrupted by another Thrak rushing him.

Kyburn rolled to the side, barely dodging the claws that swiped an inch from his head, cutting off bits of his hair. He whipped around and cut the creature in two, spraying black blood everywhere. It struggled, still alive with half its body missing. Kyburn stomped his boot on its back and shoved his sword into the base of the skull.

Looking up to see Thrak nearly reaching the archers, Kyburn rushed up the stairs to help the remaining Kligirian shield men from the wall. Almost all two hundred men were dead, leaving the archers and spearmen below to defend. Kyburn rushed up behind the dozen or so shield men fighting for dear life to protect the archers but were quickly being overwhelmed.

He glanced down to see Arne and a few Xerian soldiers join the spearmen and get to relative safety as the Thrak continued the persistent attack. The men below had backed up to the entrance on the first level and formed a defensive line there.

Durlan blessedly had held his ground along with twenty or so men, all fighting like savage dogs to stay alive.

Glancing to where Hazam was a few moments ago, Kyburn realized he was gone. He couldn’t see them. That either meant he was dead or in the courtyard below with Arne. Perhaps Durlan and his men reached Hazam, giving them enough time to escape to the castle entrance.

Refocusing, Kyburn lifted his sword in the air and sprinted to aid the shield men protecting the archers.

He shouted with all his might, a cry of courage and energy that filled him with adrenaline. Leaping forward, Kyburn went into a frenzy, slashing his way through dozens of bodies. Losing all train of thought, he cut down Thrak left and right and he soon lost all sense of time.

He couldn’t feel his hands but he knew his fingers would give way at any moment. As much as he willed it, his body couldn’t keep this up for long.

Suddenly, four Thrak from the front and two from both sides surrounded Kyburn. He leapt backward swinging his sword at the four in front of him, catching one across the head, killing it. The other three pursued him without pause, whereas the Thrak from the sides hesitated. At the corner of his eye, Kyburn caught a glimpse of a dead body behind him but he realized it was too late and tripped over it during his backstep.

Taking the golden opportunity to kill him, the Thrak pounced on him, one reaching him first. Kyburn managed to bring his sword point up in time to skewer it but the rest reached him and he knew he was going to die.

A dozen shouts burst overhead and Kligirian soldiers smashed into them with their shields, protecting him. Defending him from all sides, they stood over him, giving him a chance to regain his feet. Kyburn scrambled backward, ripping his sword out of the body of the Thrak while doing so.

To his dread, one soldier was attacked by two at once and knocked over but Kyburn couldn’t reach him in time. The Thrak encased his face with their jaws and his helmet buckled under the pressure, crushing his head and spraying blood everywhere.

“Pull back!” he yelled to whoever could hear him. “Pull back!”

A pang of sickening guilt washed over him as he left the dead soldier that had saved him. An overwhelming sense of gratitude and brotherhood hit him like a punch to the gut. Battle created instant bonds. These Kligirians risked their lives for him. Him. The man that had killed their king.

Yet none of that mattered. Only the fight for survival. The fight to save their comrades and country. He forced his emotions down and kept fighting with all his might.

Defeat was upon them, and Kyburn knew it. They had lasted longer than he had originally expected but the Kligirians fought like berserkers, unyielding to the bitter end. However, they too could see there was no hope in fighting on. Obeying his order, the Kligirians began to retreat into the castle itself. The archers quickly, single file, disappeared into the doors behind them.

Below, Kyburn could hear more shouting and followed by a door slamming shut. The entrance to the main castle was closed. Hopefully, no one was left behind during the retreat. He couldn’t see Durlan or Arne and prayed to Hashem they had made it inside.

Slowly backing away while cutting and slashing their way toward the small entrance behind them, the last archer retreated, giving them the chance to escape. Kyburn hid behind the first row of shield men, jabbing his long sword through the cracks whenever the creatures lunged on them. It was a simple yet effective method, especially on this portion of the wall where it was narrow and not easily accessible to the Thrak.

However, Kyburn guessed there were only ten men still left on the wall with him, scooting backward, unable to break ranks and make a break for the door. Some of the soldiers trickled away from the wall as they drew close enough.

The Thrak’s eyes raged brighter, their screams and howls pierced the air and a moment later, dozens of Thrak poured over the wall in front of them. Kyburn had three men in front of him, whereas the rest had made their way inside, waiting for them. They were only feet from the door when they made a mad rush to the door, trying to escape the berserk creatures. Once inside they could seal off every entrance with steel doors and if that didn’t stop them, they had dozens of chokepoints where they could hold off in small hallways for days.

Kyburn rushed inside but whipped his head around to see the three men behind him get knocked over all at once to the side before making it in.

“No!” he yelled, racing back to them.

Kyburn wouldn’t leave them after they had saved his life. Rushing outside again, Kyburn saw them fending off their attackers, their shields protecting them while pinned to the ground.

Three Thrak had plowed into them and now stood over them trying to claw their way through the shields. Kyburn lunged forward, his sword raised to his side, and swung over the soldiers with all his might. He sliced through all three Thrak with one blow cutting them in half. A few more Kligirian soldiers came back out to aid him, guarding the door but unsure to rush to their side or secure the door before it was too late.

All three men jumped to their feet with the speed of a cat, seeing as they had moments before they were overwhelmed once again.

“Go!” Kyburn bellowed and he yanked one of them to their feet, shoving him toward the door.

He was right on his heels when he heard a loud gasp from the Kligirian men inside. Glancing to the side Kyburn saw a dozen Thrak leap for them, knocking them all to the ground again inches away from the door.

Kyburn managed to get his sword in front of him and a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth nearly ripped his head off. The tooth-filled mouth gritted off his steel sword, chipping away at it.

At last, his hand gave way, the broken fingers bending backward and Kyburn screamed in pain as the Thrak dug the tips of its teeth into his shoulder. The steel of his sword was the only thing that kept it from ripping his shoulder to pieces.

An instant later he saw the Thrak hesitate then the weight of the one trying to kill him lifted and was flung clear over the courtyard and past the castle walls.

With awe and wonder, joy and relief, Kyburn gazed up at the magnificent sight. Two Ancients stood over him, their blue-hued armor glowing faintly. Their shimmering armor was a diamond pattern, seeming to make themselves glow. Towering over them, the two Ancients each pulled out swords from thin air, materializing into their hands.

The large muscular figure of the male towered over him, protecting him and the three Kligirians. The second Ancient, female, was poised and ready for the fight to come.

“We heard a fight going on outside.” the male Ancient laughed heartily. “Thought you could use some help.”