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Okay guys chapter 41, I lost count how many times I re-wrote this and I still feel it’s not the way I wanted, however, Its about time for me to release it as I am sure you all agree!
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41
A Bloody Ball
The Queen looks calm and composed, but in truth is barely holding on as they once again restart the sixth stage of the blade dance. If not for her countless years of experience she would have lost a long time ago. Even as she finishes a sweep of her sword her ears can’t help but ignore the ringing of Slyfer’s. It has become obvious that the speed and strength behind his every sword swing is way higher then hers, but her pride and unwillingness to give up the last thing she has of her husband keeps her form conceding.
Slyfer stops mid swing when a call goes out. “Enemies, enemies are attacking!” The entire tent falls into silence and the shout gets repeated. Only now do people react. The tent is thrown into chaos as Dark and High elves start scrabbling for their weapons. Slyfer with a mighty jump lands behind Luna then places his hand on her head. A second later she slumps down into unconsciousness, his eyes quickly search for someone in the crowd and after finding him, grabs Luna under his arm. He makes a bee line for him.
“Grey King, take the girl to a safe place then meet up with Ban. I sent him away earlier to get some men ready and go scout out a suspicion I had, he may not have left yet.” Grey King wants to object, but before he can Slyfer places Luna on his back and disappears back into the crowd of milling people.
The Queen having heard what he said follows after giving her own subordinate some instructions. Four high ranking elves join her as her guard. They soon reach the outside of the tent and make their way to the border of where the grass has been flattened. Slyfer comes to a stop and concentrates as his consciousness spreads to the limits. He quickly counts under his breath, his brow becoming deeper with every word.
The Queen comes to a halt and wants to do the same, but Slyfer’s voice interrupts. “There are a bit more than two hundred mounted humans heading our way,” He pauses looking behind her. “Are any of you able to use earth magic?”
They look at him dumbfounded for a second and he asks again, irritation mounting in his voice. This time the Queen starts to answer haughtily. “Of course, who-“
Slyfer does not wait to hear the rest of it and turns back towards the wall of long grass. “Dig a ditch here as deep as you can the rushing men wont expect it and fall right in as they exit the grass.”
The Queen wants to complain at being ordered, but stops as Slyfer’s legs bend and swell with power. With a start she quickly backs away, urging the others with her to do the same.
Trisha had followed them after grabbing a bow from one of the guards. Her golden cat eyes take in the scene and without a pause she runs into the grass not far to the right. Her mother is close on her heels, uttering curses and objections as she follows. “Trisha, what are you doing? Have you gone daft girl you have grown in power exponentially, but there is no way you can take out an army on your own.”
Trisha does not answer she has gone into hunting mode. Her senses are primed with her beating heart. Ever since being able to transform she had gone hunting often remembering what Slyfer said. In truth she hated it, but not wanting to fall behind Slyfer she tried to grow in power as much as possible. She wants to follow him, in her heart she knows he may be angry but she won’t give up, she made a promise.
She suddenly stops nearly causing her mother to crash into her. The shaman once again asks what the hell her daughter is planning. This time Trisha answers without hiding the irritation in her voice. “We won’t be in the front; Slyfer is going to be and I intend to support him. Leave or help me its your choice.” Her legs start moving and after a second the Shaman huffs with displeasure but follows anyway.
“How will he be in front we are running too far ahead?” Trisha smirks and ups her pace before answering.
“If we don’t run faster we will fall behind, Slyfer intends to jump!” Her mother’s face is a mask of disbelief at hearing this and wants to object, but just as she is about to a loud crash causing the very grass around them to shake, sounds out.
The Queen had started to relax seeing as nothing happened for a few seconds, but this all changed as Slyfer’s eyes opened revealing his eyes, glowing with a deathly red. She had just backed up some more when his legs shoot him off like a spring, the earth cracks sending dust and grass into the air, the Queen even had to jump in order to dodge a large stone that was flung her way.
It did not have to take that long in preparation to jump, but Slyfer’s heart is in turmoil. The thirst for blood is not there. There is no anger towards the people attacking them, causing doubts to surface in his mind. -Is there no way for us to talk it out, to do this without resorting to violence?-
Inside his mind the dragons roar at him in frustration; humans are their hated enemies how can he think this way? Then it hits them. The hate, the anger, it had all left along with the evil voice that was suppressed. What is left behind is a simple sixteen year old. In fear that Slyfer may do something stupid they start projecting scenes of battle into his mind.
Knowing their intention he shouts. –Stop! I know what you fear, but I need to do this. It is something I need to face on my own, please give me the chance to.- The Dragons fall quiet and the images stop. Air screams past Slyfer’s ears nearly drowning out the drumming hoof beats below. Slyfer gazes at the humans on their mounts, the moon reflects of armour and weapons, his gaze however is fixed on their eyes. They are so filled with hate and lust for blood all thoughts of talking is swept away.
Preparing his heart for what comes next he starts to heat the air around him. At first there seems to be nothing happening, but soon little explosions fill the air around him it starts to churn with fire and heat. The night sky is suddenly lit up with an orange glow that can be seen for miles around!
The captain in the lead of the troops looks up and his face pales. “Magic! There is incoming magic!” In fear he spurs his horse on trying to get as much speed out of the beast as he can.
A voice fills the air, its young and filled with sorrow. “Humans you have left me no choice! I will try and make your death quick and painless.” Somehow the shout puts more fear in the men than any angry or hate filled one could have.
Trisha, not far away had heard Slyfer’s pain filled voice and it causes anger to rise in her.
Slyfer reaches the apex of his jump and takes one last look at the charging troops underneath, before taking a deep breath. The magic around him increases and the fire starts to roil and coil around him growing with every second. The blaze fills the sky throwing the world underneath in an eerie red light. Men and horses scream in terror.
A tear runs down Slyfer cheek but quickly evaporates in the maelstrom of heat. His sadness turns to anger and he dives….
The captain leading the charge whips his horse as he and screams in frustration. Red welts swell on the horses flank with the force of his hits. Others do the same, but it’s too late! Steam starts to rise from the grass as unimaginable heat draws near. Men scream as blisters form on their skin. Trisha watches as what looks like a tornado of fire crashes into the ground shaking the earth and turning everything in direct contact to nothing but dust!
An explosion follows sending men and horses flying through the air only to fall on the ground as charred remains. Those further away also do not escape the onslaught unscathed and are shoved flying into the air as a shockwave travels through the grass and men mowing them down like scythe reaping its harvest.
SLyfer in the centre of it all can’t hear the screams of men as they burn around him. His ears are ringing with the shear force his plunge to the ground caused. The fancy armour he has on glows red with heat, but does not burn him. Ash is thick in the air, knowing where the ash has come from makes him reluctant to breath. He rises slowly to his feet. Soot and the smell of burning flesh stuck to his skin.
Another tear escapes his eye but soon turns black as it runs down his cheek. He points his sword at men and horses who had survived. “You wanted this! Now come and die!”
The group that had survived was saved by their fear. While the men in front forced their horses faster to try and escape these unconsciously slowed down, with eyes locked on the small storm of fire that had formed in the air. Now the next in command was screaming for them to reform ranks in order to restart the charge.
Slyfer is in no rush to start battle again, he needs his hearing to attack in his optimum state. He looks at the men as they are forced into neat lines, knowing time is running out. The man doing this is busy running his horse up and down the ranks while shouting. He reaches the front again and is just about to point his sword forward when an arrow protrudes from his neck. The sword drops and he starts to claw at it before dropping to the ground disbelief still clearly on his face.
The others shudder in fear and look around them, the long grass obscures whoever has shot it and fear grips their hearts as the same thought repeats itself in most of their hearts. –How many archers could be out there?-
Vinx who had watched everything from a distance along with two other fairies make their way down and flit among the burning flames heading to Slyfer’s side. They quickly help to restore his hearing. At this time another officer who had stepped up receives an arrow through his eye as a reward.
Trisha hidden in the grass has a grim expression on her face as she knocks another arrow waiting for the next human who wants to try and take command. Her mother is crouched behind her looking at Slyfer a bit of fear on her face.
Slyfer finally starts to hear again and instantly wishes he could not, men are screaming all around him. A scene that can only be compared to hell is at his feet. Limbs burned are everywhere some still move as cries echo into the night. He ignores it and with growing anger looks at the humans who have still chosen to come and die.
His feet start to move and flames part to give way to their master. To the humans he looks like a demon that had just crawled out of hell and is now coming for them. Slyfer had struck right in the middle of the small army nearly killing over fifty men on impact the others on the sides did not even stop to look back fear and duty driving them onward; towards the big tent. The ones left behind are those that make up the rear guard of the force.
His feet quicken and the fairies take to the skies again to survey the battle and any new threats that may arise. Vinx watches as fire once again gathers around Slyfer as he turns into a skipping comet moving over the ground. Trisha now stands up shooting arrows without caring trying to kill as many as possible before Slyfer hits the group of soldiers.
More screams fill the night sky and join the others as Slyfer starts a dance of death, all the while tears streaming from his eyes.
The Queen can hear the screams along with an increase in volume of pounding hoof beats, those who had escaped Slyfer are just over a hundred and are now hurtling towards her and her four guards. She smiles as she looks at the deep ditch that had been dug. At first she did not want to do it out of pride, but common sense forced her to command the earth mage with her to do it.
Her eyes turn focused and the air around her turns deathly cold. A feint mist starts to form, but soon becomes thicker until nothing can be seen. Frost settles everywhere then suddenly the frost and mist gets sucked up towards the Queen and soon starts to form multitudes of sharp icicles floating in the air. The fire in the distance reflects on them, making it seem all the more deadly! Hoof beats now drown out every other sound. The first wave of horsemen appear like phantoms out of the grass. Seeing a mere five people in front of them the fear caused by Slyfer melts away to be replaced by killing intent…. This too disappears a second later as horses cry out at suddenly losing their footing!
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
They plow directly into the ditch, dug nearly two meters deep! Sounds of bones cracking and snapping prove the effectiveness of the strategy. The lucky riders are thrown clean off the horses’ back to fall on the other side winded and disoriented. The unlucky ones are smashed into the ground only to be killed or injured by the weight of the rider behind them. The ditch quickly fills and riders guessing at what’s happening force their mounts to jump.
The Queen smiles at this, it’s her turn! Her eyes widen and arms spread wide. The icicles in front of her crackle with power, as they shoot towards the incoming horde. The projectiles rip away arms, heads and legs as they travel through the group of tightly packed horsemen. She quickly jumps back to get out of the way and prepare her next attack. The fallen who are still alive get trampled by their comrades in a desperate rush to reach the four mages.
The earth mage who has his hands to the ground with sweat beading his brow, suddenly stands up closing his fists until veins pop out on his arms. The earth starts to rumble and shake causing some horses to lose their footing. A rider watches as the one in front of him suddenly shoots into the air, a thick earth spike squiring it. The sudden attack leaves him flustered and he crashes headlong into the spike that seems to be rising without end. Similar spikes rise all over the battleground. The riders following are forced to dodge and weave through them breaking their speed.
As if he had expected this, the earth mage smiles and lets out a shout before banging his fist to the ground. What happens next is utter slaughter! Spikes sprout from the core of the huge ones in all directions, turning them into trees of corpses, bodies hang like dead leaves blood dripping like rain on the ground.
Just like that the battlefield is silent. The entire force of over two hundred has been nearly wiped out. The Queen wants to shout out “victory!” but the word is caught in her throat. Screams are ringing in the distance and it’s not coming from in front of them, but behind!
Slyfer steps past a spear aimed at his hip and easily lobs the attackers head off, his way of fighting is vastly different to the mad rushing it was before. Right now he is dancing through his enemies each swing of his blade takes a life. To Trisha it almost looks beautiful as he dances through the multitude of men. The fairies by his side sing a song of war confusing anyone who comes near. Trisha fires her las arrow when Vinx’s voice sounds out. “This group is nothing but a distraction, the tent is under attack and our allies are dying!”
Slyfer misses a step and gets a cut on his leg as a reward. He shouts in anger before punching the attacker. His fist smashes the man’s head like a melon sending blood and brain matter scattering onto the man behind him. –A diversion, how could I have been so stupid! There are no mages here, nor any with wards.- He had thought it strange but pushed the doubts aside needing to concentrate on the bloody task at hand. –To sacrifice so many for a chance to launch a sneak attack, what monster could have thought up such a plan?-
Trisha who had heard Vinx’s shout changes into her tiger form and lets out a loud roar. It travels into the night and soon more roars fill the sky. She quickly bounds forward and crushes two men with a swipe of her paw. There are barely twenty soldiers left, but they are not attacking only circling around stabbing now and then to keep Slyfer busy.
Trisha jumps again reaching Slyfer in the centre. He looks at her and without a word mounts. She lets out another roar and makes a swipe sending men and horses flying. The others scream in fear and back up. She grabs the chance and bound into the darkness, heading back to the tent.
The fairies follow lighting the way, Slyfer breathing hard starts to ask Vinx questions as they quickly stop to pick the Shaman up. “Vinx, what is the situation?”
Vinx is quiet for a second before answering. “It is very bad. The humans have some sort of contraption on a large beast that nullifies any kind of magic.”
Slyfer swears remembering how anti-magic feels like a dark hole when sensing it. That’s why they did not sense the army attacking from behind. They exit the long grass to see the sight of death wrought by the Queen and her mages. Slyfer forces his gaze away and soon sees the Queen retreating figure, running towards the tent.
He urges Trisha to catch up and they soon do. He jumps off and runs next to her. “You can’t use magic against them; it won’t work they have a huge ward.”
She only nods, not deeming to speak as worry is clearly on her face. They enter the tent to find that the High and Dark elves have formed a protective circle with the high ranking officials in the middle. Humans on horses are circling around a huge beast in the middle of them with tusks thicker than an average man’s middle. There are about one hundred humans in the group, but the guards have no shield and very few have bows so, there is almost no way to guard against the trampling horde as it circles the group in the middle. Each time they circle the humans on horseback stab out with spears or swing with sword.
On top of the huge beast stands a man that looks more like some kind of machine! One arm is entirely made of a gold metal. On his face is some kind of contraption that makes him look like a bug. Every time he shouts the rest obey. Inwardly the man is swearing. The enemy was more organised then he expected. He wanted to be in and out in a flash the longer they stayed here the slimmer the chance of them escaping would be. The small group of archers he had ordered to delay any backup from the main camp would not last forever!
He had also expected that the force meant to distract the enemy would be here by now, but for some reason they had not arrived. His bug augmented eye focuses on his objective. A young girl standing next to a High elf who is shaking he mutters her name in hate, “Vanya” if not for her he would not have to sacrifice so many of his men.
He is just about to order another command when his skin starts to prickle with fear. He knows the feeling he has been in too many battles not to. He turns around while swinging his metal arm. Metal meets metal sending sparks into the air. His metal arm is nearly crush, making it impossible for him to open his clenched hand.
He takes two heavy steps back causing the younth in front of him to look at him in disbelief.
Slyfer hand struck down with all his strength yet this thing only took a mere two steps back! The thing smiles at him then talks in a raspy mechanic voice. “Your strength is amazing if it can force me back to this extent!”
Slyfer ignores the words and snorts taking up a stance before talking, “Surrender, you have already lost.”
The thing shakes its head sadly. “There is no surrender, I will never bow to you filthy non-humans that pollute the very air with your magic!” After his words he spits at Slyfer and draws a wicked blade with the other. SLyfer lunges and he jumps back rember the strength behind the boy’s strength. To hissurprise right after swinging he turns to the huge ward on the creatures back.
“No!” he watches in fear as Slyfer cuts the bonds of that tether the ward to the huge beast. It suddenly sumps to the side causing the beast to lose balance! Men scream as its huge legs crush the horses that were running nearby. Slyfer turns around just in time to parry a blow from the machine with hate gleaming in its eyes.
Both of them topple over as the beast start to fall its huge tusks digging deep ditches on the left side before crashing onto one of the main poles keeping up the roof of the tent.
Ropes groan before snapping and the tent comes down, the remaining humans are thrown into disarray at seeing the beast veer of and crash to the ground.
Old Sun and others are quick to react and grabbing tables, they throw it into the circling riders. The riders trip and fall to the ground only to be set upon by the guards and others. The fighting becomes desperate as people wrestle and stab each other on the ground; the situation worsens when the tent settles over them causing visibility to be zero!
The army from the main camp finally arrive, hearing and seeing the tent cover move as people fight underneath, but not able to do anything due to not knowing who is who. Slyfer pushes his hands underneath him, trying to get up. He hears heavy steps grow closer along with unearthly clacking sounds. A steel boot connects with his ribs and sends him reeling into the air before finally hitting the ground once again.
Slyfer and Commander Clock had been sent flying after the crash. Evidently the metal man had made his way to his feet before Slyfer could. Slyfer coughs, spitting out blood. His side is burning with pain a few ribs are broken, but are already starting to mend. Heavy steps come closer again and halt before the same scratchy metallic voice rings out in disdain. “You non-human filth! Why don’t you just curl up and die!” He kicks Slyfer again this time breaking an arm. Slyfer cries out in pain and rolls to his back only to see a sneering bug like face.
The sneer turns into surprise as SLyfer laughs at him. “Whats so funny! You think this is a game boy?”
Slyfer shakes his head and finally gets a few words out through his painful laughter that has turned into a cough. “You…*cough*…you are funny, you call me non-human trash, yet look at yourself. You are less human than I am!”
Having hit the nail on the head the man bellows in anger before stomping forward intending to give Slyfer another kick with his metallic leg. “What do you know! I was a noble once, a man sought after my many. My father was a proud advocate against magic filth like you!” He stomps down at Slyfer’s face, but Slyfer rolls out of the way in the nick of time.
The man rushes at him and Slyfer jumps driving a fist into the man’s chest. Ringing fills the air as both are forced back. Slyfer backs off as far as he can, he had noticed the healing slows down the closer the man gets. Holding one arm to his abdomen he keeps his eyes on the hate filled bug face before talking in order to buy time. “So what if he was, is that any reason for you to turn out this way?”
Bristling with anger the man storms at him like a crazed bull, but Slyfer evades quickly. He screams in frustration at Slyfer. “One day a man came to the manor. The maid was the first to die at his hands, fire magic spread through the house in an instant. Turning my mother and younger siblings to ash in front of my eyes, even now I can still hear their screams like it was yesterday.”
Slyfer watches him closely as he searches for some kind of weapon, he can’t use magic and his sword was ripped from his hand when the two of them went flying. He suddenly spots something near the beast… a sword, but right in SLyfer’s way is the crazed metal man. Slyfer stands a bit straighter his ribs almost healed. “So what? Your father supported putting people into slavery or worse just for being born with a gift, he got what he had coming to him.”
Commander Clocks face becomes even uglier as he bellows back. “You filth, how dare you! I was burned piece by piece so the filthy mage could get information out of my father. At the end all that was left is this!” As he shouts the man rips at the tunic on him to reveal two steal legs, the only thing still human about him is his one arm, half of his body and face.
SLyfer looks at it in disgust then looks the man in his eyes. “You fool, if you had found a healer perhaps you could have been saved from this fate, but do not worry, today I will set you free!” SLyfer sprints toward Clocks who’s eyes are widening. He launches a metal fist at Slyfer, but to his surprise Slyfer drops to his back and slides right past him!
He quickly turns in pursuit. SLyfer’s hand grabs the sword, with a sweaty palm as the volume of stomping and clicks grows in his ears. Heart racing he swings at Clock blindly. Blade enters flesh and Clock’s human arm is separated from his body in a bloody arc.
He looks at it in disbelief, and then starts to laugh. It’s cut short when Slyfer’s boot crashes into his chest, sending him flying. Slyfer’s heart is filled with pity as he looks at the pitiful creature sprawled on his back. Half of his chest is caved in, the other stands at an angle. To Slyfer’s disgust he realises there is metal under the skin too and the strange shape is caused by it being bent.
The man is trying to speak, but only manages to gurgle blood mixed with some kind of yellow liquid. Slyfer bends down. “Go greet your family in the afterlife.” The sword moves in a flash and cuts open Clocks neck and severs his spine.
Slyfer stands staring into the bug eyes as the little human life it has escapes it.