Hoskia twisted to the side, barely getting a blade up in time to stop Onyx, blocking the swing from cutting him in half. Lightning crackled across the axehead, reflected in Hoskia’s surprised eyes. Loch wasn’t sure if it was the suddenness of the attack or the strength that surprised the elf more.

“You are a fool,” Hoskia growled out through gritted teeth as Loch kept the pressure on.

He didn’t pull Onyx up to swing, just kept pushing the axe down toward Hoskia. He felt that he was a little stronger than the lean elf. Not enough to really drive the axe down but with the awkward angle he’d place Hoskia at, the elf couldn’t push up.

Or grab his second blade.

“No,” Loch said, straining. “Just tired of the Connection and you!”

The sounds of fighting erupted all around them. An elf fell, an arrow dead center of his forehead. To the right, Loric was waving his hands, energy gathering around them. He stopped, the energy fading, stepping back as Elora darted in with the tip of her blade. The Crone hadn’t moved, just looking from fighting to fighting, cackling the whole time. She didn’t make a move to help or hinder either side.

Loch knew it was just a matter of time. He pushed Spirit into Onyx, making the axe crackle more. Hoskia twisted his face away, protecting his eyes from the sparks.

“You are outnumbered,” Hoskia barked. “You can’t hope to defeat us.”

“This is our world. You do not belong.”

Loch kicked out, hoping to break Hoskia’s knee. The elf was too experienced, too quick. He moved slightly, making Loch miss. Off balance, the pressure from Onyx let up, and Hoskia was able to step back away from Loch. He wasn’t able to counterattack, giving the two some space between them.

Hoskia spit at Loch’s feet, slowly drawing his second sword. Both blades were long, the type curling back slightly, the edges sharp, catching the sun on the edge. Runes were etched onto the sides, running up the length of the blades. The hilts were gold, or some similar material. Smooth and unadorned. Not what Loch had expected from Hoskia. The weapons were simple, not overly ornamented. They were the weapons of a warrior.

Taking another step back, Hoskia twirled the blades quickly, the edges blurring and flashing. He snapped his hands to the side quickly, the metal making an odd ringing noise. Moving to the side, Hoskia made Loch shift to match.

They could see the battle around them. Loch’s people had done as planned, pulling up around the bones, giving them something at their back to keep the elves from flanking. Bobby and Sarah were exchanging long range shots with the Silver Bark archers, surprisingly doing well. The same couldn’t be said for the melee. With Loch and Elora engaged and away from the bones, it allowed the elves to push against the few human fighters. They were doing well to hold their own but it would not last. There were enough elven warriors that not all had to be facing the humans, a handful surrounding Loch and Elora, waiting to see if they would be needed.

Elora kept up her swift attacks against Loric, not giving the Ghostweaver a chance to cast a spell. She couldn’t land any hints, the enchantments and protections keeping even her Ability added attacks from landing. Loric had a couple of Levels on her, making it harder. She was good, but her Class and Abilities weren’t designed for direct melee. Like Harper, Elora’s strengths were in swift attacks, darting in and back out. She wasn’t meant to engage a foe directly and continuously. Against a higher Leveled Warrior Class, she would have been outmatched, but against a pure caster like Loric, she was able to hold her own.

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For now.

Even Loch’s fight with Hoskia was for now. If it dragged out too long, the elf’s experience would win out in the end. They were evenly matched with Levels and from the brief exchange, Loch had a feeling their Achievement based Stats would even out. Hoskia was faster, more agile, Loch had seen that already but Loch was physically stronger. He could outlast the elf, but Hoskia would most likely be faster enough to land a couple of devastating hits before his Stamina ran out.

Time was not in Clan Brady’s favor.

And the Crone hadn’t even entered the fight.

Hoskia smiled as he twirled his blades.

“You had your chance,” he said, holding one of the blades straight out, the tip pointed at Loch. “But you failed. Now you will die.”

Hoskia rushed forward, a blur across the short distance. Loch Activated Elemental Surge. Waves of force slammed into Hoskia, staggering the rushing elf. It didn’t knock him over, evidence of some kind of Ability being used, but it slowed him enough that his swinging attacks were easy for Loch to dodge. Loch had wanted to use Thunderclap, which was more powerful, but without being able to swing, Elemental Surge was the best he could do. And it was an Ability he didn’t use that often. He’d hoped it meant the Silver Bark scouts hadn’t seen him use it, making it something Hoskia wouldn’t know about.

He swung Onyx as he stepped to the side, axe cutting into the rushing Hoskia’s stomach. Blood flew into the air as the Silver Bark Elder twisted to avoid most of the attack, tripping with the loss of momentum and off balance from his attacks missing. Hoskia rolled across the ground, twisting and going up facing Loch, both swords held in guard positions across his body, ready for Loch’s follow-up attack.

There was none.

The Crone had finally attacked.

Loch had felt the Spiritual energy building behind him, using Windstep to put some distance as a crackling bolt of green energy slammed into the ground where he’d been. The Crone cackled. Loch threw Onyx, the axe spinning, turning into an arc of crackling energy as it flew at the Crone. It slammed into a shimmering green barrier, small cracks forming along the surface. The Crone’s laughing died, her sharp toothed smile turning serious.

“You have strength,” she said. “Was that the blessing of a Divine Being I sensed behind that energy?”

“What?,” Hoskia shouted, causing Loch to turn.

The elf was only five feet behind, looking to get into position to backstab Loch. Shifting, Loch moved so he could watch both Hoskia and the Crone. He could no longer see Elora or Loric. Hoskia had stopped, standing out of his crouch, face shocked.

“How is that possible?”

“You were warned this new Connection was different,” the Crone said, dry voice directed at Hoskia. “But as always Hoskia Silver Bark, you did not listen.”

“Bah witch,” Hoskia spat, pointing at Loch. “Just kill him so we can Claim this infernal world.”

“Is he proving too much for you little Lord Silver Bark?,” the Crone asked, but she still raised her hands, energy gathering around the long bony fingers as she faced Loch.

He couldn’t move with Hoskia on one side and the Crone on the other. A noise came over the sounds of all the fighting, causing everyone to pause and look toward the road. It was like a wave of thunder. Not one continuous wave, but dozens of smaller ones joining together in a greater noise that pushed down the clearing.

The ground shook unevenly. A rumbling building underneath the soil, taller plants shaking. The rumbling grew louder, the dozens of smaller booms a cacophony of sounds. Not in time with each other, different cadences, some louder than others. It was a maelstrom of noise, making everyone stop fighting.

Bobby and Sarah lowered their bows, needing the extra hand to support themselves as the triceratops bones rattled and shook, moss falling off in large clumps.

“What is that?,” Hoskia shouted over the growing noise.

“Reinforcements,” Loch answered, smiling.