A half-dozen horses came into view, visible at the top of the slope. They thundered down, sparks shooting off the ground as hooves struck grass. Spread out, arranged in a rough triangle with a riderless brown one in the lead. Behind it were two with riders, followed by three more, the one on the left with a rider, on the right without and a giant all black horse in the rear in the middle. Bolts of energy sparked off the black horse, the ground shaking with each hoof slamming into it. Smaller black shapes, the color of ink, ran alongside the horses. Cats, dogs, and bears. The beasts kept pace, the smaller cats streaking ahead.
The first rider held a glowing spear. She leaned forward, holding the spear out to the side. The next rider was smaller, dressed in robes, a green glow over her shoulder. The last rider was a small man, wearing glasses and a vest covered in pouches. In one hand he held a small canister, the other loosely holding the reins.
“Where?,” Hoskia said, dumbfounded.
He looked at his people scattered around, the elves not fighting were turning to face the oncoming horses. The Crone turned as well, completely ignoring Loch, which was fine with him. She wasn’t going to be his problem much longer.
“You were followed. Where did these riders come from?”
Loch didn’t answer the elf. Let the question bother him, anger him. It would fester, gnawing at his mind, distracting him. The answer was obvious if Hoskia calmed down enough to think it through. His scouts had to have seen the horses at the school. Probably had seen Loch and the girls go off riding. They had to have noticed how fast the animals were. It wouldn’t take much to realize the horses had set out from the school after Loch and his people. They took a different way, going the longer route over the roads, but with their speed, they had arrived just when needed.
“Who is that?,” Hoskia growled. “That's one of your daughters. Where is the other? She’s at the camp isn’t she? This was all a trick,” Hoskia said, focusing back on Loch. “You never meant to parlay. It was a ruse, to draw us here.”
“Yes.”
The thundering hooves drew closer. Hoskia’s wide, anger filled eyes, looked past Loch. The lead horse disappeared in a puff of gray, the ink black cats and dogs jumping onto the Silver Bark warriors. The bears opened their mouths in soundless roars, rearing up. Three of the horses swung around. Randy Sager jumped off his mount, a flying leap onto a warrior, knocking the elf down. Randy got up, pummeling the downed Silver Bark. Lewis Bergmann stayed on his mount, throwing the canister he’d been holding.
Loch recognized it as the same propane ones he’d used in the gaunt attack. There was no wick, Lewis throwing it at the Silver Bark archers. It arced overhead, falling down, sending the archers scrambling. Lewis’ eyes glowed a bit and the canister exploded. There were screams of pain, the bright explosion stopping most of the combat.
Bobby and Sarah started firing again. The Clan Brady warriors, pushed up against the bones, felt the pressure relieved, they were able to start fighting back.
Three horses came charging right at Loch, Hoskia and the Crone. Kelly lay low against her mare’s back, shining spear extended. The Crone started waving her hands, energy gathering. Piper riding Swift, raised her wand, pointing it at the Crone. The old Elf shifted her hands, one palm out to Kelly and the other palm out to Piper, preparing to shield against attacks. She never saw the inkdog running up behind her.
It pounced, jumping on the Crone’s back. She screamed, stepping forward, clawing at the ink black summon behind her. She cackled words of power, the inkdog disappearing. It was too late.
Kelly jumped off the horse, landing in front of the Crone, stabbing out with her spear. The Crone dodged, moving quickly for how ancient and decrepit she looked. No matter how fast she was, she couldn’t avoid the pure silver ball of energy that struck her from Piper’s wand. Loch’s youngest circled the Crone, staying on Swift, stealing glances at the rest of the battle to see how her army of summons were doing.
Jarl came to a stop next to Loch, who reached up, stroking the giant horse’s side. He could feel the crackling energy moving through the great black. Stomping a horse, small bolts of lightning exploding on impact, Jarl neighed. The black war horse stared down at Hoskia, who took a step back.
“I see that you need help to face me,” the elf sneered, trying to act like he wasn’t nervous or scared.
Loch could see the fear in his eyes. Hoskia was not looking forward to facing Loch and Jarl. Loch figured that Hoskia had planned on single combat with him at some point, and the elf assumed that he would be stronger and would win. But facing Jarl? The horse alone would be a tough opponent. But the horse and Jarl together?
Patting Jarl on the nose, Loch pointed down the slope where Larry could be seen fighting against three of the Silver Bark Warriors. There were more surrounding the horse, waiting for their chance. Larry didn’t look like needed the help with the three, but when the others got involved it might be too much.
“Think Larry could use some help?,” Loch said, looking up at the big black horse.
Jarl lifted his head up and down, shaking his mane. With one more stomp, he raced past Loch and Hoskia, neighing as he charged down the hill. Silver Bark turned to meet him, one of them getting knocked aside, sent flying where he landed hard on the ground.
“Looks like it’s just you and me,” Loch said, Activating Bulwark.
***
Hoskia charged up the hill, yelling something that the Connection didn’t translate. Loch didn’t know if it was a battle cry, a curse or just Hoskia yelling something random. It didn’t matter, he didn’t let it distract him. The elf's two blades moved constantly as he ran, energy moving up and down the blades. A blur of motion, the edges glowing.
Loch didn’t bother trying to track the blades. He knew he wouldn’t be able to. It wasn’t just natural speed but aided by an Ability. He held Bulwark in front of him, thinning the shield and making it larger, extending the spikes crackling with lightning. Ever since hitting Level Twenty-Five and then Twenty-Six, Loch could generate the shield for a longer period. Using the spikes would drain it, but Loch didn’t think this fight would last long.
Not that he was overly confident, Loch was just sure that either he or Hoskia would end it quickly. Fighting still raged on around them, Loch unable to focus on anything but Hoskia. He wanted to see how Kelly and Piper were doing with the Crone. He could hear the blasts of energy being used, explosions in the ground, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the rapidly approaching Hoskia.
Lifting Bulwark, shifting slightly to the right, Loch caught one blade on the energy shield. A glaring clash of color erupted as the green of the shield sparked against the strange teal color of Hoskia’s sword. The other sword sparked against Onyx, the axe head catching it and twisting it away.
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Hoskia glared at Loch, shifting his feet to relieve the pressure against his sword. He stepped back, pulling both blades with them. Both immediately attacked. One stabbing straight, the other sweeping low. Loch had to twist to avoid both, unable to counterattack.
The elf was fast.
Loch didn’t think he was stronger, not from the blow’s he’d blocked already.
Stepping back, Loch swung Onyx, using the shield to parry one of the swords. Hoskia twisted his arm awkwardly, holding the sword point down, the edge catching the haft of Onyx. The crackling edge of the head was only inches from Hoskia’s face.
Hoskia’s glare turned to a sneer, the teal glow on his swords changing to a brighter blue. The air around the two got colder, but it didn’t seem to affect the elf. Loch could feel it seeping into his bones, making his actions flowers. He breathed out a fog of cold air, feeling it in his lungs with each breath. Frost spread across the surface of Bulwark, the energy of the shield sputtering, the translucent look filling with static. The edges started to fade. Frost started to appear across Loch’s armor.
He Activated Elemental Surge, the wave of energy slamming into Hoskia. The elf was moved a couple steps backwards, not off balance or knocked down, just a couple steps. Some Ability or Skill gave Hoskia resistance. But it gave Loch enough space.
He swung Onyx before him, Hoskia taking another step away from the axe, which was what Loch wanted. Activating Thunderclap as Onyx swung, the wave of pressure slicing out and slamming into Hoskia. The elf wasn’t prepared for that attack, falling to the ground, a gash cut into his armor. Getting up in a roll, the elf glared at Loch.
“You have some impressive Abilities,” the elf said. “But I have been going easy on you so far.”
Loch smiled. He dismissed Bulwark, taking Onyx in both hands.
“That’s funny,” he said. “So have I.”
Loch Activated Breaker’s Banner.
It appeared just over his shoulder. The long pole stuck into the ground, the banner with the Clan’s seal hanging from the top. It was all green, bathing everything in its lights, the edges crackling with the Spiritual energy. The banner waved in the breeze. He’d already had Aura Of Attack Activated, not bothering with Offensive Stance as he knew he’d be moving too much and couldn’t have the drain on his Spirit. He hadn’t wanted to use the Banner either, but Hoskia’s frost attack was too damaging. He needed the boost from Breaker’s Banner.
Loch just wouldn’t let Hoskia know how badly he had needed it.
Hoskia charged, frost still coming from his weapons. They left trails of ice in their wake as he spun them, slashing and stabbing at Loch, who hopped back, blocking with Onyx, deflecting strikes. He Activated Precision Strike, looking for a weak spot. Barely any spots of yellow appeared over Hoskia. Just the elbows and knees. Loch was pretty sure the Ability didn’t just read armor weak points, but somehow analyzed the opponent, showing gaps in coverage of their defenses and offense. With Hoskia, there was barely anything to attack.
Loch Deactivated the Ability, staying on the defensive. Hoskia’s attacks kept coming, one after the other, each blade a blur of movement. The elf didn’t come close enough for Loch’s passive Boon, Storm’s Touch, to make a difference. Small bolts of lightning crackled when the weapons met. The rare times Hoskia got within inches of Loch physically, small bolts would shoot out, the elf ignoring them.
The two kept exchanging blows, barely moving back or forth, but rotating around, giving different views of the battle. The fighting looked to be pretty even. The Silver Bark still had the numbers, but with the reinforcements it balanced out. Loch was worried. The Silver Bark were higher Leveled and more Experienced. Jenny had been killed the last time they faced the elves in such numbers. He didn’t want anyone else to die.
Which is why he needed to defeat Hoskia quickly.
The elf was showing his experience. Loch had surprised him a couple of times with different Abilities, but was unable to even land those Abilities now. He tried Elemental Surge again, Hoskia crossing his swords and somehow absorbing the wave of energy in the blades, which glowed brighter. The elf attacked, faster and stronger, bashing at the resummoned Bulwark and Onyx. The increased attacks were short, indicating the absorbed energy was used up quickly. It was something Loch noted. An Ability, but tied to the weapons or something Hoskia had on his own, Loch didn’t know.
Neither Elora or Cerie had been able to give much information on Hoskia’s Class or Abilities. As Elora had been a low ranked member of the Clan, she didn’t have access to any information beyond his name and Class, but at her rank she didn’t know exactly what a Highwarden could do. Elora had warned that the common name Warden in the Highwarden and Midwarden Classes did not mean there was shared Abilities or Skilled. For the Silver Bark, Warden just meant it was a melee-centric Class. Mid and High were the Uncommon and Rare versions of the Warden Class. Elora thought that a Midwarden was most likely similar to Clan Brady’s Striker Class. Aside from Loch, there were no Rare melee Classes in the Clan yet. They had nothing to compare to Highwarden.
Whatever advantage Loch had managed to get early in the fight was now lost. Hoskia was just too experienced.
Loch kicked out, the elf sidestepping and not letting up the relentless attacks with both his weapons. Feeding Spirit into Bulwark, Loch caused spikes to shoot out from the shield. That forced Hoskia back, giving Loch some space to breathe. Not much, but every bit helped.
He knew he couldn’t keep going as he had. He was stronger, but not faster. His Abilities hit harder and thanks to his Boon, the damage was increased. But Hoskia had the experience. He had the speed to avoid most attacks. Loch had landed some, so had Hoskia, the little wounds adding up on both. In this battle, Loch was the one most likely to make a mistake, one that Hoskia would take advantage of. Glancing quickly around the battlefield, he saw Kelly and Piper were still engaged with the Crone. Both were off their horses, the animals rushing around the fight, trying to help. Elora, joined by Randy, were dealing with Loric, keeping the Ghostweaver occupied. The elf had summoned what looked to be ghosts. Jarl and Larry were dealing with the Silver Bark warriors, while the rest of Clan Brady were mostly in one on one fights, barely holding their own.
Loch remembered something that Elora had said about the Silver Bark, one of the things that had pushed her to leave that Clan and join Clan Brady. Individual strength was everything. As she had been in charge of watching Clan Brady, the loss of the Silver Bark under her had counted against her, even if it hadn’t been her fault. Her honor, her standing, took a hit. Too many and it could lead to her family being punished for her actions. For Hoskia it was even worse. He was evaluated for the actions of the elves under him. Their failures were his failures. His strength was supposed to be more than theirs.
If they could do something, he could do it and do it better.
For Hoskia Silver Bark, since Loch had engaged him in single combat, the elf had to defeat Loch and do it by himself. With no help from any other elf. Or he would appear weak and reap for a challenge to his leadership. Or his failure would weaken him in the eyes of the other Silver Bark.
For Loch, he didn’t care if he defeated anyone or anything solo or with help. He just cared about winning and keeping his people safe. That was an advantage. It was time to use it.
Loch Activated Windstep.