In the early morning, Nameless assessed the fighting force before him. There were twenty-two town guards in padded armor that were armed with spears, clubs, and handaxes. Their gear had minor enchantments to increase their armor’s durability and make their weapons more effective. Six of them had crossbows and bolts with minor explosive runes etched on them.

The riders have not returned, and this caused the townsfolk of Wingleton to be alarmed. The consensus now was to flee north toward Tameal before Prince Zaverick’s army marched upon them. So, in addition to the guards, a dozen more volunteers joined their ranks. Four hunters armed with bows and eight grizzled veterans that served in the legion. The soldiers came prepared in red tabards over mail and armed with short spears and heavy shields. Mayor Ned also showed up. He was a former army officer and could still fit into his banded mail armor. He had an arming sword strapped to his hip and a round shield over his shoulders. Ned nodded a bearded head at Nameless.

“Do we stand a chance?” Karl asked. The Ooraki was standing next to the knight and wore an extra set of grey padded armor with a thick leather cap. He carried the force sledge hammer in his calloused workman’s hands and a handaxe strapped to his belt.

Nameless shrugged his plated shoulders, and his great helm glanced toward the hills. “There are about twenty Caizene. Our force is a little greater in numbers, and the people are now determined,” he observed.

Karl took a deep breath and nodded.

The crowd cheered as Elora showed up. The elf wore her green traveling cloak with brown pants and a black top. This time she had a saber strapped to her side. If Nameless had eyes, he would have arched an eyebrow. Apparently, the elf made an impression upon the people the night before with her performances. Elora loved the attention as she bowed gracefully and stood beside Mayor Ned.

“People of Wingleton, today we march to the hills to take back our roads!” The mayor exclaimed.

The assembled rag-tag group of fighters cheered.

“Not the most thrilling speech, yet it does appear to inspire the simple folk,” Zel observed as they arrived to stand beside Nameless.

The knight’s great helm turned to look at the necromancer. Beside them was their shambling zombie demon, and there were uneasy murmurs from the townsfolk.

“Must you keep that thing?” Karl hissed.

Zel turned a pale face to look at the Ooraki. “We are about to embark on a campaign against demons that are UP in the hills. We will march through open farmland where they will most surely see us. I suppose you wish to be in the front to see firsthand what surprises they have in store?”

“Zel has a point,” Nameless observed.

“Thank you,” the necromancer replied.

“Fine,” Karl grumbled and looked away.

“How are you?” The knight asked the pale mage.

“I’m great! Do not worry yourself about me, knight. I am aware of my limits and how to use the art. I am, however, eager to showcase the benefits of necromancy and its utilization for war. Or, in this case, public defense.”

Karl scoffed and shook his head.

“Ooh, the mayor is alone. I will use this moment to enlighten him. Excuse me, Mayor Ned! May I have a moment of your time?”

The necromancer scuttled off toward the mayor, their grotesque zombie in tow.

Nameless looked at Karl and nodded toward the handaxe. “you know how to use that?” He asked.

“It’s an ax. I swing the edge end toward the bad guys,” Karl retorted.

“Show me.”

“What?” The Ooraki asked.

“Show me how you swing the ax,” Nameless repeated.

Karl scoffed and drew his weapon, and swung it.

Nameless shook their great helm and took the ax from Karl. “Like this,” the knight said and swung using his hips and wrists.

“The power comes from the hips and the wrist. Not the shoulders. As you turn your hip, you extend your arm like you are throwing a punch. Twisting the wrist will swing the ax blade forwards,” Nameless said and demonstrated the movements.

Karl growled as he snatched the weapon back from the knight. However, the Ooraki did practice the movements as he was instructed.

“Better. You can use the same motion for a cross chop, and an upward slice,” Nameless said while demonstrating the movements.

Karl nodded and practiced the different slices.

“Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Have you ever considered the opportunity of using necromancy as a way to save lives?” They heard Zel say as they chased after Ned.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Elora came by and said, “not bad technique. Less shoulder, more hip, though.”

“What do you know?” Scoffed Karl.

“You are trained with the sword?” Nameless asked.

Elora nodded.

“From where?” Asked Karl as he continued to practice swinging the ax.

“A lady has her secrets.”

The saber at Elora’s hip was a 38-inch curved blade with a knuckle guard at its hilt. Karl used an enchantment from Goodewin’s book that allowed Nameless to attach his ax to his back armor. With a jerk, the knight unslung his weapon.

“Attack me,” Nameless said.

“You can’t be serious,” Elora responded.

“We are about to go into battle. I need to gauge if you should come or not.”

Elora placed her fists on her hips and scoffed. “You will bring Karl and not me?”

Karl crossed his thick arms. “Cause I’m a man,” he said with a smirk.

Elora growled, and in a smooth motion, she drew her saber and attacked Nameless in a flourish. Karl uncrossed his arms, and his jaw gaped as he watched the elf maiden execute a lunge and followed it up with a circular downward slice.

Nameless deflected the thrust but was caught by surprise by the slice and stumbled as he dodged it. Elora pressed her assault, but Nameless had recovered from the initial shock and the knight’s battle instincts kicked in. He knocked aside a thrust with the haft of his ax and closed in to grab Elora’s wrist.

“Ow!” Elora screeched.

Nameless kicked out her legs, and she fell to the floor.

“No fair, you are much bigger and stronger,” the elf complained.

“Your fighting is adequate,” Nameless responded.

“Are you going to test Karl?” Elora asked, and the Ooraki gulped.

Nameless shook his great helm head. “I realize my error. You three are not fighters. You should rely on your talents for the upcoming battle and use fighting as a last resort.”

“That is good because I did not intend to lift a weapon. That is beneath my talents,” Zel said with their lisp as they returned. The zombie demon shuffled after.

“Any luck with the Mayor?” Karl asked with a sneer.

“Necromancy is misunderstood,” Zel answered with a shake of their pale head.

“They are getting ready to march,” Elora said, pointing.

The guards, hunters, and retired soldiers gathered their gear and formed up with the mayor at the front. They began walking with heads sullen like they were going to a funeral. Deep down, Nameless knew this was not how to march to battle. Especially when going up against a fierce foe.

“Elora, you need to do something,” said the knight.

The elf nodded her blond head. She was in agreement and jogged over to stand beside the rag-tag marching force. She sang, her voice surprisingly strong and loud.

RAISE YOUR SPEARS, AND STOMP THE GROUND,

DON’T GIVE INTO YOUR FEARS!

WE KILL AND BURY THOSE AGAINST US,

THEN CELEBRATE WITH DRINKS AND CHEERS!

WE MARCH FOR LOVE AND GLORY,

WE BATTLE FOR WHAT’S RIGHT!

NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST US,

AND OUR FOES WILL FEEL OUR MIGHT!

Elora went on with her voice gaining in intensity, and Nameless felt a stirring in the air. The effects became evident as the rag-tag group of fighters raised their weapons and began to cheer. They no longer walked toward battle but marched! Ned, usually reserved and quiet even let out a cheer. Even Karl and Zel howled along with the rest.

Nameless nodded their great helm. This was how one marched to battle. For the next hour, they traveled through farmlands and saw the devastation the demons had wrought on the homesteads. This fueled the fighters’ eagerness for battle. Soon, farmland gave way to the rocky, uneven trails of the hills, and Ned ordered a pause as the hunters went ahead. Everyone was tense as their eyes scanned the overcast skies of the early morning for signs of winged monsters.

After several long moments, the hunters returned. The men traversed the rocky terrain with ease.

“They are up there unfamiliar to this land. They make a lot of noise and are clumsy on the ground,” one hunter with squinty eyes reported.

“How many?” Ned asked.

“I reckon about twenty. But there is a big one among them,” squinty eye answered.

The other three hunters nodded in quiet consent.

At the mention of the larger demon, Nameless’s armor shared a message.

GREATER CAIZENE

AS THE HUNTER SAID, “A BIG ONE.” WHAT YOU HAVE FACED THUS FAR WERE LESSER CAIZENE. FUNNY THING ABOUT DEMONS, THE MORE THEY CONSUME THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE THAT THEY WILL MORPH AND GROW. A GREATER CAIZENE IS THE NEXT STAGE IN THEIR EVOLUTION. THESE ARE THE COMMON TYPES YOU WOULD FACE IN THE HELLS OR WITHIN THE DUNGEON. THE NEXT LEVEL IS THE CAIZENE LORD. YOU BETTER HOPE YOU DO NOT ENCOUNTER ONE OF THOSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STATE OF YOUR ARMOR AND THE RAG-TAG GROUP YOU ARE WITH. THE GREATER CAIZENE MIGHT BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR QUEST WHILE THE DEMONS ARE DISTRACTED BY THIS PATHETIC FIGHTING FORCE.

“Do they know we are here?” Asked Nameless, ignoring the armor’s recommendation.

The hunter shrugged. “They made no sign of getting ready to greet us.”

“Lead us to them, and we move as quietly as possible,” whispered Ned.

Quiet was an effort. The hunters and Elora moved gracefully through the rocks. Nameless was curious how the city elf was familiar with navigating the rugged terrain. Maybe it was the inherent dexterity in her race’s bloodlines? He wondered. For the rest, the going was tough as they scaled steep paths, and there were moments when rocks slid away, giving away their location. But no sign that the Caizene were aware of them yet. Nameless clambered up toward Ned.

“We can not fight the Caizene uphill. We need to find a spot and lure them to us,” the knight said.

“Aye,” the mayor agreed, and he squinted ahead.

“How about there?” Ned asked.

The mayor pointed up a switchback trail that led to a leveled-off area that was large enough to hold their fighting force. Nameless nodded.

“How close are we to the creatures?” The knight asked the hunter.

“They are just a few flaps of a crow’s wings beyond that outcropping,” the squinty-eyed man replied.

“How do we get them to come to us?” Ned asked.

Nameless glanced at Zel, Karl, and Elora.

“I have an idea,” he replied.