19. Battle of Monsters
Battle of Monsters
Kaiden
Kaiden’s breath was hot against his helmet. His blood boiled under the pressure of making the right decision. Squeezing his eyes shut, he shook his head, pushing back the tremors of hushed voices haunting his mind.
“Our options?” His voice was steel.
Fintan rose from the crouched position near his horse. His heavy footsteps left imprints in the soft grass behind him as he walked to Kaiden.
“We don’t know what awaits us behind those trees. If we stay here the men will grow restless. The skaraks are waiting for something,” he said, watching the creatures pace back and forth. “Or someone.”
“Can we bring down the barrier near the front border?” Kaiden asked quietly, carefully keeping his voice hushed.
Fintan’s eyes widened from behind the slits in his helmet. His voice was steady but low as he spoke “If there’s any way to do it without bringing it down I would take that option.”
“If we advance, Cahira cannot aid us.” Kaiden forced his hand to remain open and not clench it.
“I’ll advance with a small platoon. Just through the middle, enough for a quick retreat, but to push a reaction from the beasts.” Fintan’s voice was deadly.
He was more than ready to use his sword and Kaiden, against his better judgment, couldn’t help the smirk slithering across his face.
“Always so eager for bloodshed.” Kaiden teased, releasing some of his own tension.
Fintan’s smile was full of deadly promise. “Always so eager to negotiate.”
Kaiden didn’t bother trying to fire back his retort. If it saved people’s lives or helped with the slaughter which would surely happen, he would weigh out all his options
“Fine,” he grunted his approval.
Fintan turned toward the left platoon. “First lines, with me.”
Fintan took a hundred men from the first line and walked through the barrier.
The shimmer of the force field glinted off their armor as they passed through and into the clearing.
Their troops set up their shield wall and held their ground, stopping halfway through the clearing.
Minutes passed and the air quieted around them.
Horses pawed at the ground in the silence.
Even the trees stopped their rustling as the skaraks stopped pacing.
It was time.
One skarak crashed from behind the tree line, gnashing at the air. It let out a shrill screech from left to right as it reared back on its hind legs, claws the size of daggers protruded out.
Fintan’s roar was nowhere near as loud, but just as vicious. His men followed, beating their swords against their shields in a warriors' cry.
At once, the skaraks broke through the trees, crushing limbs, and snapping against each other. Their scaled bodies slammed into one another, each one trying to outrun the other, thirsty for human blood.
“With me!” Kaiden yelled.
Soldiers lifted their shields and closed in a tight line. The skaraks would break through the middle of Fintan’s platoon with ease and come straight toward them.
Kaiden dared a glance up at the castle walls where Cahira’s arm was raised high, awaiting his signal. If they held out until her signal Fintan would have a major hit on his platoon.
He took one step forward and his soldiers followed suit.