Authors: Jason McWhirter
He muttered a few words and threw something to the ground between them. A massive black spider suddenly appeared before her. The bulk of the creature was several paces wide and each leg at least two paces long. Nearly the height of a horse, its ugly hairy head was at eye level with her. The spider clicked its long sharp mandibles together and leaped into the air towards Taleen.
All she could do was scream and raise her sword to try and deflect the nasty creature. Kormac, her horse, quickly jumped away from the attack. The spider just missed her, but several of the long hairy legs had hooked into her cape, pulling her down from her saddle. She swung her sword in a deadly arc as she flew through the air, slicing one of the legs off as she landed hard on the ground, which momentarily knocked the wind out of her. But she frantically regained her composure and scrambled back up to her feet.
The spider hissed from the pain but moved in quickly for the kill.
Jonas and the Banthra were locked in magical combat. Finally the Bantrha’s flames ceased and Jonas released the mental shield. The Banthra hissed in frustration as it pivoted its horse back and forth, trying to figure out a way to destroy the troublesome cavalier.
Jonas’s head felt like it was going to explode and he slumped over briefly in his saddle, but he managed to push the pain away and concentrate on the deadly foe before him. He could not risk the use of his IshMian powers again, fearing that he would lose consciousness. So he spun both his blades in the air and urged Tulari forward to meet the Banthra with cold steel.
The Banthra drew a dark blade that was strapped to the side of his steed’s saddle and met the cavalier’s charge. Both animals came together hard, their strong bodies pounding into each other again, trying to position their riders in an advantageous position. The warriors’ blades came together again and again as they both fought for an opening in the other's defenses.
Jonas’s opening came when Tulari used his incredible strength and agility to counter the demon horse’s attack. The steed lunged forward with its thick armored head but Tulari pivoted to the side and bashed the demon horse on the side of the neck, causing it to stumble. The Banthra was forced to grab the horse’s mane with its free hand to keep from falling from the saddle.
Jonas capitalized on the distraction, swinging his left sword down in a powerful strike, completely cutting off the demon’s sword arm. He followed up the attack by lunging forward with his right sword, piercing the Banthra’s armor and spearing the black knight through the chest. The demon horse leaped backwards, ripping Jonas’s sword from his grip.
The Banthra screamed shrilly and brought its only hand down to the handle of the weapon that was buried to the hilt in its chest. The sword sizzled deep in the demon’s chest as it seared the howling Banthra. The demon’s hand also burned as it grasped the hilt of the blessed weapon, trying to yank it clear. Gray smoke drifted from the burning wounds bringing forth a horrid stench, like rotting flesh baking over a fire.
Jonas, remembering what had happened to his town, to his mother, to Gorum, the baker, brought forth all his anger and called on his God Fire. He felt the energy course through his body, his hand bright with a bluish glow. Jonas centered his hatred on the Banthra and sent the magical energy towards the screaming black knight. The blue flames burst forth with such power that they completely covered the demon and its horse. Jonas gritted his teeth and ignored his pounding head as he channeled more energy into the Banthra. He was close to losing consciousness by the time the blue flames consumed the demon, leaving nothing but a pile of ash with his unscathed saber lying perfectly in the middle.
Taleen was not faring as well. The spider scurried forward quickly trying to destroy the downed cavalier. She retreated, using her sword to maintain a defensive wall against the spider’s vicious attack. The spider, using its many legs like sharp spear points, attacked her with quick precision.
She frantically called on Helikon and brought forth her God Light, concentrating on making it brighter, hoping to blind the creature. She glowed so brightly that the spider could not penetrate the light. The creature backed up slightly, dropping its ugly head to shield itself from the burning magic.
Taleen used this brief reprieve to strike the spider across the head with her blade, the razor sharp edge slicing through one of the creature’s eyes. But the spider was quicker than anything Taleen had previously encountered. Two legs, like spears, blindly shot out, one deflecting off her breast plate, but the other managed to pierce the plate that protected her thigh, shattering her knee cap. Taleen stumbled to the ground as the spider leaped on top of her, eager to destroy the woman and the searing light.
Jonas, hearing Taleen’s scream, brought himself from his tired daze and jerked his attention from the charred remains of the Banthra just in time to see a bolt of red flame strike him cleanly in the chest. He flew off his horse and landed hard on his back. The flames had burned his exposed skin but his magical armor had protected most of his body. He struggled to stand and saw the second priest riding towards him, his magical lance angling toward the ground, the tip again glowing red.
Jonas’s head still pounded, and his body felt like it weighed three times its weight, but he didn’t have the time to fight this enemy sword to sword and he didn’t know what kind of trouble Taleen was in. So, again, he called upon Shyann to help him in pushing aside the pain and giving him the strength to use his powers. He felt renewed energy infuse his mind and body as he used his cognivant powers to lift the saber from the ground and send it flying towards the priest. The sword struck the evil priest’s chest so hard that he flew off his horse and was launched five paces backwards.
Jonas stumbled over, relieved to see that the priest was dead, his sword buried deep in his chest. He stumbled again as his head swirled from the pain of his exertions. Concentrating on the state of Ty’erm, his mind focused slightly, just enough to take in his surroundings.
Frantically he looked for Taleen and saw her fall onto her back as a huge spider fell upon her. Jonas couldn’t use his God Fire as he had no idea if it would consume Taleen as well. So he concentrated on the massive form of the spider and drew forth his mental powers one last time. He knew that if he exerted anymore mental energy that he very well could pass out. But he also knew that Taleen’s life may depend on his IshMian abilities.
Again, he focused on the particles that surround the spider’s bulbous abdomen and used them to squeeze the creature.
Taleen screamed again and that was all Jonas needed to bring forth all his mental power together on the bloated form of the spider. The pressure of the particles around the spider came together like a loud clap, and the creature’s abdomen exploded in a shower of blood and entrails.
Taleen felt another leg pierce her side just as the spider exploded all over her. She painfully scrambled out from underneath the gore and tried to stand, but her injured knee gave out on her.
Jonas stumbled toward her, nearly falling beside her. “Are you okay?” he asked, panting heavily.
“Yes, I’ll be fine,” she said, her teeth clenched in pain. “I just need to heal myself.”
Jonas nodded as speaking was too difficult. He focused all his remaining energy on standing up to protect her as she prayed. Swaying slightly, he dropped to his knee again to keep from falling. The use of his cognitive abilities combined with the exertion of using magic had weakened him severely.
The fighting coursed nearby but luckily no enemy ventured too close, afraid of attacking anyone who could defeat a Banthra.
After a few seconds Taleen stood up next to him, her wounds healed. “Now it’s your turn,” she said with concern. “You look burned and exhausted.”
“I am; I don’t think I have the energy to heal myself, my head feels like it’s going to explode.”
“Let me heal you and then we’ll see if we are needed elsewhere,” Taleen said, placing both hands on Jonas and asking Helikon for his power again.
In the meantime, a huge boarg had vaulted upon Dagrinal’s horse, wrapping all four limbs around the animal’s muscled neck. Clawed hands dug into exposed flesh as its long fangs searched for an opening in the horse’s armor. The boarg snapped its jaws again and again but couldn’t break through the horse’s armored chest. But it didn’t need to, for the weight of the boarg alone drove the horse to its knees, and Dagrinal didn’t wait to see if the boarg would finish off his warhorse. He leaped off the animal’s back and brought his sword down across the boargs right arm, which was firmly clenched around the horse’s body. His sword cut in deep and the boarg finally released its grip, rolling backwards off the animal. It roared in fury, swinging its huge head from side to side as if to shake off the pain. The enraged animal then barreled forward hoping to crush the human in its powerful arms.
Dagrinal whipped his blade back and forth, cutting several deep gashes into the advancing boarg. Still, its fury and pain propelled it forward.
Just as it was about to leap on Dagrinal, however, several arrows took the animal in the side, one skewering its neck perfectly. The boarg pitched to its left and then fell over dead.
Dagrinal glanced to his left and saw two cavaliers galloping toward him on their magnificent mounts, both holding their long bows. Dagrinal smiled broadly as he recognized Jonas under the horned helm. He took a moment to look for his prince and saw Lord Baylin several paces away swing his blood coated battle axe through the neck of a dying boarg. The prince flipped his sweat soaked hair from his face, having lost his helm early on in the battle. When he spotted Dagrinal and the cavaliers, he maneuvered his steed quickly toward the trio as the battle continued around them.
“Well met, Jonas. It is good to see you,” Dagrinal said with a wide smile as he remounted his warhorse. “You look well, to say the least,” he added as he gazed at his armor and horse in open admiration.
Suddenly an enemy horn blasted through the noise of the battle. As they all looked toward the sound, they saw another enemy force rise above the hill. Fifteen armored hill giants lumbered down the hillside with long heavy strides, carrying huge war hammers as big as a man. The ground shook as each meaty leg moved them closer. Their black breast plates were painted with Gould’s white eye.
The remaining enemy cavalry disengaged from the fight and rode toward the giants. The remaining enemy infantry did the same, leaving a dazed and tired Finarthian force scattered across the field.
“In Ulren’s name,” whispered Dagrinal. “How do we fight armored hill giants?” The prince surveyed the scene quickly. There were several hundred horsed knights left, and maybe a hundred infantry nearby. Fighting continued farther down on both flanks, but their forces were busy trying to hold back the horde of orcs and tribesmen.
They would be alone against this powerful group.
“Look, Prince,” Jonas said as he urgently pointed towards the giants.
Prince Baylin looked again toward the enemy, and saw, crested on the hill, several men on horseback. Two were obviously warriors of Gould since they bore his mark, the other wore a black billowing robe and cape lined with red.
“Two knights of Gould,” Taleen said, answering their unasked question.
“And the other?” asked the prince.
“A dark wizard to the Forsworn,” she whispered.
Jonas looked around frantically. He saw many Finarthian warriors slowly retreating backwards as the huge giants, now followed by enemy cavalry and infantry, thundered towards them. Even the knights looked around with uncertainty, their horses prancing nervously underneath them. Jonas had to admit, the site of attacking hill giants wearing armor and carrying huge steel war hammers was nerve racking. They were so big and their weapons equally so that it looked like they would hammer their way through them with ease.
Tulari stood still and tall, fearlessly waiting for his master to make a decision. Jonas took strength from his steed, and digging deep within himself to find the courage and power he needed, he sent his prayers to Shyann, praying for the power needed to confront this force. He felt her energy infuse him as he called forth his light and rode Tulari before the men, his horse prancing back and forth as he spoke. But no one on that battlefield had ever heard a voice like his before. Jonas had no idea how he did it, but he spoke with the power of a god, his words carrying strength, courage and hope.
“Men of Finarth! I am a first rank cavalier to Shyann! Raise your weapons, and stand beside me to face this threat!” His voice echoed across the battlefield and it slammed into the men like a hammer wielded by Ulren himself. All fear and uncertainty seemed to dissolve from them and they stood up straight, gripping their weapons with newfound strength. “This is your land, and they stain it with their blackness!” Jonas felt Shyann’s power flow through him and fuel his words.
His voice was so amplified that even Taleen looked on with awe, his words infusing even her with increased vigor, courage, and the desire to destroy the enemy before them. She was no longer fearful, nor were the men around her.
“Knights! Form up with me, with your prince, and fight for your land and your families!” Jonas shouted. “Shyann is with us on this day!”
The remaining knights galloped into formation behind Jonas; some still held their long lances, but most had discarded them long ago for their cavalry swords. Their eyes shone with determination, their weapons held before them, Jonas’s light and voice saturating them with courage.