Destiny (40 page)

Ohorn wasn’t aware of his spearhead shattering as his legs locked around the armored waist. As the line of Ironidium Knights was buried under the weight of the tribe’s attack, he clung to the armored back mindlessly hacking with the broken shaft of his weapon as Unar’s claws slashed at the winged helm.

It was the shrieks of the dying that finally broke Ohorn out of the hunter’s trance. Around him, Wencis and Elven warriors were being slaughtered as the knights they were attacking began rising back to their feet unharmed. Unbelievably he stared at the shattered shaft in his hands as the reality hit him.

Tinnearlian was the hardest known substances on Irlendria. All of the races built their weapons from the incredibly tough metal. Even the Tuonellian Hordes had been vulnerable to their attacks, but this-. Ohorn’s eyes shot open in horror as the Knight beneath him suddenly rose to its feet backhanding Unar into the air.

***

Location Irlendria / Startüm Ironwolf:

The edge of the tribe’s encampment sat atop a small rise, which gave us a perfect view of the assault unfolding below. While the brutal efficiency of the tribes’ tactics were impressive, it was ultimately useless against the Ironidium Knights. The Klavikians armorers had designed the suits to be able to withstand the massed attacks of the Tuonellian Hordes. Unless a lucky strike made it through an eye-slit, the knights were nearly invulnerable.

Almost immediately the triumphant howls turned into shrieks of pain as swaths of Wenci and Elven warriors were suddenly flung back. Across the battlefield, armored shapes began rising out of the writhing press of bodies as the knights’ massive two-handed swords began cutting and slashing in great sweeping arcs. Tearing my eyes away from the bloodbath, I urgently spun Enelya around to face me. Whatever anger she had held for me disappeared from her eyes as soon as she saw the nightmare unfolding below.

“If I can pull the Spirit Mother out of that mess can the shamans slow the knights down long enough for us to escape?”

“We can try, but I don’t think our spirit magic will be enough.”

Pushing up next to me, Lúthien spoke urgently. “I can do it, but they must be clumped together.”

“Paladin, if you can get the Wild Elves to pull back my Rangers can manage that.”

Clapping Lúthien and the blonde hair Prince on the shoulder, I looked confidently into their stricken eyes. “Get your Elves into position. I’ll –“

Looking down in shock, the realization hit me like a brick between the eyes. I’d completely forgotten about Frostbrand and Starfire. “No!” The force of my shout made everyone, but the Minotaurs jump as I scooped the girls into my arms. “It’s too dangerous. You’re going to … to …” Where in Ukko’s name could I send them that they would be safe? Enelya’s raised chin suddenly caught my eye as she silently mouthed the answer I was looking for. “You’re going to Tenue Sûre, and that’s final.”

“This is not open for discussion. You are going, and that’s final!” The words ripped out of me with all the force I could muster. Ignoring the emotional pleas beating at my mind and the tears that filled their eyes, I turned away as the shrieks of the dying began to grow. Already I could feel Ukko’s will demanding that I help those in need. There was no way I could keep them safe and face this enemy when Enelya’s small hand urgently gripped my arm.

“Go! Nessa will take them to Tenue Sûre and watch after them until our return.”

I immediately saw the enraged look that crossed Nessa’s face as her head jerked up in shock at Enelya’s words. As her eyes darted back and forth between us, Nessa stomped her hoof angrily. “I’m not taking those two anywhere!”

Hearing the sullen anger in the filly’s voice I felt my own rage rising up in response, but before I could lay into her, Enelya smacked the Centaur with a resounding whack hard on the rump. “If you want to be a part of my life this is how you will do it!”

Wincing, Nessa sucked in a deep breath as she turned to face me. Squaring her shoulders stiffly, the Centaur spoke with a brusque formality. “Paladin, I give my oath. I will guard them with my life.”

For a moment, it felt like time had slowed around us as I looked into the filly’s eyes weighing her soul. Around us, I heard the gasps of the Rangers as mortal death cries rose from the battle raging below. The nervous shuffling of the Minotaurs’ hooves as they listened to Emperor Tiberius screaming plans with Prince Dorthonion and Lúthien while Enelya called to the shaman stragglers back that had come to a stop half way down the hill. As Enelya’s turned to look back at me, I realized there was something she wasn’t telling me about her and Nessa, but from our link I could tell it held no evil, of that I was sure.

The grief rolling off the girls was almost palpable as I buried my face in their necks hugging them tightly. “Nothing will stop me from coming back to you.” Their small arms clutched urgently at my neck as I shoved them towards the Centaur speaking gruffly. “Get them out of here.”

Ignoring the tears welling up in my eyes, I spun around sprinting towards the slaughter house below calling out over my shoulder.

“Enelya, Lúthien, Dorthonion, prepare yourselves!”

***

Location Irlendria / Ohorn Tastagard:

“Aaaiiii!”

The shrill screams of the dying reverberated in Ohorn’s ears as he rose unsteadily to his bare feet. Pain lanced through his chest as he wiped the blood away from his eyes with the back of a dirty hand. Gripping the leather-wrapped shafts of his tambos, Ohorn choked on the stench of death that filled the air. Everywhere he looked the lumbering forms of the Ironidium Knights could be seen rising to their feet across the battlefield amongst the bloody remains of his people. It was the Battle of Daeron Fortress all over again!

For a moment, Ohorn didn’t know where he was or what was happening as the warring images of the past and present overlapped in a confusing living nightmare. Memories of fighting atop piles of the dead and dying as they struggled to hold back the endless tides of the Tuonellian Horde filled his head. Gasping for breath Ohorn pushed the horrific memories away as he forced his thoughts back to the present. By Meliki’s will, that wasn’t going happen again!

Seeing Unar unmoving on the ground, Ohorn rushed to her side. Quickly he pulled the wounded Wenci to her hind legs. She was hurt badly. The white bones sticking out of her chest at odd angles was evidence enough of the severity of her wounds, but at least, she still lived. Around them, the rest of the Blood Guards were just rising to their feet when Ohorn saw the Spirit Mother crawling to Eila’s unmoving side as a trio of Ironidium Knights rose up behind her. There was no time to call out for help, no time to think. As the middle knight reached for the Spirit Mother, Ohorn released Unar as he rushed forward. Taking three quick steps he leaped into the air.

Flipping over the winged helm in front of him, Ohorn hooked an arm around the lead knight’s neck. Using it as a pivot point, Ohorn swung his feet as hard as he could into the next knight’s head. The force of the impact caught the second knight off-guard, sending him reeling as Ohorn used the momentum to pull the lead knight off his feet. As soon as Ohorn’s feet touched the ground, he leaped at the last Knight. Grabbing the tips of the helmet’s wings he threw his body backward, pulling the knight off-balanced as he yelled.

“Protect the Spirit Mother! Protect the Spirit Mother!” Flipping around Ohorn kicked the knight in the head with both feet as the surviving Blood Guards rallied to his side.

***

Location Irlendria / Startüm Ironwolf:

Quickly I mentally reviewed everything Grandsire had ever said about the rune-powered armor. Although the suits greatly increase the wearer’s speed and strength, those enhancements came at a steep cost. The armor was powered by the wearer’s life force. Only long-lived species could wear the suits for any length of time. In theory, my rune blades should be able to penetrate the thick tinnearlian metal that the suits were made of, but like the infected Rangers, I didn’t want to kill them if I didn’t have to. We would need them all if we were going to have any chance against the next Tuonellian invasion.

Ahead of me, the tribe’s warriors began reeling in disarray as the armored line started regaining their feet. Shrugging off the terrible blows raining down on their heads and shoulders as if they were nothing, the knights’ fought back with their overwhelming strength and power as their great sweeping blows smashed through Elves and Wencis alike with the force of a wrecking ball. As I leaped into the fray, hot blood sprayed across my face as a Wenci exploded in front of me.

Quicker than thought my body responded. Ducking under the bulky metal arm that burst through the Wenci’s chest, I slammed my open palm into the armored chest before me using all of my strength and momentum. The force of the blow threw the knight back into his squadmates, slamming the whole group to the ground in a mass of confusion. Pulling the shocked rider out of the way, I yelled hammering my fist into the armored back of the knight on the other side of me.

“Fall back now!”

The knight I’d hit plowed another armored group to the ground as I leaped over the confused mass hammering my steel toed boot into another armored chest. As the knight flew backward, I used the momentum from the jump kick to power drive my elbow into my next target. Without slowing down, I spun around, my backhand sending another knight flipping head over heels as I pulled a wounded Wenci to her feet. Helping her packmates up, I pushed an unconscious Elf into her clawed hands whispering a silent prayer to Ukko. Instantly healing glows surrounded the Wencis as I roughly shoved them towards the hill.

“Fall back to the encampment!” Without waiting to see if the Wencis followed my order, I threw myself headlong into the next group of knights howling in fury.

My initial goal had been to sow confusion and to save what warriors I could as I hunted for the Spirit Mother, but I was quickly running out time. Already I could see the Ironidium Knights were beginning to reform around me. There was no question that I was now the knights’ focus. The nearest ones I’d attacked were completely disregarding the trickle of survivors heading back up the hill as I slammed through their ranks like a bull in a china shop.

Around the battlefield, bone horns began blowing for the Clan to fall back when I suddenly found what I was looking for. A sole group of Blood Guards fighting for their lives near the center of the line. Although bloodied and broken, they managed to keep the Ironidium Knights at bay working as a team. The Elven warriors were parrying the massive two-handed blades while small groups of Wencis used their combined mass to knock the knights back. Even though the tactics were working, the haggard look on Ohorn Tastagard’s face said it all. There were simply too many knights for them to keep this up for any length of time.

With a silent prayer to Ukko, I rushed the squad of knights’ unprotected backs. Crouching low in my attack, I hooked an elbow under the first knight’s groin. Gripping the back neck guard, I heaved sending the knight flying high back over my head. Quickly, I did the same with the next two knights before they knew I was in amongst them. Even though the remaining knights spun around bringing their great swords to bear, I still had the advantage of surprise.

Not slowing down I ducked under the first two-handed blow. Letting the blade whistle overhead, I popped back up slamming my open palm low into the knight’s gut. The impact blasted him off his feet as I lunged for the next knight. Stepping inside the reach of the two-handed swing, I wrenched the great sword from the gauntleted fists as I scooped the surprised knight over my head in a tight arc, before face-planting him hard into the ground at my feet. Hearing the crunching sounds of metal on metal, I turned to face the last two Knights pushing my precious energy into my runic armor as I caught their descending blades on my crossed gauntleted wrists.

Staggering backward from the force of the impact, I jolted to a stop as bluish-red energy exploded around me in a spray of searing sparks as the Rök runes inscribed on my armor began glowing with an eye-searing light. Instantly a high-intensity hum filled the air as bright bands of pure energy arced between armor and swords. This was the first time I’d gone head-to-head against the direct power of the Ironidium Knights. I couldn’t breathe. My entire body strained with all its might as muscle and sinew fought against the magic power of the armored suits.

It was my own fault. Grandsire had warned me repeatedly to take every threat seriously, but the ease at which I’d toss the earlier knights aside had left me overconfident. Probably because I’d never truly believed him in the first place. I’d gotten so used to being the biggest and baddest fish in the pond on Earth that I’d let the power go to my head. I tried to push the swords away, but I couldn’t move. It was as if my muscles were locked in place by the waves of pulsating energy flowing through my body. Even the Demon Knight’s otherworldly power hadn’t affected me like this!

The pressure suddenly released with a loud pop of air and the smell of ozone as furry shapes slammed the Knights away from me. Staggering from the sudden release of the rune feedback, I felt hands urgently gripping my shoulders as I was suddenly looking into the strained blue eyes of Ohorn Tastagard.

“Quickly, the Pack Mother needs your healing!”

As Ohorn urgently pulled me into the middle of the Blood Guards’ defensive ring, I instantly understood what had him so upset. On the ground before me was a blood splattered Spirit Mother cradling the head of her mortally wounded soulmate. Even though the silvery-black coat of the Wenci was covered in gore, I recognized Eila immediately.