The Anvil (82 page)

Then
when
the
commander
figured
he
lost
the
momentum
he
wheeled
around
and
headed
back
to
the
Arstanian
lines
,
which
opened
to
let
them
through
then
closed
.
Suddenly
an
arrow
hit
the
man
beside
him
in
the
chest
and
Tom
yelled
for
the
rows
besides
the
first
to
hold
their
shields
over
their
heads
and
heard
the
arrows
thud
into
the
shields
.
The
cavalry
was
ready
again
so
the
infantry
opened
once
more
.
The
Arstanian
forces
were
about
halfway
across
the
bridge
and
had
lost
most
the
momentum
.

The
cavalry
hit
the
enemy
scattering
them
once
again
,
then
as
they
lost
momentum
circled
around
again
back
to
the
Arstanian
side
.
Tom
knew
soon
the
warriors
would
break
apart
as
they
were
not
disciplined
enough
to
not
try
to
fight
alone
.
Almost
as
Tom
finished
the
thought
a
man
from
the
front
wall
broke
away
and
attacked
.
Others
quickly
followed
and
chaos
started
.

Only
a
few
soldiers
still
stood
with
Tom
so
he
told
them
to
form
a
wedge
with
him
in
the
lead
.
They
ran
towards
the
middle
of
the
Ilemartain
troops
,
hitting
them
and
sending
some
off
the
bridge
from
the
sides
from
the
shock
.
He
led
the
warriors
in
a
series
of
half
circles
in
and
out
of
the
Ilemite
warriors
,
much
like
the
cavalry
had
done
.
Soon
the
Ilemite
forces
realized
they
would
have
a
better
chance
in
the
river
than
on
the
bridge
and
began
to
thin
out
on
the
bridge
.
Tom
realized
that
this
was
a
perfect
opportunity
to
break
into
the
enemy
camp
.

He
ran
into
the
enemy
troops
with
the
warriors
behind
him
,
but
instead
of
turning
they
continued
forward
.
Tom
had
an
idea
and
told
the
men
to
keep
going
,
stopped
and
closed
his
eyes
.
He
felt
the
river
below
him
and
tried
to
get
control
of
it
.
Two
more
magic
users
helped
him
make
the
river
stop
and
sweep
over
the
Ilemite
warriors
on
the
bridge
.
Tom
opened
his
eyes
and
started
running
again
.

As
the
last
of
the
water
ran
off
a
giant
black
dragon
landed
in
front
of
the
Arstanian
troops
.
Tamil
,
a
Supreme
General
.
The
dragon
blew
fire
across
the
Arstanain
lines
,
Tom
magically
blocked
some
of
the
fire
with
some
help
.
Tom
picked
up
a
javelin
from
the
ground
next
to
him
and
prepared
to
throw
it
.
Tom
hadn
’
t
practiced
with
the
javelin
much
but
knew
how
to
throw
it
.
He
mainly
wanted
to
distract
him
or
if
he
was
lucky
wound
him
.
Tom
threw
the
javelin
and
watched
as
it
arched
across
the
Arstanian
lines
,
dipping
towards
the
Supreme
General
.
The
head
went
into
Tamil
’
s
leg
,
pinning
him
to
the
saddle
and
distracting
him
.

Suddenly
five
Dragon
Guardian
and
Wyvern
Riders
landed
near
the
General
.
Tamil
tore
the
javelin
from
his
leg
and
threw
it
at
a
Rider
,
hitting
him
in
the
chest
,
killing
him
.
Tamil
drew
his
sword
and
prepared
to
fight
,
his
dragon
baring
his
teeth
and
fire
flickering
in
his
nostrils
.
Tom
ran
forward
and
picked
up
a
spear
.
The
dragon
clawed
and
snapped
at
the
Arstanian
forces
.
Tom
knew
what
to
do
,
the
dragon
opened
his
mouth
to
burn
a
Wyvern
Rider
and
Tom
jumped
in
front
and
stabbed
the
spear
into
the
dragon
’
s
mouth
and
down
it
’
s
throat
.
The
fire
was
cut
off
almost
as
soon
as
it
started
as
the
dragon
choked
.
Tom
landed
and
pulled
out
his
axe
and
hacked
at
the
dragon
’
s
neck
over
and
over
.

The
other
forces
fell
on
Tamil
as
Tom
killed
the
dragon
.
Tom
looked
down
at
his
hands
for
a
moment
then
started
walking
back
to
camp
.
While
Tom
had
stuck
the
spear
in
the
dragon
’
s
throat
he
had
gotten
blasted
with
some
of
the
fire
.
Luckily
he
usually
fought
mostly
covered
in
dragon
scales
,
which
were
mostly
fireproof
and
had
lessened
the
burning
.
Tom
almost
collapsed
in
the
entrance
to
the
infirmary
but
got
onto
a
bed
as
he
lost
consciousness
.