Undying Blood - Beta - Chapter 13 -

I know there are some spelling/grammar stuff - just haven't had a chance to sit down and fix as I've been playing go go go...

Few things:

I'm going to change how the skill works (which means I'll rewrite earlier chapters). No loss of # right now upon death. I have some stuff planned for the skill so there are other 'things' that will happen. I wont spoil too much.

Anyways - Enjoy 2 chapters today and a few more next week :)

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The sound of horns announced the start of the battle and getting to see the armies as they advanced from the position Francis was standing on left him breathless.

Rows and rows of soldiers moved out, the ones he had been in far out front.

No longer was the enemy hidden by the men who had stood before him.

Now he could see that it looked like colored water running across the land at the people of his kingdom, ready to sweep them all way.

Two large rows of minotaur creatures stood at the front of the enemy, their size dwarfing the others which stood behind them.  At least twenty rows of wolf and tigerkin were next, random patterns of how they were arranged.

Behind them were shapes he couldn’t recognize or figure out, but Francis knew there had to be casters and most likely other animal creatures of some kind.

The scariest sight was the creature that dwarfed all the army.  A single row of at least fifty creatures, each having to be five stories high and wider than a house had siege weapons strapped to its back.  Long levers were filled with boulders and the very sight made his knees want to clang together.

“It’s a horrible sight,” Nehemiah stated as he stood on a platform setup behind their army. “Those in the front have no idea what is before them.”

“Death.”

Sighing, the older man nodded and then motioned to a platform that was higher and off to the side.

Coming up the stairs was the king, moving in a dazzling suit of black plate armor that shined like a miror some how, obviously polished to a bright luster. Behind him was a variety of men and women, most wearing robes, a few wearing chain armor.

“Those are the generals and some of the heads of the different mage guilds.  Be prepared for when they speak as it might be a little overwhelming and cause you to react.”

Nodding, Francis was able to keep himself from smiling, already having endured the king’s encouragement and orders.

After they were all in position, a pair of crystal orbs were uncovered and the king placed a hand on each.

"Warriors! Know that your King honors your bravery! Survive and be rewarded! Find wealth and a new life by proving ourselves today!”

The same speech as the first time played out and Francis felt the sensation wash over him yet it didn’t have the same impact as it had before.

When the army let out a loud roar and men cheered, he spotted Nehemiah gazing at him, scratching his chin and frowning.

“Something wrong?”

“You didn’t shout… how did you resist that? Is it…” Shaking his head he paused. “Do not tell me. Forgive me. It is impolite to ask about your skill, especially since you are a sage.”

“It’s okay.  It doesn’t affect you so I’m assuming you have a form of mental resist of some kind. Right?”

“Jeagours balls boy!” cursed Nehemiah as his eyes widened. “You know about that skill? Now you really have my mind in a fit.  So young, a sage and aware of skills you shouldn’t be.  I mean if you were at least a third son I would expect it… but a…”

“A ninth? It’s okay.  I’ve been treated far worse and don’t feel bad. Now tell me, how many times has this fight played out?”

“Every month.  Our troops are starting to run out and it appears we are making no headway on thinning their lines.  Somewhere over there is a portal I have heard and they continue to come from a different world or plane.  Some say they are demons, others say they are nothing but summoned creatures.  Still a few think its a world like ours and they are seeking a new place to live.”

“Does that happen a lot? I mean,” Francis bit his lip, watching as the first lambs to slaughter moved forward, the horns signaling their need to move out and the incoming death they had to all be aware of. “We both know I don’t get much information and without schooling, everything I have learned has been through pain and hard work.  Some mention our gods and how they possess multiple worlds.  Is such a thing possible?”

Picking at his teeth a moment with a fingernail, Nehemiah winced as the first row of men died, the minatours running over them without barely any reduction of speed in their initial charge.

“That’s something for philosophers and priests.  I’m more of a lover and someone who has learned to live an easy life due to my skill.”

“Which is?”

“That’s not polite to ask. You want to tell me yours first?”

Grinning, Francis shook his head.

“Well I know you can see the rank of my skill but you can’t see what it is.  I know there is an identify skill for items as well as people.  That would mean you most likely have some version of that but that’s just me guessing based off the little stuff I know.”

Nodding, the older man didn’t reply now pointing at the line out front.

Francis cringed as he saw that the second line had managed to kill a few of the large enemies, but still most were dying and it was only when the third wave of men engaged that they did any real damage to the oversized foe.

Spells began to fly over the troops and the siege weapons on both sides started to fire.  Large stones flew across the field as if someone had picked it up and lazily chunked it.  Boulders the size of a horse almost vanished from his vision before crashing into the waves of enemies.

Glowing shields appeared in the air above both sides, deflecting the spells and rain of deadly objects, sending them flying to the sides or back at the front lines, seemily unconcerned with those in front and who died.

As the fourth and fifth line engaged, most of the minotaurs were now dead, replaced by a sea of tiger and wolfkin who sliced through the warriors that were supposed to soften them up.

A twinge of guilt filled his chest as the truth of what those like himself were facing.

Each of them is going to die.  There isn’t a hope for them because I can already see how their going to get crushed between the troops behind them.

Time felt like it passed faster and  yet slower.  When he had been down there fighting before it was upon him in a moment. Now Francis watched as men and beast died, counting down the waves of fodder.

It’s time…

The seventh line engaged and staring at the spot he knew Gregory and Michael were, he counted the seconds till what he knew would come.

As if on command, the entire left side of the battle line turned, running back toward the army.

"DO NOT FLEE! STAND STRONG!"

The command came quicker than before. Francis could feel the power behind it, seeing the face of the king turned red.  He wore no helmet and they locked eyes for a moment, the slightest nod as the ruler of their kingdom frowned.

“You were right,” Nehemiah said, his tone and open mouth both conveying the shock at that truth.

“I wish I wasn’t. Tell me are there warriors in the forest?”

“Yes, and I have no doubt they are already near the spot you marked… still to have that ability… perhaps…”

He stopped talking as the king ordered the men to stand strong again, the same presence washing over the two of them.

“Perhaps we can finally turn the tide.”

His stomach knotted up and the lie he had told stung, knowing there wouldn’t be any more knowledge to share.  The only way that would happen was for him to see something new and then die.

I’m not really wanting to go down that path for a while… I need to learn everything I can and get a little stronger before I risk that again.

Men fought and died and soon the ill equiped leather fodder was almost gone, the first row of ten lines of men in chainmail moving forward, their weapons sparkling in the light of the morning sun.

“How good are these troops?”

“Advanced at least,” Nehemiah replied. “They’ll do some damage but we’ll probably lose half again before the king calls them back and sends the next group in. What is more important is this next part.”

“What next–”

Clouds began to form above the army and then green rain fell down as the waves of well trained men collided with the first rows of beastkin.

His mouth fell open as the first thirty seconds passed and even though he was a good bit away, at least three fourths or more of a mile, none of the warriors appeared to fall.

A glow surrounded the men, and each second the number of beastkin fell.

“It’s a healing spell, cast by every mage and using an artifact. There are only a few more uses left but the last three months showed us how important this part was.”

Eight lines of beastkin lay gone, and the clouds began to disperse, men starting to fall as they no longer were covered by whatever magical spell it was.

I… I knew there was magic that healed but… how strong are they? What kind of power do the nobles keep for themselves and the children they love?

As the clouds were almost gone a wave a darkness swept across the field from the enemy, like a sheet of darkness, covering all ten lines of men that were out in front before the next three sections.

“What is that?”

Glancing at Nehemiah who was biting a finger, the old man said nothing, his lip bouncing up and down as they both waited, wondering what was going to come from the magic they were witnessing.

A few magical shields formed, diverting part of the black spell but the screams that reached their ears left no doubt that it was not going to turn out as they had hoped.

Horns blasted and the men who had been prepared to move in behind halted, horses coming to a stop as soldiers controlled them, turning slightly to keep the prancing beasts at bay.

A minute passed as wails and cries came from inside, those who had been protected by the magical barriers cut down by the horde of beastkin waiting to get their turn.

“Call down the lightning!”

The king’s order rang out in his head, almost causing him pain and Francis saw that Nehemiah appeared to have suffered from it as well.

As the sheet of black magic began to sink into the earth, only metal armor and weapons remained, all life, including the grass and beastkin were gone for a hundred yard section on the battlefield.

“Dear gods,” muttered the old man before a loud crack came from the sky and clouds formed once more.

Bolts of lightning larger than any he had ever seen began to fall from the sky, impacting into the enemy, sending up chunks of bodies and dirt.

Shields blocked some but there was a large amount of damage being done as the horns sounded again.

“PULL BACK! STAY IN FORMATION!”

Under the cover of the spells and the renewed sending of boulders across the ground, the army retreated, drawing closer to the camp, eyes fixated on the enemy who roared loudly, waving weapons and arms. 

“They’re taunting us,” Francis said. “They knew what we would do and they waited for our spell to end.”

“Did you not see this?” exclaimed Nehemiah as he turned, grabbing him by the shoulders. “How? How could you not see such a thing?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” he protested, trying to free himself from a grip that easily overpowered him. “I can’t see everything! Just what it shows!”

Panic filled the eyes of the one tasked with verifying his power.

“What… what are we going to do? Almost ten thousand warriors… gone in a moment.”

Nehemiah let his hands drop, turning toward the battle field, watching as the army who had most definitely come out ahead continued to taunt them as they backed up, fleeing the area where the occasional bolt of lightning continued to come down, striking anyone foolish enough to stay in its spell range.

Sensing the change in the attitude of the camp, Francis felt a gaze he couldn’t avoid and turned to see the King staring him down.

Shit…