From out of a haze of dust, at the point where the descending valley turned rightwards, out of view, came the first ranks of enemy soldiers, chainmail clad axemen, leaning their weapons against their shoulders. They had a slow, steady pace, set by the beating of the distant drums. The effect was ominous and I felt my stomach tighten. Behind them came a large body of lightly-armed spearmen, the silver points of their upright weapons flickering in the sunlight.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Wb2V1U2ul
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8AUssjIpq
Then came their light cavalry, thirty of them, taking a long while to file into view; next the ten heavy cavalry. Their archers were not yet in sight, nor the drummers, nor their commanders or the Shaman, yet the axemen were coming straight on to the bridge without pausing. Whether it was complacency or stupidity, they were going about this all wrong.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzYky7FXXD
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa60SHwXiF
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFEmy76HJG
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His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDou6a7O37K
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1nJ5CbUFt
I laughed. 'I can do better than that. Follow me. Open the gate!' I shouted. Then I took the potion bottle, uncorked it and gulped down the contents. 'Rhino!'416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMDaBWhP7j
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4OqI4eYvV
For once my great bulk was valuable, I felt it stretch and stiffen as I fell forward onto all fours. Probably I was not a full adult rhino, but the weight and sharpness of the horn in front of my eyes was up to the job at hand.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT4JSlNyAm
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIONqzfa5au
I set off, a lumber at first that was a trot, once through the gate I stepped up to a canter and finally hit my stride at a gallop. Being a rhino was intense. Although my vision was blurry, I could smell the sweat of my enemies and heard the loud thuds of their marching steps on the wooden bridge.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy0O7Ods1J
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiG0TL0Wvr
Fifty yards and their shouts of alarm rang through the air. The axemen needed the spears in front of them, grounded. But my calculation was that we would get there first. It was intuition and it was the kind of decision that you make in an instant and have to commit to.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDR5CWR3GGF
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8FLTIbnFG
Forty yards and I was throwing mud up from my hooves as I urged my heavy body to its upmost. This was living! No longer trapped in a body that couldn't walk up ten steps without having to pause for a rest, I was a raging storm; an unstoppable torrent; a tsunami about to crash on the shore. And I loved it.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47BZmO7Oof
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACdV7J5ByL
Thirty yards, some of the axemen were trying to run back through the spearman, who were massed too tight on the bridge to bring their weapons to bear.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshf8Xrz6vt
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FuZK5IJ5c
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSutoouPvcP
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vv1cCchRZ
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCUZSmkFRo
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtIepCcQWE
Impact!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5qY3NRCDT
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There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJlceyqxzR
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIC9zvQpaf
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J0pPq78Gg
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFPVWQSvzi
You have killed an axeman!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M1TnmLjxG
You have gained 60 Experience.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUvIcj6pme
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO4nycyekY
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk0u1cjQjb
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSjsxvb9Xd
You have killed an axeman!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZWAMeZtRC
You have gained 60 Experience.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4DpQS1jFj
You have become better at Bash: 2416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKR3l561SB
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11efDi6duy
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQWDZ64WFL
You have killed an axeman!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN25iewu91I
You have gained 60 Experience.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieuwA1T566
You have become better at Bash: 3416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs2EofIO9T
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEvAOMsJD8
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6vljbiG2m
You have killed a spearman!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEAUG8PlpY
You have gained 40 Experience.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bpg3Xxb59
You have become better at Bash: 4416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3BJbNAo1M
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKVSpntqdz
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz6eNmp90C
You have killed a spearman!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluhHR2ADLg
You have gained 40 Experience.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqWJpMJgje
You have become better at Bash: 5416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQsFuROM56
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNy0bubaO2
The notifications flew by and I ignored them as I pushed on, crushing soldiers under my hooves, impaling them and throwing their dead bodies to the side. Several axe blows struck home on my front shoulders, flanks and chest but twice I experienced the sweetness and glow of a level increase, each time completely healing my wounds.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMGiJoBaPa
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMa7TUctZM
Screams of wounded and panicked men rang out all around. But through the cries, I could hear a voice like a howling wolf, it was Lord Arval, screaming, 'come on! Come on! For Greyland!'416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep2IOpZPwT
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5jvXNpeIb
The crush on the bridge was intense, which favoured our side. While their axes and spears could not be brought into play, I could still smash my powerful head into faces ahead and either side, as well as break legs with stamps and kicks of my feet. Our horsemen, too, were nearly immobile, but they could still cut down with sword or stab with lance.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0669EwZJW
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCvMlYPwYh
Step by step, we pushed on, nearly clearing the bridge. My only concern now was the timing of the potion. How long had it been since I drank it? Surely only a few minutes, despite the massive carnage we'd inflicted on their army.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU7XTehUyK
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIw7sEylL2
Then, with a sudden release, we were through, the remnants of the unit of spearmen running back down the narrow path in panic, which instantly disrupted the formation incoming light cavalry. Did I have time to keep going into them? I had to try.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GDQdD4J86
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVHki4HcHV
The fact that I'd levelled up twice meant I experienced no fatigue and a quick check told me my hit points were at 32. Filled with confidence and energy, I used the room ahead of me to build up momentum again.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcEMY4w9Vk
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccrTrVKSwd
'Follow the king! For Carlos!' Behind me, Lord Arval was still going strong it seemed and the answering roar of our soldiers had a clear note of triumph. Again, I could smell the fear of men and horses even before I crashed among them, showing no mercy to the animals whom I gutted and whose delicate legs I crushed.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcvsQD5JVL
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwrBZpTG1D
Far louder than the cries of men and the clash of metal on metal were the high-pitched equine screams of injured horses. Unlike the heavy destriers behind me, these horses had not been trained for the press of the melee and they were frightened, some of them rearing up and throwing their riders to the ground. Even so, one or two lances managed to stab down and cut through my thick hide. My hit points dropped quickly from 32 to 19 following a third hit. But then I levelled up again, soaring up to 40 hit points.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs25vOi9lJL
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLMVppYV27
Their light cavalry unit was in full retreat. I was just preparing to launch myself again, with the intention of smashing right through the heavy cavalry and into their archers when I found myself staggering, once more in human form, completely without armour. Fortunately, there was no immediate threat.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSnCydrgbJ
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKuQ3LPqHS
'Get back sire!' Lord Arval urged his mount past me and ceased his own charge, guarding me by interposing his large destrier between me and the enemy. Our four other knights did the same. Either side of our little defensive knot, our light cavalry came past, cheering that they were scattering their foes. Even so, the tide of the battle was turning. The ten enemy heavy cavalry were drawn across the road and were not budging, even for their own fleeing infantry and light horsemen, some of whom risked going over the broken terrain of the rising hillside, others trying to squeeze past on the river bank, falling in as often as escaping.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD8pyDC3cf
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7gC2Qr9wF
Beyond the line of horsemen, their officers must have gotten some order among the archers because arrows flited overhead with increasing frequency, some struck striking the plates of Lord Arval and his armoured horse.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRe1XzdU7X
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlnhRVNmn6
Our problem was that we couldn't easily reach their archers. Our light cavalry lunged ineffectually at the enemy knights but couldn't break their ranks. There was room for our archers on the other side of the river, but if I ordered them to go there, we would be outnumbered and lose in the exchanges with enemy fire. The ballista was far too slow to bring up. This could really hurt us. Our riders and horses were beginning to suffer.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm4cOqsgtz
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcypVNoGjb7
Another rousing cheer from behind me. It was the arrival of our twelve heavy infantry and a large body of light infantry with Carlena at their head. There were a good mix of spears, axes and swords among them. This was exactly what we needed!416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDzAQl6I3V
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9XH0eQpkU
There was a fierce look on Carlena's face as she ran past me, pausing to raise her hands and then, with a flash, half a dozen fire darts splashed onto an enemy horse. The animal collapsed. Cheered by the success of this magic our newly arrived soldiers ran past and also cut and struck at the horses in front of them. We were winning again, a huge press of our soldiers climbing over the dead animals and past enemy knights who were still fighting, so as to get among the archers.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQUlpIq8wK
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT6F4cbysB
I felt that we were on the brink of victory, when cries of consternation from our men made my heart sink. The very land was working against them: bushes and grasses reaching out to entwine their feet and immobilise everyone. The enemy archers, on the cusp of routing, took heart and through the chaos, I could hear an officer of theirs urging them to hold and fire at the immobilised targets.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQtMjORl9X
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqvsronFku
'There,' screamed Carlena, pointing to a man in a bearskin, whose sabre-tooth tiger pet was walking in a circle around him, protecting him while he cast spells. It was their shaman, who had climbed up the hillside and come close enough to cast what to me seemed like an Entangle-type spell. 'He's out of my range.'416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfK1MmKSMu
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW9Bg083Nt
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLnpLtVNgx
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkbCjGXZTM
Carlena ran towards the enemy spell caster and I admired her, because that tiger was fierce looking. The enemy Shaman had spotted her run too, and was clearly aiming a spell at her, his arms gesturing swiftly.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQDcHPysOs
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfej3lHQC4
Caster battles could be short and violent. I found myself clenching my fists anxiously as I watched, oblivious to arrows and screams and the movement of the people around me. Was Carlena going to be taken out by a powerful spell? It would be a disaster for us if this went wrong.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRT64Zp9PM
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMn2hYgVdS
Then the Shaman was down and behind him was the chancellor. Parrin had backstabbed their caster and taken him out! Our men were free again, the enchantment of the plants dissolving with the death of its creator.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiOkleCMwh
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9sJOai6lt
'On, on! We have them!' Lord Arval set off again, the other four knights moving with him. It left me unprotected, but it was right. Even though a few enemy archers saw me as their target and I did get hit twice, we had them. Archers were no match for heavy cavalry and they knew it. Soon bows were abandoned as most of their army fled for their lives, while dozens of men huddled in groups, hands in the air, trying to surrender.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD1jlYZDWQ
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALmgG7Hm6N
Up on the slope, our elderly scout was being savaged by the dead Shaman's pet sabre-toothed tiger and was clearly wounded. Carlena, however, had not stopped running and was in range for a spell.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR2tq80OsU
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6RhpN47vE
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp80zhLZ03k
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oehdp60pv
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheidrjlDqd
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMlk4JEWmr
It took several hits, but Carlena had enough mana for a second Freeze and was able to keep the animal locked in place while the arrows thudded home.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kNmYfHTe4
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdeoQOWCJe
All at once, it was relatively quiet. Yes, there were still groans and the clank of weapons and armour but the sounds of fighting were in the distance now, down the road. All around me Greyland soldiers were smiling and laughing. Some looked at me with frank delight, as if in this moment rank did not matter, that we had shared an experience that transcended the barrier between king and foot soldier. And we had. This was a victory to savour.
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