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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgO73OfzVP
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHdcDH7aUF
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOXK78AXAG
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3OodFtYyF
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VcXl6qSQJ
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3dZRNQGtY
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfILwRfrCS
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vDAyD5htE
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!'801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdaVln95Rd
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aWWZfBKI3
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0BVdE8qRg
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CUQSQwoQi
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0gwxEuFaR
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKnyPSi0Bq
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeplu9L2U0
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEkj5H2Np3
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXPNFwG61c
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqIGqdU2mK
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qJWLMVD82
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFgAW10tN0
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ4pWecfjF
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzHSbRSMfV
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCnRn7zVsO
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohJY7unZAG
Impact!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZinHQlm4z
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5uTbaKIf4
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvb1jRxo2h
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIjL8UcOy1
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzqlF1Mgf8
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5msvqorBzF
You have killed an axeman!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdHsJ1qu9Y
You have gained 60 Experience.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq4LChdgMf
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrEEgBEfUy
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJs3hc2T9S
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8vUhT3M1l
You have killed an axeman!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N8LHctfE8
You have gained 60 Experience.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaIprql6DV
You have become better at Bash: 2801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDpgzPaCZW
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPAoQDeWww
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58sZEUNxQl
You have killed an axeman!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvWbEM74cx
You have gained 60 Experience.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UboWZdvvz
You have become better at Bash: 3801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmyk2W7SoO
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshMwlV2wWb
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tJevHDmLX
You have killed a spearman!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WIvbEcPC0
You have gained 40 Experience.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD21X7smiy4
You have become better at Bash: 4801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh87dITDVWx
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg46sqURx4
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwEwl2qW6D
You have killed a spearman!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwO0z9TvDS
You have gained 40 Experience.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg4VGVyAM6
You have become better at Bash: 5801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIeeduCFwq
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3tyYhC3jm
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HK5YXHguZ
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDKnWFWgI7
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!'801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBNd0scSFJ
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2AZpz7JLw
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1UxqkUAMV
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1O3B9ch3f
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyS8Q9EFxs
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVQYjPz9kp
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipyBuAJ2gj
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7tMBZVJmD
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsUEi1Pq4w
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi3fOpZQpI
'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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGNQ1fmNma
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjWJEvTzdU
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeXuHVLj9d
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHZCLswnGM
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF5ZM4EsRE
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGSyM5nVDJ
'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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhE1rnmYOTS
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToVRmco6I9
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun54OUNw0W
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaJXPxinLe
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedVxb05G8r
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7dD42YRuG
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!801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoothdqQK5
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYovh5RoNT
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu0jXv3KIP
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURJxQugUDf
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJdNkfBqXH
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFpLqUe1sg
'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.'801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8B064WIPi
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR0d0CmRfi
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjTZT7F2Ln
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WqFR8Sukv
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ELh4qhVy9
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEscD4LVdCP
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAqeXCNkeu
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbmG3cDkey
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvE7kR9C71
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47kB9INJ4Z
'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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlPKEpiGwa
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fcJHd1HqH
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyJrjJujbF
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UWygUY5wz
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7FbqCoIZ4
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ma4cX393y
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NuCYwTeBK
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pMXA9cUDg
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z7NUWs2zx
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpbJrSpbNr
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.
and then Add to home screen.