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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYxqiVyvJH
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuCMOt2y7L
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxadwcgpO9
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG52UsWpF9h
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ9izBAeHU
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ3l4KphOL
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1eiSnCLWg
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbH1yxKbHP
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!'488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYuF11J3Kz
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnfT0NCnFw
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwRHgJIKs1
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJonieH4cwS
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPkRdP9j1w
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuZE75kgC4
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsMRHEJ2vb
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNX9cBtwjd
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7lVFfBY37
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB2fbFuZ84
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FZgCUB0kI
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlhP1FySfD
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5tboPttyX
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGonuqrqnF
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmhX6gy3sZ
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0xpue4uDS
Impact!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN3ItZy8du
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh0ON7vNjg
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvJCwpaf3h
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjlm6XvTuE
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDLfSDAkuo
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5Rb7XF7rW
You have killed an axeman!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgffk6nrECA
You have gained 60 Experience.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxxxcIkS07
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVQzB9xqpO
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHQHgcvUFr
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVwUE56AUE
You have killed an axeman!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡushT32Jock
You have gained 60 Experience.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMXoZQIW7B
You have become better at Bash: 2488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Qm4HdvtJT
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02jupxdxYJ
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzZjvt8shu
You have killed an axeman!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTLCOPjHNq
You have gained 60 Experience.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDSCwsC41U
You have become better at Bash: 3488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR7QStqaIV
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeVJ05NEyb
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaJAkaOLTC
You have killed a spearman!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzOKSrmR3M
You have gained 40 Experience.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyT4lctfgV
You have become better at Bash: 4488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1VzFjUToj
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Zr9BoDNu
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3w1340wiQ
You have killed a spearman!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qC7DtN7C8
You have gained 40 Experience.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCgswF8YZh
You have become better at Bash: 5488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D13rtl9nc
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLA5pGoZJB
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucsNqgsflJ
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4yvv9UTcO
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!'488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkySU8ihFe
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZaCZ4gkuJ
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvQZGC9nQx
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8BdMuoGEb
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeFdrEwB9E
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfklkX6ltF
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHNm5OF6sT
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdBSc9yDhJ
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9Bm46WmR1
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVtpjCLcEB
'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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWEfEi1Wxe
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k9M1C4xWB
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aVaoxqrZQ
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1W3S2lcIT
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YVmmBCvsf
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWrel52QfO
'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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJMn3jEE8I
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmd6eD3a4Mi
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofq2UwUUdU
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoTSJsOwTT
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKgmQLER3Y
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH0f1YboOB
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!488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzFfEx8yJu
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR700EeyJZ
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLMJ4F1bhs
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr4195Ceb9
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdmM2JdMfo
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl1B9EPi4G
'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.'488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2Hk2b2ohS
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rlh21otZT
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK59XEaHm4w
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN0GZn54fi
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi08J3tVmGp
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0fHTHGe0D
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWISh00798
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK4JBmtt2g
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYdppPnMR4
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytqMqyuqqN
'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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq8vmB6k6Z
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlmiLbYGSl
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcLJXQJEt8
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkjHQcpAKj
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI3FEvgAEM
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7P0lBIGCz
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT8eLmxz6c
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNADsSAAOdh
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.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LuSpbaOvC
488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoit3l9n83l
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.
