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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvbyPWOzDB
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVJgufUUIS
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDDgbCnxWs
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCRDS7EEyi
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CwJTqYabO
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZvhhkRCle
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIMhlGQp7I
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9VHZ9OcgG
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!'528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmdOFGlcSa
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeNX73oyWh
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhorcjsApl0
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKqrkzxacV
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiXetazFfx
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl4I8fCk91
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqikIzvW8v
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gTbTrDJek
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p7pZ3LuhO
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiogYnXHKEC
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ9svtLFdK
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkAPTpn1EN
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV61w2HXAU
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtF8IMLLZr
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ8DV3jNo0
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM34aelxI62
Impact!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05sfSJm6SG
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHNOmplxnQ
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEM2wVn7n8
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sI45iFC1K
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX0G6J7rXF
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHewEBuzcnR
You have killed an axeman!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9pi1dKf4h
You have gained 60 Experience.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JMDN0S0jZ
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx6GYF0b3I
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uTSo9KkWD
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nUYLONN9h
You have killed an axeman!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuvWzLmBbG
You have gained 60 Experience.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD5q3beCep
You have become better at Bash: 2528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhWNvqfaSm
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4IXlTGkLU
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa0qCLX7Fg
You have killed an axeman!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKp4uyBkaW
You have gained 60 Experience.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCPkT53gaI
You have become better at Bash: 3528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj0iVAX4kc
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33CKAdsVBc
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn8UWtgQ5y
You have killed a spearman!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3IRo0bK4y
You have gained 40 Experience.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTanpLn2G3
You have become better at Bash: 4528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65oTvCf5ze
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSxl9mmyHv
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfQjG1s6Nn
You have killed a spearman!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0z096x8Vr
You have gained 40 Experience.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfPeVsWuvS
You have become better at Bash: 5528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxFIduAiha
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ0vYzSO1c
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGfKf3youD
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPIo2Oeaz1
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!'528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbVj77FVDd
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsSIkDp7nr
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJdHWtTZ9J
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48WIby25pT
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrSkLGK0Te
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WnGPJeQ2l
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZkqcDPIx6
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ28iprBsOt
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxPj1TPALC
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aP7D2mcLx
'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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE9rBAxT88
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtcXkv6Rpo
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXaTcXMie2
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeAV4Na6SM
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBAnT0Lz7M
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhCITUN3AM
'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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4JPdJkgLi
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJG7FvzUYC
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipAFkSbt73
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HquuiZ5Bb
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Jbqe85JCd
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFJVudljCP
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!528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93PZC9ikqj
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQETSgCO2HM
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YVP0BJHG5
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZFQBRYQmq
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOl8hMI3Yn
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41FzzQ6Qag
'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.'528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHYxvDQzP6
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bcSHnBFJr
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QIaSTxFpK
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2QyJ4W83M
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiCRJBfceO
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jcd3QYjj6
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn5dYkYGPj
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PrBD48BVs
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZcI7yXM2e
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFHfG0hhVv
'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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVBJ9mx22t
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRYB6GXpbb
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbxd7DicdY
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Laz3E6oHP
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrVuzYkQOd
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXwQdkBehw
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuFrEOSBdn
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqn2xtjC9X
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgHWyygl2W
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ46hEXcZKq
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.
