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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7uesGcoZs
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8c2OM1BEB
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJmQcAmjwP
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nyfFZIRhx
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JzK3edMb0
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrFl5pcHjq
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zeo6P24O5
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO7JzwWAiA
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!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv6veIhXqv
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEInENbwneG
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3MEEsilbr
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAbFHR694B
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxklxJzxJob
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBPjOzSMFe
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGvoTR2Lq0
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfiuWvY5aw
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3I4UAet5F
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8amRA5Zyl
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPJoqN8erQ
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIMMmWLaFY
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOLWUWCuMa
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AKecvsdwr
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbKVh6E4ir
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUOeMyPsdZ
Impact!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XzfVqVhh2
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMReXRxQmtS
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKsWZJ3zax
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb0BC3moHh
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XIcrPjOFH
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ri6ZEUJtk
You have killed an axeman!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw91hndJc7K
You have gained 60 Experience.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWODmfcLPz
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol8Me2OCEr
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSamtfKW4O
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VNaTdZU8Q
You have killed an axeman!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDCMg0FF1d
You have gained 60 Experience.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gUX5DHkFO
You have become better at Bash: 2423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNlCP8dxi3
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwGP8pEbJZ
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoxEwMj7Hh
You have killed an axeman!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRqduY4o2e
You have gained 60 Experience.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHUhqtWzhG
You have become better at Bash: 3423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJHcMLkKor
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnrn27vhcb
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBw3O5LWGs
You have killed a spearman!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7giTzSuw8
You have gained 40 Experience.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHm3fShEQA
You have become better at Bash: 4423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirShS7NHRf
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kPXxz0W6q
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oHkCCYONT
You have killed a spearman!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnI5Cp1uwJ
You have gained 40 Experience.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlTIfDKFR3
You have become better at Bash: 5423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrUji2dEZl
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhRwumwmTC
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpMTcS8cTK
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznCAaxjiBW
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!'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcfOEEM82f
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcr5ZtY8E0
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxZ5uh1DUH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccs1cIz2tN
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3fpyFqz8W
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GcsQOaqd0
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QkVfIctEs
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2W2Bogsh5
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9KJvKd1pm
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CegNhnmEY
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wNl7luKN8
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvgblWAVbd
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0g2ctHS9a
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqSldyWbZ0
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR636toQDa
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEI7yCkPXp
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbda2B2SlT
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdvRcoH6d9
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhc0caVhCW
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYJa7Oav9v
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Yh8uW0Ie9
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqZNkW9j9t
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!423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iM5VOPE7U
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6tT1ykaUM
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXIv0lLEUV
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1loHAZzca
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFX3zjITcC
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuGEnEnkmO
'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.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp0wbeJft5
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3qemx2aMV
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgs8UnezzF
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf4TtXZGpj
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3N7nVQBSB
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ912wpc2PoK
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmz9GzKAGs
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVPTBjY1Iz
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jYRSKvdHI
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnguQ9ttXR
'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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPPEuVEs9t
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp88xmqeKe
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6WhuUxds1
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95UxMl2LMg
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoFwcko1Kc
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfopJbOh9oy
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡye47RZcaIP
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRCaHST096
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.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0uq06gnNq
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyIl08DkFg
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.
