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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvzda1ux3m
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRII0d4BCFw
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwik2P4Aet0
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dAYuf61NH
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD67exkSzr
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ306WzZvAhv
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4UEEKAAgz
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvcw3XaSWp
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!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlcT9jQYpK
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwRcxvWLaE
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8AIxOEp2Z
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVr1b8xS3A
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq5yKqZYoW
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7a222mmh0
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQTrFn7XZv
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCHqzZ8VBZ
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ksYteUPYY
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3wGQ90ItJ
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtLnzTZf82
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WJPYFkCJm
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNEcW9vBKJ
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5RrgI1HB8
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYwgXkhaIi
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ6ddAKKfL
Impact!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO2Guxa7bP
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizgtEJjtyK
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hz2CHei8c
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiCpOvo53U
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFY2Ec5syS
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTvYI5Olic
You have killed an axeman!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkrNPY1QSe
You have gained 60 Experience.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51EreS1pFU
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbAIx0rPer
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTlHn4x0zY
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceRSusg4cx
You have killed an axeman!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRt2KvgdRs
You have gained 60 Experience.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQe165VCOA
You have become better at Bash: 2394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk9Z3d0Hij
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvEmF8QS6o
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvjQCJ9K3Y
You have killed an axeman!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sh4vy9NKL
You have gained 60 Experience.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbear2XY4cQ
You have become better at Bash: 3394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx3ISdf7Pk
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg01dJFPrON
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c0hRjnCaG
You have killed a spearman!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfaS1yD7KS
You have gained 40 Experience.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsnwma1rXY
You have become better at Bash: 4394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhbc3A6ZqF
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf8OZgc2qA
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDFG6vD9WC
You have killed a spearman!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44YkG42Lt6
You have gained 40 Experience.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1xsBUQWwJ
You have become better at Bash: 5394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFq03bDw17
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ80nCG3Bcj
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDPOHavD9C
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl49AHdFHj
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!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxEbsX8q5a
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMDP3mONYm
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXbX6CdrKa
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwp40U6H8K
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQeqOfnqyH
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIRUZpHAYQ
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWXF8crPck
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaPSxcN7L5
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImx8usO7zc
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R3fPvyOTi
'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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUKHxhM6IA
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18JCXOGzJ8
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahPil2a28Z
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZsvYqwusl
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcB6r1xfWT
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXiyhrZsSq
'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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnNY0OD4U0
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKLE73mkQr
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6g2OrwZfi
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjAqxukJjM
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BpVAsUhvr
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW2Naqar5a
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!394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkj6acmymq
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8FWYn1etw
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgTSFjiiQJ
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawsQbAlPPG
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUklkbsnZ2
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAUg52Ki3U
'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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfImFYhnNd
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddmlxpW3sr
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tsqaRQvcW
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN0kpu4aVi
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy22Mt42341
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1llNetoSk8
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNJxEOhO19
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUJaB8RUi7
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Es0CEjFy6
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK5QOmxyQq
'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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1kyf7CImB
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAU4X0K2go
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiD4FSZi8G
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBWQyeE0lB
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5zxkDvk3q
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfku7jLhhoD
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VCaFxVZRy
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrfTB34Bux
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dfiwyC20O
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz2zOGjZbF
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.
