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Kernstalion 19: Fleeing
🕑 Added 2021-03-17 15:41:31 +0000 UTCWhen I woke up, my body hurt all over, and I heard the muted sounds of combat. Blinking, I groaned as needles seemed to jab every part of my flesh.
"Stay still. You need to rest!" Four's voice came from beside me, and someone put a cup to my lips. I swallowed what was in it and felt it flow down my throat like a cold wave.
Had I increased any of the attributes? I couldn't remember. I summoned my status window with a groan and saw my coordination bar fill, and with the empty blinking bar came a return of energy. Dismissing the screen, I drew myself up.
"I'm fine. How long was I out?" I asked. It was dark around me, and I guessed I was in one of the wagons.
"Perhaps half an hour, no more, "Four said.
My ax lay nearby, and I picked it up. My stomach growled, and my muscles told me Last Ditch Effort wasn't without cost. Four-handed me something that smelled of food, and without looking, I stuffed it in my mouth. Fish of some kind. It was gone too fast, and my stomach growled again. I got a piece of bread and finished it as fast.
When there wasn't anything more, I looked down and saw Four's sad look.
"There is no more."
"What's going on outside? Are they still fighting?"
"Yes. More demons came from Grainhaven… and… "
I saw tears well up in her eyes. Had something happened to Three?
"Stay here. I'll go and help!" Opening the door, I was greeted with screaming, roaring, the clatter of steel, and the neighing of horses. Jumping out of the wagon, I slammed the door shut behind me. I was in front of a wagon down the line. The ring of wagons stood further to the left, and I saw a small group of mercenaries surrounded by demons. Further away, Three and Haltir were fighting one of the knights. More fighting sounds came from the other sides of the wagons.
No elves, I thought. We could really have used those archers! I climbed up the wagon behind me, and from atop, I saw the dozens of Knights and hundreds of demons slaughtering the remaining mercenaries. Some were fleeing, chased down by the Knights, while others were swarmed in small pockets of chaotic battle. Those I had seen were the last defenders still doing alright. When the demons finished at that side, they would head to us.
We need to flee, I thought. Looking around the wagons, I saw none of the elves anywhere. Had they fled? And where was Egilla? Were they still hiding in the wagons? Climbing down, I ran to a wagon further back in the line and banged on the door. It was closed, and nobody answered.
I ran along the line, but none of the doors would open. Dammit! Staring at the wagon beside me, I wondered how fast those bulls could run. Probably never as fast as those horses.
An idea popped in my head, and I grinned. Who said they had to outrun the horses! I climbed atop the front of the wagon and gripped the long leather lines. It was attached to the shiny metal-like cables that looped around the Charbulls mouth. I hoped this thing would listen to me. Pulling the cord to the side, the Charbull snorted, smoke coming from its nostrils. It stepped a bit sideways, away from the wagon blocking it's way. The path wasn't wide enough for two wagons, but the path was nothing more than a slightly less muddy trail from what I could see.
The wagon jolted as the bull pulled it forward, and a moment later, I was moving along the side of the caravan. As I moved past the others, I saw the other Charbulls sniff and turn their heads. They seemed eager to follow. Perhaps I should release them? They might attack the demons.
Screaming from the front drew my attention away, and I saw that a few of the mercenaries had run from the other side of the caravan to where Three and Haltir were still fighting. Behind them came a mass of demons. Shit.
I passed the wagon Four was in, and I pulled the reins. The Charbull stopped, but it seemed eager to move. Jumping off, I knocked on the door.
"Four, it's me! Come out, fast!"
The door swirled open and Fours scared face poked out.
"Come, we are getting the others and leaving!"
She looked at the wagon behind me, and her eyes widened.
"How…"
Then she nodded, turned, and disappeared in the wagon. What was she doing now? I was about to follow her when the door slammed open, and Four jumped out, carrying two backpacks. I quickly took one and slung it atop the wagon. Then I climbed up, Four beside me. She was staring at me as I took the reins and made the Charbull move forward.
"How can you make them move?" She asked, staring at me in shock.
"I don't know, I just tried. Are you telling me you can't?"
Shaking her head, Four turned to the battle ahead. "O no, father…" She muttered, and following her gaze, I saw that the demons had encircled all of the last defenders now.
"Can you open these doors?" I asked. There wouldn't be enough room for all the defenders.
Four didn't respond but climbed back, and after some tapping, I heard the door open.
"Stay inside, and help the wounded!" I said. Then I stood and slapped the reins again. This thing wasn't moving fast enough! The bull snorted, and plumes of steam came from its nose. I slapped the reins again, and the bull growled, a low dangerous sound, as it began speeding up. So far, I'd only seen the bulls walk, but now it began trotting. The wagon bolted forward, and I swallowed as I felt it slither sideways through the mud. The wheels barely had traction at these speeds.
"Haltir, get ready!" I roared. I wouldn't be able to stop, so they would have to jump aboard somehow.
Some of the fighting mercenaries saw me coming and began yelling to each other. I was probably ten seconds from them now, and I could hear Haltirs shouting orders.
The Charbull barreled through the line of Demons, knocking them aside and crushing one. The demons ahead of it fled away. The mercenaries ran towards me, the first grabbing hold of the sides of the wagon and climbing on. I heard another door open on the wagon's other side. Two of the Giant blooded, covered in cuts, climbed up the front past me and up the top of the wagon.
Not all mercenaries would make it. I saw some struggling to move, while others were blocked by those in front. Should I slow down? I was about to pull the reins when Hardin sagged on the bench beside me.
"Don't stop. Those that make it are those that survive, "he said as he closed his eyes and hung back. His breathing was heavy and laborsome, and he looked decades older than before the battle; wrinkled, grey, and weak.
"He is right. If we stop now, the demons will get to us," Thee said as he climbed on the other side. He remained standing, his head constantly turning to see what would happen.
Seconds later, we passed the battle, the wagon bumping as the wheels hit bodies, living and dead. Looking behind, I saw that we barely got half of the mercenaries. The rest was rushing after us, screaming and shouting for us to slow down.
I turned back to the front when I saw the demons overtake them. There would be a massacre, and there was nothing I could think to prevent it.
"Don't!" Haltir grunted as he looked at me. "Without you, we would all be dead."
Listening to the death cries behind me, I looked at the town ahead of us. A dozen of the Knights were still there, while Demons dragged struggling forms outside.
"Why didn't you just use the wagons to flee sooner?" I asked. The thought that had been in my mind ever since the wagon moved.
"Because we can't, "Three snapped. "Charbulls only listen to their Leafskinned handlers, or at least that's what I thought."
Silence fell on the wagon, and I looked back to see how close the Knights would be. They weren't anywhere in sight, still behind and moving around the other demons.
"Why aren't they following us?" I said.
"The Knights won't leave the demons alone. They will have lost many of their minions, and if they come after us, the other Knights will steal their demon minions, leaving them weakened. Besides, they won't get to share in the spoils if they leave now," Three said.
Almost afraid to ask, I swallowed. "Spoils?"
Three's face became emotionless. "They will use the bodies to summon more demon minions from their world, and after that, they will eat what remains to become stronger."
Twenty minutes later, I saw a three-way split in the mud road ahead. Straight led to the now destroyed town of Grainhaven, and I had no idea where to go.
"Now what?" I asked, slowing down a little.
The Charbull seemed more than willing to comply, quickly slowing to a slow thudding pace. The plumes of steam from his nose had turned to a trickle, and it's breathing had a low wheez to it. That thing needed rest as badly as we did.
"Left will take us to the city of Clanrin, which has a large garrison. It should be safe, "Three said.
"And Dursic?I asked."
The other two were silent for a while, and then Haltir sighed. "Est, we need to bring the survivors somewhere safe, and Dursic is far from safe."
So that would mean Dursic was to the right. Thinking for a second, I held out the reins of the wagon to Three. "Try!" I commanded.
The Grablon looked at the reins, then at me, and finally took them. Nothing seemed to change, the Charbull continued walking straight, and Tree's eyes grew large as he stared at the lumbering beast.
"How?"
I thought for a moment before shaking my head. "Perhaps it's not the Charbulls that make it impossible for others to guide them, but the handlers that make it seem that way?"
Haltir and Three didn't reply but just shared a look.
"No, something else is going on. Normally nobody can tame a wild Charbull. People have tried for hundreds of years. Only the Leafskins managed somehow. It's why they own all the caravans."
I shrugged. "Then, I don't know."
Staring at the upcoming cross, I felt fearful at the prospect of setting out alone. But I had to find Sandra. It was more important now than before. She needed to know what was going on if she didn't already, and we needed to find someone to break the connection. In the last twenty minutes, I had finally had time to think about what had happened, and I'd made an initial plan. That thing had said something about there being mages here that had stopped them somehow. We needed to find those. But first I wanted to find Sandra!
Turning to Three, I smiled weakly. "You should be fine now. I will see if there is any food, and then I'll set out for Dursic. Can you give me the directions?"
"Pah, directions!" Haltir groaned as he pushed himself up, looking at me with glittering eyes.
"Think I'll let my ax school's first hope in a thousand years risk death on his own? I think not! I'll be sticking with you for the next few months until you are ready to win us the next weapon mastery tournament."
Although I probably should fear the training that implied, knowing I didn't have to travel by myself in this dangerous world made me feel better.
Three stopped the wagon on the crossing, and Haltir and I got off. The mercenaries in the wagon were all tending their wounds or sleeping. The few awake nodded at me, and I got a few words of gratitude.
"Be careful!" Four said as she handed us a travel backpack.
I took it, feeling that it was mostly empty. Looking inside, I found some food, a blanket, and some rope.
"Thanks. Take good care of your father!"
She grinned and gave me a nod.
Haltir scraped together another few rations, some from mercenaries who somehow managed to bring some, the rest from the inside of the wagon. Together we should have enough for two days. When we were finished, both with a backpack, and our axes in hand, one of the two Giantblooded came down and looked at me.
"You fought well and saved the life of my brother and me. With the others dead, we will return to the Bleakpeaks. If you ever go there, find us. We will ensure you have a place to sleep for as long as either of us lives." Without another word, he climbed back up the wagon.
Haltir raised his hand, staring at Three. "Take care of yourself, Gastridon!"
Three flinched, staring back at the old ax-wielder. "Dammit, Haltir... I will. Now get lost before I throttle you!"
Haltir laughed and turned away. Together we moved away as the Charbull behind us moo'd as it began moving. The rolling wheels thundered in the distance behind us.
