Caleb's Journey
Chapter 13

Attacked

As the morning wore on the troop continued their march, heading towards the last known lair of Malachael’s former girlfriend hopeful that she might provide them with useful information to aid them on their quest. “Many moons have passed since last I tread this path,” the monk reflectively uttered.

“

A sort of homecoming,” remarked Seth. “I miss my own home. Being at court is no place for a warrior of my nature. I long for combat.”

Gently Malachael touched his arm, “You’ll get your wish soon enough my friend. Valdona and I didn’t part on the best of term, so my return with a band of adventurers isn’t likely to be well-received. She will have dispatched her guardians to dispose of any unwanted visitors whom she views have come to do her harm.”

Caleb’s piercing eyes shot over to Malachael almost as quickly as did his question, “Why say you that?”

Malachael dryly replied, “Because I would do the same thing.”

Tightly, Lord Lestrade gripped his shield with his left arm as he drew his sword with his free hand he began shouting commands. “I’ve heard enough. Knights, be ready for anything. Fall into columns of two. When the enemy shows itself remember to fight back-to-back. No man is to leave his comrade! His life is in your hands! Be worthy of it.” The knights did as they were told and everyone made preparations for battle.

Every knight drew his sword and the swords began to emit a faint radiant light, enchanted, each with a different power designed to vanquish foes. Swords of this nature being forged when light magic was common, the blade passed down from generation to generation.

For Caleb, the cautionary words of a former dark mage had produced a profound effect upon his young mind. Knowing very little

about dark magic, he feared it, as did all who grew up on the Cadre Isle, which is not to say that other peoples did not fear it, just that the inhabitants of that place had an extraordinary fear of it.

As a boy he had heard tales of evil wizards, but the reality of such an event filled him with apprehension and raised the hairs on the back of his neck. Raven had told him about how these people had ways of tampering with nature and that his kind deemed them all cowards as they were unwilling to use their hands in combat. On the island skill at arms defined a man’s role in society.

The clouds began to turn gray as they slogged on through the marsh, the damp terrain squishing under their boots that became damp with mud and muck in the near knee deep sludge. Soon, it began to rain. Seth snarled, “I hate the rain.”

“

Because it dampens your fur?” Alari inquired.

“

Hides scents.” Seth replied. “Humans make lousy predators, what with that consistent splashing sound as their boots hit the water. They might as well shout to their prey, I am coming, be ready! At least that might instill some fear into their adversary as opposed to sounding the general alarm which is heightened by the clinks and clanks of their metal armor, which gives away their position, and they all breathe too heavily,” he gruffly added as a gray fog started to swirl about.

Sir Sneed’s face contorted a bit in both disdain and agitation at these utterances from his recently acquired comrade. Smugly, he gave a rejoinder, “Yet, we knights have clumsily found a way to dominate the world.”

“

Keep your mind on the matter at hand and your lips tight,” snapped Lord Lestrade, a command issued expressly for the ears of his knight. Sir Sneed lowered his head in deference.

Meanwhile, Caleb drew Whisper from his back and notched an arrow. His grip was moistened with the sweat of his palms, a trait of his that he disliked, not because it loosened his firm grip on his weapons, but because he felt it showed a bit of unease.

Alari notched her bow with an arrow as well. Malachael removed his sharply tipped throwing needles from his pouch. Candellah stayed at the rear of the group. Here Lord Lestrade showed his knowledge of tactics. “Knights, form your columns. Shields up! Draw swords. You folks with missile weapons, Alari, Malachael, and Caleb, stay in the reeds and harry our foe with your volleys. Seth, Bix, and Sneed, you form a group on our right flank. Kyme, Welkin, Cedic, Anvar, form the other flank. Vintus, Otho, and Masurat you form the wedge with me. When the enemy advances on us, we will hold them back with our weapons and resist them. Flankers advance and attack them from both sides.”

Candellah, who carried no weapons, prayed for all of them. Little time elapsed between Lestrade’s commands and the appearance of four large creatures from beyond the woods. The enemy emerged and they were a sight to behold. Standing some fifteen feet in height and covered in black fur they had canine like heads with long fangs, as sharp as razors, bloodthirsty red eyes, four heavily muscled arms, two on each side of their tree thick torsos, powerful hands with long, curved claws, and heavily muscled legs. Saliva dripped from their white teeth as they howled and snarled at the trespassing troupe. Nobody had expected to see such beasts.

“

Azblers,” Malachael said with some apprehension. “In times past,” he thought, I’d have overcome all four of them or bent them to my will. I must resist the temptation and rely on my natural abilities.” For the first time in ages, he knew fear going into a fray, instead of confidence and the change failed to agree with him.

“

Steady now,” Lestrade barked. “Volley!”

On his command Alari loosed an arrow at the azbler to her left. Her arrow found its mark, piercing the thick hide, but producing little effect other than to anger the monster and the monsters collectively rushed the party. Malachael threw his needles which harmed his adversaries like a bee sting, no more.

Caleb loosed his barbed arrow from Whisper and it hit the Azbler that led the charge, striking him in his lower left arm, the barbed tip sinking deep into that arm, near the tendon where it bends, thereby rendering it useless. He followed that up quickly with a second arrow to the monster’s thigh and the blood flowed freely from that wound.

“

Shields up!” Lestrade barked. “Hold the line and when they reach us, cover the man to your left and strike with the right. Stick to the plan and trust the other man with your life it is in his hands. Guard it like it was your own.”

The Azblers quickly closed in on the line of knights and swiped at their shields with savage ferocity. The steel held, but the force of the blows knocked the knights on their backs, breaking their ranks. To save their comrades, the flanking lines marched forward, slashing at the mighty beasts. As steel met fur, a melee ensued and many a wound was opened on the behemoths. In turn

, they each snatched a knight with their lower arms, lifting them off of the ground, holding them firmly, and bashing in helmet and skull with their powerful upper arms. A strong blow from one monster crushed the skull of Sir Masurat

, the victorious azbler callously tossed aside his limp body.

In disarray, the first line of knights stumbled to their feet. Lord Lestrade signaled for the flank to charge into the fray. His line had not held as he had hoped and he knew he had to thrust his entire force into the battle. “Caleb, Malachael, we need you.” Both men tossed aside their ranged weapons, drew their respective arms, and came rushing into the battle.

Seth wielded his ouja, a pole that had curved blades on both ends of it. He pounced with his

powerful, cat like legs, swiped one of the beasts across the back while airborne, and swung his weapon around delivering a second stroke, opening another gash, that move was the signature attack of him and his brethren. Like a true cat, deftly he landed on his feet, ready to resume combat.

Meanwhile, Lord Lestrade’s blade had committed mayhem on an azbler’s top right claw while that creature was taking a swipe at him. He used his shield attempt to knock aside the blow, but knowing the power of his foe he deduced that he would hardly deflect the attack and needed to adjust his normal defensive style and replace it with greater ferocity. The beast roared in pain and anger.

In the middle of the field and the fray, Sir Otho found himself face to face with an uninjured azbler. They paused for a moment to glare at each other. The knight looked about to see if aid was nearby, but everyone was engaged. He took a deep breath and rushed forward, shield raised and sword held firmly in his hand. His goal was to confuse the monster by his display of bravado, deflect a swiping attack with his shield, and slash the tendon on his foe’s left leg.

With a mighty war cry he charged, his plated mail making a clanking sound and the creature smiled, as if to welcome him with open arms. Sir Otho made his move. Right before he closed on his adversary, he lowered his head, saw the creature try to bat him backwards with its upper left arm, he swung his shield at it, knocking it back, and began to swing his sword when a look of agony formed on his helmed face and he let out a scream. The beast’s had thrust its lower left arm forward and its right claw pierced through the knight’s mail at the stomach, causing blood to issue forth from the puncture wound. The azbler lifted Sir Otho off the ground with that one arm and held him suspended in the air, helpless and writhing in agony. It then brought its powerful right upper arm slashing sideways across the knight’s neck, decapitating him and howling in triumph as it tossed aside the carcass and looked for fresh prey.

Meanwhile, Lord Lestrade, Seth, Malachael, and Bix had teamed up to kill one of the monsters. While Malachael dodged its furious swipes, Bix and Lestrade slashed and hacked at the furry behemoth and whenever it turned to face one or the other of the two nights, Seth delivered a ferocious swipe from his pole arm. With a mighty groan it succumbed to its myriad wounds from the overwhelming number of attackers.

Caleb now whirled about and saw what had become of Sir Otho. With his two swords and absence of armor, his offensive armament contrasted sharply with that of his fallen comrade. He stood firmly planted to the ground and waited for his attacker to approach. Candellah saw the brave warrior facing down the beast and said a heartfelt prayer on his behalf, her palms turned upwards and her face lowered. Part of her prayed and the other part of her felt fear at what might become of him.

The monster swiped at him with its upper left arm and he raised his swords and crossed them at the top. They caught the blow and then Caleb angrily swept them back across each other, severing the azbler’s hand from its arm. In the same circular motion of his arms, he brought the swords down and slashed them across the belly of the beast. Said beast cried out in pain. Blood flowed freely from all of the wounds and the monster doubled over from the agony it felt. Caleb jump kicked it forcefully on the top of its head and it stumbled backwards. Caleb fell to the ground, but recovered before his foe and as it began lumbering forward, oozing blood from the deep wounds the brave warrior charged forward, ducked its attack with its lower arms and thrust both of his swords upwards deep into the azbler’

s chest cavity. Forward it fell and he rolled out of its way as it impaled itself on his blades and perished. Caleb quickly retrieved his blades and returned to his comrades.

All four of the creatures were felled and the group looked to their injured or fallen comrades. Among the slain were Sir Otho and Sir Masurat. “We must see to their burials,” said Lord Lestrade. “Our brave brothers in arms deserve to return to the earth from which they sprang.”

“

Nightfall will come soon and we can’t risk being out here,” said Malachael. “Trust me, I know this territory. I am saddened by the loss of good men, but time is of the essence and we must press onward. Besides, we may need our strength for what lies ahead. Who knows how Valdona will greet us.”

Seth held his hand to his heart and spoke, “Good and noble deaths, brothers. I am proud to have fought alongside you. We’ll fight again together in the battlefield that lies beyond.”

Candellah came and put her hand on Lord Lestrade’s shoulder. “Uua will welcome them, no matter how they come to her.”

Lord Lestrade sighed. “It’s not right, but there is sense in what you say, monk. I wish we had not come here.”

“

We’ll see if your words ring true,” Malachael replied.

As the group cleaned their weapons and adjusted their gear, Seth walked up alongside Caleb. He leaned toward his friend and whispered, “You have great courage and heart. Your skill with those blades is most impressive, the likes of which I have not seen in battle. In the days to come we’ll have need of it. Stay close by my side and you won’t replace a worthier comrade in arms.”

Malachael took the lead and began marching. “It’s time to move along everyone. Follow me, I know the way very well. I’m praying that we get a warm reception.”

“

What if we don’t?” Caleb questioned.

“

Then we need the mercy of Uua for Valdona is a fearsome foe and devoid of compassion for her adversaries.”