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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVU1VjSqKb
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGaXxH3J0N
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGAw70Rg6l
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PHQkONdIR
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Yxk39iCsP
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGkEkqVTb3
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd3del3U0B
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeXMFInu32
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!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF5UWNizxn
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjm2KkV99x
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5KEKj4oyR
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ2UQW9gTO
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM65wwawbKS
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2NxkQjUSw
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38AMFM0jx4
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPUXQbifyZ
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHimP3yZwge
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoAl0AbmAM
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtHbAZyTDx
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPTyFMHxpl
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRcVKWsg9J
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyaeZEcN9p
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXivDHoQ3Cw
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPqhK7H7AS
Impact!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfWVL0M6th
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3PPuIWYYE
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0gSr0UVfX
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJCeZV4KZ5
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd31Tgc4Zv
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHZ5CmW0Xe
You have killed an axeman!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9uvqDIvSF
You have gained 60 Experience.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKuAwhXBKb
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP93RZHjhOl
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzrl2RMmOr
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnGlRRp07t
You have killed an axeman!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Soi3QNYRX
You have gained 60 Experience.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0kY7x8skO
You have become better at Bash: 2388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdxw2FcRGu
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68lKuxBkuk
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzXOZYsEZn
You have killed an axeman!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBj5oXzgvS
You have gained 60 Experience.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNX1sYhIpD
You have become better at Bash: 3388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy353JT7O8M
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl6GZyy3Du
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdNJTA6JB4
You have killed a spearman!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx87AofEPXV
You have gained 40 Experience.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfzr5f3jr3
You have become better at Bash: 4388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnrpNP5fGn
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2TKKgIgJv
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu6q0a0rYa
You have killed a spearman!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirpjEEj3U1
You have gained 40 Experience.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRfNn9imRB
You have become better at Bash: 5388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AhHTFBpG9
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtA8tePcQk
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rwo2wUDK9
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAoffkvf7n
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!'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUSlytVta8
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VKnfUOQd0
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTBc6WsxdO
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgf0uksQEp
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSWgjdaN0N
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqqa0I9zS8
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo4q00Xxe1
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DMQhfTpkT
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CBWuKGrb0
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQxfnvigxf
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zgsnTPFNG
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡechGRKvQgx
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzBEf7Kesl
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNdXtp7aYQ
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq1QcZFcfj
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJLKG2H26x
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ7L1KcdPh
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54CdWjaMBd
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ770i7ytx2M
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGpZNsINqx
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lN3OA0Yhh
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFv0hG4XBP
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!388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvy3p3gZVq
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6DleSl1NI
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyNzJbXz1h
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC4hPHFDRJ
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHwffboZkE
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dqALFV5X5
'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.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT5Hcnt7oA
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsVKM5TDQK
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SWWga8dsw
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeR3FAJwhn7
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7z2nkYtKv
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKgIbDOmVU
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkusZSjc9L
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCdUQGMwqN
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWurRekXeY
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfMkQvN9dN
'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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU0kxo02Ni
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAplCFfIb1m
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbwXHTEnen
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWThR2GdK6q
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcpTnOoumW
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwqXk6dCjk
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLvv7seVHt
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPhllTjugA
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.388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIxC0Bz5D6
388Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA6d0H6t9D
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.
