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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgZbuhKdzk
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJyu1CTMvM
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd0OuUXZdt
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xElGLYPSy
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktPFvt4e1O
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvQJQIcW8L
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR6j6JQYW1
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflf1OGHZRW
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!'393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG0zBiGilp
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ2IwF6xfU
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui91Kj04Iz
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMX8yHNu8d
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfnUMKZvgr
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ198UtTqQvZ
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmFSiWB5ww
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlLap7EWOD
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG1gcPGaD1
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl9FuBrnir
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fvY4O02xU
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgfE8Sk0EW
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBCKEBCnfA
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlZ2iQw8Lz
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEaSOhhJzn
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNed9QcYDq
Impact!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPPn7wUD4Q
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65ZI36FM9u
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrCzkk6MEy
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlfb0wF7uV
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUZ3PV2z7w
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVIxmVzhN6
You have killed an axeman!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnbG5NheJC
You have gained 60 Experience.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJiXQDTZWd
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeHv0Ee8LZ
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCEsIghy9t
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vi8ThzKqy
You have killed an axeman!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYNlPCA9YG
You have gained 60 Experience.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhzMsV5vuA
You have become better at Bash: 2393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigm3emHhtR
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ndaiDe8u4
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MEz8ACBMs
You have killed an axeman!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NeXk7gl2p
You have gained 60 Experience.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjJpWoQNwu
You have become better at Bash: 3393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZgscpNKSH
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWNdhvSnko
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIFquG7qdV
You have killed a spearman!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1es7MeytR
You have gained 40 Experience.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ9ZESUbTS
You have become better at Bash: 4393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgHYpyipMS
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDySUaYUsiG
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2b1XF2ea5
You have killed a spearman!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOryUtOWdMf
You have gained 40 Experience.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8RjRzPVly
You have become better at Bash: 5393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlysysSQfTm
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoXABxIrZh
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8sMmbdG02
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZHxelQJLf
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!'393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAhWXpOoRa
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZXY3X162Z
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsndvQZ1oH8
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPK12rZhKo
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tVvoanTZj
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2teKRwXRz1
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkPK2f5tT3
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAlQFqzRk4
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVntMq5C5ft
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzztJYB4Tb9
'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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY20ry2dIzU
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeqCYnO0gL
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTScJLB98gP
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskMC1Y5NUX
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk1CL8tK32
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZuxmK4ufx
'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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNsMggeEAF
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GRzhHbjg2
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ6KQnFXdK
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu9RNRSR7g
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCGXvxpdct
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6krumMsI98
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!393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlH1PkPOr7
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EN5RqzeKr
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjmEWvjCiy
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts664QkSzp
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcg33N3qrV
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIqRsCAQvX
'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.'393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3VrKKKDcE
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pzZ9j796C
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD76sPa5iV
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH1y8huGo8
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebNaDRZ4tr
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEk9Z8S53W
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWUmnsLnfp
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTmMKOFeRM
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuHsoDB6zU
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBNOxGk0W9
'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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZKrk3GgEf
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19b9lYRm6l
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjRf4B27Xk
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHKkc0y4Gs
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPLC3idiYe
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiS3C3srvq
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZsZbhJH3G
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gu2ho8QoC
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.393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVgfeqeiZp
393Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5k3rUST0z
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.
