XXXIX

Lev and Dorrin shot the mage at the front, but the shaft and the bolt stopped in midair and fell harmlessly to the stones.

The mage atop the mount at the forefront had his iron staff raised, a subtle barrier of protection surrounding him and his warriors.

“Time to go to work!” Yoreno called, and rushed forward. He made it through the barrier with Dantera and Dell at his sides.

Long spears were thrust forward at them. Yoreno turned his shoulders, missing the razor sharp point by mere inches and thrust his blade upward. The point went under the rider’s armor and penetrated him there.

Crying out, the rider fell as Dell exchanged sword blows with another mounted warrior. Yoreno turned to assist him, but was suddenly knocked forward by something large and lumbering.

It was their beast, moving and trampling about on their four legs, their birdlike snouts gnashing and their horns goring for something to hit.

Fortunately Yoreno was knocked to the ground without taking one of those massive horns, but then was nearly trampled as the mounted rider Yoreno fought stamped forward.

Rolling, he moved away from the beast, but unable to get out of its ultimate path. He rolled, yelling and hoping he wouldn’t be killed.

Dell cried and his blade hit something.

The charging beast screamed hidiously and as soon as Yoreno stopped rolling, he lunged to his feet and turned, seeing the mounted rider ram into the mage.

Turning to glance at Yoreno, Dell nodded.

“Thanks!” Yoreno called.

He wasn’t certain exactly what happened, only that the mounted rider attempting to stampede him was now crashing into his own magicker.

The mage cried out in some inhuman tongue, his yellow eyes widened as he fell off his mount right before Dantera.

“If you’re going to make it easy!”—she bellowed as she raised her blade in both hands over her head. The demihuman cried out, thrusting his hands and claws forward defensively, but it was useless—“I won’t complain!”

Dantera ended the mage right there on the rocks.

“The sorcerer is down!” Dell called. “Attack!”

The other mounted riders—their leader dead—wheeled about distractedly without orders. Yoreno ran forward as a crossbow bolt whistled past him and took another rider in the chest.

The creature he rode howled, lifted its front legs and charged Yoreno. At the last moment he jumped, his body slamming into the rocks at the beast’s side. His armor prevented him from injury.

“Watch out!” Dell called, and rushed between Yoreno and a rider who thrust his spear forward. Dell grunted with a swing and the attacker’s arm was lopped off in a spray of blood.

Yoreno rushed forward to take the last beast rider, but the hilt of a small blade suddenly appeared, the sharp end sunk to the guard in the rider’s neck. He grasped at the protruding weapon and fell.

With the beasts still lumbering about, they created a wall of flesh between the Emblazoned Party and the twenty or so warriors marching up, coalescing at the top of the trail.

“Move!” Dell cried, pushing the front end of the beast, trying to get it to turn.

“I can help!” Yoreno said as he ran to the beast and stepped into the stirrup. He took the reins and pulled it around. Surprisingly, it acting much like a horse.

“Now get off, Yor!”

He did as his friend and fellow knight bid, and slid off the saddle back to the ground just as Yoreno slashed at the creature’s rear, putting a red gash in its thick skin. The beast cried out and thundered forward, its body lumbering over the stones.

“Yes!” Dell called. “Go!”

The creature rammed into the others. One of them fell as two more were shunted aside. It slowed the beast mount’s stampede considerably, but didn’t stop it from smashing into the group of warriors.

They howled as one, falling away from sight, obviously rolling down the steep incline. The warriors probably wouldn’t die, but they would be in no condition to continue fighting.

Then Dantera rushed forward and slashed at the other beasts, her sword leaving trails of red luminescence behind it.

The creatures howled, attempting to turn. One managed, and stampeded its masters like the one before, but the power of her blade thrusts killed the other two, leaving large mounds that could be used for defensive purposes.

“Yeah!” Lev called, and lunged up the belly of one dead beast, knocked an arrow and loosed it in the direction of the switchback below.

Turning, he smiled. “They’re retreating!”

Then something bright flicked past Lev as blood shot out the back of his shoulder. He spun through the air and landed on the hard stones.

Yoreno’s eyes widened as he saw his friend’s face slam into the black slate and bounce like a leather ball.

“Lev!” Dell cried.

Yoreno ran to him, grabbed him from under both shoulders and dragged his unmoving form back.

“Mai!” Dell called.

“I’m here.”

She ran to them, sliding on her knees in front of Lev.

Dantera came running. “Stop!” she commanded.

They all three looked at her as Dorrin loosed a crossbow bolt in the direction of the trail. “They’re still coming! They’re still coming!”

“We all die if we do not send them into full retreat!” Dantera hissed. “They are returning. Leave him!”

Without waiting to see if they would obey, Dantera turned and ran headlong for the line of warriors brandishing swords and spears.