Embry saw as Onyx held onto Tigris. Tigris then turned to Embry. “You know the two of you can switch seats you know. It’s not like I can’t see the way you make bedroom eyes at me every now and then.”

Embry smiled to herself and rode ahead. “You didn’t say no.” She could hear Tigris shout behind her as she neared Azura.

“How’s he doing?” Asked Azura looking ahead.

“He’s fine luckily that girl Tigris told me about helped him.”

“What girl?” Asked Azura.

“Some girl from Dol-Sur got him out of the noose. Think they’ll retaliate?”

“Yes and they have us outnumbered. Our marching orders are to hold them off until Captain Padden and his paladins show up to back us up. It will take them at least a day to get here... If we are lucky. If not... Well... You better hope we all kill at least five of them to break even.” Azura then hurried on ahead.

They finally reached their camp, and everyone was readying their weapons. “Reik your team on the left flank. Onyx your team on the right flank. I get the center. We have the advantage of having the high ground, but... Well let’s hope it lasts. How much ammo do we have on the Sybaris rifles?”

“If we break even... Ten per rifle.”

“Alright Tykal you are the best shot we have take a few rifles load them up, and take to the high ground. Take the rest that know how to shoot as well pick off the officers first, but conserve only if you can get a shot. How much do we have on the catapults?”

“Three.”

“If we break even?” Azura asked.

“No, just three.”

“Damn it! We are fucked! Okay load one into each and only fire if I order you to. Now then seventy of us will hold the center here. To the right I want sixty and the left gets sixty. The rest of you I want you to be in the reserve. I want you guys to grab our ammo and meds to those who need it. Now then there will be three lines not including the sniper’s post. At the front I want all our best combatants. The second line will be comprised of repeating crossbows and slingshots. The third line will have the reserves that will be handing out whatever it is you don’t have on you. Now we don’t have a lot so make it count. If during the fight we get separated just head up the river to the dock and head up towards Karana.”

“Reinforcements?” Asked one of the soldiers.

“The soldiers next to you are your reinforcements. It will take them at least a day. Now get to your positions grab your crossbows and get set for a raid.”

Embry grabbed her sword and crossbow just as they did.

“Hey Tykal aim for the eyes.” Said Onyx as he grabbed his gear.

“You disappoint me Onyx c’mon you know I’m a good shot.” Said Tykal as she began loading the Sybaris rifles.

“Which has led me to wonder Tykal if you really have something between your legs.” Sneered Tigris.

Tykal smacked Tigris in the back of the head. “Dumbass.”

“Bitch.”

“Sovereigns please protect us in this desperate time. May your spirits be the ones that guide me through the battlefield as I clash my sword against my enemy’s shield.” Lyo began praying to her Sovereign’s necklace sigil.

“Hey don’t worry it will be alright.” Embry tried to reassure Lyo.

“Okay everyone let’s go. Tigris are you still good on your transformations?” Asked Onyx as they finished preparing.

“About half an hour to an hour.” Said Tigris as she latched on her combat gloves.

“Okay once they breach the perimeter they are all yours.” Onyx looked at everyone and nodded.

Embry aimed her crossbow down the hill she could see Tykal along with a few others setting up at a more elevated position. Tigris and Lyo took to the lower position holding them off while Embry, Onyx, and a few other soldiers and legionnaires picked them off. Embry looked at Onyx. “Thanks for the rescue back there.”

“No problem... No let’s make these bastards pay.” Said Embry as she loaded her crossbow.

The enemy finally set themselves up in an attack formation. The front line had men with pikes, halberds, and spears. Embry looked down at the dozens of soldiers that they had enraged with their little rescue operation.

“Looks like you guys kicked the hornet’s nest.” Said Onyx looking down the sight.

“Onyx... Promise me that they won’t...”

“We’ll make it.”

“But...”

“We’ll make it... Besides Azura is on our side, and if we are lucky the Sovereigns are too.”

“All six of them?”

“Yep now let’s do this.”

They saw as their leader drew his sword and led the charge. To Embry what seemed like dozens soon appeared to be scores. She heard gunfire from behind her as Tykal and the rest of the snipers began picking off their officers. Onyx and Embry along with the rest of their line began firing their crossbows and slingshots at the enemy’s horses to bog them down in a fair fight. Embry saw as Lyo and Tigris began picking them off one by one. Namely the ones that were struggling to get up. For a moment their luck seemed to hold as they began dealing massive casualties to the enemy. Surely enough their luck ran out as the second wave rushed in. Embry reached out to grab another magazine for her crossbow when she couldn’t find one. She turned around to see that everyone else was in the same situation.

“Onyx I’m out! You?”

Onyx looked at his crossbow. “Half... Here you take it you are a better shot than me anyways... Besides I got throwing knives.”

Embry grabbed his crossbow and began firing in singles rather than in fully automatic. She saw Tigris fighting when she noticed an enemy creeping up behind her. She took the shot and hit his right shoulder blade. Tigris then immediately killed the soldier in front of her, and killed the one behind her in one swoop. Embry saw more enemy soldiers gathering by the tree-line.

“Onyx we have no choice now we have to…” Before Embry could finish her thought three large fiery orbs flew through the air into the tree line burning and killing off most of the second wave of soldiers.

Even though they maintained the advantage of the high ground it was soon turned into a liability as the remaining enemy forces began surrounding them. Embry noticed Tigris and Lyo retreat as more soldiers rushed the first line of defense. She noticed Tykal no longer providing fire support either as she looked up she noticed Tykal and the rest of the sharpshooters fix their bayonets. They truly were fucked.

Embry drew her sword and stood at the ready waiting for the enemy to continue their assault. It was a good thing she held onto that black pill Onyx gave her. Lyo and Tigris were quick to make their way to the second line and prepare.

“Fuck! They just keep coming.” Yelled Tigris in frustration as she looked at her wounds. “And I’m almost at my limit here. Fuck it we die together.”

“No! No one else is dying today. We get out of here that’s what we do.”

“And what do you suggest Onyx?” Asked Lyo.

At that moment they heard the sound of a horn being blown.

“A fighting retreat.”

Azura swung her mace and clobbered a man’s head as he almost tried to stab her with his sword. She looked at her surroundings and saw more of her legionnaires dying at the hands of the enemy. She grabbed the horn strapped to her waist and sounded the call.

“Retreat! Everyone retreat!” She made her way towards the summit to gather the rest of her army. As she did she heard more of her soldiers sounding their horns alerting their comrades that the battle was now lost. She reached the summit and saw Onyx and his team gathering with Tykal and heading down the opposite side of the hill.

She took a different route and took a few other soldiers with her. She noticed a fellow soldier reaching for her pack pulling out a black pill and swallowing it. Her mouth later foamed and she started to convulse. There are worst fates than death after all.