Blood sprayed her face, after Anula’s sword bit deep into her attacker’s neck. She stepped back, Andre’s sword colliding with the next attacker. Anula’s brown hair, wet from the rain and blood clung to her olive-skinned face, her amber eyes glowing through the few strands that covered her left eye. She wiped blood from her face and raised her blade just in time to catch an axe. Ian thrusted under her arm finding the half breeds exposed stomach. Working together, her group kept the horde of half breeds back while militia on their flanks began to fall under the relentless attack. Her father pulled her back and charged forward into the battle with renewed vigor. Anula breathed heavy and looked back to the fountain to see the woman and children were sluggish to leave through the city gate. Militia attempted to keep order; their shouts ignored while people ran past them with their possessions. She watched the escaping people while she continued to breathe easier. She flexed her arm, observing cuts and gashes she had received in the past hours. Struggling to ignore the pain, she clenched her teeth.

“We are well fucked now.” Ian said, snapping Anula’s attention back to the battle.

“It was only a matter of time.” Thom replied slicing a limp from a half breed. Anula looked to the host of large beasts who approached in a leisurely pace. More half breeds and half bulls appeared in their wake, ebbing and flowing to reinforce their allies. One of the monsters signaled and the half breeds ran to the flanks in force with reckless abandon. Militia swords and spears killed the first line with ease, but the wave of attackers pushed on harder and harder, overwhelming the militia. Within moments, the half breeds pushed through the ranks of militia to encircle the fountain to cut off their only escape. Anula watched with dread while the half breeds cut through the woman and children. Older men and woman were slain while the more youthful women were dragged away into nearby buildings, their screams more frantic once out of sight. Children were picked up like sacks and carried away while they cried. After a few heartbeats, the gate was empty and half bulls and half breeds ran through the gates to track down any who had escaped.

A horn sounded and the attack stopped.

Half bulls backed away revealing an open space filled with the dead. Anula looked around, most of the militia had defeat in their eyes, some even threw their weapons to the ground while others fell to their knees to accept their fate. Anula gripped her sword tighter and steeled herself against the fear of defeat.

“Bring the human woman to me.” A deep voice bellowed from the golden armored beast in the middle. Two minotaur stepped through the parting half breeds, their steel plated armor noticeably better than the leather or iron armor of the half breeds.

“Stay behind us Anula.” Her father said, stepping in front of her. “Pure bloods, even of lower clans are a challenge.”

“Clan Aesturion.” Andre said nodding to the golden armored pure blood watching in the distance.

“King Rurak?” Ian asked squinting at the massive pure blood.

“Shit…” Thom said with a sigh.

Anula looked from the king back to the two heavily armored pure bloods. One unsheathed two long swords while the other held a war hammer. They move with a grace she thought impossible for their size. When one attacked, Anula stood shocked at their fluid and precise movements. Their heavy blades looked weightless, flicking effortlessly into the path of Ian’s blade while they danced back and forth. Blades found openings in Ian’s guard, denting and cutting his armor. After a thrust, a blade punctured Ian’s armor, sinking deep into his flesh, but was removed swiftly as another blade arced down. Ian blocked and their swords collided, unable to withstand the powerful blow, Ian’s blade flew from his hand while he rolled, avoiding a second blade aimed for his throat. Andre stepped in, his blade slamming hard on the pure bloods gauntlet, but the arm didn’t even move. With a snort, the pure blood pushed through the blade and back handed Andre with the steel gauntlet, sending him flying the other direction. Thom and Bakka attacked as one before Andre hit the mud, their blades finding seams in the heavy armor, carving deep into the flesh. The beast roared in pain and jumped back; blood flowed freely through its finger tips when it clutched the gash on his side.

Thom and Bakka readied themselves as the other pure blood stepped forward, allowing its wounded companion to escape. He gripped his war hammer, looking to Thom and Bakka, deciding they were the only threat after glancing at Andre and Ian in the mud. His war hammer spun with unbelievable speed causing it to whistle as he slammed it down.

Thom’s blade raised to block the hammers descent, metal struck metal and Thom’s blade shattered in half meeting the head of the war hammer. Unable to move out of the way, the hammer continued colliding with Thom’s chest, sending him into a group of the watching half breeds. Bakka searched for an opening, but his blade glanced off the armor and was forced back as the war hammer swung his way. Seeing her father in trouble, Anula charged, thrusting with all her power. Her blade pierced through the armored back of the pure blood halting when it struck bone. She removed her blade, dodging a clumsy swing of the war hammer when the monster spun. Her father laid in the mud, trying to get up, his blade just out of reach.

Anula steeled herself and attacked before the pure blood could start swinging. Her blade stabbed, forcing the beast back, not allowing him to build momentum. Suddenly she was soaring back, her breath forced from her lungs while she flew in the air. She hit the mud and slid, finding her breath at last, still feeling the hit from his boot in her gut. Her blade had flown from her hand and she stood up slowly looking for her lost weapon. Thunder rumbled, and Anula saw the pure blood running her way, hammer aimed at her side. Moving faster then she had ever before, she stepped into the swing and braced herself to catch the handle of the giant war hammer. Her instincts shouted at her, telling her she would die. She was too weak to challenge this monster who stood four hands wider and taller. She braced herself and her palms caught the handle below the hammer as it stuck. Her muscles tensed and her feet dug into the mud until the hammer’s momentum was halted. She glared up at the minotaur in defiance as he looked down with confusion.

Blood dribbled from the sides of his muzzle and he coughed, forcing more blood to flow. His grip on the weapon weakened, and the war hammer fell from his grasp. Anula let it fall, the weapon too heavy for her to wield. With one final step her way, he fell face first into the mud, her father’s blade deep in the wound from her previous attack. Her father gave her a small smile and limped over struggling to remove the blade from the dying beast.

“Allow me brother to show this human the strength of a true pure blood.” A growling, gritty voice said.

“Bring them to me, alive.” King Rurak said motioning their way. Anula recognized the black armored monster from earlier. His yellow eye focused on her, gliding up and down her body. A chill shot down her spine in fear. He was much larger than the pure blood her father killed, his horns longer and pointing straight to the night sky mirroring King Rurak and the other minotaur at his side. She could see their likeliness, with the one approaching taller and more muscular.

“I said alive Draxz.”

“I heard you.” Draxz grunted and stood covered in blood without weapons, and raised his hands to the side harmlessly. Her father with his sword free from the dead body charged without hesitation.

Draxz watched her father with amusement on his muzzle while he charged. Bakka attacked, Draxz’s arms still out to the side. Draxz’s gauntlet moved fast, intercepting Bakka’s blade with no effort. Bakka parried and attacked again, a black gauntlet catching every attack.

Draxz’s fist moved fast, and connected with Bakka’s chest, forcing him to drop the blade and fall back, but was caught by Draxz other hand before he could get out of range.

“Pathetic fool.” Draxz raised her father off the ground until their eyes met. He breathed in deep and smiled. “Even after defeat, you show no fear of death.” Draxz nodded and threw him at Anula like he weighed nothing. She tried to intercept his descent, but could not close the distance in time. Her father landed hard in the mud, his head cracking against the fountain. Anula slid to his side, his eyes focusing on her for a brief moment before rolling to the side, staring off into the distance.

“Father!” Anula shook him slightly, but he didn’t respond. A growling laughter caught her attention, and she looked over to see Draxz grinning.

“You will die for this.” Anula said standing up, fury burning in her amber eyes. Shadows melted from her vision, the darkness fading. Her perception increased so she could see the half breeds with ease from her peripherals as if she was looking right at them. Her father taught her how to harness its power once he learned of her unique trait and she focused it fully on Draxz. Every weak point of his armor obvious now to her heightened sight. She moved slowly to her fallen blade and gripped it tightly, she assumed her favorite sword stance and waited for Draxz to attack.

~

Draxz cocked his head curiously at the human woman when her eyes flashed. He thought it was a trick of the lightning, but he couldn’t be positive. He knew a small trickle of magic still lingered with the highest pure blood clans, but humans and half breeds were void of magic.

Unless they have kept it secret over the centuries of battles and wars. He thought briefly before he shook his head, dismissing the thought.

“Alive.”

Draxz snorted in response to Rurak’s reminder, treating him as a mindless, blood thirsty beast. That gave Draxz a pause, and he grinned.

I have only killed a few…

Draxz strode forward, surprised to see the woman standing fearless and defiant. When he closed the gap between them, she struck, her blade flicking forward as she sidestepped quicker than he could respond. Her blade glanced his thigh and the point found a seam under his chest plate, causing a slight burn as it glided across his stomach. She moved out of his reach and assessed him again, her movements agile and predatory. Her attack was an inconvenience, his tough skin able to deter the blade enough from causing a wound. She circled him, Draxz’s blood dripping from the sword point. This human was unique, her movements showing a dangerous confidence that unsettled him for a heartbeat. Using his moment of distraction, she attacked, her blade even quicker than the first. He reached out, his fist aimed for her shoulder, but it was a glancing blow as she moved with his attack rather than against it, her blade finding his flesh between his armor with ease. He grinned at the woman and her prowess with approval. He had not fought a human that could out maneuver his attacks before. He raised his hand out to his legionnaires and an axe flew his way catching it with one hand while he kept his eye on the dangerous human. Draxz measured her with a renewed appreciation and prepared himself appropriately. He had played the part a mouse before and knew the cat’s weakness. She charged in, but he didn’t move, allowing her to close in.

He swung his axe aimed for her side, but she dodged left and he lashed out with his fist. She strained to avoid his attack, but Draxz was aiming for where she would escape to, his fist colliding with her chest. She flew back, sliding in the mud. Draxz stalked forward, the woman rising to her feet effortlessly, blade gripped in her hand. She stood tall, ignoring his last attack. She roared in defiance and ran at him, anger in her eyes. Lightning flashed and with it her blade punched through his armor. He looked down in confusion at her speed and strength when he felt the sword point pushing deeper into his flesh. Draxz grabbed her by the throat with his free hand and dropped his axe to the ground to grip the sword in his gut. He looked down at the plated armor and noticed the angle of the sword forcing a smile from his muzzle. She had angled it perfectly to pierce the seams of the overlapping plates. His grip tightened around her throat raising her to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked, her face still full of anger and defiance even after defeat.

She spit blood into his white eye, his grip tightening in response.

“Draxz.” He looked over to see Goren at his side, his hand on his hilt.

“Goren.”

“Your fun is over.”

“It has just begun.” Draxz growled out, turning his gaze back to the struggling woman. He dropped her sword to the ground and tore at her armor, ripping it clear of her chest to reveal a white tunic. He tossed the ruined leather cuirass to the side and slashed at her tunic.

“Every human is property of the king.” Goren said as Draxz ripped at her tunic revealing her cleavage.

“Not this one.”

“Draxz.”

Draxz looked to Rurak and growled in frustration, his sharpened nail piercing the human’s flesh. Draxz carved the Asterion clan symbol with his sharpened nail above her right breast while she yelled in painful fits trying to breathe. Satisfied with his work, he dropped her into the mud.

“Just marking her for you… my lord…” Draxz spat out walking away from the gasping woman.

“Place her with the other selected slaves.” Rurak said motioning to the human who knelt in the mud.

Drax snorted and walked away, his legionnaires following in his wake.