boarg’s head but he knew that their skulls were thick and that it would do little damage. The two horns would impale him before he could kill the beast.
But the boarg had never fought a human as quick and agile as Airos. Instead of retreating, Airos dove forward underneath the massive head and between the legs of the charging animal, his sharp hunting knife slashing across the beast’s inner thigh. He continued his roll, rising quickly to his feet to engage the next boarg, not even looking back at the doomed animal as it bled out.
Airos killed four more boargs before he felt it, the evil presence hitting him like an oppressive wave. Suatha felt it too, moving back behind the lines to wait for him. He jumped over dead bodies, many of them women and children, and leaped onto her back, sword held in hand. He looked toward the south wall and saw fifty or so people running towards them. It must be their reserve line thought Airos. There was a young boy carrying a bloody spear running towards him panting with exertion and fright.
“Sir…Braal sent his reserves back to regroup with you! He and Marsk stayed with the front line to keep the boargs back! He told me to tell you this!” Fil yelled through panting breaths.
“Good work, boy,” Airos replied.
Just then Airos caught site of Gorum the baker battling a boarg that had breached the front lines. Airos sheathed his sword, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow from a quiver on Suatha’s side. In one smooth motion Airos drew back the powerful bow, sighted in the target, and released the shaft. The arrow slammed into the beast’s side, burying itself to the feathers. The boarg stumbled to the ground, wheezing for air as its lungs filled with blood. Airos returned the bow to its sheath at Suatha’s side as Gorum stumbled backwards; his legs and arms exhausted from constant fighting.
“To me, Gorum!” yelled Airos.
Gorum, seeing safety in Airos, moved quickly towards him carrying his large heavy sword at his side. “Thank you, cavalier,” Gorum blurted, his words coming through labored breaths.
“I have to leave you; the Banthra is here, at the south wall. If I do not return I want you to organize a retreat and get as many people out of the town as possible. If you’re lucky, the boargs will stay here and feed rather than follow you. I cannot promise you anything, just do the best you can to get as many survivors to safety as possible. If I can kill the Banthra then we may have a chance. If not, then you need to get far away from this town for a while, until they have fed.”
“I will do my best, sir,” replied Gorum.
“I wish you luck, baker. Now be off and may Ulren guide you,” replied Airos as he flicked the reins. Gorum was already running towards the line as Suatha leaped into the night.
***
Braal and his men were paralyzed with fear as the boargs slowly crept towards them, saliva dripping from their open mouths. They could sense their paralysis, and they wanted to tease them, like a cat plays with its prey. Braal’s heart began to beat faster and he willed his body to move, to pick up his axe and die fighting, but his body would not obey.
The black rider slowly advanced, his huge horse stepping forward, its massive hooves covered in mangy blood soaked fur, pushing deep into the trampled snow. The horse’s cave-like nostrils flared open as steam hissed from them, splattering mucous into the air. The dark steed curled up its frothy lips, exposing large fangs covered with saliva and blood. Red eyes scanned the men before it, hatred spearing every man who looked upon the deadly animal. This horse was no ordinary horse, but a nightmare, a demon, just like its rider. But it was the Banthra’s gaze that froze them all and they could do nothing to stop the boargs approach.
“Feed my children, kill them all,” hissed the Banthra, his voice sending a paralyzing chill down Braal’s spine.
The boargs moved in slowly, continuing to play with the immobilized men. Their jaws clicked open and shut, exposing fearsome teeth.
Braal was not afraid to die, but to die like this was terrifying. Give me my axe, thought Braal, and let me take several of you demons with me.
A brilliant white light suddenly bathed them all, awakening them and freeing them from the Banthra’s spell. Suatha and