Disciple of War Disciple of War (Art of the Adept #4) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,108

what he’d done, they also triggered the portcullises, but the force-wall kept them from falling as well, though Will felt the strain as so much heavy weight came to bear along the top of his wall at either end.

“Terabinians! The city is ours!” he shouted, his voice echoing with such depth and timbre that it seemed to shake the walls around him.

Chapter 30

As Will was blocking the city gates, Klendon’s defenders reached the rear of Second Division’s line. Unfortunately for them, the seemingly unprepared Terabinians were expecting them. As the Darrowan soldiers charged out they smoothly turned in place. What had seemed to be the back row, primarily spearmen, bent and lifted their shields from the ground, while those behind them switched to spears. They had been in a reversed formation the entire time, though they had made every effort to appear unready.

The line of shields and spears that met the Darrowans was firm and solid, which in practical terms was a disaster for the smaller force of attackers who had expected to take their enemies by surprise. Even worse, while those that met them held their ground, the wings of Second Division were already charging in from the sides, heading for the gates and their now-beleaguered commander.

For the first few moments, the men in the gatehouse didn’t know what to make of their inability to close one of the gates, and they were even more confused when the portcullises dropped only a foot before stopping suddenly. It wasn’t long, though, before one of their sorcerers spotted Will. He wasn’t able to keep using Darla’s technique while maintaining the force-wall, and the camouflage spell only went so far when dealing with people who could see turyn being used.

Spells and elementals began attacking his wall from one side, while an angry line of soldiers two abreast began running toward him once they figured out how his wall was placed. Will had lined up his force-wall about seven feet from the right-hand interior wall, giving himself plenty of room. It also meant the enemy could come at him only two at a time, though others were running outside the gates to find the other end of his wall and flank him. Soon they’d be approaching him from both sides.

He dropped the camouflage spell as soon as the soldiers began to head toward him. While maintaining the force-wall, he couldn’t use other force spells, like his point-defense shield, or the force-lance, both of which would have been massively useful to him just then, but he’d planned for his current situation. The force-wall had been his first prepared spell; the iron-body transformation and silver-sword spell were his second and third. Argent flames erupted from the blade of his falchion as he met the first attackers.

Will’s fighting skills had improved over the years, though he was by no means the greatest of swordsmen, but his magic gave him a considerable advantage. The silver-sword spell greatly enhanced the cutting power of his sword. It still couldn’t easily cut through mail or a shield (though it would leave deep cuts), but it could pass through ordinary leather or padded gambesons much more easily than a mundane blade. That combined with the fiercely burning flames and the fear and hesitation they produced in his opponents, made quite a difference.

They still would have eventually overborne him with sheer numbers, especially as they began to come at him from both sides, but Will was also able to use the source-link spell to great effect. As the first men reached him, he connected to their sources and paralyzed them in an instant, causing them to freeze in place. This not only caused those behind to stumble over them, but it also made them easy targets. His blade rose and fell ruthlessly, cutting through flesh and bone while it sent streamers of blood through the air.

Silver fire sizzled when it met blood, and the air was filled with the stench of burning flesh as the next soldiers to reach him began trying to move away, struggling with their companions behind them.

Will used that brief respite to turn and deal similarly with the first of those to flank him from the other end. Men fell screaming, with mortal wounds, and the fight began to devolve into chaos as Will was forced to divide his attention.

Ten were down, then fifteen, and Will began to doubt he could last. His enemies were everywhere, and his turyn was fading as he struggled to maintain the wall