Falorians in particular were proving a deadly foe, using their long spears to good effect and taking a terrible toll on the defenders. The Thargws were in their element and thoroughly enjoying their day, despite their losses. They excelled at close quarter combat and it wasn’t long before Knesh found himself and his ever dwindling group of men retreating on all sides, until they eventually formed a small defensive circle which continued diminishing in size, as rebel after rebel was killed.
Only a handful remained with Knesh to the end, the bravest and fittest among them. But it was no use. The far superior forces they faced were too skilful and too numerous. Knesh was totally exhausted now, he was bloodied all over from scores of minor wounds and the blood of the countless enemies he’d killed or wounded covered him. He was physically shattered and his body ached all over, his throat was so dry he could hardly swallow, sweat, blood and dirt covered his face and stung his eyes. He knew that the end was near, the enemy just kept on coming, no matter what they did! There was no respite, there was no way out of the battle this time, and Knesh knew it. All the enemy had to do now, was end it.
And then they stopped!
They stopped. ‘Why had they stopped?’
All of the enemy soldiers in front of him and on both sides had suddenly disengaged from the fight! They had all taken a few deliberate steps backwards, encircling the pathetic remnants of the Rebel Army and bearing down on them, poised to strike. Knesh couldn’t understand what was happening.
Then, the ranks of enemy soldiers ahead of him began to disperse, starting from the rear and moving forwards, until the front rank parted and through them all walked the mighty figure of Sawdon, his sword, mouth and whole body strewn with the blood of his victims and his eyes wide, his nostrils flared and all of his razor sharp teeth showing, as he smiled broadly.
Sawdon strode confidently and aggressively towards Knesh with his sword raised. But as he reached the Gerada, two of the rebels standing between them launched a sudden, surprise attack upon the Thargw, viciously thrusting at him with their swords in a valiant, if suicidal attempt, to protect their leader.
Sawdon reacted to the sudden frenzy with extraordinary skill and speed. He killed both of the attacking rebels quickly with two economic thrusts of his own battlesword as his body swayed to avoid their attacks. They fell dead on the floor at his feet. Sawdon then nonchalantly stepped over them to reach Knesh. He looked the Gerada up and down with contempt.
“Rarrr! Here we are at last! The ‘great’ Knesh Corian.” he growled mockingly, playing to the crowd of eager Thargws that had gathered around closely and now surrounded them. “Caught in the trap like a common rachtis. Ra! You have nowhere to run now, rebel. Nowhere to hide yourself away this time. Rrrr... I have longed for this day for too long. I have seen it in my dreams, the day that you and I would meet and fight. Now we will see who is the mightiest warrior, you or I. Now we will fight as we have never fought before. And we will show these soldiers once ar all who is the best!” he snarled menacingly.
But to Sawdon’s surprise, Knesh was smiling back at him.
“You need to get out more. Do what you will, Sawdon,” he replied, “the fact remains that my King has gone. You are too late. He lives to fight another day. Whatever ‘victory’ you have won here, it is incomplete. And you still...”
“Yes, Knesh. But, we will hunt him down!” interrupted Sawdon angrily. “You will have sold your life cheaply. And what will he do now, without you to guide him? We will capture him soon enough. Dead or alive, he will be brought before my King. And that little girl of his.”
Knesh’ eyes flinched at the mention of Zephany. Sawdon had provoked a small, involuntary reaction and Knesh was angry at himself for letting him see it.
“Ah, yes. The girl, Zephany. She will be enslaved and made to work in Lidzenstor. Or else she will be wed to a Dzorag, they know how to treat their women. Who knows, I may avail myself of her before....”
Sawdon didn’t have time to finish his sentence. Knesh suddenly launched himself at him with a flurry of violent attacks which the Thargw