his saddle, but Niso made it to the gates. Fortunately, we have an excellent bowman named Frondis who feathered the demon, keeping it at a distance. The half-men attacked, but we were able to overwhelm them. After several minutes of hard fighting, the demon called back those still alive and left."
Dominic had looked over at Jonas as Petrous was speaking, watching him make his way through the wounded, almost finished with healing them. He noticed something odd, his hand drifting towards his sword.
"You said this battle took place a week ago?" He asked and Petrous nodded. "Then why are some of these men's wounds fresh?" He finished, voice now hard, eyes focused on Petrous.
Petrous stepped back from Dominic, holding up his hands, recoiling from that gaze. "I had not gotten there yet. After that battle, we saw no signs of the demons or half-men until today. A group was coming back from the mines just before dark when they encountered a large party of half-men and demons moving through the woods. Most fell, but the freshly wounded are the ones who made it back."
Dominic felt a chill go through him. "Jonas, we have to go now!"
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
In the low light of their small fire, Jake was sitting on a log, talking quietly with Hailyn. Marcus was sitting nearby, close to the wagon, honing his sword. The soldiers were positioned around the small campsite, keeping watch. With clouds masking the pale moonlight, the woods seemed darker than the night, the fire creating a small circle of light against the oppressive dark.
Without warning, one of the soldiers screamed as an arrow ripped through his leg, then went silent as another arrow took him in the throat. The other soldiers ran to aid him when more arrows flew in from the night, raking them with multiple hits. They collapsed, crying out as they fell. Marcus had risen, sword in hand and his shield on his arm, when several arrows streaked into the light towards him. He raised his shield, the arrows splintering against the hardened steel.
Jake had risen as well, pulling Hailyn behind him, his magic suddenly lighting up the area. Another arrow came flying in, striking him before he could react. The arrow shattered against his armor, Jake feeling only the impact of the collision.
"I need him alive, you fools!" Jake heard a demon cry out in its inhuman voice.
He reacted at the sound, sending his magic into the tree line, sweeping across his front. He heard cries of pain and the sounds of his power turning some into ash. In the light of his magic, he could make out large groups of half-men deeper in the woods.
"Marcus, come over here!" Jake shouted. "We need to stay together!"
Marcus moved towards Jake, shield raised, eyes watching the tree line. Across the clearing, an inky blast of demons' fire streaked towards him. Jake sent his magic out to deflect the attack. He was joined by Hailyn, her yellow fire colliding with the darkness as well.
Hailyn stepped out from behind Jake, her power shining. As Marcus joined them, the half-men came rushing out of the trees towards them. Jake sent a bolt of blue fire into the nearest half-men, destroying some and blasting the others away. Hailyn's power was flaring as well, striking out. Marcus stepped out slightly in front of them, engaging two half-men that came around the edge.
Jake and Hailyn were sending their magics into the crowd of half-men, driving them back. Into a gap in their lines, an Imp stepped forward, engaging Jake, its dark magic seeming to chill the air. Jake deflected the attack, but the demon required all of his attention, leaving only Hailyn and Marcus to handle the half-men.
As more half-men appeared, their situation became direr. They were exposed in the clearing while some of the half-men were working their way to their right, trying to flank them. Marcus recognized the threat and called out.
"We have to move!" He shouted, blocking a half-man's axe with his shield and slashing his opponent. "We cannot properly defend ourselves here."
Jake nodded, hammering the demon with his power, driving it back. He attacked again while the demon, form smoking, desperately tried to block Jake's magic. Suddenly, Hailyn sent a bolt of clerics' fire into it, overwhelming its defenses and reducing it to ash. Motioning Marcus, Jake swept the half-men with his magic, forcing a gap to develop between them. With the half-men stopped for a moment, they turned and ran.
They made their way