Deke Brolin Rhol (37 page)

Ω

Oisin and Orulla stood out front of their troops waiting. Their plan had worked, but not quite as they had envisioned it. The V formation was meant to draw a large portion of Solharn’s army, not the army in its entirety.

It forced them to make slight changes to their strategy. Kaelyn and Issa had long since left after discussing the new plan with them. They had both been shocked and
both were somewhat suspicious when it was revealed that Phanthus now fought for their side. They feared that it was some sort of trap, but it had been Palto’s decision.

That was all they needed to
know. Even if they had their doubts, they trusted Palto for he was the most highly regarded warrior in all of Rhol. Their warriors had long since fallen back from the V formation, and had been carefully instructed on when to act. Everything was in place and that was why they were waiting, looking up toward the cliffs.

“There he is,
” Orulla said calmly to Oisin.

Oisin could see him now. Phanthus was descending from the cliffs toward the front of Solharn’s battalion. His mas
sive wings cut through the rain and with the wind at his back he moved at a rapid pace. It would not take him long to reach his destination. Orulla must have come to the same conclusion for when Oisin turned to speak with her, she was already gone. He could see her at a distance briefing the archers, ensuring they knew when to strike the army with their arrows.

“When the fire bursts across the fields let your bows guide your arrows. The Kaltaure
s army will be trapped behind the fire. The other half of our army will be coming in behind them. When your arrows are gone, then and only then will we move up to the wall of fire.”

Oisin joined Orulla
, once again taking his place upon her back. She walked toward the front lines while Oisin gave his last orders to the Rholians.

“The time is near. Rhol will once again be ours to live as we should live and to be as we should be. When the fire strikes the fields of Solace follow me
, Rholians, and prepare yourself for the battle that will define your future.”

Ω

Phanthus could see that the Ralcriff had already been released. He would not be able to take them all out. The ground troops would have to deal with the stragglers.

Abednego was waving to him, signalling him to join him on the ground. Phanthus thought
it a shame that he could not just extinguish Abednego’s life right then and there, but unlike most leaders his death would not do much to discourage his troops. The Kaltaures would replace him in an instant. They had no respect for anyone, including their own kind. Abednego would have to wait for another time. For now, the look of surprise on his face would have to suffice.

Phanthus
flew at ground level toward the Ralcriff which had only managed to gain about fifty meters from where they had been released. Abednego suddenly stopped waving his hand, yet his arm remained frozen in the air. He was obviously confused, wondering why Phanthus was taking the path he was on.

Minutes later
, Abednego found himself crawling back to his feet after being knocked to the ground from the waves of heat that had suddenly filled the air. He looked in disbelief at the wall of fire that stretched out along the plains in front of him. Burning balls of fire were running all over the place growling and snarling. Blinded by the fire that consumed them, the Ralcriff lost all sense of direction. Some were lucky and quickly ended their suffering as they ran into the Kaltaures’ ranks and were met with swords.

“Traitor!” Abednego yelled into the sky.

His words were cut short by his warriors suddenly dropping to the ground. Everywhere he looked, they fell. Hundreds of them splayed out upon the ground with arrows protruding from their lifeless bodies.  He was incensed. The rest of his troops just milled about unorganized and in shock.

He screamed at his men
. “Gather yourselves, you idiots! Attack! Attack!” he shrieked over and over again, but he too had lost control of his senses. There was nobody to attack. They could only see the fire that burned in front of them.

Realizing this, he yelled back again
. “Prepare your shields, you fools! Return to your lines!” His men were scrambling. They tripped over their fellow warriors lying dead on the ground and fell into the mud in the panic of it all. His troops were in disarray. Abednego cursed looking at the fire burning in front of him. It was slowly dissipating. It was slowly revealing what was to come next as shadows suddenly became silhouettes, hundreds of them standing just to the other side of the flames.

He realized at that moment wha
t was happening. “Ready yourselves!” he screamed and cowardly maneuvered his horse to the rear of his men. In the distance, he could see a Kruntulla madly swiping in the air at the very back of his battalion. He squinted in an effort to see what caused its strife. Pegapires and Lealians were attacking from the rear. They were surrounded. They had been betrayed by Phanthus and outsmarted by the armies of Rhol.

Ω

The Rholians were still outnumbered, but the odds had become drastically better. So far their strategy had worked. The ground troops could not have timed it better. Trapped with nowhere to go, hundreds of Kaltaures succumbed to the Orler arrows being fired in their direction.

The ground troops had lost several of their warriors to the hundred or so Ralcriff that ha
d escaped Phanthus, but not one of them made it past the front line to the archers. Eventually, all of the Ralcriff had succumbed to the swords of the skilled warriors that fought them.  When their arrows were depleted the Rholians moved in unison, and quickly realigned themselves in front of the wall of fire.

Once Issa’s scout had returned with the news that the ground troops were advancing, she and Kaelyn wasted no time. They led their warriors into the fight
, attacking from the rear. Although they surprised Solharn’s forces, they too were met with an unexpected turn.  A second battalion of Phits had been held back, and they now took to the air charging after Kaelyn’s warriors.

This pos
ed a problem as they could not assist the ground troops. Even Phanthus was growing tired from fighting the Phits off. In addition, two Kruntulla were advancing and they were not an easy foe to stop.

On the ground
, even though the Kaltaures were disorganized, they still posed a significant threat. While their swordsmanship paled in comparison to the Lealians’, their size and strength was much greater. Another unanticipated problem came from the Kaltaures’ soldiers who lay on the ground merely wounded.  If their heart still beat, then so too did the snakes that grew from their heads. When a Lealian stepped too close to a wounded Kaltaures soldier they were bitten and injected with venom. Because of this, many Lealians were becoming ill and weak. In time they would succumb to the poison and die.

In the air
, the Phits were slowly losing the battle, but it was far from over. The ground troops would not get their help any time soon. Becoming concerned, Oisin and Orulla took to the air to survey the ongoing battle. It did not look promising. The Kaltaures’ numbers were still far greater than the Lealian’s.

“Orulla, we are losing this battle. There are too many. We need hel
p!” Oisin yelled.

“The
y had another battalion of Phits hidden in the ranks. The Pegapires have their hands full,” Orulla answered.

“What of Phanthus?”

“I don’t know. We will try to find him.”

Orulla flew as fast as her wings could
carry her. The weather did not help. She was blinded by the pelting rain, and the wind currents made navigating next to impossible.

“Look out!” Oisin yelled.

Orulla swerved, narrowly missing a tree flying through the air toward them. “Where did that come from?” Oisin asked.

“
The Kruntulla, more than likely.”

“There!” Oisin yelled.

In the distance they could see the mighty dragon. He was swarmed by Phits. Orulla moved in. As they drew near, they could see the Phits had been successful in severely damaging one of the dragon’s eyes, and were working on the other. Phanthus was struggling to escape them.

The Pegapire
s that had been assigned to fly alongside him following his second attack were no longer there.

“We have to help him, Orulla.”

Orulla swept by the nose of Phanthus drawing the attention of the Phits’. Oisin was able to drop two of them as they flew by. They converged on Orulla and Oisin which gave Phanthus the chance he needed. He gathered his strength and in one breath they were burned to ashes.

Orulla moved over to flank Phanthus. “What happened, Phanthus
? What happened to the Pegapires that rode with you?”

“They fought valiantly b
ut three fell to the Phits and one to a Kruntulla. I am sorry.”

“We need help on the ground. T
he Kaltaures still outnumber us,” Orulla exclaimed.

Phanthus simply nodded and veered toward the ground followed by Orulla and Oisin. Suddenly he turned back and took to the sky.

“What is it Phanthus?” Orulla asked.

“The Lealian
s and the Kaltaures, they are entwined together in battle! If I attack with fire I will kill just as many of us. The best I can hope for is to back them off,” he answered discouragingly.

With that he flew to the ground and landed in the heart of the battle. Phanthus stood on his hind legs with his wings pinned back
, and sent a stream of fire over the heads of the warriors. It worked for a moment, but only briefly. A Kruntulla came out of nowhere, throwing a large boulder at the dragon. Phanthus reacted instantly jumping to the side. The rock missed its mark and flew by him crushing several warriors. In a fury, Phanthus charged at the Kruntulla.

Orulla was amazed that Phanthus was able to withstand the blows of the Kruntulla as the two massive beasts savagely fought. They grappled with each other in a fight that few, if any, would ever see again. Claws and teeth
fought against raw strength and size. It was hard to tell which creature, if either, had the advantage. Tense minutes lingered on into what seemed like an eternity and then, all at once, Phanthus dug his claws into the chest of his opponent and used his wings to drive the beast backward. The Kruntulla was unable to keep his balance and toppled backward crashing to the ground. That was all Phanthus needed. In seconds the Kruntulla’s head was transformed into a burning inferno. Its screams were not what one would expect, more like a long moan which Phanthus ended quickly by killing the beast with his massive jaws. It was the mark of a warrior; one never rejoiced in the suffering of a fallen enemy.

“What is that?” Oisin asked in curiosity.

Orulla looked toward the blue flash that appeared from the mountain ridge behind Phanthus.

“I don’t kno
...oh no, Phanthus look out!”

Phanthus heard her
, but it was too late to react to the three bolts of blue electricity that shot through the air striking his body. He fell to the ground stunned. The electricity coursed through him refusing to let go. It would eventually weaken him to the point of no return.

“It is the Brawltug! Duffy has returned. Quickly, Orulla! They do not know Phanthus fights with us and not against! We must apprise them before it is too late!”

Without hesitation, Orulla began to fly toward the mountain ridge. “Wait Orulla! The Kaltaures, they are advancing on Phanthus. We must protect him! Take me to him, I will stay here!” Oisin yelled.

Orulla flew to the ground. Oisin quickly
dismounted and ran to Phanthus’ side. The Kaltaures were already closing in on the ailing dragon that still lay there, unable to move. 

“Quickly!” Oisin yelled to other
warriors fighting nearby. “Surround the dragon and protect him at all costs! We owe him that!”

Phanthus was d
azed and losing energy quickly. He could still see, and what he saw filled him with profound respect for the side he now fought for. He understood now that they, the Lealians, would give their life for anyone who fought beside them. It did not matter to them that he had been their enemy at one time. It was the present that mattered.

They could well have left him to suffer the fate of death, but they rallied around him. He was surprised at Oi
sin’s power. His size was small and skinny, yet his heart must have been enormous. Three Kaltaures had already fallen by his sword. His speed, determination and swordsmanship were his strengths. He never wavered and his sword never slowed, as he fought to keep the ever advancing Kaltaures away from the dragon’s head. He was nearly decapitated on more than one occasion by the sickles that the Kaltaures swung toward him. It was a favorite and an effective weapon for them. Fortunately, it proved to be ineffective on Oisin as he rolled and ducked, slicing through the wooden handles, leaving nothing more than a stick in the hands of his enemy.

Phanthus watched in admiration as one Lealian warrior worked off the other. They were masters at it. Someone was always watching the other’s back. There was complete trust
between them which meant they never had to worry what was coming from behind them.  If one Lealian was forced to duck, he somehow signaled the warrior behind him. There was no hesitation. The person at the back would roll away instantly and come up around the front, quite often disposing of the enemy. Then they would switch places and continue.