From out of a haze of dust, at the point where the descending valley turned rightwards, out of view, came the first ranks of enemy soldiers, chainmail clad axemen, leaning their weapons against their shoulders. They had a slow, steady pace, set by the beating of the distant drums. The effect was ominous and I felt my stomach tighten. Behind them came a large body of lightly-armed spearmen, the silver points of their upright weapons flickering in the sunlight.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC3bcZGHLz
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dtesd6ZiX
Then came their light cavalry, thirty of them, taking a long while to file into view; next the ten heavy cavalry. Their archers were not yet in sight, nor the drummers, nor their commanders or the Shaman, yet the axemen were coming straight on to the bridge without pausing. Whether it was complacency or stupidity, they were going about this all wrong.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXa9a67X7g
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4QhQKY9Z5
'Blood and Thunder, do you see the chance?' I looked a Lord Arval for confirmation.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNnTYzhW2W
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITlaVcas2A
His face was grim. 'Order us on sire and we'll go to hell or glory.'298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9us7EWSAZ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TqFGG5mqd
I laughed. 'I can do better than that. Follow me. Open the gate!' I shouted. Then I took the potion bottle, uncorked it and gulped down the contents. 'Rhino!'298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjucRZjpjIM
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzejwm53Mqd
For once my great bulk was valuable, I felt it stretch and stiffen as I fell forward onto all fours. Probably I was not a full adult rhino, but the weight and sharpness of the horn in front of my eyes was up to the job at hand.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡap3bJ7GiMq
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsoDYll082
I set off, a lumber at first that was a trot, once through the gate I stepped up to a canter and finally hit my stride at a gallop. Being a rhino was intense. Although my vision was blurry, I could smell the sweat of my enemies and heard the loud thuds of their marching steps on the wooden bridge.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3oIl4jUkL
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dreZTYWV8
Fifty yards and their shouts of alarm rang through the air. The axemen needed the spears in front of them, grounded. But my calculation was that we would get there first. It was intuition and it was the kind of decision that you make in an instant and have to commit to.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGzhYxFZXA
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGivWnisv0s
Forty yards and I was throwing mud up from my hooves as I urged my heavy body to its upmost. This was living! No longer trapped in a body that couldn't walk up ten steps without having to pause for a rest, I was a raging storm; an unstoppable torrent; a tsunami about to crash on the shore. And I loved it.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnawDv6f7uw
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkjYpGkc1D
Thirty yards, some of the axemen were trying to run back through the spearman, who were massed too tight on the bridge to bring their weapons to bear.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjrnjNCyy1
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCTw35ZGQt
Twenty yards. Splashes either side of the bridge as men dived out of the way of the coming hell: me.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iLHmDLqIG
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsoylrQFH6
Ten and I was the tip of an avalanche. From the scent of fear, they knew they were going to be engulfed.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZWzDVoZez
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyKV6NQ20c
Impact!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFk9L0n6Zv
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I4SRtA1Dt
There was a green box flash and I took it, of course.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzPCP1XkoD
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCyKAmi5yn
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtgpg4L2Qy
You have hit an axeman for 147 hit points.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8CQQFW52g
You have killed an axeman!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83wEZO1QN3
You have gained 60 Experience.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbbOp5cXEb
You have unlocked the Impale proficiency.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1u1g89QAb
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF6x3RR9Ym
You have bashed an axeman for 31 hit points.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8jKBDizd3
You have killed an axeman!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr1OLo3vg7
You have gained 60 Experience.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykhm6X7pdW
You have become better at Bash: 2298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEPMTpZFJJ
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrRigRTIOZ
You have bashed an axeman for 34 hit points.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUOIHct5f0
You have killed an axeman!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOFz27HwRj
You have gained 60 Experience.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOyVaon5LV
You have become better at Bash: 3298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7AI2RsZJ9
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvSk6h4W5y
You have bashed a spearman for 26 hit points.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJRIY7iAT7
You have killed a spearman!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykHe4uhRTt
You have gained 40 Experience.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh95M7YOmgz
You have become better at Bash: 4298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkI2MZfWPx
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdg4xBwUyM
You have bashed a spearman for 22 hit points.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DwPbyC7tW
You have killed a spearman!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39kOXneHwj
You have gained 40 Experience.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECzbHhTSJc
You have become better at Bash: 5298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17qksl8Dz8
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszeLPmEVD3
The notifications flew by and I ignored them as I pushed on, crushing soldiers under my hooves, impaling them and throwing their dead bodies to the side. Several axe blows struck home on my front shoulders, flanks and chest but twice I experienced the sweetness and glow of a level increase, each time completely healing my wounds.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nZRCVVik0
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WU0dAmTOc
Screams of wounded and panicked men rang out all around. But through the cries, I could hear a voice like a howling wolf, it was Lord Arval, screaming, 'come on! Come on! For Greyland!'298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgnAPl72qK
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIJdHgRECx
The crush on the bridge was intense, which favoured our side. While their axes and spears could not be brought into play, I could still smash my powerful head into faces ahead and either side, as well as break legs with stamps and kicks of my feet. Our horsemen, too, were nearly immobile, but they could still cut down with sword or stab with lance.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1u7WwEhta9
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l2b6Wql5y
Step by step, we pushed on, nearly clearing the bridge. My only concern now was the timing of the potion. How long had it been since I drank it? Surely only a few minutes, despite the massive carnage we'd inflicted on their army.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee8lzliL5d
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw6wRPoPrR
Then, with a sudden release, we were through, the remnants of the unit of spearmen running back down the narrow path in panic, which instantly disrupted the formation incoming light cavalry. Did I have time to keep going into them? I had to try.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vaeru6mbq
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn34SfEJEtB
The fact that I'd levelled up twice meant I experienced no fatigue and a quick check told me my hit points were at 32. Filled with confidence and energy, I used the room ahead of me to build up momentum again.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavuLkqs7if
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4OMPcLqJF
'Follow the king! For Carlos!' Behind me, Lord Arval was still going strong it seemed and the answering roar of our soldiers had a clear note of triumph. Again, I could smell the fear of men and horses even before I crashed among them, showing no mercy to the animals whom I gutted and whose delicate legs I crushed.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS6mUIgdlU
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIof75bUwmt
Far louder than the cries of men and the clash of metal on metal were the high-pitched equine screams of injured horses. Unlike the heavy destriers behind me, these horses had not been trained for the press of the melee and they were frightened, some of them rearing up and throwing their riders to the ground. Even so, one or two lances managed to stab down and cut through my thick hide. My hit points dropped quickly from 32 to 19 following a third hit. But then I levelled up again, soaring up to 40 hit points.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtOQe6IOXl
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5dEY1rbb4
Their light cavalry unit was in full retreat. I was just preparing to launch myself again, with the intention of smashing right through the heavy cavalry and into their archers when I found myself staggering, once more in human form, completely without armour. Fortunately, there was no immediate threat.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N8lZgZJkX
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUAvlW0QnO
'Get back sire!' Lord Arval urged his mount past me and ceased his own charge, guarding me by interposing his large destrier between me and the enemy. Our four other knights did the same. Either side of our little defensive knot, our light cavalry came past, cheering that they were scattering their foes. Even so, the tide of the battle was turning. The ten enemy heavy cavalry were drawn across the road and were not budging, even for their own fleeing infantry and light horsemen, some of whom risked going over the broken terrain of the rising hillside, others trying to squeeze past on the river bank, falling in as often as escaping.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjjqjuujjl
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hd6aiTV7q
Beyond the line of horsemen, their officers must have gotten some order among the archers because arrows flited overhead with increasing frequency, some struck striking the plates of Lord Arval and his armoured horse.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn1qOJlqL7
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2uVJObem4
Our problem was that we couldn't easily reach their archers. Our light cavalry lunged ineffectually at the enemy knights but couldn't break their ranks. There was room for our archers on the other side of the river, but if I ordered them to go there, we would be outnumbered and lose in the exchanges with enemy fire. The ballista was far too slow to bring up. This could really hurt us. Our riders and horses were beginning to suffer.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf96QNoUULH
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0edDe4XHsG
Another rousing cheer from behind me. It was the arrival of our twelve heavy infantry and a large body of light infantry with Carlena at their head. There were a good mix of spears, axes and swords among them. This was exactly what we needed!298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N1gjlpPzX
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVf0hyGpYO
There was a fierce look on Carlena's face as she ran past me, pausing to raise her hands and then, with a flash, half a dozen fire darts splashed onto an enemy horse. The animal collapsed. Cheered by the success of this magic our newly arrived soldiers ran past and also cut and struck at the horses in front of them. We were winning again, a huge press of our soldiers climbing over the dead animals and past enemy knights who were still fighting, so as to get among the archers.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmKyyA4O0N
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqiSE48FgW
I felt that we were on the brink of victory, when cries of consternation from our men made my heart sink. The very land was working against them: bushes and grasses reaching out to entwine their feet and immobilise everyone. The enemy archers, on the cusp of routing, took heart and through the chaos, I could hear an officer of theirs urging them to hold and fire at the immobilised targets.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZjboEnGTA
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ29CSSRnrj
'There,' screamed Carlena, pointing to a man in a bearskin, whose sabre-tooth tiger pet was walking in a circle around him, protecting him while he cast spells. It was their shaman, who had climbed up the hillside and come close enough to cast what to me seemed like an Entangle-type spell. 'He's out of my range.'298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGLmt7is8o
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIy1qWhzkl
'Archers!' I called, but we only had a few men around us with bows.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQsPhxgz27
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4pEjB3Jvp
Carlena ran towards the enemy spell caster and I admired her, because that tiger was fierce looking. The enemy Shaman had spotted her run too, and was clearly aiming a spell at her, his arms gesturing swiftly.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeRVH5lveX
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqlLynqMJH
Caster battles could be short and violent. I found myself clenching my fists anxiously as I watched, oblivious to arrows and screams and the movement of the people around me. Was Carlena going to be taken out by a powerful spell? It would be a disaster for us if this went wrong.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLveucSUISF
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMWdLs5QXq
Then the Shaman was down and behind him was the chancellor. Parrin had backstabbed their caster and taken him out! Our men were free again, the enchantment of the plants dissolving with the death of its creator.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEys3h1K0GB
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT1YVQ1utF
'On, on! We have them!' Lord Arval set off again, the other four knights moving with him. It left me unprotected, but it was right. Even though a few enemy archers saw me as their target and I did get hit twice, we had them. Archers were no match for heavy cavalry and they knew it. Soon bows were abandoned as most of their army fled for their lives, while dozens of men huddled in groups, hands in the air, trying to surrender.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2MW1Ocslv
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz129M9z6TB
Up on the slope, our elderly scout was being savaged by the dead Shaman's pet sabre-toothed tiger and was clearly wounded. Carlena, however, had not stopped running and was in range for a spell.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKcf9JdZTW
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Qb9CDhxoX
'Freeze!' The animal was checked and Parrin scrambled clear.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3ujR81QZg
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKabwayHV0
'You! You!' I got the attention of two of our archers with an urgent shout. 'Kill that tiger.'298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFWetJXBLf
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw2KwVNb0f
It took several hits, but Carlena had enough mana for a second Freeze and was able to keep the animal locked in place while the arrows thudded home.298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWUThZZF4f
298Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVxbxKirgU
All at once, it was relatively quiet. Yes, there were still groans and the clank of weapons and armour but the sounds of fighting were in the distance now, down the road. All around me Greyland soldiers were smiling and laughing. Some looked at me with frank delight, as if in this moment rank did not matter, that we had shared an experience that transcended the barrier between king and foot soldier. And we had. This was a victory to savour.
