Should have next chapter up next week. Sorry it's a bit short been a hectic week.
The War begins
I waited nervously, the signal should have happened already. At last it came, one of the enemies tents caught alight, and I charged towards the siege weapons on the hill keeping low and in cover. To be cut down by the enemy hopelessly outnumbered would be a heroic death, but a heroic death inescapably involves death, something I would quite like to avoid.
Once I reached the weapons I realized how they towered over most of the army. There were seven catapults, each a huge tower of wood and steel, and ending at over twenty meters high. After a moment standing in awe I placed the package, about the size of my fist, onto the wooden beams.
"You two" I spoke quickly to Finn and Baldur, "go deal with guards I'll start getting rid of the catapults." They moved with stealth towards the furthest pair knives drawn in preparation of the kill. I continued my route until I ran out of the packages placing four on each catapult just to be sure. I looked over to see the guards slumped over on one of the catapults as Finn and Baldur returned.
"Is it time to light up Hrolf" Baldur asked anticipation in his eyes, throwing his unlit torch from hand to hand.
"Yes Baldur go light them up while I check how the others are getting on." He let out a whoop of joy as he lit the torch and set fire to the packages.
Each catapult instantly became a burning inferno in turn lighting up the enemies positions for miles around. My eye was drawn to what at first glance seemed like a small brawl in the enemy's camp. Quickly I realized that it was not dissent that had broken out but Vali that had been caught. I had always known he was reckless but I hadn't realized that he would wake half the camp.
I rushed down the hill as fast as I could taking aim with my spear as I ran. It curved through the air like a fish, slicing through one man's arm as he aimed his sword at Vali. Vali sliced off the man's head with one fluid motion before guarding against another blow. I resumed my pace at full speed towards the fight. I saw a blade heading towards Vali's back. He hadn't seen it. I leaped my blade already in motion as it descended. My blow connected and the warrior's sword was sent clattering to one side even as I sliced open the warrior's belly.
"Vali, What part of stealth don't you understand." I grunted as we fought back to back. After a few moments of battle I knew that unless we thought of something we'd be overwhelmed in moments as I spied more of the enemies' reinforcements approaching, drawn by the light of their flaming siege weapons.
I spotted a forest a short sprint to the east. "Vali on the count of three make a run for those trees we may yet be able to get out of this." He grunted back as he cut off the nearest man's leg before he could swing his axe at us."One, two, three." I bisected the man in front of me then ran lashing out left and right with my blade closely followed by Vali.
As I had expected we had surprised the Bears who stood milling around in shock for a few moments before pursuing us. We dashed towards the trees but we could not lose the warriors chasing us. As we entered the forest I realized my ploy had come off well as the Bears pushed and shoved from the back so many warriors fell and were trampled or slowed by their own allies. We carried on running for a good hour before stopping near a lake. I collapsed into the dirt resting on a rock. "What the hell were you thinking pulling that bloody stunt." I gasped at him outraged "we were nearly killed."
"Ah but we do live to fight another day" I threw my hands up at him already knowing what he was going to say. "We will have earned ourselves some respect and possibly even become part of one of the sagas."
"Yes alternatively we could have been killed and forgotten forever as the pair of fools who tried to take on a whole army by themselves." I kicked back and looked at the stars. After a few moments I thought I saw something against the now orange horizon, a strange shape, vaguely reminding me of something I saw when I killed the dragon just before I could quite remember Vali finally spoke.
"I am sorry it's just we get treated like we are nothing just because we are newly initiated. I mean just look how the forge-master treats you just because the chief made you pack leader so soon." He sighed and kicked back. "If only we could have some respect it would be so much easier. Anyway isn't it about time we headed back to camp."
Pain rocketed through my head all thoughts vanishing in a moment. Is this what it is like to be dead to review your own memories between huge spasms of pain. Another spasm, it felt like liquid metal was being poured into my injuries; fire burning within my veins. The urge to yell out in pain rattled through my body and yet I was powerless to even open my mouth. An image popped into my head of the great Armour clad man parading my head around on his dragon as my body lay rotting for the scavengers.
I felt determined to at least look upon my torturers in the afterlife and with a huge amount of effort, more than I had ever used in my entire life, I opened my eyes. At first I couldn't see the light blinding me was too great. Finally my eyes adjusted until I could look out on the ground that lay before me. I tried to walk but my muscles were still jellied so I simply collapsed upon the sand. As I stood up I saw shapes in the distance but I couldn't yet focus on them so I stumbled forwards until once again I fell face in the sand. This time as I rose the light was blocked out and I was left staring at crimson boots, engraved with the picture of an enraged dragon.