Chapter 6
Aroughs approaches
Three weeks after the annual War Games Christopher was informed of an army approaching Xeon with numbers that evenly matched their own. The whereabouts of the group of soldiers was unknown at the moment, but it was evident that they were enemies. Christopher had suspicions that it was Aroughian soldiers seeking revenge for the prison raid led by Trey and Austin.
Those prisoners who escaped Aroughs were now healthy and well fit. The news of the procession of soldiers caused a longing hatred to arouse into their eyes. They too wanted revenge for being captured. When the city of Xeon welcomed them in they were unsure, but weeks later they grew accustomed to the new life and wanted to fight for Xeon.
Adam was in full battle armor waiting at the southern gate, the specific spot where Aroughs was estimated to breach. Trey and Austin stood on either side of him, they too in battle armor.
It was predawn, a brooding fog arrived in Xeon as if signaling them of Aroughs. The sky lighting as the first rays of sun light conquered the darkness of night. A fresh mysterious breeze blew through the city streets, carrying with it the remnants of the War Games.
The Xeon army was split into even sized groups and posted at all four main entrances. The walls were fortified with cannons, catapults, and ballistae, along with archers who were positioned inside of the wall where they would use the arrow slits.
After about an hour of waiting the soldiers grew tired and less alert. But that soon was put back into gear as a faint call of a hunting horn erupted the quietness. As it faded, fear gripped the soldiers. Then two more horns winded, sending a chill down Adam's back. Then another horn, this time much closer.
Suddenly all became silent. For minutes they waited, but nothing happened. Then in an instant yet another sounded, but this time much louder and sounded very close. Without warning the walls began to shake as large rocks were catapulted into it.
"They are trying to break our defenses!" Shouted a voice from somewhere in the jumble of soldiers.
The soldiers stood firm, awaiting the dangers to come. The walls shook again, dust and debris flew into the air from the impact.
Trey, now bearing a battle axe, stepped forward as if he were about to charge through the wall and towards the enemy.
Austin was gripping the pommel of his lime green sword. The sword seemed to glow in the fog. Austin glared hatefully in the direction of the oncoming enemy.
Adam held his sword parallel with the ground, the point facing the wall. He had fought many battles, all of which he won, and felt extremely confident about this one.
Suddenly a messenger, a boy of about sixteen, ran up to them, breathing heavily as if he ran around the city three times before coming to them.
Dark eyebrows rested above his intense blue eyes. His clothes were old and worn from running around the city relaying messages to and from the military. A hunting knife with a wired handle was strapped to his belt; he also had a bow which was protected, from the mist, by a buckskin tube.
He approached Adam and said." Sir, our spies report that a black dragon has come along with the army, he is just several miles from us."
A black dragon. That could mean that Morbid was coming. Morbid was an evil magician, and if what Nolan told him was true then he would be immortal. Years ago he had come across a dragon egg. He hatched it and helped it grow, ever since then the dragon, Arnes, became attached to him. They fought with each other every time there was a battle.
Adam, trying to hide his fear, said." Have the reports been confirmed?"
The boy nodded.
"Then get somewhere safe."
The boy gladly ran off.
Adam turned to look at Austin's and Trey's worried faces. Adam tried to sound confident." Don't worry, we will win." Then suddenly felt that his words had been a lie as the city wall collapsed rubble and dust billowing out of the damage.
Enemy soldiers rushed in through the hole, emerging mysteriously from the dust. The first wave was easily shot down as a cloud of arrows whizzed towards them, only to be replaced by more soldiers gushing in like an uncontrollable river.
They had built a palisade in front of the army's ranks, where the first row of archers fired from. The adversaries' line wavered, threatening to break, but they covered themselves with their shields and weathered the attack. Again the archers fired, but the foes continued to stream onto the surface at an alarming rate.
Adam was dismayed by the enemy's sheer numbers. They were supposed to kill them all? It seemed like a madman's task. His only encouragement was that he saw no sign of Morbid. Not yet, at least.
The opposing army formed a large mass of bodies that seemed to stretch endlessly. Tattered and sullen standards were raised in the enemy's midst. Baleful notes echoed through the city as war horns sounded once more. The entire group of soldiers gave their war cries as they both charged each other, weapons blazing and fiery eyes boring into the opposing teams.
The enemy dashed against the rows of stakes, covering themselves with slick blood and limp corpses as the ranks at the vanguard were crushed against the posts. A cloud of arrows flew over the barrier at the defenders, striking unfortunate soldiers. The sound of dying men was not a joyous sound and created fear and sadness in the minds of younger less experienced soldiers. The more battled hardened of the army wasn't bothered by the deathly sounds of anguish and death.
But still the battle continued rough and bloody, as most battles are, and , though it seemed, never-ending. Blood soaked the streets and fire spread from building to building, devouring wood and melting the stone supports causing them to collapse in a fiery inferno. The battle lasted for hours and hours, those of which Adam and Austin spent searching for Nolan. And after a while they found him protecting a family hidden behind a shop whilst Nolan threw lightning bolts and fire balls into the mass of soldiers.
Earlier that day all the civilians in the city had retreated to the more fortified part of the city, the castle. The parents tried to quiet their bawling baby as Adam approached Nolan, Austin guarding the other side of the alley. The mother placed her child in the father's arms and clawed frantically at Adam as he passed, however, he ignored he pestering commands and continued walking.
"Yes I have." Replied Nolan as Adam told him of Morbid's arrival.
"What do you suggest we do about him?" Asked Adam, then he looked back to the family, "And them."
Nolan dodged a stray arrow and walked back behind the cover of the shop. "Well first we get them to safety, then we deal with Morbid."
Suddenly a hand touched Adam's shoulder, Adam reacted so fast the man didn't have any time to escape. Within a blink of an eye Adam had his sword pointed directly at the man's chest.
"Adam stand down now!" Commanded Nolan, his hand on his sword's handle.
Adam quickly returned his sword to its sheath and apologized to the man, "Sorry, it's the middle of a war, all my senses are active."
The woman almost started crying as she held her child close to her body. The man breathed out the breath he'd been holding and grabbed his chest, "S-sorry." He said hesitantly. "Is their any way I could help."
For some reason his wife started protesting, "No! I don't think so, your son may never know you as the father I'm sure he wants you to become, stay and…"
"Shush woman." The man's words silenced the woman quickly.
