Nori's POV
I close my eyes and focus my energy on my blades, willing them to life. When I open my eyes the curving pattern lines on my blades were now glowing. I pull them in front and behind me as I sprint forward. Vol'ren was right behind me, reaching into the pocket of his breeches and pulls out a dark blue bandana.
He looks at it, not even slowing down as he hesitantly places it over his eyes, tying it behind his head. When he looks up at me, his eyes were now completely covered, though a pair of glowing green orbs the size of grapes were in their place, almost burning through the cloth coverings. He gives me a nervous smile.
I nod at him, feeling a little jealous. Vol had already advanced ahead of me in his Demon Hunter training and was only a few lessons shy of actually replacing his eyes. It was a momentous occasion of being a demon hunter. I only wished that I could do it alongside him.
"Do you see anything?" I whisper quietly, peering into the darkness in vain. Vol was the one with the better eyes. This tunnel could have gone the entire length of the town given its length.
He stops and holds his hand up in front of me. Those green blobs were pretty unsettling and cause a chill to go up my spine as they lock on me first before turning to the hallway beyond, focusing there. After a moment Vol'ren shakes his head. "No. I don't see anything beyond." He readies his blades. "But that doesn't mean we're going unprepared."
I nod and give my blades a few practice swings before following. I feel the ground change underneath my feet from hard stone to soft dirt. "There, I see then end of the tunnel." He says, pointing just beyond to a glimmer of light.
We slow to a light jog and our feet barely make a sound on the ground before crouching down and looking beyond. I see the mayor and his guards around a large room. They still had their hoods up, but the fine embroideries and water logged clothing gave them away.
The sulfurous smell was much stronger than before around these people. One man wearing the purple robes of a mage approaches the mayor who pulls his hood down and reveals his greying hair. The nod to each other and then mage moves to a table with an orb on prominent display.
The mage waves his hand over it and the clear green orb which begins to distort and change until an image began to form. It morphed into the face of a demon. Pale as death and resembling a skull. I feel as if there was a cold washcloth on my neck. That was then demon in my dream. What was his name again?
"What do you have to report human?" It growls deeply, his voice rattling the room and causes the men to stumble around.
Bowing low until his head touched the floor. "My lord, the human army has gathered and arrived this morning. They insisted on evacuating here but I was able to convince them to stay for a while."
"That will not be a problem little human. My warriors are already in position. Within a few days they will march out and handle your little human problem." Beside me Vol bares his teeth and stares at the man. His eyes were covered but I still saw then venom practically dripping from them.
"And what about your side of the deal?" The mayor stutters out nervously, quickly covering his face as if expecting to get struck.
Yet instead then demon seems unconcerned and simply waves his hand past him dismissively. "Yes, yes. As I promised you and your men will not be harmed. Just be sure to be ready with your part of the plan." With that, his face vanishes from the orb which goes back to its normal color.
I bristle now and feel my blades burning even more than usual. One thing was clear though, no man here should be allowed to leave the chamber. Then mayor pinches the bridge of his nose and looks to his men. "Gather your families if you must and bring them here."
I growl and step forward, twirling my swords. "What do you think you are doing mayor? You're supposed to be fighting these monsters yet you make deals with demons?"
Instantly his guards were around him, blocking him with their shields as they point their swords at me. "What are you doing here?" He demands, producing a dagger from his belt and nearly drops it in fear.
"I'm here for answers."
"Do you think I wanted this? You are right, these creatures are monsters, but what can we possibly do about them? Fighting them is suicide. The only way to live through this war is to work with them, try to make a deal."
Vol casually walks past me, readying his swords. "You mean to make you live through the war? I suppose the thousands of people in this city are just necessary sacrifices to ensure that you survive this war right?"
The mayor recoils as if struck. For a moment a feeling of shame crossed his face, enough guilt to make me question if this was his only option. But I crush any pity I had and take a step forward. "Perhaps, but I cannot let you leave here. Guards detain them."
At that I spring forward and spin my sword, easily decapitating four men. Then rest rush at me which I easily block their attacks and counter, taking them out one by one meanwhile Vol throws his blades like a boomerang and decapitate several more.
The two of us easily cut down the survivors and soon every soldier between them and the mayor lay dead on the ground. Vol advances forward in almost leisurely pace, brandishing his swords.
"Stark!" The mayor shouts to his mage. He shoots his hand forward and then ground begins to shake, not like an earthquake or how the demon did a while ago, but more like as if something was pushing from underneath.
I leap back and stare at the dirt just as a hand shoots up from the ground. It was skeletal and bone white. Its twin joins it and three more. In a matter of seconds a dozen hands burst out of the dirt like daisies.
Hands pull themselves up from the dirt and to reveal a grinning skull. "Here's a bit of advice friends, never attack a Necromancer in a graveyard." The magic user sneers at us as his minions draw a sword and shield in unison.
Vol snarls as they surround him. He slashes his blade at the monster closest to him and embeds it in its skull, knocking its skull from his neck. Another he kicks in the stomach, knocking several ribs in before driving his sword upward and bisecting him.
I launch several fireballs at the tinder dry skeletons which burn right through them, or some advance several steps before dropping dead. For real this time.
The Necromancer begins to wave his hands around, he was about to cast another spell. He grins as a green glow begins to form around his hands. I smirk and throw my sword at him. It hits him in the shoulder, pinning him to the wall. Then magic wielder screams in pain as he tries to pull the blade out, but it looks like it embedded itself into the wall.
I somersault above everyones heads and land beside Vol. The two of us stand back to back and the two of us swiftly finish off the remaining skeletons. By the time we finished, then mayor was already backing away to then exit. When he saw us he burst into a sprint, holding his robe up to make it easier to run.
With my other blade, I drop to the ground and hurl it at him. The blade spins and tears the lower part of his legs off his body. He screams and stumbles to the ground, blood flowing out like a stream, yet he still continues to crawl. Vol growls and approaches him driving his sword into his chest.
The demonic fire that was burning there start to spread all over his body. The mayor screams in agony, feeling it course through him and blister his skin.
We leave him there and make our way back to the chamber. I approach one of the skeletons and poke at it with a stick as I inspect it. "Shame we couldn't get any answers from them."
"Maybe we should have kept one alive." Vol'ren adds ruefully.
"We did." I remind him, pointing ot the mage who still struggled to remove the sword from his arm. Vol swagger towards him and grab the sword, but instead of pulling it, he twists it. Even I felt a sickening feeling going throughout my spine.
"Tell me what your mayor was planning. Quickly." He spats at his face.
To the mages credit, he did not back down and simply glared back at him as best he can. "I will never betray my mayor."
In response, Vol'ren simply drives the blade in deeper, twisting it some more until bone began to snap like a twig. "You choose when the pain stops." The mage shook his head and spat at Vol, yet all the Demon Hunter did was channel heat into the blade.
He lasted a few more minutes, but the pain was soon was too much for him and he blacked out in pain. Vol gave him a swift punch to wake him up. "Wake up." He demands, holding a fel whip in his hands. "We're just getting started."
Come on, just give in already. I pray silently, partially to get the information and partially just to end this suffering. To my immense relief then mage looks up, blinking away tears and nods his head.
"Enough." The fallen mage pleads, trying to focus his gaze on Vol "I will speak."
He puts away his whip and grabs him by the cheek, pulling him closer. "The you should best speak quickly. And maybe I could give you a swift end."
Nodding in fear, the man swallows a breath. "A-aye. My master had made a deal with a demon, a Dreadlord he called it. He said that he and the rest of the mayor's staff would not be harmed if we let his army in."
"Does anyone else know?" I ask.
Nodding his head, the magic wielder coughed out blood. "Several officers who were stationed at the gates." Quickly he gave up names of the men in question and the places they were stationed at.
"And what of the people? Were you just going to pet them die like animals?" Vol accuses angrily.
For the first time a bit of steel returned to the man. He squares his jaw. "No, we left the armories open for the people to use. If they wanted to protect themselves they could and go down fighting."
"Yet you still betray them." My friend concludes. "Very well, is that all?"
"Yes I believe so." Vol'ren's blade flashes and his head suddenly rolls off his body. His headless corpse still sagged slightly from the blade pinning him to the wall. In one move he pulls the sword free and throws it at me. I barely have it in my hands before he bursts into a sprint. "Come on we need to warn the others."
Captain Felwyn listens intently to the two of us as we recount our tale. He didn't say a word throughout it or even change from his normally stony expression. As soon as he finished he looks at us, one hand running through his greying hair. "So tell me, why were you even spying on the mayor in the first place?"
That last comment pricks my anger. That's what he got from all this?
"We thought that mayor looked suspicious so we followed him." I reply, not missing a beat, narrowing my eyes at him expectantly.
Though before I could say anything he stands up and shakes his head. "Though it seems you made the right choice by doing that." He finally says, retrieving his sword. "Alright where did he say then turncoats are?"
"He said there are some stationed by then gates. He even gave names and individual units that defected. We can hunt them down." Vol adds.
The Captain nods and collects his weapons. "I already had a squadron of knights ready to move out. Follow me."
He exits his makeshift office in the barracks just as a surprised looking soldiers was waiting outside. "Sir." He salutes. I didn't recognize him from the original force, he was part of the city garrison. "I have some new for you."
I do a subtle check to his medallion for his name. He wasn't any of them men listed. "Tell me on the way." Felwyn jogs ahead of us. While you're at it gather your men sergeant. I am in need of some additional soldiers."
When he didn't respond immediately I stepped forward. "Now soldier's!" I snap.
He hurries away and spends a few seconds gathering a squad of soldiers who fall into step behind us. Felwyn doesn't even slow down until we reach the outside. A detachment of mounted knights were there. The lead horseman salutes to him and offers the reins to a horse.
Felwyn nods to us and gestures to a pair of Hawkstriders at the back of the line. I feel my spirits lift seeing the my old mount. He was the last of my old family and I love Glen dearly. He squawks and nibbles on my hair as I slide one leg over the other and begin to ride after them.
The city was oddly active despite everything that happened. People crowded the street going about their daily lives. It almost seemed like none of them realized the danger they were in. "Move it, move it we have important business to attend to."
"As I was saying sir, my scouts outside have detected a large undead force nearby, perhaps a few hours march away." The soldier explains, riding up to the Captain. "And the mayor is nowhere to be seen so I'm not really sure who to report to sir."
"That will be me. Pull you're scouts back along with anyone else outside of the city."He doesn't even glance back when he replies.
Felwyn's horses push through the crowds. Some even draw their weapons and wave them around until the people part. Within a few minutes we arrived at the southern gate. About a dozen guards were waiting outside, though instead of standing in attention they were either sitting around, drinking or playing cards.
"Attention!" Felywn shouts loud enough for every man to hear.
Instantly all men were up, faces flushing as their commanding officer seeing them slacking off. Felwyn gracefully leaps off his mount and stalks them. "You men are dismissed from gate watch."
Most of them weren't particularly concerned and simply shrug before walking away. Although three men tense and don't move right away. Captain Felwyn frowns at them. "Well soldiers. Aren't you coming?"
They look at each other and one man speaks up. "Sir, we've received strict orders from then mayor himself not to leave this post."
"Yes I've heard of these orders, but let me assure you that then ones I'm giving you supersede his orders." He advances forward until he was only a few inches away from him. "Now I suggest you step aside."
The man falters, but in an instant draws his sword and swings it at the Captain. He easly dodges the sword and catches then man by then arm, twisting it around he throws him back. His two comrades rush forward.
I leap up and kick one so hard that his helmet dents. Spinning around I cut the second at his knees. He drops to the ground as I give one swift blow to the head. "Secure this gate sergeant." Vol shouts to the men who were all staring in shock. "These men are traitors along with your mayor. Just follow what I tell you and Nori will explain everything later."
With that I quickly run them down everything that happened from me spying on the mayor to them summoning undead. Though I leave out me executing them afterwards. That's something best revealed once they see the horrors he's allowed here.
It took all afternoon, but at the end we have identified and killed thirteen traitors, now fresh troops and only men Felwyn brought with him were stationed at the gates. But that was only then first phase of the plan.
Felwyn was now speaking to his officers along with the city garrison. He was mobilizing the army for battle. As he put it, defending the city was only one part of the plan, but if their experiences in Silverglen were any indication, then it's best to strike first before they have a chance to even set foot in the city. Instead they would be going on the offensive.
"Our cavalry will charge first and take their vanguard by surprise. While their soldiers are in chaos we should have the rangers flank them from the forests." He turns to me and Vol. "Do you think you can manage that?"
Vol places a fist on his chest in a salute. "Definitely."
I flash him a grin as Felwyn continues his planning. But it wasn't even a minute before another scout arrives. "Sir, the undead have arrived!"
"Well, it looks like that's the end of negotiations." I muse quietly and rise from my seat. Officers quickly jump to their feet and gather their weapons. They waste no time to gathering their soldiers and begin organizing them in battle order.
Vol leaps on top of a crate and waves for the elves. "Gather your bows and swords, ready you're armor. We're going to battle."
A cheer rises from the elves who raise their weapons in a salute. Vol rolls ahead and mounts on his hawkstrider. He gives it a good kick in the ribs to get it moving. I grin and spur Glen to chase after him. Only a handful of the elves were mounted, they were mostly on foot but they still eagerly chased him.
In front of us was then cavalry contingents we brought with us. Several hundred men and woman mounted on armored destriers gallop forward, in a tight wedge formation designed to break up enemy lines.
As the gallop out of the gates, me and Vol'ren nod to each other. He gave me a quick nod before leaping into a nearby branch and disappearing in the trees. I raise my sword in a salute and pull myself up on a branch and launch myself near the top of the tree.
Her Elves were up and on the branches surrounding a few seconds after. They all look at me, giving determined looks. "Ready now." I say, moving my gaze towards the roadside, an undead horde move with unusual purpose. From a distance it almost looks like a giant dark fissure, creeping forward to the city.
Not on her life.
"Ready, all of you." I order my contingent, drawing one of my swords and running a fingers across its blade. Notch arrows on their bows or pull out spears with oval shields. But none made any other moves.
A horn blew from the other end of the toad and Felwyn's cavalry came thundering down, ready to meet their undead foes. Unsurprisingly the undead made no move to avoid the horsemen, instead they simply raised their shields, cracked and worn bucklers that would do little to protect themselves, or even cover their entire body.
Then again, any casualties the undead suffered could easily be replaced so a few getting trampled by cavalry wouldn't really make a difference. Horsemen collide with the undead, easily trampling the frontlines in an instant. The mounted soldiers cut down additional undead with longswords and spears.
Several horsemen were dragged off their horses and torn apart, but they stopped the advance. "Nows our chance. Attack!"
As one all archers fire a volley of arrows. They easily embed themselves into the undead bodies, snapping off brittle bones like they were twigs. The remaining undead that weren't killed at once continued to trudge forward, arrows still sticking out from their bodies.
Another volley follow seconds after and takes down several more. Seeing the futility of their attack, the rangers draw their swords and leap into the fray. This was a fight I'm looking for, I grin and throw myself down.
I swing my sword in a clean arc that catches three Ghouls and decapitates them like they were butter to a knife. I roll to the side as a spear was suddenly plunged at my side, the polearm misses my chest by mere inches.
The undead orcs skeletal face splits into a grin as he withdraws his spear to attack again. Before he attacks again, I drive my sword into his ribcage, moving it upwards and vertically bisects him.
The other elves fought almost as viciously, though none of them had my powers. Slowly the undead were beginning to push them back. As skilled as the human and elf soldiers were, they were still slowed down by injuries and fatigue. The undead did not.
I close my eyes and focus on the cultists trying to direct the undead warriors. Swinging my swords it unleashed an arc of Fel energy and easily burned through flesh and cloth. Those that survived were of little problem as I decapitated them.
The battle lasted on several more minutes before another horn sounded, this time several short blows. The elves break away from the battle and retreat back into the forest easily, they scale up the trees and fire arrows down toward anyone who attempt follow them.
The cavalry on the other hand had a bit more of a problem there. At this point they were already heavily committed in battle, and in such tight quarters it was not easy to detach themselves or maneuver out. Many were cut down mid run and those who were able to escape didn't look in such good shape.
One elf offers me his waterskin. He gives me a smile and nudges it at me. "Thank you." I remove the stopper and take a drink. I wipe my lips and return the waterskin.
He takes it but hesitates. "What do we do now?"
Beyond the undead have started to march once again, their lines being hastily reformed and they march over their fallen without regard, the Necromancers stopping only to raise the bodies of the dead up.
"We wait for now," I pause. "then we keep fighting."
