Chapter VI

"A battering ram?" asked Devist

"That's what she saw," answered Enowa as she stroked her owl scout, "We have enough archers to take out the abominals."

"No, they'll probably put some kind of roof over them. But we must fight; I'll have them reinforce the gate and portcullises even more. They should give us enough time to light the ram on fire and burn it to the ground."

"Yes, shall any scouts be going to watch for there army?"

"I've already sent out some; just make sure everyone is ready for battle."

Enowa nodded and left.

The scouts filled there quivers and set out together westward. At about half a day on horse out from the city they stopped and spread out. For a day they sat and watched the west road. Eventually they saw the beginning of the scourge coming over the horizon. The scouts quickly turned and road back to the city.

"… yes sir, there about half a day away." Continued the scout.

"Thank you. Go back to the army; we must be ready by nightfall. Arabella?" Devist added as the scout left.

"Yes my lord?"

"Are those gates and portcullises reinforced yet?"

"Nearly, within the next few hours they will be."

"Good, good. Make sure the braziers are lit ere the battle, flaming arrows are badly needed."

"Of course sire, shall I save you a spot on the wall?"

"Save two, Enowa shall come also."

Arabella curtsied and left.

"Less then a day my lord, less then a day till we crush those filthy humans!" said Bastien.

The Undead Lord simply nodded and walked on with the army. For the rest of the day they walked over hills and rocks, until they were about two days out from the city. There they took rest until dark. Then, under the cloak of night, they marched right up to the city walls and halted. From the lines they could see the archers in the towers and walls draw back the flaming arrows and fire.

"Keep firing! Take them all down!" shouted Devist as he fired more arrows with the rest of the archers.

Each of them continued to draw out arrows, dip them in the brazier and fire, slowly emptying out there quivers and baskets. Most every arrow seemed to be lead by magic and found its way to an undead minion, killing it.

Eventually the undead overcame some of the towers, sending them crashing to the ground. The protectors remained; throwing rocks that would land and roll, killing off many undead. The hippogryph riders circled above the undead army with the wyverns and the gryphons. They fought off the gargoyles and frost wyrms with the help of archers before shooting at the ground.

Even with all the archers firing, the undead managed to get there ladders to the wall. The first rose in front of Devist, who kicked it hard, sending it back down to the ground. Other ladders stayed up, forcing the archers to draw swords to the ascending undead.

The two armies continued to fight each other for hours before the battering ram finally showed up. The archers turned there arrows to the ram on Devists command. Each abdominal they killed off was quickly replaced. The ram eventually made it to the gate and quickly set to work.

Devist, seeing the gate would not hold for long, ran over to be on the wall on the side of the gap between the gate and the next portcullis. He waited there until the gate was eventually broke down and the ram was moved to the portcullis. He then jumped down and landed on the ram, sword drawn. He quickly cut the ropes holding the log up. As the front of the ram crashed to the ground, Devist killed the confused Abominals before climbing up a rope lowered by the archers. Archers from behind the portcullis and on top of the wall began to fire upon the mosh of undead forming quickly around the ram, all trying to take down the portcullis.

Eventually, despite all the archers, the portcullis too was knocked down. Abominals pushed it forward causing it to fall upon some of the defenders. Once down the army poured out of doors in the wall to fight the undead.

Devist was among the army at the gate, slaying dozens himself. They continued fighting for hours, each side loosing thousands. The walls came to a point that they were almost over-run before hundreds of grunts took it back, allowing for the archers to return and continue firing.

The sun never seemed to rise, for the entire city was covered by a huge black cloud that seemed to consume all sunlight. The battle wore on with ups and downs for both armies until at last the defenders could see an end to the undead army.

Devist and his men saw the end, then ordered more out and they charged hard and fast, quickly clearing the course way. Eventually they made it out to the open field, still fighting fiercely. Heads and other body limbs were rolling and falling as they killed hundreds of undead. They continued to make there way outwards, with the space behind them filling quickly with more men, orcs, and elves.

"What?! This cannot be happening! Come Bastien, we must fly!"

"You will just leave them here to die my lord?"
"Yes, now come!"

Just as he turned to leave he heard Bastien scream out in pain. He turned to see Devsits sword poking through Bastiens stomach. He was so furious he threw Bastiens body out of the way and struck out at Devist.

"Ahh, so you were planning on leaving Nicrodel?" asked Devist as he parried the attack.

"How did you know my name? I tell it to no one!"

"My spies have been watching you ever since you first escaped. You will not escape this time."

"So you think…"

Suddenly Nicrodel grabbed a sword from a knight's hand and quickly struck out at Devist. Devist parried the attack and struck back. They continued to fight constantly parrying each other and countering. After a while Devist began to grow tired, his arms slowed and things became blurry. Nicrodel, noticing Devist tiring, took his chance and stabbed Devist through his stomach.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" screamed the voices of Arabella and Enowa over the battle.

"Yes!" cried Nicrodel with a grin, "Devist is not all powerful! He is mortal just like all you puny humans!"

Then, with an ear-piercing scream, Arabella charged at Nicrodel and stabbed him five times through his chest and stomach. Nicrodel gasped, dropped his sword, and stumbled backward. Arabella immediately flung herself on Devist. He looked at her, grasped her hand as tightly as he could, then passed out of life. Such was the end of Devists story; he was never again seen walking on the white tower as he did most morning, or at least, not as a living man.