Chapter 3 Knee-jerk Reactions

Edward and Joan rode side by side, their respective troops following behind them and throwing the occasional glare at one another. When they emerged from the woods, arriving back at the ransacked outpost, Edward was relieved to see the men-at-arms he'd left were still alive. Their captain, Walt, approached the prince, not noticing Joan. "My prince! One of the garrison is still alive, but the poor fool's gone mad. He keeps goin' on about monsters."

"I believe him," Edward said with complete sincerity.

For a few moments, the men-at-arms captain stared almost comically at Edward in dumbfounded shock. Finally, Walt noticed the Black Prince's riding companion and the international column at his back. "My prince, what's-"

"Get you men ready to move, Captain," Edward ordered, "We're moving out of here to a more defensible position."

"What position did you have in mind, prince," Joan asked cautiously.

"The main English base in the area is a few miles to the northwest of here." Edward said evenly, "We can be there in a few hours."

"How do you know ze monsters 'aven't taken it?"

"The man I left in charge there, Chandos, wouldn't let himself be overtaken easily." Edward explained, "If you have a better suggestion, I'm open to ideas."

Joan thought of the citadel she and la Hire had overtaken earlier that day, but as tired as her men were, she doubted they'd make it back. He did give his word. "I will trust your judgment, Prince Edward." Edward nodded gratefully and the two began to lead their men forward.

#*#*#

Henry Percy kicked a goblin in the chest, flinging the little creature into the air. He then collected a hatchet from the ground and casually threw it into the back of another goblin as it fled. "If the French made some kind of pact with Satan to unleash these creatures on us, I'd say they've been cheated."

"Don't be so sure, Hotspur," Iamarl said as she wiped oily blood from her blades, "These things have done a lot of damage." True to the assassin's word, the surrounding area had many fallen English soldiers mixed in amongst their monstrous attackers.

Percy was about to respond to the assassin's comment when they both heard, and felt, the approach of a rhythmic pounding. The two commanders turned to see an enormous humanoid creature approach. The creature had a mane of tangled hair, the same glowing purple markings seen on other monsters, light green skill, and wielded a massive spike club.

"Archers, make that damn thing into a pincushion!" Henry shouted. A unit of longbow men moved to follow their commander's orders as the giant roared seeing their aggressive movements. In a move that left Henry and Iamarl frozen in shock, the huge creature sat down and curled up tightly into a ball then rolled toward the archers. The flabbergasted archers watched and then frantically raised their bows as the giant rolled toward them at steadily increasing speeds. The beast literally smashed through the soldiers, crushing several to death and scattering the others.

The giant rose back to its feet and began swinging its club at any humans within arm's reach. Meanwhile, Hotspur was weighing his options. Seeing a fallen horse, the knight moved toward the body and shouted to his remaining troops. "Gather together here!"

As swordsmen, spearmen, and archers moved toward their leader, Iamarl regarded Hotspur skeptically, "With that beast's rolling attack, wouldn't it better to spread out?"

"That insane ball move is what I'm counting on," Henry said, before addressing the assembled troops, "Everyone listen closely."

Meanwhile the giant swung its massive club, flinging a knight off his horse and into the air. The beast turned to see a large group of soldiers packed together shouting taunts and insults. Growling at the bold humans, the giant again curled into a ball and rolled toward them. It was just about to crush the puny beings, when they suddenly rushed off to the right and left. The giant was about to growl in frustration when it rolled over a fallen horse, then screeched in surprise and pain. The giant rolled a few more yards before flopping onto its belly, Hotspur's sword was buried in its back.

Henry rose to his feet and approached the literal fallen giant. The huge creature groaned weakly in pain as Henry ripped his weapon free. The monster began to reach for the knight, only for Percy to bury his weapon in the base of it's skull.

Iamarl surveyed the scene as she approached her lover. They and their troops hadn't even seen a single French soldier or mercenary when the barbarians and monsters had descended on them. They'd managed to withstand several waves of attack, but over half their men were dead and their defenses nearly destroyed. "We can't hold these positions any longer, Henry Hotspur," the assassin informed her partner, "We have to pull back to the main base."

Hotspur was reluctant, but ultimately agreed. After loading the wounded into wagons, the battered troops began slowly trekking to the south toward their comrades and hopeful safety.

#*#*#

Marie grunted as she felt the harsh blow to her shield from an executioner's phallicly large sword. She backed away and cautiously circled her opponent. Finally, she stepped in close and lashed out at his side, only for the barbarian to block. The fencing master had anticipated this however, and with a light swing of her forearm, Marie maneuvered her rapier under the massive blade, then back up again. The executioner recoiled in shock as the point of the thin blade slashed him from wrist to elbow. Seeing the barbarian shift on his feet suddenly, Marie knew he was effectively already dead and turned to a group of oncoming goblins as the executioner dropped to his knees.

The lead creature rushed forward and swung its ax at the lady fencer. Marie raised her shield to block the attack, seeing the ax head hook onto her shield a moment too late. Before Marie could react, the shield was yanked off her arm and sent spinning through the air. The lady fencer was far from helpless, however; blocking a second strike with her rapier, Marie simultaneously drew her dagger and drove it into the goblin's liver, then between its ribs, and finally into its neck.

Pressing forward, Marie deflected another goblin's ax with her dagger before driving her rapier through its throat. Pulling her weapon free, Marie sidestepped a skeleton's attack before stabbing her blade into its skull. She then tore the skull free from its body, whereupon the amalgamation of bones literally fell to pieces. Flicking the skull loose, Marie stared down a skull crusher. The fencer raised her rapier as if to slash down on the barbarian and, as she expected, he raised his mace to block. Almost too quickly to see, Marie withdrew the strike, only to thrust back out, driving her rapier through the surprised barbarian's wind pipe. "She's so cool," Marie heard on of her lady fencers, Simon, comment.

Marie's troops had arrived at their first target, only to find the bodies of English soldiers hanging from the castle walls. Replacing the red clad soldiers were barbarians and various living crimes against God. After a long and brutal showdown, Marie's battalion was exhausted and significantly smaller.

The commander wiped the blood from her dagger and her pant leg and sheathed it before accepting her shield back from a lady fencer called Isabel with a grateful smile. Looking around, she could see that the French had finally gained a bit of breathing room, allowing her to think more than a few steps ahead. As the monsters withdrew, Marie's commanders gathered around her for orders. "Whatever is 'appening, we aren't not prepared for it." Marie announced, "We need to get out of 'ere."

At this, the leader of the battalion's scouts stepped forward, "My lady, zere may still be English units in ze area. Perhaps we join forces with zem."

"I will NOT stoop so low as to beg ze English for help." Marie sneered, "We will move south and reunite with Lord le Bon." With her point made, Marie moved her troops south, toward le Bon's last known location.

#*#*#

"Everyone rest up, we're not staying long," du Richmont called to his troops. Ever since the ambush on the road they had been fighting a running battle with the barbarians, among other things. The young knight's head still hurt, as did most of the rest of him, but he managed to hold his own. Arthur wasn't the type to let others fight for him.

Just as the tired company was settling in, the sound of hooves and marching troops could was heard. "God damn sons of bitches," Georges grumbled as he rose to his feet and notched an arrow, "Can't they just give us a few fucking minutes."

"Shut up, Georges," Marc snapped. The remaining troops gathered together to face this newest attack, with spearmen in front, melee fighters right behind and archers in back. Of de Richmont's original force, only Marc's spearmen, George's archers, and You Ji's Chinese crossbowmen remained intact, though all had taken casualties. de Richmont had taken command of a mixture of survivors from all the other units.

The weary fighters watched as their presumed attackers came into view and were surprised, though not necessarily relieved, to see that it was English cavalry, rather than monsters. The knights stopped a few paces from the mercenaries and one wearing a large round hat trotted forward. "Greetings gentlemen," he said as if welcoming tourists, "Welcome to lovely Champagne."

"Is he fucking with us?" Georges could be heard muttering.

"I'm in no mood for games, Englishman," de Richmont sneered, "Say your peace, then either attack us or leave."

"Whoa now, there's no need for that," the knight said with a sarcastic air of hurt innocence, "We English and French are all friends here."

"It's true de Richmont," Arthur turned to the sound of the new voice. To the commander's surprise, Jean de Metz stepped forward from behind the knights. He gestured to the mounted knight and spoke, "It was this one's idea, though du Guesclin was more easily convinced then I expected."

"Great minds do think alike," the knight removed his hat and bowed his head to de Richmont, "John Fastolf, at your service."

Arthur was having a hard time taking this all in, but at the moment he was simply grateful to see men that weren't out for his blood. He returned Fastolf's bow and spoke in kind, "Arthur de Richmont, at yours."

"It's not safe to talk out here, my lord," Fastolf placed his hat back on his head, "Follow us back to our base, your men look like they could use the rest. After you've got some life back in you, we'll explain the situation."