Chapter 13

Boomer watched as the gihox across the moat started climbing into the boats they had assembled on the far bank. They put off into the water, gliding through the mist like ghosts, their terrifying battle cries adding to the colossal din of the battle. He watched as the boats drew near, and several of the giants aboard threw grapnels at the wall. All along the wall, grapnels caught a firm hold, and the ropes affixed to them strained taut as giants started scaling the wall.

''BLIZZARD AXES!'' Boomer shouted as he rushed along the wall toward a line where a gihox had nearly made it to the top. He grabbed the conjured axe in both hands and brought it down on the rope. But the axe did not cut right through the line, for it was thicker around than his thigh, and interwoven with metal strands. He hacked repeatedly, and finally the rope snapped. The gihox still managed to grab the top of the wall with one hand and threw its other arm over, but as its head peeked up, it was greeted by a hard kick to the mouth, and it splashed into the moat below.

Boomer turned to see his squad hacking at lines all along the wall, or fighting gihox where they had managed to gain the parapet. He found himself facing one behemoth, as it swung at him with a quarterstaff that more resembled a tree. He ducked the initial swing and deflected the second to the side with his axe. The gihox raised the staff above its head and chopped down, but he sidestepped and brought his axe down on the shaft. It snapped in two, and the giant looked quizzically at the stick it now held.

Boomer did not let the opportunity go to waste, and he smashed the flat of his axe-blade into the giant's knee. The behemoth overbalanced to the side, and he promptly smashed it across the jaw with the flat of his axe. Its head snapped to the side, spraying teeth, and the brute nearly fell over the wall. It managed to grab a crenelation at the last moment, but the stocky warrior was quick to its hand. He swung the axe mightily, and it clacked against the hard stone, right after severing the giant's fingers. The behemoth bellowed with pain and crashed into the moat.

Boomer rushed over to help one of his soldiers.

xxxxx

Kieran threw himself to the ground as a huge sword flew above his head. He put his feet under him and launched himself at the gihox towering above him, and his sword plunged into its abdomen. The behemoth bellowed in agony, bringing its sword back across to try and repay the rat that had wounded it. But the young king rushed in close to the gihox, too close for the huge sword to score a hit. He gave a great tug on his own sword and it came free, blood spurting into his face. His sword flashed across high, and the giant fell dead.

Kieran spun to see another of the brutes striding toward him, clutching a sword that made all the other gihox swords look puny by comparison. The front of its head was more scar than face, and he knew it to be the gihox general leading the army. The young king held his sword up defensively before him, though he knew he could not possibly hope to block a blow from this giant among giants. He set himself firmly on the stone of the parapet, and waited for the behemoth to draw close.

''Are ye gonna kill me with that pocket-knife,'' Karbraxis chuckled.

Kieran did not reply.

Karbraxis flashed an evil smile that fast turned into a vicious snarl as it swung its massive sword. The young king ducked the blow and darted forward, his sword banging off the giant's kneecap. He struck again, drawing blood on a huge thigh, but had to dive to the side as the massive sword chopped down. He could not suppress a wince then, as cracks spread out from where the gihox sword had struck.

Kieran drew a laser pistol from its holster and aimed it at the scarred hunk of flesh serving as the face of his enemy. He was out of rounds, so he would not be able to shoot, but the gihox did not know that. Karbraxis averted his gaze to save its eyes, and the young king burst into a short charge before leaping high, swinging mightily for the behemoth's neck. The gihox lurched as it tried to react, and that movement saved its life, for the blade slashed across its chin instead. The young king darted out of range as the gihox tried to grab him.

''Don't worry,'' Kieran growled. ''I doubt anyone will notice.''

Karbraxis ran a finger over the bleeding gash on its chin, then grabbed up a soldier that had gotten too close, and heaved him at the young king. Kieran threw himself out of the way, and the human missile hurtled past. The young king was barely back on his feet when he had to throw himself to the side again, this time to dodge a chopping sword. He came up but the general kicked him in the chest, knocking him down and blasting the air from his lungs. His sword skittering away.

''Time for ye to die, runt,'' Karbraxis barked in a broken form of English.

Kieran reached for his sword but it was too far away, and he could only watch as the gihox sword rose up into the air. But then something crashed into the giant and its sword came nowhere near to hitting him. The young king gulped down oxygen and scrambled for his sword, his tired fingers closing about its gilded hilt. He looked up to see the gihox reaching over its shoulder, trying furiously to grab the person on its back, pulling at its hair. Ky ducked each attempt, enraging the gihox even more.

Karbraxis roared and hurled himself back first into a wall, and Ky barely managed to get off in time. Then the gihox general grabbed him about the waist and lifted him into the air, bloodshot black eyes boring into the black haired warrior. Ky began to cry out in pain as the giant closed its fist tighter in an attempt to crush the life from him. Spittle dripped from its torn lips, making it seem even more hideous.

Kieran staggered to his feet with his sword clutched in a white knuckled grip, green fires simmering behind his eyes. He burst into a charge that turned into a balanced skip as he neared his enemy. He leaped on to a crenelation and from it he sprang at the gihox, gleaming sword-tip leading the way. The sharp blade cut through the giant's sinewy muscles, driving deep, the crosspiece touching its chest. Karbraxis stared at him, surprise showing in its black eyes.

Ky fell from its fingers and scrambled out of reach, but he need not have bothered, for the giant's arms fell limp at its sides. Kieran could feel his sword vibrate with the behemoth's rapidly slowing heartbeat. The gihox, stubborn to the bitter end, tried to gulp down air, but its lungs were filling with blood, foamy blood pouring between its lips. Then the behemoth fell back, crashing onto its back, its glaced eyes staring up at the dark sky. Karbraxis, the gihox chieftain and one of the generals serving in the army of the dark spirit, was dead.

The gihox were dismayed by the fall of their general, and all along the wall they were either killed or thrown into the moat, or sometimes both. The ropes were cut one by one and fire set to the boats, desperate giants leaping overboard, into the cold water of the moat. The catapults of the humans destroyed many of the gihox war engines. The cheers of hundreds of human voices erupted all along the wall.

The battle seemed in hand.

xxxxx

Zane fell hard on the ground and scrambled away, glancing over his shoulder to see the kairu master calmly walking after him. He nearly got to the edge of the wall, where he could have leaped over, but Baphamel caught him by the ankle and roughly dragged him back. He rolled on to his back and unleashed a red beam from his eye, but the kairu master punched him across the face, effectively ending the attack before it had really begun. Baphamel reached down and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted him up, cocking an angry fist.

But the blow never fell, and he noticed that Baphamel was not paying him any heed, but was staring into the distance. He also noticed that the cheering had stopped abruptly, and that everyone was staring into the distance. He turned his head to see what was going on, and then he understood. Something stirred in the dark sky of the horizon, a pair of tremendous leathery wings, drawing closer with terrifying speed.

''Do you see that?'' Zane yelled with joy, pointing toward the approaching dragoness. ''We are victorious!'' Baphamel turned his attention back to Zane, who was now laughing maniacally, and then the kairu master smashed his open palm into his forehead, sending him spiraling into unconsciousness.

xxxxx

Kieran had to fight with every ounce of his willpower not to let his fear show, as the dragoness approached his castle. Those soldiers who had any sense at all took cover, leaving the brave and the foolish on the parapets. The young king clutched his sword tightly, but did not see how it could possibly do him any good. He willed himself to return to action, giving courage to the men around him. He ordered the catapult crews to fire on his command.

The dragoness drew closer, its leathery wings carrying her with great speed toward the castle, and Kieran could see the purple lights of her eyes. He raised his sword and waved it forward, and the catapults loosed their contents. Balls of purple energy were hurled at the incoming beast, but it deftly managed to evade each one. The beast reached the castle even as the catapult crews worked frantically to reload, and she opened her maw and sent a destructive beam of purple energy into the courtyard. The catapults blew apart and fires blazed inside the courtyard.

Malice banked hard to the side and crashed into the main keep of the castle, claws digging into the stone and giving her a foothold. The riflemen opened fire on the beast where it hung from its perch, but if the bolts hurt the dragoness even a little, she did not show it. The beast loosed another beam, this one on the parapets, the blast incinerating many riflemen, and hurling several more into the air violently.

The battle was over in several minutes, and the invaders were the victors.

To be continued...