51 Chapter 51 (2/2)
Aerwyn had lost four jakku in the assault, bringing down the number of jakku in the area to thirty six. It was unpleasant but necessary and he decided to call the other ten jakku over that he left watching the tenri nest. When he saw the humans replacing the horses he took it as a challenge, he would kill every single horse and force them to carry the damned thing before he let it reach Setrhyn.
After the first attack they were much more wary and had increased the amount of soldiers walking beside the cannon. Over the next few hours Aerwyn and the jakku relentlessly attacked any horses that were tied to the cannon and they began firing arrows whenever they saw the flying creatures come near, increasing Aerwyn's casualties two fold. He lost most of his jakku in the process but successfully killed all the horses except the one beneath their commander.
With only six jakku left he kept them at a safe distance and continued to monitor the army as they slowly trudged along.
”Master, there are elves on the other side of the river and one is attempting to cross.” Bon's voiced echoed out into Aerwyn's head.
Aerwyn didn't bother responding, instead he switched his view to Bon's eyes and looked upon the hundreds of elves across the river. They were too far to make out faces but he could see the one swimming across, it was Nyris. A sense of relief swept over Aerwyn as he watched the skinny necromancer swim across the river next to Ardin.
”Have the undead help them across and let them into the city. Tell the one swimming that i'm aware of the situation and that i sent word to Setrhyn already. Tell him to stay there until i arrive.” Aerwyn ordered and switch back to his own eyes for the first time in hours.
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Rorik ran through the forest and soon Setrhyn village came into view.
”AWOOOOOOOOO!” He howled as he got close to the gates startling the guards but once they saw the beasts purple eyes they relaxed.
”..Get me Master Ferlin or Tylin...”
”Where's your master barghest?” One of the guards asked with a laugh.
”GET ME MASTER FERLIN OR TYLIN NOW, ELF!” Rorik roared so loudly that it wouldn't be surprising if the army of humans heard his voice on a gentle breeze. The roar startled the guard once again and he quickly realized something was wrong so he ran down the walls to fetch Master Ferlin.
Ten minutes later Master Ferlin was standing in front of the angry barghest.
”What are you doing here without Aerwyn?”
”...The boy sent me to warn you.. Lyr was destroyed.. An army of nearly two thousand humans are coming from the west... The boy is coming here with his undead as quickly as he can...” Rorik's words manifested a frown on the elf's face which gave Rorik a tinge of pleasure.
”...Has anyone from Lyr survived?” Master Ferlin spoke in a sorrowful tone.
”..Don't know and i don't care... My duty is done..” Rorik turned and fled into the forest leaving Master Ferlin to his thoughts.
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Aerwyn was making record time as they sprinted atop zin beetles following the river north. Occasionally he would check in with the jakku to get a look at the armies movements and he was glad to witness them moving at a snails pace through the forest. As night fell and he arrived at Ardin he checked back once more to see the army making camp in the forest and feeling satisfied, he let them be for now.
Nyris was waiting once he arrived and ran over to him.
”I'm glad you're ok but pleasantries will have to wait. I'm taking my undead to Setrhyn, are you coming?” Aerwyn spoke before the necromancer had a chance to speak.
”The army would have reached Setrhyn already... I'm afraid it's too late, even if we leave now.”
”No, i killed all their horses with my jakku and forced them to pull their cannon themselves. They made camp about eight kilometers outside of Setrhyn. If we leave now we can reach them by the time the battle starts.”
”Y-you... It's not important, let's go.” Nyris had a curious look as if he wanted to ask a question but quickly snapped out of it, realizing it wasn't the time for his curiosity.
Aerwyn sent his spiders to seal the goblin breeding building in webs while he called all of his troops to him. He didn't want the goblins getting loose while his forces were away, he had no intention of dying and he would need those goblins no matter the outcome of this battle. The spiders finished quickly and formed up with the rest of his troops.
All was ready for his march to Setrhyn.