64 Running Turtle (2/2)

Thirty yards distance now.

”Thom!” I roared.

My roar was met with a resounding, ”Take aim!”

Then, just like we practiced, holes opened up along our frontline shield wall. These were quickly filled with notched bows.

”Anyone who misses gets a beating later!” Thom threatened. ”fire!”

Arrows flew across the thirty-yard distance and into the Magesong line of soldiers. Some bounced off their shields. most hit the unprotected heads and necks of our enemies. Drow sharpshooters were extremely good like that.

As soon as their volley was complete, the drow archers under Thom's command pulled away and the hole they left was quickly plugged by our shields.

It might seem to some like too much effort just to kill a few enemy soldiers but that's only if you didn't consider the psychological effects of our actions. An unstoppable enemy who could attack with impunity, how could that thought not affect the Magesong soldiers negatively. Even these elites who were positioned at the back to defend their leader. Even they must have felt chills running down their spine as we drew closer.

Twenty yards away now.

Once more we opened holes in our defense. Once more our arrows flew fast and true, killing more of our enemies. Once more their own arrows failed to stop us.

Fifteen yards.

Then the enemy made their mistake and sent their front line charging forward to repel us. Thus, breaking their formation of their own accord.

I was reminded of another quote from the Art of War . If you are far from the enemy, make him believe that you are near .

”Edo! Shaqs!” I yelled the names of the two biggest bruisers among the Foolhardies, and when I saw them making their way through the line toward me, I grinned. ”Your turn.”

”Let's make a hole,” Ashley ordered.

Soldiers moved to the side to give Edo and Shaqs room to run. Shieldmen pulled back to make a hole wide enough for them to cross through.

Once they were past the protection of our Tortoise formation, the Magesong soldiers, probably thinking they were now easy pickings, made a bee-line for Edo and Shaqs. It wasn't until they were close enough to notice the two hulking figures and their weapons of death that these soldiers stopped in their tracks. Too little, too late.

Shaqs' war ax split in half the first enemy soldier he reached while Edo cleaved through one, two, and then three hobgoblin heads in rapid succession.

I spared a moment to watch in awe at my two death machines before rousing myself to join them.

Glancing toward Ashley, I said, ”You with me?”

Ashley shrugged. ”Beats hiding in here for one more minute.”

I nodded. I too felt the tension continue to build up while we waited for our chance behind our shields.

”Let's do this,” I said right before I dropped my shield. It just wasn't my style to carry one. Then I glanced forward and yelled, ”Break!”

Our shield wall broke apart, and the soldiers in front followed me and Ashley as we charged forward in pursuit of Edo and Shaqs who were continuing to bring carnage to the foes who met them.

As I ran, I silently prayed to whoever deity would listen to help us complete our mission.