164 The Fast and the Furious (2/2)

For my part, I did my best to lead them safely through the path as quickly as possible, zigging and zagging past clumps of defenders who jumped out at us and cutting off limbs of those fools who were too eager to nab my head.

Eventually, we'd circled long enough and found what we'd been looking for, although I didn't really expect to see the large ice spikes poking out of the ground like some enormous geyser had frozen over the valley floor.

\”Ty's power really is impressive,\” Aura noted.

I nodded disbelievingly as my bias over my eight years of friendship with the guy wouldn't allow me to go past the old Ty to see this new and improved and highly useful version two-point-oh.

Ahead of us, Ashley's shield squad was front and center. They were in a clash of shield walls against the enemy's own formation.

To the left and right of the shield wall, Azuma's Immortals and Edo's Bastards took up arms against large clusters of enemies who'd failed to get around Ashley's shield wall.

As I rode, I watched Edo cut through soldier after soldier like the war machine that he was. On the other side of the wall, Azuma was performing deathblow after deathblow on all challengers. And in my head I thought that I was so lucky these two warriors had chosen to follow me.

Ashley herself was proving once again how useful it was to have a shieldmaiden in the unit as she led our forces forward inch by inch.

\”Push forward, fairies and viseres!\” she commanded in a very gender-neutral kind of way.

Her shield wall slammed into the enemy's own wall, and with a timed and mighty heave, they pushed against their enemy, forcing the less-trained shield wall to step back another inch.

Arrows from behind both shield walls flew over the night sky, peppering the other side with the promises of death from above.

Death cries and war cries could be heard in equal measure, and as we approached them, the thrill of battle was beginning to take its hold over me. This would no doubt be marred later after I'd taken a life and regretted it, but for now, I relished in this heart-pumping feeling of clashing fates.

Then I saw my brother on the far side of Ashley's shield wall, further back than Azuma's position, and watched him struggle against his opponent.

Luca had parried another attack from the Dawn Breaker's greatsword, but it was clear that he was on the back pedal. He looked winded and I could see why. His opponent was relentless. Each attack transitioned to another again and again in what I could only describe as some kind of infinite combo.

My brother managed to dodge, block, and parry most of the attacks well enough, but it was clear that managing this barrage of attacks was draining him.

\”Sh**!\” I hissed. \”Aura, take command and follow me in if you can. Stay by Edo if you can't…\”

I snapped Myth Chaser's reins and urged him to gallop faster, almost leaving behind Aura and Xanthor behind me.

\”Ashley! Make a hole!\” I ordered.

Ashley glanced to her left and saw me galloping toward their clash of shield walls. Her eyes went wide. Then, with barely any hesitation she yelled, \”Step off in three, two, one… now!\”

As one her squad took a coordinated two steps back while maintaining formation. This opened up a narrow path through at the same time as confusing the enemy that had at that point been pushing against Ashley's Shield squad for all they were worth.

The result was that many of these enemy soldiers fell forward, some toppling over completely. It wasn't a problem however as Myth Chaser simply jumped past some of them and stepped on others, bulldozing his way through the narrow tunnel Ashley had created for me.

As my Foolhardies saw me pass, a loud and raucous cheer rang out.

\”Foolhardies!\” they yelled.

And, fortunately, I had the presence of mind to raise my falchion high in salute as I passed by, earning me an even louder salute.

No, I wasn't just showing off. I was boosting my soldiers' morale like any proper Commander would.

I pushed past the shield wall, the lone swifthart rider to reach the other side of it. Then I was moving past Azuma's Immortals who all cheered me on while their squad leader, my instructor, was shaking his head, and I was almost certain I was going to get reprimanded later for going reckless.

But could you blame me? Luca was the main reason I was in the Fayne, and seeing him struggling, something that was such a rare sight, sent the big brother in me into protective mode. I needed to help my brother. I needed to beat the Dawn Breaker.

I was ten feet away. Luca was on one knee and clearly out of breath. His opponent had his greatsword raised high, ready to deliver a blow that might have injured Luca.

Five feet of distance separated us when the enemy suddenly turned my way, and I knew thanks to Fool's Insight that he had baited me in and was going to attack Myth Chaser instead of Luca in an attempt to unseat me.

\”No, you don't!\” I yelled.

I launched myself off my mount with my falchion slashing sideward just before the Dawn Breaker swung down.

Our shadowblades collided in mid-air in a resounding shriek that scratched at my ears. But the force of his attack sent me crashing backward and I found myself falling luckily onto the soft sand.

I tumbled backward and reflexively rolled away to protect my spine. This had the added effect of getting me back on my feet, and not a moment too soon as a broadsword was already snaking its way toward me.

Our shadowblades clashed a second time, but this time I held my ground, the soles of my boots digging into the sand as the weight of his weapon bore down on me.

At the corner of my eye, I glimpsed my mount slowing to a stop next to Luca, and in my head, I thought that he was such a smart swifthart who deserved a treat later. That was the last errant thought I had before my mind went into battle mode. It was time for some serious enemy officer hunting.