188 In Dire Straits (2/2)

Much like Edo, Azuma was a killing machine. But where Edo was all brute force, Azuma was the embodiment of skill and finesse. Indeed, not a single foe he faced lasted more than a few seconds when he set his spear against them. And within an hour, I was almost sure he'd slain about a hundred foes.

If only he didn't get gassed out so quickly, maybe he'd have slain five hundred. It was his one weakness.

Azuma's cancer hadn't gone away, although in the Fayne his contract with Darah sustained him enough that he could fight as fiercely as he did tonight. However, the great warrior, Azuma, had a time limit.

But I was smart enough to take this into account. So as Azuma's fury ebbed, a host of shadows appeared on the northern slope, and for each shadow, at least two enemy soldiers would fall.

Thom's katana just slashed the fairy that would have struck Azuma a lucky blow as he'd momentarily lost balance.

Afterward, the pair of them exchanged words, and although I was far away from them, I could tell from the scowl on Azuma's face that Thom was mocking him for his weakened state.

”Focus, you idiots,” I whispered. ”Keep the enemy back…”

About half an hour after Thom and his drow appeared on the slope, I received a report from our southern lookout that turned my deepening frown upside down.

The gliders had returned, and with them came Edo and his Bastards. They'd brought the kobolds with them too.

Honestly, this was really good news as they were a shot of adrenaline in our tired arm that not only reinforced our defenses but boosted our morale as well.

I clasped Edo's hand gratefully when he approached.

”I hear you're in need of saving again, Dean,” he teased

”About damn time,” I said.

I clasped Thor in the shoulder next.

”You guys are just what we needed to turn this tide,” I told the pair of them, and to the rest of the men behind them, ”If we're to have a chance, I'm going to need you lot to make a lot of noise!”

Another round of cheers mixed with the howls of Thor's kobolds.

”And give them hell!” I roared.

An hour after I'd made that speech, the fighting reached its fiercest point and the blood of allies and foes alike dyed the northern slope's sand in red.

A wheezing Azuma had been brought back to the oasis by his guards while Edo took his place as leader of the defensive line, which at this point, was getting dangerously close to the summit.

Our barricades below lay broken and the enemy had swelled in size on the slope and climbing over their dead to reach us.

Beyond our oasis, the column of enemy soldiers had returned and was now making a beeline toward us. Pretty soon, the two thousand we faced off against would become ten thousand.

With Azuma down for the count and Edo and Thom with their hands full below me, I realized it was time for me to make my move.

I unsheathed my falchion and raised it high, ”Foolhardies! With me! We fight for our lives! We fight for all of us!”

I heard the roar behind me, and it lit a fire under me the same way I'd obviously just lit a fire under my men.

It was a gamble to lead our reserves down the slope to reinforce the defensive line for as long as we could. Thankfully, I didn't need to do that yet. And while that last speech was wasted, the sight of the Foolhardies flag in the desert plains below was a second shot in the arm.

I couldn't tell who was carrying the flag, but I recognized my brother and his swifthart leading the charge. Xanthor Xor rode at his right side, and on his left was Qwipps Daggerby.

Our cavalry had arrived, and by the looks of it, they would reach us before the enemies in the north would.

I don't believe the two thousand soldiers climbing up to us noticed Luca's band until they were right below them. Despite their rear guard's efforts to block Luca's passage, he and his riders plowed through them like they were sticks on the wind.

They cut through the enemy's formations like snakes passing through tall grass, and they continued onward, past the rear guard, and up to the sand dune's northern slope.

I believe I'd already mentioned how steep the climb was, right? Well, color me surprised as I watched the swiftharts and centaurs easily ride up this steep slope as quickly as if they were navigating through a straight stretch of road.

Luca and his forces continued to mow down the enemy, slashing at the backs of soldiers unprepared to face cavalry.

Sooner rather than later, Luca himself had reached the summit just as our soldiers pulled the wooden walls back for them.

He trotted over to where I stood, and in a way that charmed even me — his super cool big brother — Luca said, ”I've arrived at the turn of the tide, Dean.”