212 Cavalry Charge (2/2)

Luca pushed down on his claymore, increasing the force of his attack. Surprisingly enough, this forced Garm to raised his left hand over the flat of his shadowblade to brace against Luca's assault.

”All this time he's been holding that ridiculously huge sword in one hand,” I said, sounding hopeful now.

As Luca continued to push his claymore down on Garm's greatsword the very ground underneath their mounts began to crack from the pressure of their struggle.

And yet still Garm would not fall. In fact, even from afar, I could see that he was slowly raising his sword inch by inch. This meant Luca was losing their contest of strength.

Wham!

I imagined that was the sound Azuma's spear made as he slammed its pole down on Luca's claymore. Like a hammer, it drove Luca's shadowblade down, which finally helped it to break their sword lock.

Luca's claymore dove into Garm's right shoulder, penetrating the armor and into the flesh underneath — and it looked to be a pretty deep cut.

I pumped my fist in the air in triumph, and that's when all hell broke loose.

Garm's scream which was like a lion's roar exploded outward and stunned those around him including Luca and Azuma.

It was only for a moment, but a moment was all the great general needed to pull out Luca's claymore from his right shoulder with his left hand while simultaneously unleashing a flurry of blows directed at his two opponents with his right sword arm.

”Noo~o!” I yelled for it was all I could do given the distance between me and them.

The sight of my brother's blood flying out as each cut Garm landed on his body from his quick blows was a horror to my eyes.

Azuma faired a little better as he managed to block maybe half of Garm's attacks with his spear. Still, he too was bleeding from too many wounds.

In fact, it was a miracle that their swifharts weren't included in what I could only describe as Garm's version of an Omni-slash.

At the same time, a flare had been launched in the sky, signaling our cavalry that it was time to pack up and leave. But how could Luca or Azuma escape when they were both so heavily wounded?

Luca nearly toppled out of his seat but Azuma reached out and grabbed him to keep him on Jade Shadow.

I could see Azuma screaming something into Luca's ear, probably telling him to hold on.

In front of them, Garm had raised his greatsword a second time. He was about to swing it down.

Azuma raised his spear to block the attack but even I could see his right arm was shaking. He was too hurt.

Garm swung down — and it was right then that half-a-dozen shadowblades appeared to block his attack.

A dozen riders had ridden to Azuma's and Luca's rescue, and I recognized them as viseres from Luca's Ravagers. They were men who had been with the Foolhardies since its inception.

While six of them tried to hold Garm back, the other six helped to escort Azuma and Luca out of Garm's reach and back to the rest of our cavalry that was in the midst of escape.

Marco, Paulo, Julies, Daryl, Esteban, and Todou — these were the names of the six men who stayed behind to face off against Garm knowing fully well that they were going to die.

”Damn…” Tears pooled beneath my eyes as I watched them go down one by one. ”Muddamnit…”

Luca and Azuma had been picked up by the rest of the cavalry and moved to the center where they could be protected by Garm's cavalry who chased after our riders.

Garm, after he'd killed my six men, was charging forward as well. And while Xanthor's formation could hold back the enemy cavalry, I doubt they could stop Garm if he rampaged right through them.

It was then that I saw the remaining six viseres from the dozen who'd rescue Luca turn back to charge at Garm.

Lira, Lawrence, Migo, Kyle, Betty, and Ronnie were their names. Two of them fell to the enemy riders they had to run past to get to Garm. The other four met their deaths with the help of Garm's greatsword.

However, their sacrifice allowed the remainder of our cavalry to escape back into the oasis and into the gorge beyond.

Those of Garm's cavalry who were right behind them triggered the black powder Zarz had left there to greet them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

My ears rang from the sound of the explosions and I could barely hear Aura screaming that it was time to go. But it was the pain in my palms that kept me focused. Sticky liquid pooled underneath my fingers, the ones that had cut into my palm when I'd balled my hands into fists.

”You will be avenged,” I whispered.