The last barrier exploded, shards of light erupting in a fountain of sparks as the third guard wall stepped in to close the gap it left. All the guards had their shields interlocked, and grunting and straining at the weight of the scorpoids pushing against them could be heard.
"Reinforce," Ballentine yelled.
More of the guard force moved forward, bracing their allies, holding the shields. The scene was chaotic, and they could not maintain the shield wall for long. A guard screamed as a scorpoid's stinger flicked over the shield's top and pierced his shoulder. The chain mail he wore provided little resistance to the sharp point of the stinger as it punctured it. A guard stepped forward behind him as he fell to his knees, taking over and holding the shield. A cleric moved forward and dragged the downed fighter, screaming in agony and convulsing, as SJ watched laces of neon green spreading like tendrils of fire across his skin. The poison from the scorpoids was potent, to say the least, with the speed it had taken.
The cleric bent, grabbed the man's head, forced a bottle into his mouth, and made him drink. The cries of agony eased, and convulsions ceased as the antidote took hold. Slowly, the colour of the poison faded, leaving dark lines across where it had spread. The man wouldn't be able to fight again soon, given his current state.
A growl erupted from behind, and the large form of Patch came to a stop as he arrived at the scene. His gigantic head and gaping maw dripped with saliva, his teeth glinting with pure violence as he snarled towards the gate. Cristy and the others weren't far behind.
SJ turned, seeing her friend standing on two legs again. A sheen of sweat creased her brow, but her breathing was steady and controlled. The change Cristy had gone through in such a short space of time still amazed SJ.
"How far away are the others?" SJ called.
"Twenty, perhaps thirty minutes," Cristy answered as she called her bow to her hand. The gleaming wood almost seemed to emit an ethereal light. Instinctively, she nocked an arrow as she stepped forward to where SJ stood. Aiming, her eyes trained, she released an arrow. It flew with such venom and force that the breeze it created as it whipped past the gnoll guard's head holding the shield was unsettled by its passing. The arrow with such force and precision penetrated the stinger of a scorpoid that was poised to strike down over the shield wall.
The wounded scorpoid screeched in response, its stinger pulled back from sight, still holding the arrow.
"Nice shot," Ballentine called. "Gary, get the archers to aim for the stingers," he bellowed to the wall.
"I will do that, but many are under the wall; we can't see them clearly," Gary responded. "You heard the captain. Aim for their stingers if you see one, and don't waste your shots."
The wall was several feet wide by the gate, and a passage was built into it to accommodate the gates and supporting framework that would be required. The other areas of the wall were thick but not as wide as the gate, meaning that once someone was under the shelter it provided, it was difficult to strike from above. The defences hadn't been completed fully, and in time, murder holes would have been created to allow for attacks from above in the area around the gates.
'If only I hadn't levelled,' SJ thought, anger flooding her.
Cristy let loose another arrow, another screech from an injured scorpoid as its stinger was struck.
"Ballentine. Get a couple of the archers down here to help," Cristy shouted.
Ballentine looked at Cristy, a little surprised, before he relayed the order to Gary. Ballentine was the captain of the town guard, and all the others present would use his title over his name. Cristy wasn't, though. She was a hunter, not a guard, and had grown up knowing Ballentine as a friend, not as her leader.
Three archers came down from the wall and stood alongside Cristy as they attempted to hit the scorpoids' stingers. Another guard cried in pain as he was struck, falling back. The guard who had been anchoring him also fell. The pair's limbs tangled. That was the opening that the scorpoids had needed, and almost instantly, one thrust itself into the gap. Its pincers clacking angrily, snapping at guards holding shields on either side. Cristy and the archers let loose their arrows. All four harmlessly bounced off the chitinous plates.
"Damn their strong," Cristy said.
"Very," SJ replied.
Jay charged forward, accompanied by Ballentine. He didn't go for the scorpoid but lifted the fallen tower shield and thrust it with the strength of ten fighters into the opening that was forming. He strained and cursed as he pushed with all his might at the scorpoids, trying to break through. His feet were rooted like trees. His face turned in a snarl, his tusks adding to his ferocity, as he drove forward. Ballentine joined him, throwing his weight behind the giant orc. Jay stood over seven feet tall, and his life as a brawler, particularly with his recent training, had brought him back to his physical peak. Ballentine, much shorter but no less strong, supported him as the gap was slowly closed again.
"We can't do this for much longer," Jay spat, his face curled in anger.
"No. We need a plan," Ballentine said, himself now straining at the tide of scorpoids.
Patch and the pack started to move as one, the dire wolf leading them as they bounded up the steps to the wall's top.
"What are they doing?" SJ asked, watching them go.
"Harassing," Cristy shouted.
The guard who had tripped with his injured comrade stepped forward, replacing Ballentine, who moved back, allowing him to take in the scene.
The left-hand side was struggling. The guards there had been holding the line the longest. The problem was that there was little they could do to help them; their limited number meant that only the three clerics and recovering mages weren't currently supporting the shield wall.
SJ cursed. "Ewin. How are you doing?"
Ewin was crouched, his shoulders slumped, and his head down. His breathing was still ragged from the mana strain he had endured, but he was recovering slowly. He looked up at SJ, "Mana is back. I just need a moment to catch my bearings. My head is like a plate of worms."
"If you know any ice spells, anything should help."
"I only know the one, and it's only a frost spell and won't last long."
"Anything is better than nothing," SJ said.
Ewin pushed himself to his feet, grunting with the effort. Mana drain was not just a mental drain but also a physical drain on a mage's body. He closed his eyes as he started to focus. His hands moved in slow, deliberate arcs, forming unknown patterns to the uninformed eyes of any who wasn't a mage. They made no sense. A flick here, a sweep there, and the low murmuring of the words associated with the spell could be heard.
As SJ watched, a pale light started to build across Ewin's hands. It pulsed with hints of blue, and SJ felt the air growing colder where she stood. It was as though the heat was being absorbed. Strands curled from his hands, twisting and forming in the air as they moved slowly and deliberately toward the shield wall and gate entrance. The spell was slow, and SJ could see the tight expression on Ewin's face as he tried to maintain his concentration on something he wasn't experienced in. SJ, having used mana for her tailoring, knew the feeling well when she had first tried to imbue an item—the mental struggle to allow mana to flow naturally, yet also controlled.
As the spell reached the gate, the stonework started to change colour, and small ice crystals began to form on its surface. The guards' breath on the shield wall began to emerge in gaseous clouds as they exhaled, straining against their attackers' relentless onslaught. The temperature was dropping rapidly as the crystalline sheet spread.
The scorpions didn't react immediately to the presence of the frost spell; it took them time, but as they began to feel the cold that now filled the void under the wall, their strikes lessened. Their screeches increased to ones of anger and frustration as, one by one, they slowly pulled back, their legs clattering against the fallen wooden frame of the gates as they backed away.
It was the first respite the guard had since commencing the shield wall. They didn't move, retaining their positions, but it allowed them the chance to recuperate, their muscles aching from the strain and burning of lactic acid. The clerics had been intermittently chanting and casting spells at the defenders, bluffing them and improving their resolve, but none of them were golems; they would all require rest at some point. Every being had physical limits.
That was when SJ heard the pack's howls and growls. She couldn't see from below, so she sprinted up to the wall's top, looking down. The pack had jumped down the other side. They were now between the slowly retreating scorpoids and the gnolls at range, who had stayed away from the archers' reach. The scorpoids being forced out from under the gate allowed the archers on the wall to start aiming for their stingers. SJ watched as one was hit, its screech ripping across the battlefield as it spun angrily, pincers snapping.
That was when Patch and the pack started to harass them. The pack was mainly lower levels than the scorpoids, but their speed and agility were even higher than that of the eight-legged monsters. They snapped and snarled at them. Never quite getting close enough to come within striking range of their stingers or pincers, and always maintaining a gap. It was apparent that the scorpoids didn't possess the intellect of the pack, and they snapped and clicked angrily as they tried to strike, twisting this way and that as the wolves pulled them in multiple directions.
SJ saw the movements, but before she could call a warning to the wolves, a hail of stones began to rain down on them. The beetle herders' remaining forces had stayed at range, but with the wolves drawing the scorpoids away from the gate and backing towards the gnolls' front line, they were coming in range.
One wolf yelped as a stone struck its shoulder, the impact from the stone bullet sending it down. Patch snarled in anger as he turned and looked at the gnolls. He let out a sharp bark, and as one, the wolves moved in unison, the injured wolf being drawn in among them as they backed sideways now across the area, towards the river's edge. No longer approaching the gnolls. As they moved, the rain of stones lessened, drifting out of their range. Three more wolves had been struck, but they shook off their injuries. What hadn't stopped was the continuing advancement of the scorpoids. The yelp was terrifying as a scorpoid managed to at last strike one of the pack. The wolf howled in agony as it fell to the ground.
Patch growled and leapt forward, gripping the scorpion's tail in his jaws and pulling the arachnid beast backwards. It struggled angrily as it tried to reach behind it, pincers snapping at its unknown attacker, unable to reach its intended target. The struck wolf couldn't stand, and one of the pack had grabbed it by its scruff and dragged it backwards out of the advancing scorpoids' range, as they continued the chaotic actions of harassment.
"What are they doing? They are going to get trapped," SJ said, panicking as the wolves neared the river.
Gary crouched with SJ as they watched from the parapet.
Patch howled as they reached the edge of the river, and SJ watched as the wolves started to back into the water. It was slow and deliberate, but eventually, even the poisoned wolf was dragged in. The current of the river was beginning to carry the wolves away from the battle. The scorpoids didn't enter the water, stopping as their limbs touched it, clacking angrily and screeching at their escaping foe. The river twisted away from the area, carrying the wolves as the scorpoids initially skittered along the side, trying to give chase, but they could do nothing to reach them.
"We won't have long before they come back," SJ said as two scorpoids stopped following the departing pack. The pack may not have done any damage, but they had caused a distraction, adding to the much-needed respite for the guards.
The scorpoids were now dispersed along the river's edge, and SJ saw an opportunity. They were probably halfway between the wall and the gnolls.
Kibble had not left SJ's side since he had carried her back to the wall, and although she hadn't said anything to him, he had instinctively followed her, not getting in her way. He squeaked at her, and SJ looked at him. It was as if he knew she was planning something.
SJ started to shrink, and as she reached her miniature form, she could still feel the sticky ichor from the beetle. Her dress was immaculate, and where she had managed to rub the ichor on her wings, those areas were as well, but she couldn't reach her entire span. It was physically impossible for her to do so. She groaned, realising that her mobility would be affected. As though in understanding, Kibble hopped towards her, curling his wing and offering it to her.
SJ frowned, looking at him, his lithe and athletic form rippled with youthful excitement.
"You want me to?" SJ asked.
Kibble squeaked.
"Well, I never thought I would see the day that a fae would ride a wyvern," Dave said.
SJ flapped her wings, slowly lifting them before settling on Kibbles' back. The lead still dangled from his neck, and she grabbed it, wrapping it tightly. Compared to her miniature size, it was exceedingly thick, and she struggled to hold it.
"Damn," she cursed as she dropped back down from Kibble and grew again. She reached down, unclipping the lead before shrinking again and mounting his back. The mithril collar was at the base of Kibble's neck, and attached to the narrow band was the ring to which the lead had been clipped. SJ gripped the ring in her hands. It acted almost like reins in her hands as she clamped her thighs around Kibbles' torso.
Gary looked on, perplexed, realising what SJ was doing. Before Gary could say anything, SJ tapped Kibble with her heel, and he launched into the air. His wings beat steadily as they rose swiftly, the deliberate and powerful strokes carrying them higher with each thrust.
Gary watched as they rose, wyvern and rider as one.
"This isn't going to be easy," SJ said to Kibble as he started to circle high above the wall again.
He let out a low growl, the blue lightning crackling in his mouth as he did.
"I'm guessing you can do some damage with your lightning now," she said, remembering the burned leather of the lead where the loop had been removed, which had secured Kibble on the wall before he had saved her.
He almost trilled in response, the lightning crackling louder.
As SJ rose into the air on his back, her display triggered.
New Relationship Status
Your companion's trust and love for you have grown into a symbiotic relationship. He can understand and interpret your thoughts.
System Error - Symbiotic Relationships are not authorised for Legionnaires
Error
Error
Error
"We have a problem," Dave said.
"What?" SJ asked.
"The auditors are already calling," Dave replied.
"Handle them. I have things to do," SJ replied. Her pulse was racing as she considered that she had just broken the system's rules. It had to be related to her waiver; there was no other explanation.
'Okay, Kibble. It's time to draw those scorpoids further from the wall.'
Kibble trilled in response. His ability to understand her directed thoughts felt no different from when she spoke to Dave.
"May the gods have mercy," Dave almost cried.
'What?' SJ thought, fear coursing through her at his reaction.
"It's like having the sickliest love puppy in your head."
'What do you mean?'
"Can't you hear him?"
'No.'
"Yes, SJ. I love you, SJ. Let's do this, SJ," Dave recited, making gagging sounds.
SJ couldn't help but smile, even under the extreme circumstances they found themselves in.
'I thought you were dealing with the auditors?'
"Oh. They already left."
'That was fast.'
"There wasn't much for me to say. As soon as they realised, it was you and your waiver status, they messaged the system consort. I guess they will be along soon."
'This may not be a good thing, especially after your recent issues with the system itself.'
"This has nothing to do with me. This is a completely unforeseen event. I never would have expected Kibble's relationship status to change towards you. I can only assume it has something to do with that ring of bonding the chancellor gave you."
'Right, Kibble. Let's do this. We strike and run. Try and grab their attention and see if we can draw them towards the gnolls. They don't seem to care who they attack as long as they have a target.'
With that thought, Kibble dived. SJ gripped on for dear life and hunkered down across his neck as he plummeted faster than a speeding arrow towards the scorpoids. His aerodynamic and sleek profile made him the perfect aerial missile. As he neared, SJ felt a vibration coursing through his body, and as he opened his wings to flare back upwards, he released a bolt of lightning from his mouth directly at the scorpoid he had been aiming for.
The bolt struck the scorpoid on its back, the blue lightning lacing out from its point of impact, flaring across its exoskeleton. The scorpoid screeched in response. SJ had checked its health as they flew and again after the effect had worn off. It hadn't caused the scorpoid any damage, but it had definitely got its attention as its pincers snapped angrily towards Kibble. Its attention was drawn to the flying bolt of a wyvern as he soared skyward again. He didn't need to go far, knowing the scorpoids had no ranged attack capability apart from their stingers, and you still had to be in range to be struck by them. The scorpoid turned to where Kibble flew, as again SJ felt the vibration build inside Kibble before he again threw another bolt.
The second scorpoid he hit reacted with unfettered aggression, snapping at the nearest target. This was unfortunate for the scorpoid it chose, its pincers closing around one of its legs and shearing it off. That reaction caused chaos among the scorpoids, which were unsettled and dispersed by the pack's initial harassment.
'Amazing,' SJ thought.
Kibble trilled in response as he again lifted above the demonic arachnids as they scuttled and skittered beneath them.
'Let's try and get them closer,' SJ thought as Kibble dropped and struck again.
