The Axe Falls -CH18- (Patreon)

Watching over the troops as they started to push into the space they’d been ordered, Nick found he was oddly detached from the whole thing. People were dying not far from him and he seemed to care not at all.

“They’re soldiers doing their jobs, Sire,” offered Lucian. “To pity them would be to dishonor them. They were not drafted or called up to do a duty they didn’t ask for.

“Only pity them that they must give their all and leave none behind. This is their calling, choice, and profession. When our time comes to lead similar men and women we must endeavor to spend their lives wisely.”

Nick raised his eyebrows at that, thinking over Lucian’s words.

They were dark but honest.

With that thought in his mind, Nick watched as the two lines clashed.

He could see them using abilities and skills constantly. Healers attempting to keep allies upright while mages dumped spells over enemies.

It was a mad scramble and mess of people.

Those that weren’t behind mage shields, like healers, and not in the line were quickly picked off by opposing soldiers. Either by bow or spell anyone who stood out caught attention very quickly.

“Our family once led from the lines. That didn’t last, though, as those individuals were targeted so strongly that they often didn’t leave the field of battle,” Lucian remarked idly.

“It’s so awful,” Claudia said suddenly at Nick’s left.

“That it is,” Nick agreed.

Claudia shook her head, but didn’t look away. She watched intently. Her eyes moving across the field in one direction, then the other.

Her head stopped moving suddenly, her eyes locked on a position to the far left of the line.

“What’s going on?” she asked aloud.

Nick followed her line of sight and looked out to the same location.

The enemy was starting to rapidly pull away from the battle. Many of them using any movement abilities they had to do so. A number of spells were dropped right there as well to act as a buffer. Spells that would likely detonate as soon as an enemy got too close.

“They’re retreating,” Nick surmised as his eyes moved back down the line.

Nowhere else were the forces of the dukes withdrawing, except for their extreme right flank.

Isn’t the right supposed to be the strongest? What the hell is going on?

“I don’t know sire, but they’re not retreating in as good as order as one would expect,” murmured Lucian. “They’re almost in a full route, honestly. Perhaps an officer that gave them their courage fell? An area of effect high level fear spell? A panic potion put into an alchemical bomb?”

The left flank of the king’s forces immediately began to follow after.

From the very beginning the fighting on that side had been rather savage. The duke’s elite had carved into their opponents and tore up large numbers.

Now blooded, angered, and given the opportunity, they were chasing after those who had slaughtered their comrades.

“Turn,” said Nick almost to himself. “Don’t chase. Turn. Turn and start rolling up the line. Flank them.”

Contrary to his wishes, the soldiers kept going. Rushing right over the spelled bombs and after their foes. Cutting them down whenever they could and running ever forward.

“Do… do I need to do anything or… tell someone?” Claudia asked.

They were actually the only command group this far to the left in the line. To their right was the count, and beyond him, another count, followed by a duke. There was no one over here to oversee the situation or try to correct it.

“I don’t know,” admitted Nick. “I have no idea.”

Turning his head, Nick saw a runner leaving from the count’s command group. They were heading straight for where the soldiers were breaking away.

“Ah, your father is sending someone,” said Nick, lifting a hand to point to them.

Claudia’s head snapped toward the runner, then she let out a breath.

Just as the runner crossed past Claudia and Nick a lightning bolt from the enemy army zipped over the line. It intersected the runner and slammed into them.

There had been a brief flash of several bright colored shields just a split-second before the spell landed. Each shattering into a flurry of magical bits.

The spell that’d been launched had been in excess of the ability of the shields to keep up with. Given that those shields were actually fairly powerful, it struck Nick as very odd that they used such a spell to target a runner.

“They don’t want our soldiers to stop,” Cynthia said from beyond Claudia.

“Nick, get on Table and ride over there. Get them to stop. Now,” commanded Claudia.

God damnit! This is stupid!

We’re trying to save the kings forces. Forces we’ll likely have to fight in the fullness of time!

“Yes, but for today, they are who we serve. We must continue to lay low,” advised Lucian even as Nick turned and started running toward Table.

Ker stood up from the saddle as Nick came close.

Not waiting, Nick stuffed his foot in the stirrup, grabbed Ker with his left arm, and flung himself up into the saddle.

Pushing the big fisher up and over his shoulders, Nick grabbed the reigns. Then he made sure his poleaxe was properly secured and then snapped the reigns.

Squealing angrily at him Ker sunk his claws into the chainmail on Nick’s shoulders. Both his front and back paws had retractable claws and had a range of motion that let him climb up and down trees.

Hanging onto Nick’s chainmail was simple for Ker.

“Sorry, Ker!” Nick apologized as Table started racing off toward the soldiers pushing ever onward. They were already well beyond the line now. “Gotta get those bumble-fucks to get back to the line!”

Ker hung onto Nick as he raced onward.

Keeping an eye on the opposing side Nick could see several magicians and ranged types looked like they were targeting him. Lining up massive crossbows and empowering spells.

“Ah shit,” grumbled Nick. He knew what was coming his way. A load of trouble like what’d they’d given the runner. Pulling sideways on Tables reigns he sent his horse into a tight turn.

One that made him practically do a circle at a speed that was way too fast. Nearly sending the horse to the ground in a tumble.

A crossbow bolt that trailed glowing fire effects after it sped by Nick’s head. Moving with such speed and force that he watched Table’s mane flip over to the other side against the way it should have.

Only a moment after that and a lightning bolt spell went through nearly the same area, screeching off into the distance, hitting nothing.

“Shit, shit, shit, fuck,” growled Nick as he brought table around again. He started heading for the line once again. He turned his head partially to the side, watching the enemy and what they might do next.

The mage and the arbalester were getting ready to attack him again. It was very unlikely Nick would manage to make it to the line before they got another chance at him.

“God damn it all, what am I—”

A Fireball slammed into the arbalester and then several projectiles struck him and the wizard both. They’d been so set on getting Nick that they’d forgotten to protect themselves as well.

Well, at least I’m worth that much.

Looking ahead, Nick left the others to others. His own mission needed to be completed and there was no time to spare either.

By the time he reached the rear of the allied soldiers they were considerably further than he’d realized. Far behind him and to the right was the line of battle.

Catching up to the closest officer and a band of soldiers at the rear, Nick reigned in his horse.

“Get them pulled around!” he shouted as the other man looked at him. Nick lifted his arm and pointed back the way they came. “Retreat! You’re extremely over-extended!”

“We’ve been trying!” screamed the officer back at him. “It’s like they’ve all been Taunted. We can’t get them to pull back for anything!”

What? There’s no such thing as an area of effect Taunt that’d work on that grand a scale. Is there?

Whatever, doesn’t matter.

Nick squared his shoulders, looked out across the soldiers that were still pushing forward even now, and sucked in a deep breath.

“RETREAT! FALL BACK!” shouted Nick at the top of his lungs. He’d put everything into that bellow. Taking in another breath he started to move down behind the soldiers. Taking in another great lungful of air he tried again. “RETREAT! RETREAT AND FALL BACK!”

“I think that’s enough, Sire,” said Lucian. “It would seem we hold some type of command ability. Or the ability to break through whatever mental control they were under, taunt or otherwise.”

Nick only noticed it after Lucian had said it. The soldiers were all coming to a slow stop. Those in the back were already starting to backpedal. Moving back the way they’d come from.

“FALL BACK!” Nick shouted again after sucking in another lungful of air. “ORDERED RETREAT! MOVE IN FORMATION!”

Before the retreat could become a route the soldiers calmed. They came to a full stop, tightened their formation, and began to back out. Slowly retreating back the way they’d come from.

It was going to be a long maneuver, but it would at least give them the opportunity to pull back. If they’d kept going there was no telling what would happened, but Nick was betting on it being a feigned retreat on the part of the enemy.

The enemy reinforcements that’d been moving toward the line, where Claudia’s forces had pushed in, had broken from their advance at some point. They were no longer heading to the line, but straight toward where Nick was.

On top of that, he could easily see from where he was that the force that’d been retreating from his allies, had now turned. They were once again fully engaged in battle and doing their best to keep the king’s troops from disengaging now.

Damn it, it was all coordinated. This was a ploy to break off a piece from the army and chew it up. Without the nobility to oversee it, to watch over them, they didn’t have a way to stop this from happening.

“Our enemy is aware of our army’s problems and weaknesses,” murmured Lucian.

Nick was backing his mount up with the soldiers, his head rotating one way, then the other, trying to figure out what he should do next. He was torn on what his options were.

He could remain with the soldiers until they made it back to the line, or he could head back to Claudia. Remaining with the soldiers here was a risk. There was no protections for him here if he was singled out by the enemy.

After all, he was a lone man on a horse and there were two enemy elements engaging this section. His orders had been only to get them to turn around.

Not to remain with them and die.

“Discretion is the better part of valor, Sire,” murmured Lucian. “To fall here, after carrying out our orders, would be foolish and wasteful. We should depart as quickly as possible. There is little that we could do, or offer, to assist these men, other than our life.

“If we return, we can at least appraise Claudia, and through her perhaps the count, of the situation. Or at the worst, confirm what they suspect since they can see as clearly as we can that this was planned.”

Right. I’m… not a hero with a unique class or high levels.

I’m no better than that runner who got smashed.

Time to go.

“Retreat under the best order you can!” Nick said as he came back to the officer he’d come across earlier. “I have to tend to my duties!”

Wheeling around Nick brought Table back in to line with the original battle-line. Snapping the reigns he set off at high speed.

Clinging to him the entire time, Ker seemed to be annoyed and frustrated in equal measure. The big fisher hanging onto him like some sort of strange shawl. Bouncing along for the ride without much he could do other than squeal angrily at Nick.

Nick turned his head and looked over his shoulder at the retreating soldiers. He did feel bad about leaving them there, but he realistically couldn’t have done much for them. It was quite likely that more than half of them were above his own level. Any veterans or ex-adventurers in that section would easily be past him in ability.

In the next instant, even as he watched, a group of cavalry soldiers came rushing out from what looked like a low spot in the plain. A small furrow where someone could hide a company of soldiers if everyone laid down and kept still.

“They must have had the horses lie down,” remarked Lucian even as the cavalry began to charge across the plain. They were heading straight for the stranded and isolated company that Nick had just left.

If he’d waited any longer, it was very likely he’d have been trapped with them. Stuck at the back of the forces and fighting off determined and dedicated cavalry soldiers.

“They’re fucked,” Nick said almost to himself as he faced forward once again. He pulled Table to the side and decided to head straight for the count instead of Claudia. She’d likely order him to go relay it to her father anyways. There wasn’t much she would be able to do with the information.

A minute later and he rode past Cynthia and Claudia. While the former looked confused that he kept going, the latter nodded her head. As if agreeing with what he was doing and even had a smile on her face.

Ker took the opportunity to jump from Nick’s shoulders and start scurrying toward Claudia, rather than remaining. He apparently had a preference.

Considering she feeds him when I’m not around, it’s no surprise he likes being around her.

Even before Nick got close enough to really see the count, he could already tell the man had pulled himself away from his command group and was waiting for Nick.

Riding straight up to the man Nick hopped off the horse and dropped down on one knee.

“Sire,” Nick said breathing somewhat hard. “The left flank is being enveloped. The original force that pulled back did so as a maneuver. It was a trap.

“The reinforcements that were originally heading to push back Claudia’s forces, are now heading for the flank. Additionally, there were cavalry soldiers with their horses laid out against the ground in a small shallow gully

“The flank will be enveloped on three sides, shortly. I don’t think there’s a way to get them out without a serious investment of troops. That or sending some very high level individuals to break them out. But I’d say the enemy would likely invest them as well at that point. They seemed keen to eliminate that flank.”

The count stared at Nick, then let out an explosive sigh. Reaching up a hand he scratched at his temple.

“Go, send a runner to the king. Tell him everything that was said here,” the count ordered. “Send someone who can be there as quickly as possible, in fact.”

“One last point, Sire,” Nick said quickly. “The officer I spoke with said it was as if the soldiers were pulled along against their will. As if they were taunted or mesmerized to chase after their opponents.

“He couldn’t explain it any better than that, but it did seem as if the soldiery weren’t listening to their own officers. If this ploy works once, I would say there’s no reason they wouldn’t try it again later.”

With a grunt, the count nodded his head, but said nothing else.

A runner took off in the next moment, sprinting all out toward the king’s camp. They were clearly using an ability as their speed was easily faster than a horse.

Nick had no idea if it was from an item, a potion, a spell, or a scroll, but whatever it was, that runner wouldn’t be caught for any reason.

“Return to my daughter. Good work, Master Dal,” murmured the count with a wave of his hand. “And it was good that you came to deliver this information, rather than fighting to the death with those soldiers. It would have been a waste of a man of your caliber.”

A nod of his head after his finished speaking and the count turned on his heel, dismissing Nick and returning to his own current issues.

Taking his leave, Nick rose, mounted table, and headed back toward Claudia. His place was at her side for the time being, though he imagined this battle was going to be ending. There was no way the king and his troops could hold out very well without a left flank.

Or so Nick thought at least, but he was no strategic genius.

Reaching Claudia he dismounted quickly and moved over to her.

She was currently feeding Ker a chunk of dried meat and watching Nick as he approached.

“Did he say anything?” asked Claudia, coming up out of her crouch.

“Nothing. Other than he sent a runner to the duke. Who will likely send a runner to the king, I imagine,” Nick said, then decided to pay a little deference to her. He dropped down to one knee. “I personally think those soldiers are doomed, Miss. They’re going to be surrounded on three sides if not all four. They won’t be able to get back out without extreme losses, or dying where they stand.”

“I see,” Claudia murmured and then made a small gesture with her hand, signalling him to rise. It also held a bit of annoyance. “Stop it. I’m… just Claudia, for the moment. Despite what my father intends.”

Smirking, Nick got to his feet.

Then the heavens opened up and a massive tornado touched down on top of the trapped soldiers. It also landed atop the enemy as well.

The ferocity, suddneness, and fact that this area wasn’t prone to such a thing, immediately left only one possibility.

An Elementalist had just opened with one of the strongest spells in their repertoire.

“The king just sacrificed his own soldiers, to kill the enemy,” Lucian said. “He assumed they wouldn’t be getting out anyways and decided that their lives would be better spent to insure that the enemy can’t get away.

“How absolutely ruthless. Though to be fair, it wasn’t as if they would be able to escape anyways. This is certainly one way to get the best return possible. I’m not sure I could do the same, however.”

Nor I.

Nick watched was the tornado tore everyone apart.

Horse, man, armor, weapons, ground, nothing was spared.

It was an horrendous and awesome spectacle to watch.

At the same time, Nick heard a distant horn. One that was being repeated as it went down the line. He knew what the horn was signaling though. It was unmistakable.

Orderly withdraw.

The king was done with today’s battle and wanted to end it. Given what he’d just commanded an Elementalist to do, there was the distinct possibility that the dukes on the opposing side would allow it.

After all, there was no reason to believe the king wouldn’t do it again to the line itself if he was denied the ability to withdraw.