"Defenders of the Realm Chapter 2" by Derek ´Wiseman´ Bangay

            Years later bards throughout the three lands still sung of the battle being heard throughout Melante. At that moment even the gods above must have heard the roar as the wave of men charged the troll invaders. The evening sun, now blood red in the sky, shone off the raised weapons of the attackers. The pass shook as the two armies met with a clash of steel.

            Miles, having kept in line throughout the charge, looked up at his adversary across from him. The troll, standing a full foot taller than himself, looked down upon Miles as if the human was a bug not to be worried about. The troll, like many of its brethren, had tied the heads of his enemies to its belt. Looking around Miles realized that this troll had twice the number of heads as any another. The large stone battle axe, wielded by the great strength possessed by the creature, alarmed Miles as he approached. One blow from that axe would mark my end, he thought as the troll began to swing its axe, aiming to chop Miles’ head from his shoulders. Frozen by fear Miles stared wide-eyed at the troll. The axe began its sweep towards the scared recruit. Coming to his senses at the last second he ducked, the weapon skinning a hairs length above him and plunged deep into the shoulder of the soldier next to him.

            A spray of blood covered Miles’ left side as he looked up, still on one knee from the dodge. Realizing that if the troll managed to pull his axe free he was surely dead, Miles thrust his sword deep into the trolls exposed side. The creature staggered, sliding off the sword in which Miles still held in his shaking hands. Stepping back the troll stumbled over a dead body and hit the ground. Taking a deep breath Miles looked around remembering he was in fact in the midst of a battle.

            Turning to find his next opponent Miles was met with a hard force striking his left shoulder, knocking him off his feet. Hitting the ground hard he rolled over just in time to avoid the crushing blow of the troll’s mace. Quickly he brought his sword up to try to defend himself. It was no use he thought sadly. There was no way he could stop that heavy weapon form this position.

            Looking up at the troll, Miles was sure that this was his end. The troll raised its heavy mace up, and filled the air with a deep roar. Swiftly it began its deadly descent. Suddenly the tip of a spear burst through the troll’s chest. The look of utter surprise was evident on the troll’s twisted face as it fell forward onto Miles, knocking the breath from his lungs. Miles tried to take a breath but was met with the foul stench of a mix of troll’s sweat and blood. Frantically Miles tried to push the troll off of him but the creature had pinned Miles’ arms down so he was unable to do anything. The lack of fresh air was starting to sap his strength quickly. Lying there trying to determine what to do, Miles was relieved to find that the body was being rolled off him.

            Taking a deep breath Miles looked up at the person who had saved him. He was surprised to see the grim face of his friend, Felix. Taking a defensive stance atop his friend, Felix was keeping the enemies at bay using the reach of his spear. “Well don’t just lie there you ass. I can’t protect both of us forever here!” he yelled as he pierced his spear into an approaching troll.

Struggling to his feet Miles now felt a sharp pain shoot down his arm from where the troll had bashed it. “You alright?” asked Felix as he grabbed Miles’ hand and pulled his fallen friend to his feet. Miles then realized that his friend’s long blonde hair was now a crimson red around his right ear. “Your bleeding pretty bad there Felix” Miles said pointing to the wound. “What this?” mocked Felix, touching the area gingerly and replied with a smirk, “I don’t even feel it.”

Rushing up to the line again each of them found an enemy and surged on with the attack. A few minutes later Miles realized something. “Why are you at this end of the line Felix? Isn’t your troupe supposed to be guarding the right flank?” he called as he parried an incoming sword. A few yards away Felix had given up on the piercing end of his spear and was now swinging it like a staff. “Our captain was taken down by an archer during the charge. After that most of the troupe turned and ran, while the rest of us were either killed or pushed back!” replied Felix, yelling over his shoulder.

Hearing this, a sick feeling washed over Miles. If Felix’s troupe was not at the right flank then there was a huge hole in their lines, thought Miles quickly. It was only a matter of time until the enemy wrapped around and cornered them in the pass was the conclusion he came too. They would be trapped, every one of them surely dead.

For a time Miles’ mind wandered, trying to figure out what to do. During this time his training took over his movements. Blocking attacks and returning with strikes of his own became effortless. Throughout all of this a plan was coming together in his mind. With a call to Felix, the two of them met briefly while Miles explained his idea. “Well that’s better then waiting for our death. Lets go.” replied Felix, as the two of them looked down the line of fellow soldiers and broke into a run.