Battle

You tell the farmers to torch the fields. The wind, at your back fans the flames quickly into an inferno headed toward the seething mass headed your way. The farmers rush back behind the wall just below the monastery.

You hear the report of the riflemen on the rooftop, finding targets... perhaps too early, but who could blame them considering the onslaught headed their way.

It is not long before gunfire begins to echo around you. Still, its pitifully minor considering what will soon be here. You cannot see much through the heavy smoke, the dry fields were perfect tinder for a deadly fire.

You caress the ring on your hand. Almost time to taste blood, you tell the ring.

Minutes pass exceedingly slowly, the flames and smoke obscure the mob but somehow your riflemen are still able to find targets.

You see a few of your opponents, perhaps a first wave, appear through the smoke on the main pathway. You know they're moments from their deaths.

Forced into the pathway below the monastery, the enemy bunches up right at the piled bomb. You nod at the rifleman standing at your side. He quickly raises his rifle, takes aim and fires.

Striking a small canister of fuel next to the mass, the shot ignites the fumes and begins the conflagration. Moments pass, the enemy unknowingly continues up the path before the explosion engulfs them.

You're nearly knocked off your feet by the force of the blast. The rocks lining the pathway turn into bullets ripping through the mass standing nearby. You feel the heat upon your face and feel the sting of the debris as it flies past you. Your ears ring but you recover your balance and grasp your sword suddenly in your hand.

With three short hops you're in the fray. The enemy, in full disarray, is woefully unaware of your presence and dozens fall at your hand before anyone attempts to defend themselves but with no effect. Minutes go by, the men you kill are humans, dressed and armed in what appears to be mid 20th century style. They're certainly not from this shadow. But that is of little importance, as you slice through several more. Because of the closeness of your attack, the enemy is unable to use their firearms on you, they certainly weren't expecting a hand-to-hand battle.

You hear someone shout, "He's mine!" And turn to see a large blond haired man charging toward you armed with a light sword and a pistol.

You parry his first attack and quickly remove the pistol from his grasp. Your riposte is parried and you quickly move to dodge another attack. Moments into the fight and you realize this is no normal human. You try to focus on the man, attempting to ascertain his lineage... he fights well and has intense strength.

You realize that the force around you has continue onto the monastery, and you hope that your men have either retreated, seeing the uselessness of fighting this mass. With your momentary thought your opponent cuts you slightly. You force him back intent on not allowing your focus to drift.

You continue to fight, exchanging blows and parries for some time. No human would have lasted this long against even the least trained son of Amber... but this man fights like Caine. Could he be...?

Your thought is cut off as a screeching, screaming noise surrounds you. Your opponent looks past you for a moment and you take the advantage to dive into him. Argentum digs deeply into your enemy's side and he staggers backwards.

The noise passes over your head as a large, ugly aircraft fires a huge cannon at the mass of men streaming toward you. You glance at it for a moment and feel the presence of Logan. The cavalry has arrived, and in style. Several large planes bomb, shoot and dive upon the enemy and within moments they're in full retreat.

Your opponent backs away, injured...