Chapter 19 – The Decisive Move
By the time Zebine had rushed to the throwing unit and the right wing, the Fang Riders were already at the height of chaos.
The orcs were desperately trying to control the ‘fangs’ that ran wildly, causing clouds of dust to rise in the air. The cavalry were circling around while keeping the right distance and flashing their sabers.
“They think they can just do as they like… Everyone, begin firing!”
At the hobgoblin captain’s command, those who had been running alongside him flung their stones at once. The stones rained down like a sudden shower. But the enemy had anticipated the attack, and the riders were already pulling away from the battlefield.
“Good! We did it, chief!”
“Don’t lower your guard! They are going to regroup and strike back! Everyone…ready your bows!”
Shortbows came up in unison, their strings drawn tight. When closing in for an attack, Zebine’s unit relied on slings. And when engaging enemies at a distance, they turned to their bows. That was the standard fighting style of the throwing unit under Zebine’s command.
“Oh, Zebine. You saved us!”
“You can thank me later. We’ll cover you. Use the opening to break through the cavalry and land a solid blow on the Hero’s army!”
“You don’t have to tell me! All of you! Quit fumbling around! Follow me!”
Gripping the reins and training rod in one hand, the orc launched into a full charge at the cavalry. Dust erupted beneath the pounding hooves, and pebbles were sent flying into the air, grazing his cheek.
“Damn it, how reckless. Everyone, nock your arrows…”
He lifted his bow and began to draw, when, at the edge of his vision, he spotted reinforcements arriving. But there were only five riders.
“Here they come.”
The fearsome soldiers who had nearly burned their commander to a crisp. The kobold had said that they could cast magic even while mounted.
“Message! Fire the signal arrows! Kanakiri and Toboe!”
“Aye!”
One of the men waiting in the rear nocked two arrows and shot them high into the sky.
The two distinct tones rang in the air, and in response, arrows were loosed from each unit. And with that, words of the dragoon’s arrival would spread to the rest of the forces.
“Split the unit in two! Kal, you and your men support the Fang Riders! We’ll take on the dragoons!”
The subordinate who had just fired the signal arrow grinned, then shot through the neck of an enemy soldier who had been about to cut down a Fang Rider.
“Leave it to me. Chief, be careful of the burning magic.”
“You don’t have to worry about that! Everyone, follow me!”
With the bow still in his hand, Zebine charged headlong at the dragoons. His soldiers followed him while splitting into separate groups.
“Everyone! Spears up! Don’t let the enemy get close!”
Caught off guard by the sudden advance, the dragoons hastily pulled on their reins as the gap between them vanished.
“You’re too late!”
He drew an arrow from his quiver and flung it like a knife into the horse’s brow. The arrowhead bit into a gap in the armored faceplate, and the horse screamed, reared, and collapsed, throwing both itself and its rider onto the ground.
Still, the mounted mage calmly continued to weave his hand signs and pressed on with his incantation, never breaking rhythm.
“By solemn command, I call upon you. Spirit-wisdom of all principles, hidden miracle of resonant light. Come forth at my voice. Be radiant, be the iron hammer, the thunderous strike that flashes and smites in an instant.”
Then his entire body glowed blue and his hair shimmered as it stood up on end. And then the air around them reeked with a sharp, toxic stench.
I won’t let you. With that resolve, he brushed a hand over his knee and bellowed a curse.
“Sigire-fes-reve-mar… I go with the wind!”
The tattoos carved into both of his legs flared with light, and Zebine’s body transformed into a blur of rushing wind. He cast aside his bow, drew a throwing knife from his vest, and fixed his focus on the man raising his staff. Panic etched across his face. Even so, the enemy forced the completion of the spell, shouting the final words like a cry.
“Rend, cleave, and shatter!”
Light poured down in answer to the shout. Swallowed by a dazzling storm of razor-sharp radiance, Zebine saw the sliver of steel he had thrown hit its target, smashing straight through the mage’s brow.
“Got one, chief.”
Then the thunderous roar crashed over him, smothering all other sound, and his consciousness with it.