8 Reinforcements!

An hour later.

In the midst of a bloody battle, the Northern gate is falling apart. The hundreds of orks that tried to flock at the elevated doorway are bashing their clubs and axes. The defenders are doing their best to withstand the orks ever ferocious attacks whenever they try to climb over the walls.

The graystone walls are now crumbling due to the weight of the orks heavy bombardment from their trebuchet. It wasn't enough to take down the wall but it was enough to demoralised the men further, despite Marcus best efforts to prolong their will to fight.

They are already showing signs of doubt, a sense of unease and negative thoughts of them dying in the worst possible way they could think of. This made them all fear for their lives at least enough for the men to pee their pants.

The battle was fierce - many orks tried to climb over the wall and again would be repelled by the defenders. Everyone was in peril yet they fought on, not wanting to leave their post, not even turning back just to see if help would arrive.

There were only 16 men left, a total loss of 14 dead as their bodies either fell from the wall by an orks bash or a swift slice from the axe. The number already shows the pile of men dying. No one knew how many they have killed but it was certain that these well trained soldiers were excellent.

"Oh Dragon lord sirenon, lend us your strength so our enemies may fall in our hands. May our deaths save a thousand of our own, my Dragon lord..." A footman recited the rites of battle.

20 minutes later

Everyone on the walls died due to exhaustion or slain by an ork. Winchester finally arrived to save the day and immediately dismounted his horse. It took them longer than expected. even though the roads were well paved, that doesn't mean a flock of civilians running to the docks would stall their march. He hopes the dukes forces would make it in time.

"Calvin, get our men up the walls now!" Sterlin said to his son.

"Yes, father! Everyone on the walls now!" Calvin shouted.

The knights, including Sterlin and Calvin, were running towards the gates doorway but were too late. The orks overwhelmed the city defenders until there was one man left. It was Marcus now, all alone behind the edge of the walls.

Sterlin can see the bloodied mans head, he was all bruised and still standing despite the poor posture he made. It may have been due to his restless fighting. He puts his left hand on the walls cliff, sword up pointing at the green menace in front of him. Before he could lash his blade to the orks throat. He made his last words...

"Let no ork enter our city. Let none dirty our streets. These filthy greenskins shall not tarnish Isstvan's name!" While he was screaming at the top of his lungs. The Viscount and his son took off their helmets and listened.

"I am sorry my children, father will be with your mother soon..."He muttered, without anyone around to hear it.

"FOR THE CROMWELL'S! RAAARGHH!" Marcus Aurelius gallantly charge directly at the large ork (7'2 ft tall). Until it raised his battleaxe and slew sideways, cutting half of marcus' body.

They all saw and heard what he said. The last man standing has finally fallen in the most honorable way possible. 'His name shall not be forgotten' Sterlin thought.

Meanwhile thirty yards away, Richard made it in time to the northern gate but was little late for the bash. He saw what happened in the wall and slightly hear his cry but didn't know what the words said since he was far away from him to comprehend. His eyes were filled with distroute and sadness until the man stupidly charge at the large ork.

It was brave and stupid; but his death was not in vain. For I and the relief force came to intervene before anything gets even more worse than it is. As soon as this battle is over, he'll be giving away a pension for every fallen footman that died from the start of all this. Before he could lemant any further, the gates were opening. He realize that the orks already have control over the North gate.

"CHARLES!" I yelled.

"Yes, I'm on it!" Charles said.

He put the duke down his horse and dash towards the opening gate. He stopped directly at the wooden door beside the gate so people can enter with ease. The knights of Viscount Sterlin are already inside and left the doors wide open. Before Charles could enter - A large club like figure struck him down to his chest and up to his head where his helmet flew up the air as he was. Leaving behind his steed in the greenskins hands.

"Bruagh!!" Charles spurt out blood on his mouth.

The ork that struck Charles walk forward after smashing his horse's skull. He drew closer as he waved the enormous club in his hand. Sneering at him; mocking him as he was crawling to evade the orks

next strike.

"Hehe... hehe..." The ork grinned and lifted his club up in the air before an arrow hit him in the eye. "RAAGH!" He screamed.

Charles didn't knew which direction the arrow was fired but he knew it was someone that was skilled enough to pull it off. He crawls his way back to friendly lines before a dozen orks manage to escape from the closing and opening gate.

'Winchester is having a hard time, he needs my assistance' he thought before someone came to him and dragged him inside to a nearby dwelling - a commonfolks house to be precise. He looked at his back blood still flowing on his on mouth and nose before he could gasp at what was tugging him. It was a young girl...

She wore a ragged skirt, almost torn apart by the elements and a simple long sleeve shirt. Her facial features weren't remarkable by the noble's standard and yet she was pretty or more likely cute was the better word; judging from her age. Her arms slim and her hair brown. He estimated that she was 16-17 yrs old.

"[Are you alright?]" she said in lethin, the commonfolks language in Isstvan. Compared to draconic the official language to the continent of Etuliea (pronounce as E-Tu-liya) that the Twin Dragon Lords degreed millennia ago. Thankfully he understands what she said and can speak in lethin as well.

"*Cough, Cough* Child, leave this place... Get out of here, it's too dangerous. For someone like you to be- *Cough*" He said in lethin as he coughs more blood and spits it like it didn't want to be a part of his body.

"You must go... Go to the men fighting those monsters. They'll keep you safe." He said but the girl didn't listen as she crudely bandage his already bleeding head.

"[You are hurt, father said that mother never leaves an injured man to die alone.]" She said while still bondaging his head.

"Where is your mother?" He politely said.

"[She died after I was born]" The little girl said as she was almost done. This shock Charles and feels guilty for saying something insensitive to a women coming in age.

"Then what about your father?" He asked again but she stop and points at the top of the wall where the fighting was now getting more intense as knight and ork fought with tenacity. The knights were desperately killing off whatever ork was there before they could close the now half open gate where orks could crawl down in an uncomfortable position.

At least the duke still put on the shield wall before hand. Seeing where she was pointing. What appears to be a carcass split in half; he already knew who the corpse was by it's open eyes and mouth - spewing blood everywhere in it's general vicinity.

"Oh... Your Aurelius' child..." Charles said feeling a sense of woe in him.

"[Y-yes...]" The girl said before making a short weep of tears flowed to her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away, as if she was strong just like her father but truth be told. She was breaking.

"What is your name child... I wish to know before I sent you off to safety." Charles said as he was trying to comfort the child while in an agonizing pain.

"[Its... Paulina...]" she said slowly; still wiping the tears in her eyes.

"Paulina... What a beautiful name, it suits you well." Charles remarked.

"[yes, it was my mother who gave me that before she-]" Before Paulina could finish someone came in and yelled.

"[Paulina lets go! We can't stay here, father is dead and we must go!]" A boy came down the stairs. He looked like Paulina's age but older. He had a weapon on his hand, it was a gladius sword. It was most likely given to him by Marcus judging by his looks. "[We should...]" When he was about to warn her again; he looked at Charles and was shock to see a knight in their dwelling.

"[Paulina what is a knight doing here?]" He asked this time with a slightly soft tone of voice.

"[I've found him crawling in pain so I thought I might help him. Please don't scold me!]" She said before hiding her face with her hands closed. It was adorable to see.

"[I see... Forget it! Let's leave him here and get out.] He said without a second thought.

"[But his hurt!]" Paulina retorted.

He stared at the knight for a good minute. He was hurt but can he still fight? So he made a bold statement.

"[Can you still stand, knight?]" He said as he glared at him. To Paulina's surprise, Charles got up, wobbled and walked to the man who was in the door.

"Yes, I can still lift myself off the ground, boy." Charles said in assertion, not wanting to look weak in front of the people he swore to protect.

"[Then its better for us to go.]" He said while he walk pass the head knight and grabbed Paulina's wrist.

"Hold on... What is your name?" Charles said to him without turning his back.

"[It is Marius Aurelius]" Marius said as he dragged Paulina to the doorway.

He would let them go for he has no time to dwell in someone else's family affair. He does not have the rights to let them to remain for this is not a place for them to stay.

Before they could leave their dwelling an ork pounce out of nowhere pinning Paulina while Marius was pushed back at a wall; unconscious.

The orks sinister red look - intended to do what his face was telling as the green menace sneer at Paulina - eyes burned with fire and lust gather within the ork. Paulina's face was distorted to the point of fear that lingered inside of her mind.

'Please help me...' she thought. The greenskin leaned forward as he draws his filthy hands closer to her face then her body. Charles saw this and immediately unsheath his longsword, but fell to the ground, due the surging pain that was rushing through him and lay there like a helpless trapped rabbit. He needed to get to Paulina before she is tainted and would be traumatize for life.

Marius awoke afterwards and shook his head vigorously. When he saw the ork on top of his sister; he immediately grabbed the gladius that his father gave to him before he went back to rescue his kin and dash towards the vile ork that threatens to harm his family.

"[LET GO OF HER YOU BRUTE!]" Marius said - disregarding his safety.

"No... you can't- Bluargh!" Charles tried to stop the young lad until blood spills out from his mouth again.

Seeing the man running towards the ork like a madman, the green menace grin and swung his battleaxe at him. Luckily Marius dodged it and thrusted his gladius at the orks abdomen again and again - the ork scream. He kept doing it for about 10s until it grabbed one of Marius' hands.

Marius stood there, expression grim and helpless, he stare at the orks red glowy eyes for a brief moment until it crushed his right hand causing severe pain - dropping his father's gladius and squirming in agonizing pain while Paulina watch as her brother was suffering.

Tears drip in her eyes, sliding down to her cheeks as she wept for her brother's discomfort. Witnessing all this Charles wondered how was the top section of the wall was handling.

He looked up and saw the knights up there were now struggling due to the orks swarming of just a few at a time to dozens by the second.

'Why did their numbers started to increase... *Cough* unless...' Charles thought the worst case senario and that flash of realization struck him. 'Did the orks manage to receive reinforcements... How?' this thought made his stomach churned.

He has to get up there and closed the gate. Stopping the orks from entering the city before they could reach the harbor. Just as Charles was pondering what he should do, the ork cleaved Marius' head and it came rolling down like a bouncing basketball. Witnessing what had just occurred right before his eyes. Something inside was now in cinders.

At this point Paulina, cried even more, almost filling her eyes into a watery lake that flowed like a waterfall. She wept until her eyes blurred her vision.

After killing the nuisance, the ork then leaned again towards her — to feel the soft and slender form of her body. In that moment — a sword was thrusted in his throat, then the head was hewed while his body remain standing. Soon it fell backwards. Charles made it in time after he glimpse the death of Marius. The son of Marcus; his friend's boy.

He quickly sheathed his blade and carried Paulina from her thighs to her back. She was still weeping and didn't know what was happening after her brother's passing. Charles was running in momentum right back at friendly lines.

"[Look! It is head knight Charles Holland! Make way!]" A footman immediately identified who the running knight was and shouted as soon as he realized it was the head knight.

"Take this girl to the docks now!" Charles gently put her down into Delilah Edington's horse.

"Yes sir, I shall do so, right away!" She replied with the echoing from her helmet. As she sprinted to the harbor with her steed.

"Now all thats left is you..." Charles turned around and looked at the massive ork holding Sterlin Winchester - grappling him with its terrifying metal claws. Those wolverine like appendages seem to move freely like fingers. It was the ork warboss, judging from his appearance alone.

He walks closer and closer to the massive greenskin — cutting any ork that is brave enough to kill him there. No knight had the capability to kill an ork that large, No one but him.

*****

Damn it, this is more stressful than I thought. I'm doing my best to formulate another plan but all I can think of is let the professionals do their thing and that is close-quarters-combat in an urban environment.

He again ordered the archers to stay back and shoot at the orks below the gate. One of them was an Elhein ranger, one of the best of the shooters in the continent as they're race is more akin to that of D&D elf but a bit more humble and well verse to human culture. She is apparently one of... Ahem.... Charles lovers...

The situation was getting more dire and worst by the minute. Casualty deaths were skyrocketing! Left and right everyone was dying before my eyes. I was the only one left in the back lines guarded by several of my personal bodyguards. It was becoming even more dire, there were now a few dozen men left for the shield wall. Until he hears horns blowing in the distance. Could it be? Our reinforcements have arrived!

Richards prediction would be verified when he sees men, clad in body armor that features their muscular abdomen. Carrying with them are one-handed spears, helmets that looked eerily similar and a large oversized round shield that covered them from the chest to their shins.

With the shield's mark being a large A shape without the line that bridge the A — that was only distinctive to their iconic battlecry. They are unmistakably the Astrapan warriors! If the Astraps are here then that would mean the Nasethian fleet is here too!

"Order a retreat now and regroup whatever forces we can muster!" Richard said without a moments of hesitation.

"Y-yes! Right away your grace!" The guards said and whistled retreat. "Pull back!"

As soon as his forces are now recopperated, he'll devise another plan to counter the orks again, for now he'll let the Astraps have their fun. He hopes that Gregor is fairing well on the other side.

*****

Meanwhile on the other side of the wall. The fighting was as fierce as the North gate. There were now a hundred orks but with only a few dozen soldiers were left. Gregor decided to open the gates without a second thought. As soon as the orks were swarming in, they'd clash with the Astrapan troops Phalanx formation but this time only 20 men made it to his aid.

'More than enough' he thought.

"RAA!- Pueh!" an ork pounce in front of Gregor and he sucker punch it in the face a second later.

"AAAAAHHH!" and fell to the moat with a splash. Gregor lean forward to see if he was still alive when another ork sneak attacked beside him. Before he could lay a blow to Gregor; it's skull was soon crushed by his hands while still staring curiously at the moat to see if the other ork was still there.

*****

"Why do I have a feeling that everything is doing alright in the West gate? Eh whatever it is, Gregor has it covered."

He was inspecting the exhausted and mentally strained soldiers after fighting what maybe a hundred orks charging at them one at a time. Out of all the men he has surveyed he has not seen his head knight anywhere. Where could he possibly be?

Before Richard could contemplate any further and ask one of his bodyguards to find him. He hears someone yelling and it was a familiar voice.

"No... he didn't..." Richard said, eyes widen.

"ORK WARBOSS! WHY NOT FIGHT SOMEONE MARGINALLY SIMILAR TO YOUR OWN GIRTH!"