Chapter LX: Prelude to Slaughter

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No more attacks came that day.

Apparently getting your forces unmetaphorically roasted to fine ash in a single second tends to kick even the brains of barbarians into gear.

Not that I minded that one bit of course, they were giving more time for our help to arrive, and even if they were likely going to be far more forceful in their attacks, that too was to our advantage... after all, it is far easier to slaughter men by the hundreds if they throw themselves at a prepared position than chasing them down to their caves and mountain passes.

I was currently busying myself 'inscribing' runes into the ground with my staff while a bored Harald followed me around.

"Don't you think you should be resting Thane?" I ask as I finish another nasty surprise.

"Bah" He waves dismissively "I am made of sterner stuff than most, a couple of days awake won't trouble me."

And he was probably not wrong, on my travels I have already met many who were well above the usual human limits. Unfortunately when I asked about the methods the answer was usually 'Just train your ass off'... I guess all that magic in the air does wonders.

"Still," I start scratching out another rune "You should make sure you are at your best."

 "Nagging at me like an old woman ain't going to change my mind brat." He smiles cheekily.

I sigh "As you wish, I still don't understand why you have to be down here when you know damn well I can appear atop the wall in the blink of an eye."

He looks to the enemy camp and exhales "I mean no offense kid but I don't trust magic, so just let me be obstinate and follow you while you do your work."

"As long as you aren't going to be a twat about it you can think what you like" I shrug "How are the stakes coming along?"

"Should have a hundred ready by tomorrow" He turns back to me "Why would you use simple stakes for your little monster up there anyway?"

I give him a blank look "I am NOT using my highly expensive, and more importantly highly enchanted bolts on a bunch of unwashed barbarians."

He blinks a couple of times and bursts into laughter "So pathetic they aren't even worth proper ammunition eh?" He wipes a tear "That is bloody brilliant."

I also fail at keeping a smile from forming "Too bad their Hagravens tend to keep to the back, I'd love to blow them to pieces."

He winces "I wish I didn't ask what they were."

A toothy vicious grin spreads on my face "Don't worry, when I am done there won't be a single one left."

Something in my manic look must have spooked him as he suppresses a shiver "You seem to hate them quite a bit" As he realizes I am not about to explain he shrugs "Not my business anyway, you want to kill them? Be my guest, I'll even throw in an axe myself."

"Now you are speaking my language"

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I wake up the next morning after only two hours of sleep to the sound of a young woman's voice, not perfect but I can run for weeks on this amount of sleep at this point.

Blinking my eyes open I see Elisif holding a bowl of steaming stew "Good morning Master Reyvin, I brought you something to eat."

I take the wooden bowl and spoon with a grateful nod "There is no need for any of that 'Master' business, it is tiresome at court and it is tiresome here."

She smiles mischievously "As you say Court Mage."

I roll my eyes "Did you come here just to bring breakfast or did you need something else?"

She looks away with a blush "I... umm... wanted to ask-"

"What Torygg is up to?" I ask with a shit eating grin.

An embarrassed whine leaves her throat as she barely manages a nod.

Shaking my head and suppressing a burst of laughter I say "Dear gods the two of you are practically made for each other with how awkward you are."

The red reaches her ears at this point.

Deciding to be merciful for once I finally answer the question "The recent events have left him... under pressure. Thankfully he is a brave young man and has enough backbone to keep going" she looks to the ground sadly "I do have to say, whenever he gets a message from a certain young woman he does tend to be much more cheerful"

And just as the blush disappeared it returns full force as she stammers a thanks and runs off.

I hear a heavy sigh nearby and without turning I say "Ah... young love."

Harald's exasperated voice comes from the same direction "You know I would agree, but seeing as you are even younger I'd just end up feeling bloody awkward."

"Don't worry about it" I wave him off "How are the men?"

"As well as can be" He grunts as he stands nearby, and gazes at the enemy camp "Two dozen fell yesterday, and many more would have died from the wounds without your help."

"I do need meat shields after all" I say with false arrogance.

He snorts "You say that, but after the showing yesterday I wouldn't be surprised if some of the mad fuckers actually volunteered for the job."

"Nords..." I shake my head.

We stand there in companionable silence, Harald watching for any movement with furrowed brow and myself enjoying the morning winds.

After a while I hear Harald grunt and pick up his axe and open my eyes to see the enemy camp in a frenzied mess as a new group of Reachmen gather for another attack, my sharp sight allowing me to spy multiple warriors far taller and bulkier than their fellows.

'Aim for the tall ones' I send a mental command and the sound of moving machinery soon follows "They are getting serious it seems." I say as I see a Hagraven screech something at a very tall man wearing chainmail and an antlered helmet and quickly hide herself after she is done.

Harald grunts in acknowledgement and goes to prepare his men.

Time for yet another bloodbath.

(General pov)

The defenders were readied within minutes, yesterday's fiery baptism and their utter slaughter of the attackers soared their morale and even the young ones carried supplies and fixed defenses with great gusto.

At the other end of the field a cacophony of frenzied cries of 'MADANACH!' echoed from the tightly packed Forsworn's battlelines and just as the previous day they charged without a hint of self preservation, hoping that their Daedric patrons would protect them from their hated enemy.

They were prepared this time, proper shields were given to the infantry while the archers were told to focus on the towers, even the mighty Briarhearts were included in this assault to take down the enemy witch that killed so many of their own.

The earth shook as they charged, their confidence endless now that they were joined by the blessed warriors of the mother of decay.

That confidence was crushed utterly when a dark green spherical construct emerged atop the gatehouse and a loud metallic twang resounded in the ears of every warrior present, there was silence for a short moment before an explosion of force sent a ripple through the Forsworn lines, pushing many into their fellows.

When the dust cleared a horrific sight awaited, a Briarheart and about a dozen warriors split in two and a simple wooden stake stood stabbed deep into the ground.

The Reachmen were stunned, as afeared as they were when the witch burned their brothers to ash, none knew what to do but then a sound sent a shiver down their spines... the sound of a powerful metallic string being slowly pulled back.

(Reyvin's pov)

I fail to hold back a gleeful (and slightly deranged) laugh when their entire formation stills, I see them panic, then I see the commanders bringing them back to order... that won't do.

'Reload.'

Gatecrasher coldly obeys, and I see the fear in my enemy's eyes.

They charge once again, but the damage to their momentum was already done and the Nords wasted no time in abusing their disorganization by raining as many arrows as they could at them.

Harald, being the testosterone machine that he was, contented himself with throwing spears across the field and impaling a good dozen of them on his own.

They were just about to reach the wall, their laddermen protected by the bodies of their comrades, they started raising their ladders and I saw the Briarheart that led them glare at me and point his sword my way, challenging me.

Without a hint of mercy I slowly rose my right hand... and snapped my fingers.

A massive fiery explosion followed as over two dozen runes of fire detonated bellow the formation, killing hundreds of the idiots in mere moments.

The lucky ones retreated not long after, some of them so terrified I noticed their hair go grey in real time.

As Harald came to my position I could see the madman looking disappointed.

"Really Thane? Pouting like a child?" I snark as I once again command Gatecrasher to fire at the retreating barbarians, really seeing them flail around and fall like bowling pins was so satisfying I was definitely going to burn it into my memory.

He rolls his eyes "They got me all buttered up just to blue-ball me by dying too quickly." He groans.

I fail to hold back a snort "Fair enough."

"What about you Flame-tongue?" He turns to me with a smirk "Not hungry for battle yourself?"

I tilt my head "I won't say I don't want a proper challenge, but I know damn well they won't be sending their witches forward."

"Whyever not?" He looks at me baffled.

I sigh "They are their spiritual leaders, priests essentially" I explain "I would have to do something to anger them if we wanted them to attack, but that would end up risking your town."

"Fookin do it lad." He says immediately.

"What?" I blink.

"I said do it." His eyes gleam with grim determination "We both know that the more damage we do here the easier it will be to rout them permanently, so go ahead and make them kill themselves on my walls."

I stare at him for a moment before bursting into laughter "Oh I am so glad I ripped that arrow out of you Harald, you are one fun madman."

He claps my back, almost making me stumble as I turn back to the camp and once again see the Hagraven berating the commander.

This time I summon a long, beautifully crafted ballista bolt made of orichalcum and gleaming with potent runes. Gently, delicately, I place the bolt into the mechanism and with great cruel glee I send the command: 'Aim for the hag.'

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Give me stones so I may let the barbarians stub their toes on them.

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