Mercy

William's line of sight went dark. He didn't know where he was but he felt a sharp pain on his back.

As the trauma from the fall began to fade, he began to hear the muffled cries of the people around him and the rumble of rocks and footsteps. 

"William!" A familiar voice called out to him.

William then managed to open his eyes. The voice was his friend Jorn who was shoving him awake. 

William slowly looked around to see where he was, he was surrounded by piles of rubble, mainly parts of the wall. He saw the crushed remains of many of the soldiers that were caught in the energy beam that swept through the Eastern section and devastated the wall therein.

"William! The gate has been destroyed, we need to form a defense now!" Jorn pleaded.

William, although dazed and hurting, forced his body up. He staggered to his feet with help from Jorn. They unsheathed their swords and headed to the main site of destruction, the now ruined gate.