03 - Call to Arms by Mitchel Scanlon - (ebook by Undead) Page B

minutes’ progress, the origin of the sounds became plain.
As ever, it was difficult to see clearly through the film of the mists, but it
was quickly apparent they had come upon the main centre of the conflict.
    All around them, Scarlets skirmished with orcs and goblins. Throwing himself
headlong into the struggle, Dieter caught two goblins unaware as they made ready
to shoot arrows into the backs of the soldiers with their bows. Smashing one to
the ground with his shield, Dieter split the other goblin’s head in two with a
blow from his sword.
    Spotting one of the Scarlets was in trouble, Dieter raced over to support
him. The man was facing two orcs armed with spears. Hemmed in on either side,
the man had lost his shield. He had been forced back against a tree as the orcs
closed in on him scenting victory.
    Charging to the man’s aid, Dieter attacked one of the orcs. Taking advantage
of the element of surprise, he stabbed his sword into the thick mass of muscle
where the orc’s head met its shoulders. It was like cutting through bundled
layers of cowhide, but by putting all his strength and momentum behind it Dieter
killed the creature with a single blow.
    Becoming aware of Dieter’s presence, the second orc turned to meet him—only
to be spitted like a piece of meat as Dieter and the trapped Scarlet thrust
their swords in tandem, running the monster through.
    “My thanks, young blood,” the man said. “You’re like an answer to my prayers.
I thought I was done for there.”
    It was Rieger. Before, in the mists and the confusion of battle, Dieter
hadn’t recognised him. Looking about him, Dieter realised he had lost sight of
Krug and Febel when he leapt into the fray.
    “Where are the others?” Dieter asked as he and Rieger paused for a few
seconds to catch their breaths.
    “The rest of the file, you mean?” Rieger gestured with his sword at the
tumult around them. “Somewhere in this disorder. True to form, we blundered into
the greenskins in the mists. I’d almost think they were waiting for us, but they
seemed as surprised at the turn of events as we were. After that, it was all
blood and madness. A typical battle in other words.”
    Hefting his sword, Rieger picked up his fallen shield and strode on to rejoin
the skirmish.
    “Come on, Lanz. We’ve rested long enough. Stay close to me and let’s show
these greenskins what war really means.”
    Letting Rieger take the lead, Dieter followed him into combat. At first, he
was unsure whether the older man was not just charging blindly back into the
fight. It quickly became clear, however, that Rieger had a specific aim in mind.
    Ahead, an embattled group of Scarlets were desperately trying to hold off a
much larger force of orcs and goblins. Yelling at the top of his voice, Rieger
charged at the nearest orc, his sword swinging in a deadly arc.
    “Forward the 3rd!” Rieger shouted. “Forward for Hochland! Forward the
Scarlets!”
    Around the battlefield, the battle cry was repeated as other men took up the
chant. Standing close to Rieger, matching him stroke for stroke as they cut
relentlessly into the greenskins before them, Dieter joined in the cry. Rising
above the cacophony of battle, the sound reached a stirring crescendo.
    “Forward the 3rd! Forward for Hochland! Forward the Scarlets!”
    The cry did its work. It seemed to spur the Scarlets on to greater efforts.
With renewed ferocity, they laid into the greenskins. Goblins and orcs died in
ever greater numbers, lessening the disparity between human and greenskin
forces.
    Almost imperceptibly at first, a change came over the enemy. Whether it was
the result of his and Rieger’s unexpected attack from behind them, the Scarlets’
renewed efforts, or the battle cry booming across the field of slaughter, Dieter
could not be sure.
    It started as the goblins broke and ran, leaving their larger cousins to
fight on without them. No longer possessing superior numbers, the orcs