Chapter 3: Slay Them All

“Secure the gates!” roared the commander. “Whatever it is has made it all the way through Coriander! We have to make sure that it doesn’t cross Fenugreek and reach Halloumi!”

Throngs of thousands of soldiers rushed to and fro inside the fort, with three groups making their way to the partly opened gates towards the front. The commander surveyed the area and saw that the other two gates still weren’t secured and immediately kicked his steed to race over to one. The men scrambled to get out of his way as he came barreling past and through them to the unsecured gate.

As he pulled on the reins of his horse the steed immediately pulled back as it came to a halt. A few men stood still as they looked at the empty darkness from outside the opened gate. “YOU THERE!” shouted the commander. One of them dropped his halberd at the sound of the commander’s voice and fumbled to pick it up from the ground as he turned to face him.

“Commander v-Vino,” he stuttered. “Your orders?”

Vino pointed at the still opened gate and glared at him. The man glanced behind him and nodded. “Apologies commander,” he mumbled. “I’ll get right on it, sir.”

“Wrong!” shouted Vino. He pointed to the other two men. “All of you will secure this gate, before whatever just eviscerated thirty regimens finds its way inside here! HURRY UP!” With another sharp kick his horse reared and galloped towards the last opened gate.

The soldier hurried down the earthen path to the gate and felt his knees wobble as he got closer and closer to the encroaching darkness. He was quickly followed by the other two knights. They pushed with all their might the doors shut, starting with the right and left. Then together they hauled up the solid wooden beam and with great effort dropped it down on the three metal bearings on the gate. The men were sweating profusely as they could hear the sounds of commotion rising. With the gate secured they made their way to the barracks.

As they made their way they saw Vino shouting and barking more orders to a group of twenty knights as they struggled and tripped over themselves to secure the last gate leading into the fort. Fearing an imminent attack, the men did not hesitate to rush faster towards the barracks but when they got there they noticed that there wasn’t any room left.

“Curse those cowards,” hissed one of the knights.

“My thoughts exactly,” replied a cold voice behind them.

The men turned around and saw Vino glaring down at them. “Is there anything you’d like to tell me, knights of the realm?”

He heard them gulp as they looked at Vino from his black sheathed blade attached on his crimson saddle. “w-We w-we weren’t,” stuttered one of them.

“SILENCE!” shouted Vino. He opened up one of his palms and a great ball of fire burst into life. “Let this be a lesson to you,” he whispered to them as he hurled the flame straight into the barracks. The wooden beams burst into flames as the fire spread like a deadly serpent throughout it. They struggled not to look back as they heard the horrible blood-curdling screams of the dying men behind them and felt the heat of the flames cooking them from behind.

Vino bent down, his scaly armor rubbing against his steed’s mane. He opened his palm again and once more a fireball appeared. “Do I need to do the same to you three?” he hissed.

The men’s heads felt as if they were about to fall off as they shook their heads so violently.

“Good,” sneered Vino. “Now, if you’re ready to be men, station yourselves in defense of the fort, or you’ll be cooked along with the rest of the cowards behind you.” A loud crack erupted throughout the fort as one of the gates cracked from something on the outside. “NO!” roared Vino as he kicked his steed toward the gate he just left.

Again a loud crack resounded inside the fort and Vino could see the gate start to tremble from the force of the blows. He saw his men shiver inside their armor and their weapons shook as they held them unsteady towards the damaged gate.

“ALRIGHT!” he shouted at the lot of them. “WE’RE NOT ALONE TONIGHT!” He pointed his blade at the gate and roared. “TONIGHT WE FIGHT!” His men stayed silent waiting for the next crack which came within seconds. A beam bent inward and shot out narrowly missing Vino’s horse which reared back so much that Vino almost lost his grip on the reins.

“BE CALM!” he shouted at it. “Stupid beast,” he muttered. He looked at his men and saw one of them point towards the gate. Vino shot his eyes at the gate and saw a big opening in the shape of the hole right in the middle of the gate. Without a word he dismounted from his horse and stood beside it as he tried to get a glimpse of the figure cloaked in the darkness outside.

“Let me help you,” growled the figure. He took a step inside of the fortress and the men’s hearts sank at the terrifying sight. “Why do you not marvel?” asked the figure turning to them all. He stopped at Vino and laughed. “Are you the commander?”

“State yourself!” commanded Vino, as he pointed his sword at it. “Who or what are you and why are you here?! Are you aware that you are committing treason against the kingdom with this attack?!”

“I have committed no treason,” chuckled the figure. “For I have no kingdom.” The figure flexed his hand and a sword of blazing blue appeared in its cursed gauntlet.

Vino shook his head and chuckled. “I see there is no reasoning with you, whatever you are, beast.”

“I am more of a man than what I see before me,” growled the figure. “And I shall slay you all.”

Vino laughed aloud as he sneered at the figure. “Alright then,” he chuckled. He rushed towards the figure with his blade ready for a thrust. “LET’S HAVE YOU!”