[Vfw-times] MK: Counterstrike part11

[COkane8116 at aol.com]

   One thing that Rickkter rarely found was an opponent who could match his 
speed. Kankoran used magical enchantments to help speed the body's reactions. 
And frankly, if he didn't have those right now, he probably would have been 
killed.

   Both to his advantage and determent was the double sword he was wielding. 
By virtue of its length and design, he was able to reasonably keep both 
feline women at bay; by the fact that it was not his Runic katana, he was 
unable to quickly shatter their weapons and finish them off.

   Dodging a thrust to his midsection, he attempted to drive one of his 
weapon's blade's into the face of one attacker. However, this allowed the 
other to get a thrust in with her blade, opening a gash along the side of his 
armor. Hissing and snarling loudly, he turned on the other attacker, managing 
to catch her legs and lower body with several slashes of his weapon's blades.

   Now if only he could get them to slow down long enough to cast a spell!


***


   Misha danced backward as the axe flashed past his stomach, so close that 
it's sharp edge ripped through the white cloth covering his armor. He spun 
Whisper in a tight arc and it's shaft of blackened wood stopped another axe 
aimed at his neck. Then with the flip of the wrist he changed the angle of 
the weapon and felt it's blades cut into flesh and bone. The creature leaped 
backwards clutching at the blood seeping from it's stomach.

   Misha had little time to notice such things. He parried another attack 
from the first with the blade of his axe, deflecting the blow down and away 
from him. Out of the corner of his left eye he saw something flash towards 
him. Without thinking he turned his head to see an axe swinging towards him 
moments before it's blade sliced into his face. There was a searing pain in 
his head and he went blind. 

  With his right hand he clutched at his face, praying that his fingers would 
find his eyes still there. Misha swung Whisper in wide arcs around him 
desperately trying to keep his attackers at bay. He felt something like a 
hammer blow against the axe and then a sharp pain from his left hand and felt 
the axe fly out of reach.

   He wiped the blood from his face and saw the next blows coming just before 
they hit. Twisting he avoided the blades at the last moment. Misha awkwardly 
fumbled for his sword with his right hand, which suddenly seemed as numb as 
the bloody wreck that had been his left. Some tiny part of his mind 
recognized the clumsy movements as the first sign of shock, caused by too 
much blood loss.

   Blood ran down into his eyes stinging and blinding him momentarily. Misha 
shook his head to clear his vision. The monsters he was fighting dropped 
their weapons and with teeth bared and claws extended for the kill. One of 
them made a prodigious leap right at the fox knocking him to the ground. 
Misha landed hard on his back with the creature kneeling on his chest. It's 
heavy body pinning him to the ground like the weight of the world. It's 
powerful legs pinning the fox's arms to the ground as well.


*********


   Edmund was no stranger to combat. Long years of campaigning all over the 
Midlands had hardened him and taught him. He refused to panic.

   "Form a square," he ordered.

   Without another word his troops reacted with the speed and certainty of 
long hours of training. The knights and men at arms who were behind Edmund 
stepped to either side leaving the center open. They turned to face whichever 
side of the road they were on. The pikemen ran forward through this open end 
until they stood behind the line of knights. Their long metal tipped weapons 
were leveled, sticking far beyond the line of knights. Behind them came the 
archers at a run taking their place behind the pikemen, making a formation 
like a hollow square with one end open. The soldiers at the dangling ends 
stepped sideways closing the box.

   What had a moment before been a column of soldiers stretched out in line 
and vulnerable was now a tight square. Each side bristling with pikes in all 
directions. Any attacker wanting to attack had to get past the ten-foot long 
pikes before they could come to blows with the knights. All the while they 
would be showered with arrows from the archers safely protected at the 
center. Edmund stood shoulder to shoulder with his knights at the front.

   A cloud of arrows rose from the square and showered down on the leading 
Lutins killing dozens instantly. But the swarm didn't even pause.

   The first Lutins to reach the men were impaled on the sharpened points of 
the pikes. Pikemen jabbed and poked trying to keep their green skinned 
attackers at a distance. But they couldn't stop them all. Those that were 
nimble or lucky enough to avoid the pikes were cut down by the heavily 
armored knights and men at arms.  And still arrows rained down form the 
center. Each volley dropping a dozen Lutins. The Lutins flowed around the 
knot of men like an ocean wave washing around breakers and the men were 
completely surrounded.

   The fighting raged savagely as the Lutins kept attacking pushed forward by 
the press of those behind only to die by pike and sword. Screams, shouting 
and the clash of combat filled the air along with shrieks of the wounded and 
dying.

   "FORWARD!" Edmund thundered above the din as he pointed up the road. He 
had made a promise to Misha and he had no intention of breaking it.

   Without breaking formation the square moved slowly up the road. The 
soldiers on the sides of the box had to step sideways as those at the rear 
had to walk backwards. Still the square kept its shape waving not the 
slightest in spite of the bloody fighting. For long minutes the fighting 
raged as the tight knot of men slowly inched it's way up the road as sea of 
Lutins swarmed around them.

   The assault suddenly eased. The Lutins drawing back several paces like a 
wave, that having crested flowed back into the sea. But like waves the 
respite was brief. There was a blare of trumpets and the Lutins surged 
forward again crashing against the square. The fighting seemed to last an 
eternity before the Lutins fell back for a second time. The break lasted mere 
moments before they attacked again and again and again. Edmund lost count of 
how many times that living wave washed against them. All forward movement 
stopped. Notions of living up to promises forgotten. All thoughts were merely 
for survival.

   The fighting was as savage and intense as the religious warrior had ever 
seen. No matter how many Lutins died more charged forward stepping over the 
still twitching bodies of their comrades. They threw themselves onto the 
pikes driving them down with the weight of their dying bodies. Swords, axes, 
maces, daggers, even rocks and clubs were wielded with wild and savage 
abandon. As if life itself didn't matter, only fighting and dying.

   Then as suddenly as it had started, it ended. The attackers surrounding 
them just seemed to melt away, but this time they didn't return. The men 
watched as the Lutins faded back into the woods they had come from. Soon they 
were surrounded only by the dead and dying. 

   They had won.


*********


   Cursing in several languages Rickkter lashed out with a powerful kick and 
sent the feline flying. But no sooner was the first creature gone then the 
second one rushed at him. He dodged and twisted easily avoiding the creatures 
blows. A moment later the first one rushed back into the fight and the 
raccoon's weapon spun and slashed blocking storm of blows. Forcing her weapon 
down, he tried to drive a blade from his into her face, finishing her once 
and for all. This time he came close, opening up a long gash from her muzzle 
back across her head. She fell back, yowling and clutching her head.

   For once, the other cat wasn't almost on top of him. The momentary 
breather this allowed gave Rick the chance to look around at the rest of the 
battle, much to his horror. While only a quick glance, it was enough to tell 
him that he was about the only one really holding his own. Worst of all was 
Misha.

   Yelling out one inarticulate curse, Rickkter managed to cast a single 
spell in Misha's direction. Fortunately, it was enough. The glowing, roaring 
ball of magic hit the wolverine thing in the shoulder sending it flying into 
the darkness.

   But, saving the life of his friend had left Rickkter open. The cat woman 
he had kicked out of the way came flying at him, screeching and hissing as 
she leaped up at him. Good luck allowed him to get his sword up in time to 
block her blow, bad luck caused him to stumble from the attack, going down in 
a heap with her on top. She continued to hiss and claw at Rickkter, trying to 
work her free paw in between his armor.

   Rick gave her a quick head butt, hearing a satisfying crunch from her 
nose. "Yeah, well screw you, too!!" he yelled up at her before blowing her 
head clear off her shoulders with another quick spell.

   He had just rolled the body off him and got to his feet when another 
feline screech bought his head up. Hissing as the second cat's flaming blade 
passed less than an inch from his face, Rickkter quickly countered, pinning 
the blade against the ground before reversing his own sword and slashing the 
cat woman across the neck. Clutching her own neck, blood blooming between her 
fingers, she staggered and went down.

   Panting, Rickkter made a quick survey of the battle ground. "Okay… now the 
gloves are off."

****
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