It felt like a hail of hooks, spears, and daggers. But all with teeth.
The swarm of dragonflies scratched at her shield, as if wanting to claw right through it. Roen held it steady against the incoming horde, her sword held firmly at ready. Others standing by her side formed a phalanx of a shield wall, deflecting much of the initial attack. She heard a barrage of arrows being released from behind her, and numerous dragonflies fell in the distance even before reaching them. And yet more came.
The paladin slashed at the winged creatures that bounced off her shield, a few sent spinning through the air in a daze. She cut one in half, clear through its scales, just as she spotted another trying to push through the gaps in the armament wall. Turning her sword in her grasp, she speared it down into the ground, its body spewing out a green sticky fluid onto her boots. She slammed more away with her shield while her sword swung at a few more. Then from the corner of her eyes she spotted another dragonfly making a beeline straight for her temple.
A blur of blue flashed at her side, and the dragonfly was gashed midair, its head severed from its body, the blow sending the creature spinning to the ground. Roen raised her shield arm again and flicked a glance over her shoulder to spot Khadai. The warrior had already turned from her with his blue steel greatsword, searching for another target. And so did she, for the horde of winged vermin did not allow any moment of reprieve.
A cry to her left drew her attention, and the paladin spotted the familiar form of Bellows, crouched on the ground away from the gathered soldiers. By his side lay a wounded dragonfly, twitching in the snow. Thick viscous fluid was running down in rivulets from its cut midsection over a patch of darker blood stained snow. The Midlander sellsword was clutching his arm, his sword dropped to the ground. His right chainmail sleeve showed a large tear, and blood was freely flowing from the wound. He was frantically trying to pull free from his belt a shortsword that hung there, but his grip was made slick with blood and his fingers faltered. He did not notice another wave of dragon minions swooping down on him.
The sellsword did finally glance up when three more dragonflies thudded--legs flailing, skittering--against Roen’s shield as she came to stand over him. The paladin barely spared him a glance as she slashed to keep the vermins at bay.
“Stay behind me,†Roen said firmly, her eyes scanning the skies as she began to sidestep towards the aegis afforded by the troops. Bellows looked as if he was going to protest, but scowled instead when she shot him a sharp look. With a grumble he snatched up his dropped sword and scampered back to the line of troops.
The paladin narrowed her eyes, realizing the Midlander had left her back uncovered. She ducked to dodge another diving dragonfly, then batted away a second with her shield. She spotted another half a dozen of the scalekin diving in her direction, but from behind her more arrows whistled through the air, and the dark serpentine silhouettes were shot down from the sky.
As the ground around them became more littered with severed scaled limbs and bodies, Roen stole a glance into the sky. She caught a glimpse amongst the clouds--the fleeting grey shadow of the dragon--and her lips parted as she recognized its course. It was swooping down for an attack.
Another horn echoed from the troops far in the distance, those caught out in the open. They had gathered themselves into some kind of a defensive formation, though Roen could only barely make out their shapes. But dragonfire was unmistakable even from this distance. She could see the bright orange fountain of fire engulfing the ground where she had last seen the knights. Thick clouds of steam from the melting snow rose to obscure the rest.
Another flash of blue drew the paladin’s attention as two more dragonflies dropped to the ground near her. She had kept her attention on the dragon’s attack for a second too long. Roen glanced up at Khadai as he stood by her, his longsword dripping green with the blood of the scalekin. Roen gave him a single nod before she spun to his back and battered another diving dragonfly targeting his shoulder and hacking in half another.
But as her eyes scanned the surroundings, it was obvious the swarm had been thinned considerably. Archers were taking careful aim at straggling figures in the sky and the formation had loosened to deal with the throng of insects that had become more chaotic as they hummed and buzzed about the encampment. Ser Tabourot still stood at the head of the troops, his armor also stained but not with his own blood. He too was surveying the camp and the assault beyond.
Roen exhaled sharply, flicking a glance to the Xaela warrior next to her. Her brow was furrowed with intent. “The dragon still attacks the troops caught out in the open. We have to do something.â€
The swarm of dragonflies scratched at her shield, as if wanting to claw right through it. Roen held it steady against the incoming horde, her sword held firmly at ready. Others standing by her side formed a phalanx of a shield wall, deflecting much of the initial attack. She heard a barrage of arrows being released from behind her, and numerous dragonflies fell in the distance even before reaching them. And yet more came.
The paladin slashed at the winged creatures that bounced off her shield, a few sent spinning through the air in a daze. She cut one in half, clear through its scales, just as she spotted another trying to push through the gaps in the armament wall. Turning her sword in her grasp, she speared it down into the ground, its body spewing out a green sticky fluid onto her boots. She slammed more away with her shield while her sword swung at a few more. Then from the corner of her eyes she spotted another dragonfly making a beeline straight for her temple.
A blur of blue flashed at her side, and the dragonfly was gashed midair, its head severed from its body, the blow sending the creature spinning to the ground. Roen raised her shield arm again and flicked a glance over her shoulder to spot Khadai. The warrior had already turned from her with his blue steel greatsword, searching for another target. And so did she, for the horde of winged vermin did not allow any moment of reprieve.
A cry to her left drew her attention, and the paladin spotted the familiar form of Bellows, crouched on the ground away from the gathered soldiers. By his side lay a wounded dragonfly, twitching in the snow. Thick viscous fluid was running down in rivulets from its cut midsection over a patch of darker blood stained snow. The Midlander sellsword was clutching his arm, his sword dropped to the ground. His right chainmail sleeve showed a large tear, and blood was freely flowing from the wound. He was frantically trying to pull free from his belt a shortsword that hung there, but his grip was made slick with blood and his fingers faltered. He did not notice another wave of dragon minions swooping down on him.
The sellsword did finally glance up when three more dragonflies thudded--legs flailing, skittering--against Roen’s shield as she came to stand over him. The paladin barely spared him a glance as she slashed to keep the vermins at bay.
“Stay behind me,†Roen said firmly, her eyes scanning the skies as she began to sidestep towards the aegis afforded by the troops. Bellows looked as if he was going to protest, but scowled instead when she shot him a sharp look. With a grumble he snatched up his dropped sword and scampered back to the line of troops.
The paladin narrowed her eyes, realizing the Midlander had left her back uncovered. She ducked to dodge another diving dragonfly, then batted away a second with her shield. She spotted another half a dozen of the scalekin diving in her direction, but from behind her more arrows whistled through the air, and the dark serpentine silhouettes were shot down from the sky.
As the ground around them became more littered with severed scaled limbs and bodies, Roen stole a glance into the sky. She caught a glimpse amongst the clouds--the fleeting grey shadow of the dragon--and her lips parted as she recognized its course. It was swooping down for an attack.
Another horn echoed from the troops far in the distance, those caught out in the open. They had gathered themselves into some kind of a defensive formation, though Roen could only barely make out their shapes. But dragonfire was unmistakable even from this distance. She could see the bright orange fountain of fire engulfing the ground where she had last seen the knights. Thick clouds of steam from the melting snow rose to obscure the rest.
Another flash of blue drew the paladin’s attention as two more dragonflies dropped to the ground near her. She had kept her attention on the dragon’s attack for a second too long. Roen glanced up at Khadai as he stood by her, his longsword dripping green with the blood of the scalekin. Roen gave him a single nod before she spun to his back and battered another diving dragonfly targeting his shoulder and hacking in half another.
But as her eyes scanned the surroundings, it was obvious the swarm had been thinned considerably. Archers were taking careful aim at straggling figures in the sky and the formation had loosened to deal with the throng of insects that had become more chaotic as they hummed and buzzed about the encampment. Ser Tabourot still stood at the head of the troops, his armor also stained but not with his own blood. He too was surveying the camp and the assault beyond.
Roen exhaled sharply, flicking a glance to the Xaela warrior next to her. Her brow was furrowed with intent. “The dragon still attacks the troops caught out in the open. We have to do something.â€
