Chapter 3
Familiar Foes
Azonis knelt beside River and inspected her injury. He opened Caleb's knapsack and pulled out a blanket. He formed the blanket into a tight roll and placed it under River's neck and head. She lie sprawled on her back, and blood still trickled down the side of her head. An egg sized lump, which oozed blood, grew right above her temple. It looked rather painful, but at least she would live.
The Sestian stood in the open with his shield and long sword secured in his grip. He prepared himself to defend River with his life.
Azonis despised the Hoggins. After the small war that had taken place in the forests of Lasticall several years back, he longed for another encounter with the barbaric vagabonds. His wish came true, although it could not have happened at a more inopportune time. As he prepared for battle, he could not help but to think of Rasmere's well-being.
Although I despise him at the moment, he has been a loyal Sword and proven himself in battle many times over. If he were here, I would not need to worry about my flank.
SNAP!
Azonis cocked his head.
SNAP!
Another to his side. He took a deep breath and whirled around, sword and shield held high.
At once, a large group of Hoggins let out their war cry, "Wraaaaa!"
Azonis dashed forward using his shield as a weapon, crashing into the center of the group. Blood flew through the air as his shield tore through the angry mob, but the Hoggins fell in behind him, surrounding him. Azonis swiped his sword from side to side. He turned around as a small club clanged off of his armor. The Sestian lunged forward and impaled three of the Hoggins at once. His head swam as a large rock bounced off the back of his golden helmet. Dropping to one knee, Azonis spun around with his sword, amputating the legs off of a slew of his attackers in the process. Azonis sprang to his feet and ran through the small army once more.
Once he was no longer surrounded, Azonis took a defensive stance with his back to the river. He realized the severity of his predicament. When this encounter first began, Azonis knew the numbers did not favor him, but it happened so fast he did not have time to take notice of how large their tribe was. He stood before three hundred of the blood-thirsty warriors. He said a prayer to Manzrah and prepared for the worst.
The Hoggins regrouped, minus the fifty that lay dead on the ground. They cried out once more, "Wraaaaa!" and unleashed a hail storm of spears upon Azonis.
The Sestian hunkered down and brought up his shield. For ten seconds, the spears rained down and rattled off his shield and armor.
"Come on! Come and meet your end!"
"Wraaaaa!" they shrieked again, this time rushing forward with their cudgels raised high above their heads.
Azonis dug his feet in and cut the Hoggins down, three and four at a time as they charged him without a thought of consequence or potential failure.
They tried to surround him once more, but with the river at his back, his flank could not be taken. He slashed and hacked at the multitude of attackers as they moved in closer. Several times he took his shield and swatted a handful of the Hoggins into the hungry river.
Just when it seemed he gained the upper hand, and the Hoggins turned to flee, several of the large nets soared through the air from the bushes.
Azonis jumped from side to side, evading the first wave of nets, but there proved to be too many. One of the nets caught him by surprise and drug him to his knees. He tried hacking himself free, but did not have enough room to swing his sword.
The Hoggins rushed in, falling upon him. They jabbed and gouged at Azonis with their tiny spears. His armor did well to protect him, but several spears grazed and nicked his face, one even pierced his outstretched hand.
So this is how it ends, Azonis thought as he made one final attempt at escape. Rasmere, where are you?
Azonis knew this quest would be dangerous, and he may never return to Lasticall alive, but he never imagined his end would come at the hands of the Hoggins. Azonis screamed out in rage, his voice loud and deep. The more he lashed out in anger, the wearier he became.
When all the fight left his body, and he found himself on the verge of giving in, Azonis heard a voice, soft and low.
"Bomonus?" he asked himself.
The Hoggins squealed out in surprise. Azonis peered through the net to see the horde of tiny warriors floating in the air rising higher and higher into the sky.
Just as Azonis realized what was happening, he felt his stomach give way, and he ascended into the clouds alongside them.
He looked around as the Hoggins flailed helplessly about several hundred feet above the ground. Just as they ascended into the heavens, they plummeted back to the ground.
Azonis's descent was so rapid, it looked like the ground leapt up at him. The closer he came to the ground, the louder the thuds became. The Hoggins fell from the sky like a hard, fat, rain.
When Azonis found himself only feet from the ground he closed his eyes and braced for impact. It will be better to die like this, than be poked full of holes in a net.
"Suspendus!"
His descent came to an abrupt halt.
Azonis, hovering feet above the ground, watched the Hoggins fall from the sky and bounce off the hard forest floor. The last of them hit the river with a sickening splat.
Azonis took a standing position in the air as he was lowered to safety. He looked around and saw River collapse face first into the dirt.
He ran to her side. She was unconscious once more, still clutching her staff.
River took deep breaths. Sweat drenched her hair. Her skin boiled hot, her body was stiff as a board, and she shook violently. Azonis did not know what to do. He had never seen an Engenium, or anyone for that matter, act in such a way.
These Humans are strange creatures.
The Sestian, doing the first thing that came to mind, dipped the blanket into the icy water of the river and laid it over her outstretched body. Steam rose from her, and she fell limp.