Games of the Powerful

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  Waking to the sound of moaning and outright shrieks of pain from the wounded Leadyl forced her eyes open. Staring about her, she is astounded at how many wounded are already in the infirmary. Panicking she wondered how long she had been lying in bed unconscious. Quickly getting out of bed, she grabbed her staff running from the room and out into the bright sunlight. Shielding her eyes from the sudden harsh wash of light she blinked her eyes and shook head in disbelief at seeing orcs along the top of the east wall. Seeing the ferocity of the orcs and their determination sent chills down her spine at the sight of so many. Quickly glancing around, she noticed the rest of the walls were free from attack and wondered why. Running as fast as she could, she burst into the little house she was staying in, quickly grabbing her bow and two quivers of arrows she raced from the house. Reaching the ladder to the northeast tower, she quickly climbed to the top leaning her staff against the railing and unslinging her bow from her back.

  From her vantage she could survey the battlefield with ease almost like a general would. When the knights boldly made their last daring charge through the gates, the bridge leading from the main gate crossing the trench was quickly put to the torch. She wondered how many of them survived hoping her efforts helped even in a small way, knowing at the time she could do no less. While she was unconscious, the orcs had crossed the berm and in doing so impaled themselves on the sharpened poles their grisly bodies trampled as the unending flow of orcs crossed over them.

  Quickly nocking an arrow, she saw Hreidmar, Maiko, and their dwarf friends hard pressed by the orcs as more and more ladders began leaning against the top of the palisade over the main gates. Taking aim, she let fly instantly satisfied to see her arrow sticking in the eye of an orc trying to pull himself over the wall near Hreidmar. Then she went to work with her enchanted arrows decimating the orcs along the top of the wall. Arrow after arrow flew from her bow each striking their intended target, the more she killed that many more took their place. Looking over the distant field of battle, she is disheartened at the sight of so many orcs. Quickly returning her attention to the battle she saw two of Hreidmar’s dwarf friends pulled over the wall by an orc at the top of a ladder. Lifting her bow, she sighted along the arrow and released it striking the offending orc in the mouth to punch out of the back of its head spraying orc blood on those below.

  The clash of steel on steel rang across the palisade with the grunts and groans of dying men and dwarfs mingled with deafening roar of rage and battle cries from orcs continued unabated for hours. The continuous supply of targets never ended nor did the supply of arrows with the orc dead piling up as fast as she could let fly her arrows. Orc bodies filled the trench and in front of the walls, it became obvious they would not need ladders soon; they could simply climb over the mounting bodies to rich the top of the wooden walls. Adding to the danger they faced the orcs have been slamming their bodies against the stout gates trying to wear them down and break through. At a great cost to them, the rigorous attack on the front gates has been going on for hours. Thankfully, she did not see a battering ram anywhere in sight.

  With Maiko and her bow at his side, Hreidmar looked magnificent standing with legs slightly splayed swinging his bloody ax decapitating orcs. Orc blood sprayed like rain for the sky every time he struck with that giant ax of his yet they kept coming. While methodically continuing to spread her arrows, one of the archers in the tower tapped her on the shoulder pointing to the north. Squinting against the bright sunlight, she could barely make out running silhouettes coming toward them. Her first frightening thought was that more orcs were joining the fray but she soon realized that orcs do not run anywhere. Looking hard she suddenly realized that thousands of trolls were bearing down on the unsuspecting orcs.