Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven - Quarry

Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven - Quarry

Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven - Quarry

Hey! Here, here! I shouted, arms and ears waving above my head.

The amphiptere switched its attention from Bastion and stared at me. It wasnt happy. In fact, it was very clearly growing less and less happy as the minutes went by and the fight dragged on. I could understand it. Bastion had been a very elusive target, and even as it moved the soldiers behind it kept poking and cutting at its tail.

We had to keep it distracted though. Twice already the amphiptere had stopped going after Bastion in order to snap and spit at the soldiers behind it, and Id seen a few of them get hit with droplets of acidic spittle before their shields went up.

Theyd be fine, I thought. Some sylphs were there to escort the injured to the medics tent, and I was pretty sure that the sylphs--who Id been repeatedly told were the best at medicine--could take care of their own in a hurry.

Still, that meant fewer fighters on the field.

So I was bouncing and calling out, trying to distract the monster as best I could so that it would leave the army alone and continue its slow slither towards the old quarry.

So far, things were going well. Other than a few close calls, Bastion and I were doing good work keeping it moving.

Bastion was able to cut and poke at it whenever it came too close. He seemed to be aiming for the eyes, which really annoyed the monster.

I didnt have his skills with a sword... or a sword for that matter. So whenever I could, I flung some Cleaning magic at the monsters eyes and into its open mouth. I bet it didnt like having a dry mouth any more than anyone else.

Were nearly there, Bastion called out.

I glanced back. There was a small line of trees atop a rise in the landscape, one that was too small to be called a proper hill. The molefolk mages were hiding a little ways from there, using the trees as cover even if most of them werent much thicker than a closed fist.

Past the bump was a wooden fence, and beyond that, the drop.

Broccoli!

I gasped as a shadow fell above me, then I launched myself to the side and crashed on the ground belly first, avoiding the amphiptere slithering over where I would have been.

No distractions! Bastion called out.

Right! I shouted back as I rolled over and bounced to my feet. No one wanted a squished bun, least of all the bun in question. I had to be careful while taunting the giant high-level dragon-snake.

Bastion launched an attack at the amphipteres face. Wide sweeping slices that had the creature flinching back. It twitched to the side, then spat out a gout of acidic spittle that utterly failed to hit Bastion.

Nearly there! I said as I bounced up and grabbed a hold of the amphipteres side. Its big scales had gaps between them, some more than wide enough to grab hold of. There was a lot of dirt and detritus stuck in there. The poor thing probably didnt clean itself all that often.

Climbing up its side proved tough but doable, and in the end, I think it was worth it, especially when I was hanging off its side, within easy reach of the monsters head. I flung a few balls of Cleaning magic towards its eyes, making it flinch back until it could blink them a few times.

Then its large, slitted eye turned and narrowed as it focused on me.

Uh oh, I muttered.

The entire creature rolled onto its side, head whipping down.

It was only a lucky jump that allowed me to fling myself off of it before it squished me flat. Still, the impact of its head on the ground made the entire area bounce. Trees lost leaves and pebbles skipped down the side of the old quarry.

Move back, Bastion said. There was iron in his words; he wasnt joking around any more. A glance around showed why. We were right on the edge of the quarry. Wed made it.

I nodded, beelining for the little patch of roots where the mole people mages were hiding while Bastion distracted the monster again.

The wind turned, sending the wall of dust falling across all of the soldiers and mages on the sidelines. I pushed some of my mana into my Cleaning aura, keeping the worst of it off of me and letting me see what was going on a little better.

Some of the soldiers around Commander Warmwood seemed injured. They hobbled back, supporting each other even as others ran in to fill in the gaps in the line. The Inquisition soldiers rushed over, some of them using what looked like wind magic to clear the air, and right behind them were the rest of the mole people warriors.

I noticed Bastion moving to the edge of the new cliffside and went to join him. Is it done? I asked.

No, he said. Its still alive. Though that did injure it. It isnt quite pinned, and I suspect it will be able to move out of the quarry relatively easily if we dont act to keep it down there.

Were going to go down to fight it? I asked.

Bastion shook his head. No. We have the advantage of height. It wont be glorious or honourable, but this might be the most effective way to fight the amphiptere without anyone getting injured.

Oh, I said.

Bastion called for General Holey and Commander Warmwood, and soon Major Springsong joined us on the edge of the quarry.

I glanced over the edge and saw the amphiptere shake itself out from a pile of stones and dirt, then twist around to right itself. It was in a rough state, the fall having damaged it more than any of the fighting so far.

Then the mole people mages moved to the edge of the quarry and started to pelt the monster with Broccoli-sized rocks. It dodged a few, but there were so many that it was still hit. When the soldiers reached the edge and tossed fireballs down as well, things only got worse for the monster.

A cart pulled by a pair of donkeys pulled up nearby, a couple of Inquisition soldiers riding at the back. They unloaded boxes filled with bows and barrels filled with arrows. Lines formed, and those soldiers that looked like they were running out of mana grabbed bows and some arrows, then moved to the edge.

I think the arrows were enchanted with somethingthey glowed when fired, and some of them hit with loud bangs, while others buried themselves deep into the amphipteres side, rather like the spears of the molefolk..

The monster spat acid up at those gathered above it, but other than burning a volley of arrows out of the air, it wasnt able to reach the very top.

I kind of felt bad. It was inherently unfair to fight something that way. Then again, the soldiers werent joking or making light of the situation. They were taking this seriously, as if the monster below could still turn around and become a genuine threat.

That never happened.

Eventually the amphiptere keeled over, the fight beaten out of it.

The number of arrows and stones and magic pouring into it increased temporarily increased, then Commander Warmwood called everything to a halt. Paladin Coldfront, would you finish it?

Bastion nodded. Give me a moment, he said.

When Bastion jumped down the side of the cliff and started to skid down, I hesitated, then I followed him.

I slipped and slid on the loose rock of the cliff, and I had to waggle my arms to keep my balance until I caught up with Bastion near the bottom. He looked at me, then nodded.

Carefully, we moved over to the monster.

It was still breathing, though only barely.

It stared at me, anger plain in its bruised eye. Im sorry, I said as I reached out to pat it.

Bastion pulled his sword out of its sheath without any fanfare, then he pressed the end of the blade near the base of the amphipteres neck. Well fought, he said.

A cheer rose up from the top of the quarry as the battle came to a close.

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