Chapter 69: It Would Have Been Safer (2)

Chapter 69: It Would Have Been Safer (2)

Bitch! someone yelled. Katayoun, her hand emanating darkness. She slapped her hand onto the Abhorrent womans shoulder before the hulking woman knew what was happening.

Kuri was there, burning hands punching more holes into the Abhorrent.

The woman dropped Xerxes, but this time he was ready, and landed on his feet. His right arm was useless at the moment, but the fight wasnt over. He grabbed his sword. Having dropped it, the Minor Augmentation spell had ended, but that didnt mean the weapon was any less sharp.

With a shout, he jumped forward and stabbed the giant woman again in the back.

Kuri hit her again and again from the other side.

Kashtiliash appeared, battering her even more.

And all the while, Katayouns Slow Death spell ate at the womans life force.

She flailed and screamed. She grabbed Kuri and tossed him away. At one point, she even tried to flee, but they kept her pinned in place.

Then the monster fell, dead.

Panting, Xerxes stabbed his sword into the ground and put his free hand on his aching shoulder.

Then, cool relief filled him as Katyoun cast Minor Restoration. The spell even sucked his shoulder back into place, causing a spasm of pain that disappeared as soon as he felt it.

All good? Katayoun asked.

Good. He flexed his shoulder and grabbed his sword again.

Katayoun left to do other healing.

There was more fighting after that. The smaller juveniles werent as intimidating as the larger one that had just fallen, but they were still deadly. Xerxes saw more Unsighted soldiers fall. And that wasnt to mention the dozens upon dozens of spawn.

He wasnt sure how long the fighting lasted. It seemed like hours, but was only a few minutes.

At one point, he stabbed his gore-encrusted longsword into a stage one spawn, impaling it on the ground before crushing it with his boot. Then he looked for the next monster to kill, only to find none. The fight was over.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

The defensive mound was covered with Abhorrent corpses. The huge juvenile still lay there, surrounded by a pond of black liquid.

On the other side, he saw Jad and Enusat surrounded by the corpses of numerous Abhorrent. Jad was kneeling, Enusat was on his back.

The short mage was soaked in blood. He had a massive wound on his neck, and one of his legs had been torn off at the knee.

Xerxes gasped, then spun. Ningal, we need a healer

She was looking at him already. And shaking her head.

Ningal, theres still time!

She shook her head again, stood, and started walking back to the center of the camp.

Xerxes ran down the hill.

Jad he said.

The tall mage was holding Enusats hand in his own.

Jad, what? Xerxes didnt finish the question. He saw the tears on Jads face. The blood. Enusats corpse was mangled. His flesh pale and bloodless. His eyes blank. He was dead.

Tears sprang to Xerxes eyes. He had never considered Enusat one of his best friends, but he was a friend nonetheless. Enusat had taken the fall for him in the early failed mission into the girls dorm. Xerxes had been Enusats wingman on the second disastrous mission. They had sparred together. Eaten together. Joked together.

And they never would again.

He dropped to his knees next to Enusat. Reached out and closed his eyelids.

Jad didnt say anything.

They knelt there for a long time until Sergeant Vasilios appeared. We need to clean up and get moving, he said.

Jad nodded and stood. Xerxes joined him. Vasilios left, and the two of them just stood above Enusat for another minute or so.

I said we should go back to Tower Plateau, Jad said. It would have been safer.

Xerxes didnt respond.

It would have been safer, Jad repeated, and this time it came out almost like a snarl. Hands in fists, he started walking back to the camp.