Scourge Twenty-Four - Penta

Scourge Twenty-Four - Penta

Scourge Twenty-Four - Penta

I think it takes all of three seconds for things to go from pretty good to really not so great.

The priest that Esteban was fighting and that Felix is now beating back half-turns to his friends. I could use some help here! he shouts. He flings his hand forward at the same time, creating a watery whip that Felix meets with a gust of giddy wind that bursts it apart long before it hits.

Then dont run ahead on your own, you fool, the priest further back says. Hes the necromancer, and that big thing next to him has to be some sort of awful creation. I pause for just a moment and create a bigger, stronger spear of darkness next to me.

With a grunt and a huge punch, I fling the spear out towards the necromancer. Its not the fastest projectile, but I can direct it a little mid flight, and it is really big and pointy.

The abomination steps to the side and squats down just a bit.

I wince as the dark spear rams him in the chest. Thats it for him.

At least, thats what I think for the next couple of seconds. The abomination reaches to the spear, grabs it around the middle, then casually tugs it out of his chest.

The projectiles already losing its form, breaking apart on account of being so far away from me. He crushes it one-handed.

Im going to presume that the imposingly large undead creature being so casually unaffected by your spell isnt good news, Bianca says.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Its not the best news, no, I reply.

The field quiets down for a moment. The water mage skips back and away from Felix who lets him back off. Esteban shifts until hes standing more upright to our side, and I can feel Biancas magic tensing around her.

Its only the zombies that dont seem to catch the memo. Too dumb to clue into the fact that were about start a proper stare-off.

Hey! I call out. Who are you two?

The necromancer scoffs. I wont waste time speaking to those who will soon be serving our lord.

I narrow my eyes. Come on, Abel, I say. Dont be a jerk. Besides, I dont think youll win this one. A glance back at the carriages reveals that while a few zombies remain, their numbers are dwindling fast. The odds were very much on the necromancers side, but only numerically. The Big Hill Lions are each significantly stronger than a few zombies, and with teamwork and the carts to serve as high ground, its unlikely theyll lose now.

The girls right, the other priest says. Were losing this one. Your little zombies are meant to round up civilians and maybe overwhelm a few town guards. This is too much for them.

Theyre useful, Abel snaps. This is just not the optimal use for them. We need more too.

The other priest shakes his head. Call a loss a loss. Our lord knows well how to handle that kind of fear. Besides, I dont want to die here and leave my corpse to your tender mercies.

Coward, Abel says. His buddy just laughs off the insult though. Fine, Ive been saving these as a last resort anyway. He snaps his fingers and five more zombies clamber out of the ditch behind him. Two are carrying backpacks that look like theyre loaded with stuff. The other three start shambling our way. Sacrifice Twenty-Seven, kill them all.

The big guy doesnt make a sound to acknowledge the order, he just starts walking towards us, the zombies around him quickly catching up.

And then the priests turn, grab the bags off the zombies left near them, and start jogging off.

An armed goose hydra, I correct myself.

Its only a terror, Esteban says. But rank isnt the measure of a man, and nor is it the measure of a challenge. He turns back to the caravan. Were moving on! he shouts.

The Big Hill Lions all seem very eager to get out of the vicinity, especially as the pentagoose honks again and spreads its wings to charge after the priests.

One of them, the one with the water magic and the sword, tries to fight back. He jumps away from one snapping head, slices a cut into another, and screams as a third bites into his torso and lifts him off the ground.

He screams more while whacking the head with his sword, but those screams are drowned out as the pentagoose lets out twin honks and cooks the priest alive.

The abomination on the road ahead of us turns and jumps over the ditch, rushing towards his master.

Move! Move! Teo screams from atop the lead cart.

The last of the zombies are dispatched with some speed. No one has time to waste with them, and theyre just a pest at this point.

My friends and I rush back to the carts. Esme helps us up, and we fall down atop each other in our haste to get moving. The drivers arent waiting. Nervous donkeys are being told to move, and after hearing the many honks of the pentagoose they dont need to be told twice.

The caravan reforms while on the move, some carts rushing past others that get into line behind them.

Somehow, no ones left behind, though our ride is a lot bumpier than usual, with zombie bodies creating impromptu speed bumps below.

I sit up and glance back. The pentagoose is fighting with the abomination. The undead has one of its heads pinned down, but that just leaves four more to attack it with swords and flame breath and nasty pecks.

That thing is awful, Esme says. I didnt think a honk could be scary before.

You didnt hear it hissing, I say. Its a lot worse.

Youve seen one before? Felix asks.

Moms very proud of them, I say. She made them as a warning to some god that was getting too big for his britches. A flock of them left their mark on his temple from above. It left an impression, I guess.

Scary, Felix says. Shes still smiling though.

Soon I am too, and then the giggles come on.

You girls think that was funny? someone shouts from behind.

That only makes it harder not to laugh.

Still, I think were going to have a lot of things to work through.

***