The air smelled of smoke and charred bodies. The city was nothing but a charred corpse at this point. The only thing that remained were the city's bones which were burned out and destroyed buildings. Fang glared at the Paladin Commander as she wrapped a noose around his neck.
"I'm only going to ask you once. Where is she?"
The paladin spat on Fang's face. "Choke on it Dolsurian whore!"
Fang wiped the spit from her face and kicked the Paladin Commander off the city wall. She looked over the edge and saw him squirm in agony as the noose around his neck finished him off. As he stopped struggling Fang looked at the other paladins, knights, and legionnaires she kicked off of the edge only to be hanging outside the city walls as a demonstration. Neither of them had given any information as to the location of Cid. If she even was here she should have shown up by now. Fang looked at the horizon, and saw the mass of Karashian soldiers ready to push them back and retake the city. From her estimates there must have been about three maybe four cohorts which made up about fifteen to twenty thousand soldiers. They were outnumbered at least three to one. Fang grabbed her spear and returned to the mayor's office, which they used as a makeshift headquarters.
"Ma'am we've just received word that General Bartley's Wardens are due to arrive in a few moments."
"How many?"
"Five thousand at least. They're also bringing in the 107th and 237th Warden Corps. which gives us at least some ten thousand men."
"Hmm... Send word to Bartley to have four thousand of them sent here, and the other six over to the other side of the border."
"Ma'am?"
"Let's face it we will not be pushing them back. For now the most we can do is hold them off here. Let's make sure we can buy our people some more time. And tell him to evacuate the cities and villages. We killed and raped our way into their land no reason to give them any satisfaction."
"Understood."
"Arm and load the cannons priority targets are their siege towers. Barricade and reinforce all entrances. Make sure we have enough ammo and rations. Where's Major Tallis?"
"Right here ma'am!"
"Evacuate the wounded and get everyone out."
"Even if I have to carry them myself."
"You have your orders now move it!"
Fang left the building to see if her wildabeasts had recieved a well earned rest. She saw the four of them awake eating a pig each.
"You boys sure do get hungry." She quipped.
One of them met her gaze, and performed a salute. The beast then snarled and made sure its brothers saluted as well.
"There there Wojtek after all you guys deserve it."
The wildabeasts were well trained in military discipline. So much so that they received a military rank. Wojtek was a lance corporal, and practically a squad leader as he was already the leader of the pack. Wojtek had black fur, a scar on its lips that ran up and down, and was probably the smartest one of the four as he knew how to arm, load, and fire a cannon. Regal's fur was light brown, and was perhaps the most violent as he would often tear Karashian soldiers apart in a blood frenzy. Mercury had dark grey fur and he along with his other sibling, William of Orange, used maces. Lastly, there was William of Orange who had light orange fur and wasthe youngest of the four standing at only five and a half feet.
Fang led the four of them out of the stables when she was approached by a knight carrying a letter.
"Message from the king ma'am!"
"Hmm... Give it here."
Fang opened the letter and read its contents.
To Champion Fang Yun
You are hereby relieved of your command and are to report immediately to Liebe to aid in its defense.
By order of the King Actium Harmony
"Ungrateful piece of shit." She whispered to herself.
"Ma'am?"
"Was this sent with another soldier or messenger bird?"
"By bird ma'am."
"Okay then. Soldier I need you to hear my words carefully. The messenger bird did not arrive. Am I understood?"
"Ma'am I..."
The wildabeasts growled at him.
"Yes ma'am!"
"INCOMING!" Yelled one of the soldiers as balls of fire rained from the sky.
Fang, the soldier, and wildabeasts ran for cover as the fire balls exploded once they reached the ground sending shards of shrapnel flying in every direction.
"Soldier are you wounded?" She asked.
"No ma'am." He answered.
"Then run your ass over to General Bartely's and tell him to get his ass here now! And Tell Major Tallis to cancel my last orders and prepare the defenses. Now move it!" She ordered.
The soldier struggled to get his bearings as he lfited himself from the rubble. As soon as he was able to stand he ran as fast as he could to the other side of the city. Fang looked at the four wildabeasts, and saw Regal grabbing his arm. He had a piece of shrapnel lodged inside his arm. Fang saw Regal pull it out, and howl, whether it was from pain or blind rage she couldn't tell. Fang pulled out some bandages, but Regal growled at her.
"Regal!" She yelled.
Regal licked his wounds and savored his own blood. Fang pulled out her spear and aimed it at his throat. Regal extended his wounded arm for her her to look at. She wrapped the bandage as quickly as she could as more balls of fire rained from the sky. Wojtek carried Fang on his back as they raced to the city walls and main entrance to reinforce it. The knights reinforced the main gate with debris, they also loaded a few cannons loaded with canister shot. Canister shot was a ball or projectile consisting of smaller balls all tightly packed together that when fired resembles a scatter gun.
"Ma'am they just started firing upon us we barely had time to prepare." Reported one of the knights.
"Has the enemy been spotted approaching the city?" She asked.
"No ma'am as far as we can tell they've only set up trebuchets. That's where the balls are coming from."
"Understood. Regal, Mercury stay here and help them out. Wojtek, William with me let's see what the situation is."
Fang reached to top of the city walls to see even more balls of fire raining from on high. She approached a warden with a spyglass looking for the enemy positions.
"Report!"
"We've got at least a dozen trebuchets maybe more past the tree line. They have yet to send any troops across the field."
"Spyglass." The warden handed her the spyglass and Fang looked for any signs of enemy flanking maneuvers. She looked at the location where the trebuchets were firing from. "With that kind of range they must be War Wolves. Have they hit the city wall yet?"
"Not yet ma'am. Looks like they're trying to flush us out."
"Truly." Fang had to wonder if it was Cid leading the attack. However, a maneuver like this is far beneath her. Whoever was leading the attack was probably someone stupider.
"Sergeant have your men arm and load all Hotchkiss cannons, then the mortars, and finally the standard cannons. When their soldiers emerge from the tree line fire."
"Understood."
"Wojtek, William help them out."
Except that the attack never came. They waited for three hours for the Karashians to launch their attack, but they never did. All that they did was continually bombard the city with their War Wolves. Something else was amiss. Fang grabbed her spear and ordered her wildabeasts to follow her. As she made her way down to the streets she noticed a knight approach her.
"Ma'am we've relocated our wounded to the far side of the city."
"Hmph... I sent a runner to contact General Bartley. Have they reported back?"
"No ma'am."
"Shit! They weren't trying to attack. They were trying to cut us off. Knight find me Major Tallis and tell him to grab fifty of his best wardens. Then to meet me at the western entrance."
"Yes ma'am."
After half an hour Fang met with Major Tallis at the western gate with his wardens.
"The bombardment so far has been only a distraction. They're probably trying to cut us off. We're going to Yogwun Bridge to secure it, and make sure General Bartley can send us those reinforcements. I sent a runner, but they haven't reported back so expect company. In all likelihood they've probably sent legionnaires. Kill them if you have no choice, but take them alive if possible. I want to know whose leading that army. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am! Okay first and second squads watch the flanks. Third, fourth and fifth are going straight in. Since its dark now watch your targets. And if you see a child... Kill 'em." Ordered Major Tallis.
The group trekked through the road cutting through the forest keeping a close eye on the shadows. The wildabeasts used their nose to find any traces of the enemy's scent in the air, but found none. As they made their way up a hill Fang looked back at the city as it was still being bombarded. It was completely set ablaze.
They reached the bridge, but saw no signs of the runner on the way there. However, they did see a whole column of wardens marching through the bridge.
"About damn time we got ourselves some reinforcements." Said Fang as General Bartley approached ther and Major Tallis.
"Ma'am. We got here as soon as we could."
"I sent a runner some hours ago did they ever..."
BOOM!
Fang was cut off by a large explosion as the bridge exploded. Many of the wardens crossing the bridge died. Some fell into the water and struggled to swim to the surface. Those that couldn't drowned. The others were swept away by the current.
"Get them the fuck outta there!" Ordered Fang as the wardens and wildabeasts hurried down the river to save as many as they could.
Fang looked around for any signs of the saboteaurs when she saw several figures running away from the explosion up the river. She counted five legionnaires as she chased them up the river. Fang was approximately 110 yards away when she threw her spear at them. She managed to hit her target, and made the others look back at their dead comrade. Fang then pulled out a knife as she closed the distance.
"It's their champion!" Yelled one of the legionnaires.
"In that case we stay and fight. We kill their champion, we take Kestrel, and we burn their kingdom to the fucking ground."
Fang smirked. That was the one thing she appreciated about legionnaires. Whenever there was a target of opportunity they stayed and fought.
"Don't let her grab her spear!"
By this point Fang was already some ten yards away as one of the legionnaires pulled the spear from his dead friend Fang stabbed the legionnaire in the neck as he attempted to pull the spear out of his dead friend's body. She then pulled out the knife and threw it at another legionnaire that was about to swing her sword at her. The knife hit her eye, and she fell to the ground. Fang then pulled the spear out of the legionnaire, walked up to the one on the ground trying to pull the knife out, and she stomped her foot on the knife's hilt lodging the knife deeper an killing the legionnaire.
"Hardly seems fair for you." Quipped Fang as she waited for them to give the first strike.
"Gonna make me a champion killing you."
"Then what are you waiting for?"
As the legionnaire swung his sword the other attacked Fang from behind. Fang blocked the sword strike and kicked the other legionnaire back. Fang then twisted her spear and splitting it into a sword and mace. Both of them attacked at once, but Fang stepped back catching the pair unable to counter her movements. Fang hit one of the legionnaires in the ribs with her mace, and the other with her sword in his leg. Both legionnaires reached into their pockets for the black pill and were attempting to swallow it. The one with the injured leg was successful, but Fang was already scrambling to stop the other one from swallowing it.
Fang dug her nails into the last legionnaire's cheeks as she prevented him from swallowing the pill.
"Who's in charge? Where is Cid?" She asked as she dug her nails deeper into his skin.
The legionnaire spat blood in her face. "I hope she does to you what they did to her."
Fang growled. "Tell me!"
It was too late, however, as foam spilled from the legionnaire's mouth.
"Fucking... Shit!" Fang yelled.
Fang saw a small raft resting on the river bank just a ways away from where she was. She approached the raft and found a bag with some dynamite sticks rigged with knot fuses. Knot fuses were used as a means of measuring time left until an explosion. Each knot was one minute apart from the other save for the last one connected to the stick itself which had a few extra seconds to spare. This was probably what they used to blow the bridge. Fang grabbed the bag and made her way back to the others.
"Ma'am we've sent out some search parties for the rest that were swept away. But the bridge is completely gone. We won't be able to make our way back from here river's too deep here." Reported General Bartley.
"Bartley, Tallis I want you both to call off the parties and build a new bridge. Use these explosives to cut off some of the trees to buy yourselves some time."
"Ma'am what about..." Major Tallis began.
"They're dead. At this point we're looking for bodies. Besides Kestrel is about to get hit. I'll make my way back all of you stay here and hold out in case they send more."
"Ma'am we..." Began General Bartley.
"General you have five days of work to do in only five hours maybe less. Now get to it!"
"Yes ma'am."
"I'll move out then, and buy you all time. Don't count on it being too long however."
Fang and her wildabeasts reached Kestrel in a few minutes. As she did she noticed several men moving some wounded on stretchers and wagons.
"What's the situation?"
"They're trying to breach the outer wall, but the wardens are hanging on... Barely ma'am. We are still unable to move all the wounded. Some of them are seriously injured and can't be moved at all."
"Bridge is out, but the road's clear. When you get there help Tallis and Bartley with the bridge. I want one of you to come back with the wagon and get the rest out of here."
"Yes ma'am."
Fang entered the city and saw several doctors, knights, and wardens move the rest of the wounded onto the remaining wagons. She approached one of the doctors to see how many still needed to be moved.
"How bad is it doc?" She asked.
"We've got about seventy or so that are too seriously injured. On top of that some of they can't be moved or we risk losing them."
"Where are they?"
The doctor pointed to a burned out warehouse where some wardens and knights were still pulling out bodies.
"I see." Fang looked at her wildabeasts, and tapped the tip of her spear on the floor three times. They all looked at her expecting her next command. "Kill."
As she uttered those words the wildabeasts began to kill the wounded soldiers inside the warehouse. The wounded screamed in horror and pain as they were torn to shreds by the wildabeasts.
"They've fulfilled their duty as they should. Now get the rest of them out of here."
The doctor did not respond. He could not respond as he witnessed the last of his patients being eviscerated. Fang slapped the doctor in the face to force him out of his stupor.
"Hey doc did you hear what I said? Get moving!"
The doctor nodded and proceeded to move the rest of the patients onto the wagon. The wildabeasts returned to Fang's side with the stench of blood filling Fang's nostrils. Fang climbed on top of Wojtek, and aimed her spear forward signaling the wildabeasts to move to the city walls.
They reached the eastern gate as the wardens and knights barricaded the door whilst a battering ram pushed the doors open. Fang had only just arrived as the battering ram finally brought the doors down and the Karashians breached the city. Regal broke formation and rushed ahead of his siblings. He jumped on top of a surprised paladin, and chewed on his neck. As soon as Wojtek set Fang down the rest of them followed suit, trying to halt the Karashians as best they could.
"What's the situation captain?" Asked Fang.
"We're barely holding on ma'am. They hit us with full force. Where are those reinforcements?"
"You're looking at them. The rest are holding at other choke points. The bastards blew the bridge so we're stuck here until they fix it. It'll be a fighting retreat."
"Understood. Alright wardens you heard the lady we're on our own."
The Karashians sent in a second wave of knights and paladins to secure a foothold in the city. Fang ordered Wojtek and a handful of other wardens to arm and load the few cannons they had left with canister shot in preparation for the next assault.
"Captain take the men and leave. Fall back to the next roadblock and prepare for their assault."
"And you ma'am?"
"It is not my first retreat."
"Understood. You heard the lady let's move!"
Fang grabbed a piece of wood that still had some glowing embers. She stood behind the cannons and prepared to light them up at the first sign of the enemy. That's when she heard the sounds of cannons, mortars, rockets, and other artillery tear down the walls of Kestrel. She, and her war beasts, evaded the debris coming down from the walls.
"Son of a bitch!" She cursed as she climbed on top of Wojtek, and ordered them to retreat.
They raced down the bombarded and burned out streets to find the next barricade, only to find a trail of bodies of both Dolsurians and Karashians. By the time she reached the second barricade they were well on their way of being overrun. Regal once again raced to meet the Karashians head on as he tackled the nearest paladin to the ground.
Fang jumped off of Wojtek and drove her spear onto a nearby knight. She pulled out the spear and looked around her as the Karashians overwhelmed their positions, and arrived in waves.
"All of you fall back now!" She ordered as she blocked a knight's sword swing with her spear. She then proceeded to kick his chest. The knight staggered as he tried to get his bearings, but by then Fang stabbed him in the neck with a thrust of her spear.
Fang whistled and soon her wildabeasts came to her as they lured the rest of the Karashians with them. She climbed on top of Wojtek's back again and yelled. "You assholes want Dol-Sur's Champion then come and get me! Hyah!"
Wojtek and the others ran off as the Karashians pursued them across the city. Everywhere they turned they saw Karashians flooding the streets in droves. Fang tried her best to avoid the crowded streets, but there were less and less streets for her to maneuver around. She found an alleyway where she and the others rested for a spell.
She thought about the strategy the Karashians used. They first drew their attention with the War Wolves by bombarding the city. Followed by a continuous bombardment to deny them of any sleep and rest. They then snuck a legionnaire squadron behind enemy lines to blow the bridge cutting them off from supplies, reinforcements, and any attempts to retreat. Then they launch an all out assault on the city. The only question that lingered on her mind was; Is it her?
It was a plan that could be in one of her playbooks, but it did not quite seem something like her. Fang shook her head and decided to regroup with the rest of her forces at the western gate where the evacuation was taking place.
As she reached the western gate she noticed that the enemy had all but taken it. There were a few wardens and knights that were captured. It was then that she saw a man with a cape riding a horse looking over the prisoners.
"General Radec sir! We've lost sight of their Champion, but we have our forces scouring the city looking for her."
"Spare no expense major. As for them... take them to the legionnaires. I'm sure they'll get something out of them."
"Yes sir."
Fang aimed her spear at the general and threw it. As soon as her spear was in flight she ordered her wildabeasts to attack. The spear pierced through Radec's leg and into the horse's stomach where it fell on the ground. Radec attempted to free himself but could not as the spear was stuck on one of the horse's ribs.
Mercury and William ignored the knights and paladins, and opted instead to save their captured friends. They chewed through the bindings freeing their comrades, and tilting the scales in their favor. William grabbed a nearby war hammer, and crushed a paladin's skull on its shoulders with one swing. Mercury jumped on top of a knight, and buried his claws deep into his chest.
Fang slowly approached the fallen general that was still struggling to free himself.
"Where's Cid?" She asked.
Radec smirked. "If you're looking to settle the score she's back in Kuzani."
Fang grabbed the spear and started to twist it.
"Gyah!" Howled Radec in pain.
"I'm not gonna kill you. I want you to send her a message."
"What might that be?"
Just as Fang was about to speak a bullet pierced Radec's head. She turned around, but didn't see anything. Whomever fired the shot probably had only one round.
"I swear on my life Claire I will kill her." She whispered to herself as she pulled out the spear, and retreated to the Yogwun Bridge.
Four legionnaires looked from far away as the Dolsurians retreated across the river back to their country.
"Why didn't you let me take the second shot Makoma?" Asked Severis.
"We're under clear orders from Champion Cid to let Fang Yun live. Radec on the other hand served his purpose. Did we find out about the legionnaire unit Radec got killed?"
"They were the 942nd squadron under the command of Lieutenant Cerik." Answered Kelsang.
"Shit!" Makoma excalimed. "They were a good unit. They were up there with 444th squadron. Paraz submit our report to Director Kilbourne. Tell him Radec's failure to capture the champion, and his disregard for his own value have cost him his life. We'll continue to monitor the situation."
"On it boss."
"Just another day as a Kshatriya." Said Severis as the last Dolsurians crossed the river.