With slow but savage intent the two armies moved into the battlefield, each warrior's heart made heavy and hard with the anguish and bitterness of yesterday's slaughter.
At last the clash of weapons broke the pure silence of the heavens. Shields shattered under blows that bent javelins and broke spears. Splintered bone blunted the edge of many a sword. The veteran's battle cries were drowned by the screams and moans of the maimed and dying.
The young cubs of the Kzinti War-Prides fought with a dreadful eagerness to inscribe their deeds and names in a yet unsung history of heroes. Even older warriors, wise in the ways of war, paled before their savage onslaught as swords scythed and split skulls.
But it all seemed for naught, as the battle seemed to turn once more in the Monken's favour. A Monken Warchylde, in all its glorious fury, carved a path through the ranks of the Kzinti, chopped shields to matchwood and clove heads in half as it whirled and flailed around itself in a bloody battle-frenzy. Its long ochre hair was streaked with the blood of its victims and beside it the Monken infantry hacked a way through the glittering Kzinti ranks.
It was then that Ursid, rememebring the bitter defeat and carnage of the previous day, rallied the Kzinti forces into fresh fury. Upon seeing the Warchylde, Ursid, with a mighty leap, cleared the battle lines to face the thing in single combat. Each warrior held his ground giving and receiving terrible wounds. But Ursid was no easy prey for the Warchylde, and he gave not a step of ground away to the beast. The Warchylde displayed its greater skill in combat, bypassing Ursid's defense and inflicting twenty-four wounds that day. Yet, Ursid refused to give, refused to succumb to the injuries. At last the Warchylde's troops dragged it unconcious from the field, felled from its own exhertions to bring down its foe. But Ursid went on fighting until nightfall.
And the Monken knew fear.
As the last of the invader forces fled into the great rift, the few remaining War-Prides bellowed their triumph in deafening roars. Until all were dropped to silence, by clear shout of their heroe.
"I am Ursid!
I am legend!"
| Monday, October 13, 1997 |
|
Want more? |