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The Bow of Haladan Part XVI
On his hands and knees Kyle scurried forward, and kneeling back
he held his sword in two hands to stab the fallen giant through the
side. The thrashing monster lifted up as Kyle stabbed. The sword cut
flesh, but scraped across its lower ribs and failed to kill or deeply
wound the beast.
The giants body came down upon the sword and pinned it to the
stones, if the monster felt the wound, it showed no sign. Kyle's knuckles
split and bled, trapped by the hilt against the ground. As the giant
lifted up again, Kyle pulled back the blade, he held it in bruised and
throbbing hands but would not let go. The sharp edge left a bloody trail
across the giants skin.
Two giants lay upon the ground, one dead, the captains sword
had taken off its hand. The giant had fallen on its face. Two swordsman
chopped at its neck like lumberjacks hewing wood.
Another giant staggered to the bridges edge and with a sword
sticking from its side, driven deep beneath a numbed and useless arm, it
plunged over and into the water with titanic splash.
Troopers now swarmed over the wall and rushed the giants that
still fought to hold them back. Above them the signalman sounded the
call to advance, the notes ringing out, vibrant and strong over the din
of battle.
One giant threw its club at the troopers attempting to ring it with
their swords, it grabbed its fallen leader Hraesveglur and hauled him to
his feet. The subchief groaned and struggled in his underlings grasp. The
giant had to fight with Hraesveglur and at the same time lash out at the
troopers who stuck the pair with swords.
"Broglie, Broglie!" the giant shouted. The other giant heard
the call and rushed over to their side. It bowled over half a dozen men
who stood in its path and grabbed hold of Hraesveglur's arm. The two
giants began to drag their subchief away and flee the troopers on the
bridge.
Fintan saw the giant come rushing by, a trooper who could not move
quick enough was knocked aside, brushed by the monsters leg. He tumbled
and rolled with limbs snapping hard against the stones, Fintan jumped
and leapt over the the man. He did not look to see if the trooper rose or
where he rolled, but ran after the giant, followed by a score of men.
The giants were retreating, dragging another between them, their
huge strides taking them further and further from the troopers who had
crossed the wall. Fintan gave chase, some men held back, just happy to
be alive and see the giants running off, but many followed their captain
and joined in pursuit.
One soldier sprinted ahead and slashed at Broglie, who held
up Hraesveglur on his strong right arm.. The blade cut deep, above the
boot and nearly to the bone, the giant howled and stumbled, a spray of
blood struck the trooper in the face. Broglie went down onto his knee, he
swung a massive fist and sent the blinded trooper flying back with
splintered ribs and a lung pierced by jagged bones.
"Go, take him." Broglie yelled "I will hold back these little
rats."
"I will tell them how you died." the other giant called. It struck
Hraesveglur a short hard blow against the head and slung the sub-chief
across his shoulders, then jogged off.
* * *
(To Be Continued...)