BXBX NOVEL Chapter 269 268: Matilda Of Duurghaven
Standing at the base of the demolished tower was Matilda of Duurghaven, the short mature human woman glaring over at us, her Zweihander resting on her shoulder.
The rain that fell around her splashed against the ground, but not a single drop landed on her deep blue metal armor, nor did it wet her long black blue hair.
She glared at us, her eyes flashing a dark azure, and spoke, her voice cutting across the battlefield with its sharp, pointed tone.
"Where\'s that Djinn whore Nirinia? I\'ve a score to settle with the bitch."
Narrowing my eyes, I met her gaze and waved my hand, a storm cloud of my own forming in the sky.
Gritting her teeth, Matilda frowned as another drizzle descended over the battlefield, her spell mirrored by me as I buffed the Legion around us.
"Really brat? Are you looking to piss me off?!"
The low growl that reverberated in her throat made me raise a brow, remaining silent as I continued to stare at her.
The Praetors were looking between us, their eyes filled with trepidation as they realized that their advantage had been made null.
Jahi, Leone and Anput loomed beside me as well, while the Banshee drew fearful glances as it looked over the slick ground between us.
"Fine! Since you\'re adamant at remaining silent, dog, I\'ll force you to speak. Praetors! Let\'s reclaim the land the Empire stole from us, while avenging the comrades so wrongfully slain by these lesser races!"
Her strong voice echoed around the battlefield, and the Praetors and other soldiers nodded, a firm resolve filling their eyes.
Lifting her Zweihänder, Matilda of Duurghaven pointed the jagged blade at me as she shouted "Charge! Let us claim this fortress in the name of the Human Race!"
With a shout, the Westerners surged forwards, all while Jahi lifted her claymore and smirked, a simple "Leave nothing but ash in our wake!" getting the Legion stirred, their feral grins and confident smirks almost faltering the enemies charge.
The two armies surged forwards, while the \'Elites\' in this fight remained stationary.
A few Praetors and Cloud Mercenaries remained with Matilda, while our group remained under the frozen sphere.
Switching my tactics, I focused more on buffing and healing the Legion as I layered a few spells together, just for Matilda to match each one, a haughty, derisive smirk on her face.
Which was wiped off moments later as she erected a barrier of water before her, blocking a bolt of flames.
Steam fizzled around her, the woman\'s azure eyes widened in shock as she stared at the thin hole that appeared in the barrier.
Leone grinned at her, prompting Matilda to snarl in anger as she prepared to launch her own attacks.
The small space between us was filled with the clashing of metal, sparks and blood flying as soldiers slammed into one another, shouting at one another as they slowly cut the others down.
Smaller wounds healed in moments thanks to the rain, while the soldiers strength surged under the various buffs applied to them.
It was more noticeable in the Legion; an Orc raised a human man above his head and snapped his spine, a Minotaurkin sent three humans flying, while a Deerkin woman gored a human women with her sharp antlers.
The difference in physical strength was made apparent as the Legion slowly pushed the Westerners back...
Which was before the Praetors made themselves known.
Each of them began to target the most outstanding members of the Legion, using their personal magics to even the playing field, catching a few off guard.
With the battlefield locked in a stalemate, Jahi frowned as she looked over the fighting soldiers, before she gestured to Anput, the Jackalkin instantly slinking forwards into the crowd.
Her impact was instantaneous; heads flew as her swords flickered about, and the arrogant laughter as she waded into the enemy made the Westerners grimace.
Matilda snarled again as she kicked one of her allies forwards, the man grimacing as he reluctantly unsheathed his blade, leaping into the fray.
"I thought we were letting the peons fight amongst themselves, little noble."
Raising a brow, the Demoness smirked as she quipped "Little? Aren\'t you the little one here, girl?"
Matilda grit her teeth hard, her azure eyes aflame with rage as she glared at the Demoness, who chuckled at her successful goad.
"Don\'t fuck with me, brat. I was planning on taking your head as a trophy, but I think now I\'ll peel that disgusting blue skin of yours and make it into a cloak."
"A flesh cloak... are all humans that odd? Usually one uses scales or pelts for a cloak. Oh, maybe you wish to use leather, what with you constantly wetting the area around yourself..."
Leone chuckled at the Demoness\' words, while Matilda ground her teeth again, her anger growing further.
Whilst the two exchanged jabs, the battlefield was slowly being decided.
Anput was simply too much of a force for the Westerners to withstand, and many had already fallen under her blade.
The man that Matilda had sent forwards was a Cloud Mercenary, and even he only lasted five strikes against Anput before his head was sent flying, making the woman curse loudly as she looked over the diminishing soldiers before her.
"Useless dregs! Fuck! Fine then, I\'ll get serious..."
Readying her Zweihander, the short human woman strode forwards, matched instantly by Jahi and the Banshee.
Her frown deepened, but she ignored them for the moment, instead activating a few enchantments on her armor as she fortified herself.
One of the enchantments was a miniature domain, and it began to heal and bolster those around her, which was comprised of entirely elite soldiers.
Tracing a few runes, Leone and I placed our own buffs onto the Demoness, who rolled her broad shoulders as she experienced an influx of power.
The only sign that she gave us as a gesture of thanks was a small wave of her hand; she never looked back as she strode forwards, her claymore resting on her shoulder as she approached the charging Matilda.
With my Mistress now stepping into the fray, I needed to keep my guard up, to keep her safe and protect this family that I had been blessed with.
Nothing could happen to them under my watch.
---
??? PoV
"Shouldn\'t we attack them now? This battle is the perfect distraction! No one would know it was us!"
Glancing at Quintus, I sighed at the young Elf\'s impulsiveness.
"We wait for the signal, then we strike. Remember, it isn\'t so simple as our prior operations. Jahi Asmodia is already on her way to becoming an untouchable force, and those around her are not simple at all. A single blade will shatter before her; but a dozen? From different sides? She will die here today, but it will not be easy..."
Quintus nodded, his previous fire slowly cooling off as I maintained eye contact with him.
We were rangers of the Sariel Family made into Envoys for the Ashen Legion, and our skills had been honed over years of perilous operations.
However, Quintus was still young, and his fire still flared at the drop of a hat; he hadn\'t been tempered enough, which is why...
I sighed again as I looked over the castle, my eyes drifting towards the Commander.
Such a pity...
This wasn\'t an operation we would live through; I had volunteered to do this, for my on family and for the Sariel Family.
Quintus, however, didn\'t know that this mission was little more then suicide; he had made enemies inside the Main Family, and this was the easiest way to dispatch of him.
We had our orders, and I planned on executing them to the letter.
I could only pray that what we did here actually mattered; that the plans laid down would be performed perfectly and allow us to complete our goal.
Turning away from the Commander, I stared at the half sphere of ice off to the left, and I added "Besides, we couldn\'t attack now. Remember that report? That maid of hers isn\'t just a warm body to hold at night. Katherine Zara is a trained killer, and the estimates in the report put her on par with a few of our Rangers. Her ability to hide her skills is quite good, but she slipped up a few times... for that, she needs to be captured, so that Lady Jillian and Lady Ayla can complete their own parts.
She could sniff us out easily; she\'s been on guard this entire time, and she\'ll be a damn hard opponent to fight, Quintus. Ice magic is tricky to learn and master, but she managed to get it under control, while also having the two foundational magics mastered as well. No, we cannot strike without preparation..."
He nodded again, pulling the forest green mask over his nose and unslinging his bow.
"Very well then. Let me know when I need to start; I\'ll keep an eye on that Djinn."
Giving him a curt nod, I returned to surveying the battlefield, keeping my eyes peeled for the signal.
The amount of time and resources sunk into this campaign of ours was vast, and if we failed to execute it to perfection, the Sariel\'s would be done for.
What rested on this opening act of ours was the future of the Sariel Family; whether it would come out on top and take its rightful spot as the Empire\'s leading family, or whether it would crumble and fall to ruin.
That was the burden that we bore, and I was determined to do my part.
For the Sariel Family, and for the Empire.