“Here’s what I think of you, elf slime!”
Tchk’pal tossed the empty mug out in front of the rampart, sent it smashing on the rocks below. Along with it went the draconians’ chances for survival. Kang shook his head and consigned his soul to the Dark Queen.
A shout sounded from somewhere down the ramparts.
“A dragon! A copper dragon!”
Kang groaned. This was just all they needed!
The dragon soared into view. The sun flashed off the copper scales, shone silver on the tip of the terrible weapon known as the dragonlance. The elven cavalry arrayed in front of the draconians took the dragon’s appearance as their signal, and began their charge. The ground rumbled with the noise of their horses’ hooves. Elven voices raised in an eerie song that set the draconians’ teeth on edge.
Tchk’pal looked over to Kang.
“Today is a glorious day to die, wouldn’t you agree, draco?”
“A glorious day for one of us to die, at any rate,” Kang muttered.
“What did you say, draco?”
“I said, I can hardly wait to follow you into the fray, sir,” Kang amended.
Tchk’pal smiled approvingly. “At my signal, we will leap from the ramparts and meet them head on, horn to horn, claw to claw.”
“Yes, sir,” said Kang miserably.
“CHARGE!” Tchk’pal yelled, raised his axe, and fell flat on his face.
Kang stared in disbelief, afraid to hope. He kicked at the recumbent minotaur with a clawed foot.
Tchk’pal answered with a snuffling snore.
“Slith! Gloth! To me!” Kang shouted.
He grabbed hold of his commander beneath his hairy armpits. The other two draconians each picked up a leg.
“Now what?” Slith demanded.
“He wanted to be in the heart of the battle.” Kang grunted. “He’s going to get his wish! Over there.”
The other two looked, saw, grinned. Together, straining with the load, they dragged the drunken minotaur down the ramparts. It took some work, but they managed at last to load him into the bowl of the catapult.
“What a great idea!” Slith was admiring. “They’ll find the body on the battlefield, far away from us. Everyone will think he died of wounds received in combat. No one will suspect us of a thing! You’re a genius, sir!”
Slith took up his position, holding his sword over the retaining rope.
“Wait for my order!” Kang yelled.
He raced back up the ramparts. The elven cavalry was nearly upon them. “To your posts! Prepare for battle!” he shouted.
The draconians scattered. Crossbow shots fired out all across the rampart front. Ballistae crews manned their weapons.
The main enemy advance hit the second regiment, to the right of Kang’s position. He waited. Behind the heavy cavalry, long lines of infantry surged forward. As the elves crossed the dried creek bed, Kang ordered the ballistae to fire. Their effect was immediate. Huge gaps appeared in the orderly lines of the advancing troops. Enemy lines began to waver. The draconians reloaded for a second shot.
But the damage done by the large weapons had caught the attention of the dragonrider. The copper dragon arced overhead and began its descent, diving down to cripple the defenders. The heavy cavalry shifted their attack to Kang’s front, and charged.
Kang turned his back on it all. He looked down at Slith.
The Sivak stood ready, sword in hand.
At that moment, Tchk’pal woke up. He stared around, saw himself in the bowl of the catapult. The sight had a sobering effect.
“Sargas take you dracos!” he bellowed, struggling to free himself! “Get me out of this! I’ll flail you alive for-”
“FIRE!” Kang shouted.
Slith sliced the retaining rope. The main arm of the catapult straightened, sent the minotaur soaring into the air.
“Charge,” said Kang, watching the minotaur fly gracefully over the treetops.
“Abyss take me!” Slith cried, racing up on the ramparts to watch. “Will you look at that, sir!”
The copper dragon had unleashed a stream of acid at a ballista site on the rampart. The weapon exploded, its crew scrambling to get out of the way of the attack. The copper dragon was preparing to pick them off, one by one, when the minotaur, hurtling through the air, struck the dragon squarely in the chest.