“Dark Queen’s grace,” Kang said, awed. “Sank his horns right into it!” He turned to his sub-commander. “Nice shot, Slith!”
“Thank you, sir,” Slith replied.
The dragon and its elven rider and the minotaur fell like so many sacks of potatoes. They hit the ground hard, sending up a great cloud of dust.
“A glorious death,” said Kang solemnly.
“And honorable,” Slith added. He raised his voice. “The commander’s dead! A moment’s silence for the dead commander.”
After about a few seconds, Kang said, “I don’t think they heard you.”
Slith shrugged.
Kang turned to his command. “Get those ballistae going! Crossbowmen, fire at will.”
The surviving ballistae lashed out at the oncoming elven cavalry, decimating the front ranks. The horses wheeled and bucked and snorted, terrified at the blood and noise. The infantry, coming behind them, stopped dead in their tracks.
“Fire!” yelled Kang.
Ballistae missiles smashed into the enemy.
The elven cavalry routed, turned and ran. The horses crashed through the infantry lines to their rear, killing the elves’ own soldiers, and sending them into panic-stricken retreat.
“Let’s speed them on their way!” Kang shouted. He jumped down from the ramparts, followed by his men. They were about to chase after the retreating elves, planning on picking off a few stragglers and putting to death the wounded, when-out of the corner of his eye-Kang saw glinting armor.
He was afraid at first he’d made a mistake, wheeled to face this new threat, only to discover that it was Nemik’s Death Riders, the First Dragonarmy’s senior regiment of cavalry. They charged past the draconians and into the fray, demolishing the forces to their front.
Kang ordered his men back. Their job was done. “Reform!”
The command echoed down the line. Slowly, the draconians formed into battle lines.
This day was theirs. Kang’s strategy had worked.
He ordered his troops back to the ramparts. On his way, he stopped at the carcass of the fallen copper dragon.
Tchk’pal lay beside the dragon. The top of the minotaur’s head was covered with blood. The two horns were still embedded in the dragon’s chest. Kang gazed in silent wonder. A thrown lance might have glanced off the armored beast, but not even the heaviest scales or the thickest hide could withstand the impact of a catapulted minotaur.
The elf dragonrider lay dead beneath the carcass of the dragon. Kang sliced the dragonrider to bits with his sword. The Golden General-or whoever was in command-would know that it was draconians who had killed this officer.
“Where’s our fearless leader?” asked Slith, coming up from behind.
Kang pointed. The two walked over to take a closer look at the minotaur’s body. They were debating whether or not it would be wise to haul the cow’s carcass back to present to Lord Rajak, when the carcass moved.
“Great Chemosh!” Kang’s wings flapped involuntarily, carried him half a foot into the air before he recovered from the shock.
Slith stood, frozen with horror.
The minotaur’s huge horns were still embedded in the dragon’s chest. Tchk’pal began twisting and turning, pushing at the dragon with his hands, trying to free himself.
“Kang! Kang!” Tchk’pal shouted. “I can see you, Kang!”
“We’re dead dracos,” said Slith in a low tone. “He’s bound to remember that we did this to him! Maybe I should just sort of accidentally run him through with my sword, sir-”
A shout arose from behind them.
“Too late,” Kang muttered. “Someone’s seen us.”
He looked back to see Lord Rajak, surrounded by his human bodyguards, touring the battlefield. They had spotted the body of the copper dragon and were coming over to investigate.
Kang saluted and stood at attention.
Covered in gore, Tchk’pal staggered to his feet, reeling and clutching his aching head.
Rajak regarded them with astonishment. “I must say that I’m pleasantly surprised. My new Third Regiment has won the day. You’re covered in blood, Tchk’pal. What happened to you?”
The minotaur groaned, scowled, and opened his mouth.
“Sir,” said Kang, before the minotaur could say a word, “you would not believe it! Our regimental commander single-handedly slew this dragon. He gored it, sir. An act of courage that, I’ll wager, has never been performed by any other minotaur alive. He then took on the whole of the enemy cavalry by himself. He fell on them like a thunderbolt, sir. As if he were dropped from the heavens!”