Pantheon Online

189  Vjern (Part 2)

"Hold!" Bargrux roared as the Skardian soldiers collided with the front line of his infantry. "Hold!"

The soldiers had regrouped and were now flooding into Vjern from the walls. They had realised there was no point in trying to defend the city from up there and had moved the battle into the streets. Bargrux gazed over the heads of his warriors and down the central road leading away from the gate.

"Knurr, take the cavalry between the buildings and strike them on the left flank!" Bargrux ordered one of the mounted dwarves next to him.

Knurr nodded as he turned his steed about and called for the cavalry to follow him. The gap created from their departure was filled moments later by more infantry. The sea of shields stood firm as the Skardian forces crashed against them.

"Push, now!" Bargrux roared, and the dwarves began to chant.

They slammed their shields against the defenders as they pushed forward. Their boots trampled over their enemies as they fell to the ground beneath the sudden assault. The humans did not know what to do. Although the dwarven army was shorter in stature, their strength and endurance far exceeded their own.

Armour was wrought asunder by the dwarven weaponry as swords, spears, axes, and hammers collided. The din of battle spread far and wide. Which infected the population of Vjern with fear. Never in living memory had Vjern ever come under attack. Nevermind by such a ferocious army.

The humans cried out in desperation as the dwarven army moved like an unstoppable war machine. Hope was nowhere to be found in that battle as they watched their friends and family fall. The Captain in charge finally made it down from the wall at that moment. However, the slaughter before him left him helpless.

'Why? Why are they attacking?' Tears streamed down his face as he stared with hollow eyes at the massacre. 'What did we do to deserve this? Have our gods forsaken us?'

However, no answer to his question arrived. Perhaps, if he had prayed in the temple, then the story would have been different. But that was not the case. At that moment, the tip of a dwarven spear narrowly missed his throat!

That event dragged the Captain back to the reality of that battle. His sord swung upwards and clashed with the spear's shaft, pushing it to the side. He swung furiously at the dwarf responsible, but he misjudged his swing because of the difference in height between them!

A metal clang rang out as his blade skimmed the top of the dwarven helm. 'Shit!' He grit his teeth as he attempted to pull away from the dwarf grinning under his full helm! However, the dwarf struck his sternum with the tip of his shield as he drew his spear back to stab at him again!

Luckily for the Captain, one soldier next to him intervened. They used their own shield to divert the attack. However, this left them open to their own opponent. The Captain's saviour cried out as a dwarven axe severed his shield arm at the elbow, right before his head was removed from his shoulders!

'Demons! They're demons!' The Captain thought as a couple of soldiers dragged him to the safety of the rear lines.

"Captain! You have to warn the Jarl! Go! We'll hold them off here!"

The Captain stared into the resigned expressions of his men who nodded at him. Most of those who served in the town garrison had great respect for him. He was firm but fair. Not only that, but he 12:18

always recommended those for promotion based on their ability and not who their family was.

It was rare to find such a commander. Especially since he always joined in on any dangerous missions issued by the Jarl! His men urged him on as they shoved him toward the road. For a man such as their captain, they were prepared to give their lives.

Bargrux grunted as he saw the enemy commander fleeing from the battle. 'Run all you want. We'll get you once we're done here!' At that moment, the dwarven cavalry fell upon the enemy's left flank! The human's ranks fell into disarray as Bargrux gave the order to push on that side of the battle.

Meanwhile, as more of the dwarven soldiers filed into the city, they used the back streets cleared by the cavalry to drive deep towards the heart of Vjern. They barely met any resistance as the soldiers focused on the main army under King Bargrux, fighting for the central road.

It surprised most of the civilians to discover the dwarves paid them no mind as they marched past. Not a single non-combatant was harmed as they used the distraction to approach the temple. 'Once we clear out this rabble, Vjern should have little left to offer any resistance.'

Bargrux scratched at his beard as he observed the fighting. 'If they have anything left, they'll have to throw it at us soon… Unless…' His eyes narrowed as he glanced towards the walls in the distance, barely visible over the buildings. 'Hmm… It's possible, I suppose. But would a Jarl really abandon his people?'

The nagging feeling in the back of his mind screamed louder for attention the more he thought about it. 'We can't allow anyone to escape and warn the other cities! The gods should be preoccupied with the Sommerdan war. So there's little risk in them intervening unless they sense their Oracle's lives are at risk.'

'Hm… Better not leave anything to chance.'

"Commander!" Bargrux yelled as he turned to the infantry unit at attention behind him. "Send word to the rear. I want them to encircle the city and check for any signs of anyone escaping! If they find anything to indicate that has happened, have them track them down and bring them back alive!"

"At once, your highness!" The dwarf grunted as he passed the message along the lines with a dubious expression plastered on his face. Though, nobody could tell since his beard hid it from view.

At that moment, the enemy's left flank completely collapsed under the dwarven two-pronged attack. The rest of the formation fell into ruin as gaping holes appeared, allowing the dwarves to push through and encircle the remaining soldiers. 'The battle of Vjern is practically over. I was too generous in saying it would take an hour.' Bargrux sighed as he drove his steed through the enemy lines.