"Graynar, are you sure you're all right?"
"Of course dear Boldan, I've never been better." replied the smiling knight.
Not far away, Gunfar, Renvale, and Wolf, were setting their positions. Wolf had several crossbows loaded and ready to go. While a silent Renvale, loaded several shafts onto his bow, being carefully watched by Gunfar.
"What's with elves and bow and arrows any way?" said the dwarf.
Meanwhile, Hurokol, joined King Vander on the wall.
"We are ready now my liege." replied Hurokol, inspecting several ten year olds, who were running by, armed with spears.
"Good." replied the King. "Issue the first row of archers to target the first flank of orcs."
"But my liege, that would leave the orc archers to open fire on us while we reload." protested Hurokol, looking worried.
"Just wait, Hurokol, my plan will not fail. Archers! Target the first flank and take them down!" yelled the confident King.
Renvale watched as every bow of Hartayon keep, released a river of shafts into the darkening sky.
Renvale shook his head as the arrows hit only half of their desired targets.
As Hurokol had earlier pointed out, the orc archers returned fire as soon as the Vazanay arrows had struck.
The orc attack was much more deadly as twenty two people were slain. Several men above Graynar, fell before him, with arrows in their heads. Graynar turned to Boldan;
"This is not good is it?" said Graynar.
Three orc captains fell to the ground, instantly dead. Several orcs turned around, alarmed by the loss of their commanding officers.
Marcus Drone looked up at Hartayon's walls, while watching the stupid expression on Craznog's face..
"They have an elf." he muttered, hiding behind his men.
Back in the keep, King Vander was issuing more orders.
"Quickly now, target those archers!" he said, as Hurokol folded his arms in victory.
For the second time, a river of arrows flew past, Renvale's eyes. This time however, the arrows had all missed, and landed in the ground. Victorious, Marcus Drone had ordered the horde away from the keep, and out of arrow range just in time.
"This commander is not stupid Hugo." said Hurokol to the King. "He moved his army out of range while we weren't looking."
"Fire at will!" Shouted King Vander, ignoring Hurokol. Behind Hurokol, prince Slaywood came up and joined his father.
"Father, there is something you should see."
Slaywood turned his father towards another army, which was composed of undead soldiers.
"Oh my-" said King Vander, as he watched the living skeletons march towards his castle. Meanwhile, Graynar had also seen the new arrivals, and shouted out in surpirse as he saw Azaron leading them.
"It can't be!" said Graynar.
Azaron walked towards the fortress of Vazanay. His eyes were glowing just like the undead soldiers around him.
"How can Azaron summon and control, undead, with out the Vezar crystal?" said Boldan, with horror on his face.
"He's not the one in control." said Graynar, peering at Azarons glowing eyes.
"No you fool!" yelled Hurokol. "Undead can't be stopped or hurt by mere arrows."
But it was too late. Another volley of arrows was wasted as they impaled the skeleton soldiers. Azaron destroyed a barrage of arrows before they hit him, using his magical powers.
The undead easily reached the gatehouse, and prepared to ripped down the doors into the keep. But the gatehouse was not defenceless, and the soldiers above poured burning hot oil down onto the unlucky skeletons. The fire burned through the dry bones of the undead, and many crumpled into piles of ash.
"Sixteen men killed on the west wall, and twelve on the east." reported Taylon Baxters, to the king. King Vander remaind motionless, as he watched the massive enemy armies attacking his castle. Orcs began pouring over the walls of the castle, and slaying the defenceless archers in their wake.
Little did Graynar know, that he was facing Craznog, the orc captain.
"Fight me little human." said Craznog, tossing his massive sword from hand to hand.
Graynar knew he had to save Wolf, but he had to finish with this orc first. Graynar charged towards the big orc. Craznog swung his massive blade, but Graynar dodged it, nearly losing his arm in the process. Graynar ran around the ugly orc, swinging his sword at Craznog from all directions. The orc captain, could not swing his oversized sword fast enough, and Graynar's sword hit its mark. Craznog flell hard on the ground. Blood pouring from his mouth.
"Bet you this will hurt." spat Craznog, pulling the trigger, as Graynar turned around realising Craznog was still alive.
"Bet you this will hurt." said Taylon Baxters, leaping on the orc, swinging his mace. The mace blew Craznog's head apart, and the orc stumbled and fell off the battlements, with the crossbow still in his hand.
Graynar smiled, "Just like old times."
Graynar tapped an orc who was attacking Wolf on the shoulder. The ugly orc turned his head, and met a fist to the face. As the orc fell, Graynar drew his sword through the orc's neck, and attacked the next one. Graynar suddenly remembered all the fighting moves, him and Taylon, had practiced when they were younger.
"Here's the eagle attack!" laughed Graynar, jumping in the air, kicking the orc clean in the face. The orc had fallen halfway onto the floor, when Graynar landed, putting his sword through the orc's stomach.
"Oh yes, here comes the Baxter charge!" said Graynar eyeing an incoming orc, and jumping towards the armoured foe. Graynar slammed his helmet into the orc's stomach. Lifting his sword, he drove it through the orc's head. Graynar landed smoothly, and stood up, to face Renvale, and Wolf.
"That's what I call a rescue!" said Gunfar, who was watching the rescue.
