David Bishop and the Legend of the Orb by T.C. Crawford (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

his men to step back a few paces in order to provide more room for his soldiers to fight. This gave the enemy more room to advance, however they swiftly met their doom, as they were quickly struck down as they came within reach of the soldier’s blades. It appeared that their training was paying off.

Just as she thought the attack was going well and victory was at hand, the unthinkable happened. The mages blasted through the defensive barrier and opened a gaping hole for the undead soldiers to rush through. Now they were able to run through the opening in much larger numbers without having to climb over the barriers.

“Regroup! Hold the line!” cried Captain Ryan over the clamor of battle.

His men quickly regrouped and tightened the shield wall to prepare for the coming horde of enemies. The undead rushed at them like wild men, flailing and slashing without any regard for their own safety.

Their attacks were ferocious and unyielding, forcing the Captain and his soldiers to take steps backward to avoid being pushed over from the overwhelming numbers now facing them. Erin knew that Tyrius better do something quick to dispatch those mages or they would soon be finished destroying the barricades and be able to set their focus on the soldiers instead.

The men fought valiantly to hold the lines, but the onslaught proved to be too much for them to bear, and suddenly the line broke. Dozens of undead soldiers broke through and divided the soldiers into smaller groups as the battle quickly progressed into an all-out free for all.

Soldiers were battling back to back and in small, tight circles against increasingly overwhelming numbers of undead. Left and right their forces began dwindling down as they were getting crushed by the masses.

Erin instructed the archers to take up their swords and join in the battle, and she quickly threw down her bow and unsheathed her sword, running head on into the carnage.

She slashed left and right, ducking under several close attacks, and felling a number of undead soldiers. Though they were easy enough to dispatch, their overwhelming numbers made it a difficult battle, as it seemed for every opponent she took down, two more took his place.

As if things couldn’t possibly get worse, the mages began to press forward from the depths of the trees and make their way towards the front lines, firing flaming balls of fire into the midst of the battle. Cries immediately ignited as men’s flesh caught fire within their metal armor, unable to escape the inferno.

She had to do something.

Erin rushed through the fighting masses, ducking and dodging attacks as she made her way to the mages. Just as she reached the charred remains of the defensive wall, she came face to face with the first of the mages.

He was tall and wore a dark red cloak and hood, enshrouding his face with a depth of darkness Erin hadn’t ever seen before. His hands were long and boney, covered in a decaying flesh that looked scabby and rotten. It lifted its hand towards her, and a hot fire sparked into existence. She braced herself for the end, when suddenly a flash of light shot out from her left and sent the mage flying backward, vanishing before he hit the ground.

Erin looked around and saw Tyrius coming out from the depths of the trees, a fierce look in his eyes. He ran quickly by Erin and stood in between her and the remaining mages, preparing for battle. He looked more intense than she had ever seen him, a fire in his eyes that revealed the true power he possessed as a gifted member of the Elders.

“Where did you go?” she asked.

“I went to flank the group of mages within the woods to try and catch them by surprise. I was able to take out several of them before reaching you, but there are too many. I will do what I can to fend them off. Go now! Get out of here before you end up dead!” he cried.

“I won’t leave you again!” cried Erin, determined to stand by and fight with her teacher

“So be it!” cried Tyrius, lifting his hands and getting ready to attack once again.

Erin grabbed a throwing dagger from her belt and prepared to throw it at the nearest mage. There was only a small group of roughly twelve mages remaining, with only Erin and Tyrius to stand in their way before they reached the battle that raged on behind them.

The mages all lifted their hands in unison and fire ignited in their palms, ready to be unleashed on their two opponents. Erin threw her dagger and Tyrius quickly cast another blast of white light towards the nearest two mages just as they were about to cast their fireballs.

As her dagger soared through the air toward its intended mark, the mages all suddenly screamed out a shriek of surprise and vanished into a dark mist right before their eyes. When the mists dissipated, a group of elves came jumping over the fallen bodies of undead soldiers, bows drawn and at the ready, each sporting arrows that had bright glowing barbs at the end.

They released their arrows of light, felling several undead soldiers immediately upon impact, then darted into the battle. The elves dispatched the remaining undead soldiers quickly and efficiently, slicing effortlessly with their curved, silver blades. Erin and Tyrius stood awestruck as they watched the tides of battle quickly change in their favor, the elves’ magical blades proving to be deadly efficient against the undead army. Where had they come from? Why had the elves come to their aid? They hadn’t been seen for ages!

When the chaos of the battle finally dwindled down, the soldiers all gathered to receive new orders from the Captain and regroup to put out the fires around the encampment. Suddenly, the elves all turned and encircled the soldiers, blades drawn and at the ready.

“What’s the meaning of this?” asked Captain Ryan, alarmed at the