They can't speak, but they have the unnerving habit of banging spears to shields in unison every few minutes. Most were standard infantry, but a few were on skeletal horseback, some sort of officers. With no flesh, their helmets and chainmail was draped loosely like a child wearing their father's clothes.
We needed to make a plan as quickly as possible; it would only be getting darker as we waited.
May eagerly took charge,
“Timmins, get my and the Prince’s armor and weapons. Lieutenant, get your men in a defensive perimeter. Gatekeepers, charge enemy clusters as they form, priests, get those holy symbols ready and banish what you can when you can, Wizards, get those fireballs ready. We needn't lose anyone to rabble such as this. One hit is all it takes; don't rush it.”
Then it was silent except for the perfectly timed chorus of spear to shield thwacking. I had to wonder as I watched these nightmarish figures, what they were like as warriors in their primes. Where did all these remains even come from? Are they from ancient battles when major armies clashed on these plains?
From tusks and teeth, you could see that all were Human, Orc, or Hobgoblin. So much commonality, so much difference.
Then the thwacking on the shields became a rapid thwack, thwack, thwack thwack, ten times I counted, and the ranks began to move slowly as one. They were maybe 500 yards away, coming in from the East.
One of the officers had his horse canter up to about 200 yards away where he raised his sword above his head. When the first line came even with him, he slashed down with his saber and the whole force came at us in a sprint, a full on frontal assault.
May yelled above the clattering sounds of the army of bones,
“All to the front, quick time!"
Crossbows began firing, including mine, but death for these creatures required a head shot if crossbows were being used. Within 100 feet, three huge balls of fire tore through the ranks, exploding on initial impact and lighting the darkening sky.
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My rapier was useless against these things, so I ran to the small supply chest at the back of the Royal Carriage where instruments of repair and horse shoeing were kept. I grabbed the blacksmith's hammer and ran back to May.
Her huge sword was having no problem sweeping through the enemy two and three at a time. Staying out of her way, I began smashing skulls.
I could see around me that our troops were having little difficulty with the task at hand, using their shields and spear hafts as weapons. But, looking behind me at the Royal Carriage, I could see that two skeletons were getting ready to go after both Timmins and Waldinor who were hiding under it.
Both of the boys were terrified, crying and screaming. As I turned to help, I felt a sharp sting along the back of my left upper arm. I had been caught by a skeleton's shortsword blade where the sleeve of my tunic stopped and was bleeding badly.
I didn't stop to engage the enemy, I had to get to those boys without a moment's delay. As I ran, I heard the heavy and of May's greatsword as it halved my pursuer.
Just as one of the skeletons was about to jab his spear into a defenseless Timmins, I brought my right arm back and swung at and through the creature's skull, making it collapse, looking like it had been there in that state for years.
I wasn't quick enough for the other one, Waldinor was sitting and grabbing his knees, eyes closed, trying to just make the thing go away when that skeleton's spear found its mark, punching into the back of the boy's left thigh.
I immediately turned the thing's head into just so many fragments of bone and rushed to Waldinor’s side.
“Don't worry lad, they got me too. Just stay calm. I'll fetch a priest.”
But I could see the white of the boy's hose turning red at a furious rate. They had nicked his arterie there and, if I remembered my physicking class correctly, he may have less than a few minutes to live.
I grabbed the right sleeve of Waldinor's tunic and ripped the whole thing off, quickly binding the wound as tightly as I could.
“Look, young man, that will give us another minute, maybe two, you must stay strong while I go and get help!"
I quickly rose to my feet and began searching for one of the Clerics. I had to focus, I think I had already lost a good bit of blood, but I would outlast Waldinor, so speed was of the essence.
Not far to May's left, I saw one of the young priests holding off several skeletons with his Holy Symbol, if he disengaged, they would rush May. I had to put my faith in her skill.
Running to the priest, I grabbed his arm and began to run back with him to the carriage.
"You must come with me quickly, Father, a young boy's life is in the balance as is mine! May can hold her own!”
We got to the carriage as I could see Waldinor's eyes slowly closing. Timmins was putting as much pressure on the wound as he could.
The young priest slid under the carriage, feet first, immediately put his hands to the boy's wound, and began a brief chant. The only word I was able to pick out was "élois,” but the Cleric's hands glowed with a strong white light that lit up the undercarriage and showed Waldinor's eyes spring open, his mouth in an “O."
I felt a feeling like a wave crashing through my head, and everything went black.