Earthbreaker's Promise
Chapter 3 - Arlington

“…that was when I told him: ‘There’s no way I slept with your wife, but you’re talking about that big chested blonde at the bar then bring her over here and I’ll happily oblige.’” Laughter erupted from the two squad leaders, Nicholas and Erik, who rode at Arlington’s sides.

“What did the beast make of that response?” Erik squeaked. The man was short of stature and light of voice but any who dared point that out would be a fool. Arlington had seen Erik crush many men’s skulls with the hammer strapped across his back.

“He took none too kindly to my answer.” Arlington said. “So when he made a wild attempt at beheading me with his razor sharp claws, it was only fitting that I ran him through with a silver blade and left his body impaled on the table. At least until I could replace a spare to take his head with.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you might be a bit bloodthirsty, Arlington?” Nicholas asked. With his pinched features and long nose he looked more like a record keeper than a soldier. “Where most men hope to never encounter a rogue Other you not only seek them out but you antagonize them.”

“How else is a man supposed to replace a challenge these days?” Arlington asked, chuckling. “Until you've found yourself in the grasp of a beast that can rend stone, his fetid breath washing over your face, you have yet to truly live.”

“In that case my life just began yesterday!” Erik said. “One of the shifters nearly had me when my hammer got stuck in one of their chests. Thank the gods for Nicholas here. Saved my wretched life I tell ya.”

“Thank the gods we attacked during the day!” Nicholas said. “It meant the vampires were trapped in their homes or underground.”

“Except one.” Erik muttered.

Arlington nodded, thinking back on the beast they had seen. He had strode across the battlefield seemingly wrapped in writhing shadows. Only a vampire had the strength to wield the greatsword the thing used with one hand and still cleave men in two with his swings. All the while only using the other hand to snatch men into the range of his fangs.

“That hammer will be the death of you yet, Erik.” Nicholas admonished him, having completely missed Erik’s mutterings. “What would have happened if-”

“My Lords!” A voice called and the three men paused their conversation to turn to the new voice, stopping their horses where they were. Abraham, the lead scout, showed up over the hill galloping towards them. The small group each put their hands on their weapons, wondering if a wave of their enemies were chasing the frightened man. Then he was among them and speaking. And it had nothing to do with a large force coming to attack, instead it was quite the opposite.

“She’s here my Lords! It has to be her! No one else would be so brave.” Abraham nearly spat the words in his haste to get them out.

Arlington felt his smile drop a fraction, but it didn’t disappear. “Slow down, Abe.” He said. “Tell us what you saw and speak clear. No one can understand you otherwise.”

Abraham closed his eyes and took a deep breath, making an effort to compose himself before he spoke again. Their horses stirred, bored at the inaction. After several long moments the scout opened his eyes again and resumed.

“A woman waits just outside the area of the kingdom we raided yesterday. She was wearing armor but carrying no weapons and when she spotted me she waved. It has to be her, the Earthbreaker.”

“Not you too.” Nicholas groaned. “The Earthbreaker does not exist! It sounds to me like this is a trap. She probably acts as bait for forces within the buildings behind her, waiting for us to get close enough to strike. What do you think Erik?”

“I agree.” He said. “What would be the point in sending a single woman before an army? No matter what type of Other she is, she can’t possibly hope to fight us all. She’ll most likely fall to the archers as is.”

“Let us check for ourselves then.” Arlington said, urging his horse in the direction Abraham had come from. Commander Tiller’s earlier worry was running through his head but he refused to give voice to the thoughts. Even if this was the Queen, to him she was just another abomination that needed to meet the edge of his blade.

As the grand castle in the distance slowly became visible, followed by the ruined husks of buildings, Arlington’s smile fell away. Well, what do we have here? A little over seven hundred feet away was a single woman, her hands on her hips. Raven black hair that must have reached her hips blew out to the side in the wind and silver armor shone in the sunlight. Arlington couldn’t see her face but he had no doubts she would be beautiful. It was in the way that she carried herself.

“Is the lady daft?” Erik asked. “Or does she think that we are? I’ve never seen such a poor trap in all my days.”

“Archers!” Nicholas shouted and the clinking of armor signaled their rangers moving towards the front.

“Hold!” Arlington yelled in response and the movement stopped. Then he addressed the squad leaders now frowning at him. “We could lay down a barrage of arrows but if the rest of her forces are hidden we only waste valuable ammunition.”

“Who the bloody hell cares about arrows?” Abraham said in a rush, sweat beading on his forehead even though it was a cool day for midsummer. “That is the Earthbreaker down there. We should be using everything we have at our disposal to make sure she stays right where she is and-”

“Do you dare give orders to me?” Arlington whispered, giving a smile that he knew was all teeth.

“N..no, sir.” Abraham stammered. “You have my sincerest apologies. I only meant-”

“Return to your scouts, soldier.” Arlington said. Abraham’s face flushed red and he turned, letting his horse carry him away.

“The boy brings up a good point.” Nicholas said, his eyes glued to the Queen.

“That may be the case.” Arlington admitted. “Yet if we stay at range there would be nothing to stop her from retreating into the kingdom to dodge. You both know as well as I do that a proper volley works best against greater numbers, and while a front line is there to occupy them.”

“So who will act as the front line?” Erik asked the question they were all thinking.

The almost mad smile stretched further across Arlington’s face. “Send out the call for the archers to hang back.” He said. “We will all spring the Queen’s trap. Let her try and stop us!”