Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 240: Tales of bravery

Chapter 240: Tales of bravery

Lord Xanthios stood atop the makeshift palisade, his figure commanding and resolute despite the chaos erupting around him. The air was thick with the acrid stench of sweat, blood, and smoke, as attackers swarmed the walls in desperate waves. 

Xanthios, clad in steel plate that gleamed dully under the afternoon sun, raised his sword high. "Hold the line! " he bellowed, his voice cutting through the clamor like a trumpet's call. His men roared in response, their morale bolstered by his presence.

An enemy soldier, climbing a ladder, thrust his spear toward Xanthios. The lord sidestepped the attack and brought his sword down in a sweeping arc, severing the man's grip on the ladder. The soldier screamed as he tumbled back into the throng below. Another enemy emerged at the top of the palisade, only to be met by Xanthios's shield, which smashed into his face with enough force to send him sprawling back onto his comrades.

Despite the relentless assault, Xanthios refused to retreat to safety. He fought shoulder to shoulder with his men, a spark of youthful defiance rekindled within him. In that moment, he felt transported back to his younger days, when he had first followed his father into battle. Perhaps it was the weight of years pressing upon him, the desire to close a lifelong chapter that went on for far too long, but he found himself wielding his blade with a ferocity he hadn't felt in decades, all times wasted for that moment he wanted to live.

He pivoted to face another attacker who had managed to breach the wall. The soldier lunged with a sword, aiming for Xanthios's midsection. Xanthios deflected the strike with his shield and countered with a brutal thrust to the enemy's throat, silencing him instantly. Blood sprayed onto the lord's armor, but he paid it no mind. 

"Reinforce the western side!" he shouted to some of his men as another ladder slammed against the wall nearby. "Archers, keep shooting! Do not let them gain a foothold!"