Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 245: Siege of Arudonaven(1)

Chapter 245: Siege of Arudonaven(1)

"More arrows!" a man shouted hoarsely, his bowstring trembling as he nocked yet another shaft. He gestured urgently to the boy tasked with running arrows along the wall, the lad darting back and forth like a shadow amidst the chaos.

With a sharp exhale and ignoring the kid running towards him, the archer leaned forward to take his shot, his aim fixed on the soldiers swarming up the ladders. His eyes narrowed as he sought his target—

Thwack.

A sharp, sickening impact cut his focus short. The archer staggered back, a gasp clawing from his throat as an enemy arrow buried itself cleanly at the base of his neck. He dropped his bow, his hands clutching at the wound as crimson life spilled between his fingers. His knees buckled, and he sank to the ground, the light in his eyes dimming as his breath rattled away.

"Come on... help me, gods," the man whispered, his prayer desperate and scattered as he climbed the swaying ladder. His left hand clung to the wooden rungs, the other clutching a spear. Each step felt heavier as he neared the top, the din of the battle above blending with his thundering heartbeat.

Finally, he hoisted himself over the lip of the wall, breathless but determined. For a fleeting moment, his eyes locked with those of a defender—a young soldier leaning over, trying to gauge the chaos below in a morbid interest to see the dead bodies down the wall.