Am:"as I expected, the first one over the wall sends the green boys running. Nikols stays at my side, guarding the gate wheel. People scream from all around.
"Big Fuckers, ain't they?" Nikols says with a chuckle. Despite his age and lost eyesight, at that moment he looks every bit the warrior he once had been. He holds his bow steady, rapidly cycling through the familiar motion of nock, draw, aim, loose, over and over.
He hits his mark every time. The invaders are massive, impossible to mistake. Even Nikols, who couldn't make out a single face to save his life, can easily spot these targets.
I almost mirror Nikols every motion. But arrows seem to have little effect. Nikols quiver runs empty first, and he turns to me, a tear on his cheek.
"A warriors death is a good death, Ambra, don't be afraid. This is the final battle, for us." He Turns away from me and draws the sword he's worn at his hip every day that I've known him. With a practiced war cry, Nikols charges at the nearest raider. His sword pierces through the monsters abdomen and slices sideways as Nikols turns to face the next one. The first one falls to the ground, it's guts spilling from the mortal wound.
The second raider to face Nikols takes the sword directly into his body, upward from his stomach. At the same instant as Nikols sword pierces the monster, sinking in to the hilt, the creatures massive axe hews Nikols in half, severing his head and rending his torso apart.
"NO!" I scream, and in one smooth motion I nock, draw, and loose an arrow at him. With elvish accuracy, my arrow slams into the raiders eye and bursts through the back of his skull. His body convulses, dropping heavily to the ground.
I turn quickly as heavy footfalls warn me of another beast approaching. I don't aim, just nock, draw, fire as fast as I can. Every arrow hits its mark. One through this raiders neck leaves him drowning in his own blood. I turn, and another arrow pieces through a raiders groin, giving enough of a direction that a second arrow finds a gap in his armor, piercing into his chest from under his arm.
I turn once more and reach for an arrow, only to find an empty quiver. It's over. My battle has ended."