Maxi screamed and staggered back. One of the hideous creatures, dark green and wrinkled, charged at her with an axe. In one swift motion, a sword sliced through the goblin’s neck.
“My lady! Your barrier!” Ulyseon cried as he lifted back up his blood-covered blade.
Maxi snapped out of her daze and tried to summon her mana, but monsters charged at them from all directions, ruining her concentration. Seeing her fumbling, Ulyseon and Garrow pushed her against a tree and crouched in formation in front of her.
The goblins rushed down the slope at terrifying speed. They clambered up the trees and attacked from above, flying at the knights like cannonballs with axes. The knights slew them two at a time with every swing of their swords. Angry, monkey-like shrieks echoed through the forest.
Hebaron’s booming voice cut through the din. “Hell! There’s no end to them!”
Terrified, Maxi kept her back pressed to the tree and gasped for air. Hebaron was right. No matter how many goblins the knights slew, more poured over the rock face.
“Everyone, move back! I’ll use my blade aura to finish—”
“Don’t! That will destroy the rock!” Riftan barked. “The rear guard are at a disadvantage geographically! We have to fall back!”
Hebaron scowled. “Tell me you are jesting! You want us to retreat because of bloody—”
Their exchange was cut short when a rumbling tremor shook the ground. The goblin horde below the rock face quickly dispersed. Immediately realizing what was happening, Riftan bellowed orders to his knights below.
“The rock face is falling! Move out, now!”
The knights responded immediately. Grabbing Maxi by her arms, Ulyseon and Garrow began racing sideways into the trees. Maxi clutched at Rem’s reins and towed the agitated horse along. Just then, a thunderous boom sent a flock of birds bursting from the treetops.
Maxi’s eyes widened at the dirt and rock tumbling down the slope. Dragged along by the young knights, Maxi stayed just ahead of the debris, staggering and tumbling alongside the knights.
Riftan called to them from above the avalanche, but there was no time to shout back. Whenever she tried to stand, the ground would sink like sand, and she kept falling as though being pulled by her ankles. Chunks of rock and dirt would hurtle toward them just as she gained solid footing.
Almost reflexively, Maxi began to circulate her mana. Just as the rockslide was about to bury them, a barrier of earth shot up between the knights and the avalanche. Maxi slumped to the ground so she could keep all her focus on directing her mana around the rune. The barrier rose higher as the mound of dirt threatened to break through. Finally, just as Maxi felt her mana running out, the tremors stilled.
Everyone below the barricade heaved a sigh of relief.
“Feel like I added a few gray hairs just then,” said Gabel as he helped Maxi to her feet. “You did well, my lady. That barrier can’t be easy to maintain, though. We should move to a safer spot.” Supporting her with one hand, he quickly led her to the side of the slope. “All of you! Get together and follow me!”
Garrow and Ulyseon placated their horses’ frenzied stamping. Even though her life had been the one in peril, Maxi found herself looking for Riftan. He was nowhere to be seen. “Wh-What about Riftan?’
“The front guard should be fine up there,” said Garrow. “They were well above the rock face.” He did a headcount as he hurried up the slope. “Fifteen knights, thirteen juniors…”
The knights coaxed their horses swiftly out of the rubble, as if the barrier could collapse at any moment. It was only after they had climbed quite a distance beyond the barrier that they could see the full extent of the rockslide. The color drained from Maxi’s face when she saw the bulk of the rock that could have crushed her.
“D-Do you really think…those at the top are all right?”
“Please give me a moment, my lady.”
Gabel pulled out a finger-sized stick from his tunic andblew into it, making a sharp whistle like a bird’s cry. The call echoed up the mountain. He blew on the pipe twice more, and a similar whistle responded from above.
“They say everyone up there is safe as well.”
Maxi’s legs gave out, and she sank to the ground.
Ulyseon bolted over to help her. “Are you all right, my lady? Please tell me you are not hurt.”
“I-I am all right. M-My legs simply gave out for a moment….”
In truth, she had taken a blow to her back when she fell. It ached now, but it was not bad enough to inhibit her movement. She focused on stilling her shaking legs enough to get back on her feet. Rem nudged Maxi’s back anxiously with her nose. Clinging to the mare’s neck, Maxi struggled up the mountain until she was on a more even surface.
Only when they were safely away from the rockslide did Maxi lift her spell. The barricade gave way, letting the mounds of dirt and rock crash down the mountain. Up ahead, however, a large boulder blocked their path.
Staring at the looming rock, Gabel clicked his tongue. “Our path is cut off.”
