Chapter 33: Commander Riven
Excitement surged through me with the responsibility. The Hero had given me control of the hunting party. The lives of my nine sisters rested in my hands. I couldn’t fail.
"Alright girls, we’re shifting to a two-point bow formation with support. Zyra move to the center with Zela. Vira you’ll go behind them in the middle. The rest of you form the support line. Lira to the right Elnara to the left let no one escape... Charge...!"
The formation moved with precision, its spearhead aimed at the goblin village. Their reaction was much faster than I’d expected. As soon as we were a hundred meters from the village, the sound of horns blared, alerting the entire settlement to the invaders.
The closer we got to the goblin village the stench of mold, filth, and rotting flesh intensified. Just as we crossed the village boundary, a horde of goblins burst out screaming with sharp shrieks. More and more goblins poured from the huts, brandishing crude sticks and rusty knives, their red eyes wild with savagery.
Zela and Zyra on the front line acted as an unyielding wall. Their bodies slammed into the first attackers. Using their innate warrior skills they took minor blows on their forearms while dodging knife slashes.
"Not one step back!"
"Vira Now...!"
I shouted to boost morale. Behind them Vira moved like a lethal shadow. She exploited every gap Zela and Zyra created. As they absorbed the blows, her own knife plunged with precision into one goblin throat after another, her fluid and merciless movements wreaking havoc on the goblin formation.
Suddenly a rain of poisoned darts whistled from the side huts. Goblins with blowguns were attempting an ambush.
"Archers to the flanks! Cover the healers and mages!" I yelled, shifting the flow of battle.