The Kingdom - Page 187/201

Dodging forward, I picked the head up by the hair and then, spinning in a half circle, I heaved the head, that had the weight of a boulder, out into the stunned crowd of onlookers.

That done, I wiped my blade off on the back of the giant's body that had meanwhile fallen forward. Then I stepped backward with an overly dramatic bow as if receiving praise for a well done performance.

An insane howl erupted from a nearby creature of darkness and as one the enemy line heaved forward toward me. I grabbed hold of the rope still attached to the javelin and with one short swipe of my sword I severed the rope from the javelin. In the next moment I re-sheathed my sword.

I heard Thanuel's booming voice call out to Sar'ran to ride hard and the rope in my hands jerked me forward toward the wall so abruptly that I almost lost my grip on it. I held on with a death grip though, because that would be what I was if I let go. As it was I could barely keep my feet under me as I was pulled along at high speed.

The wall was very close now. Very close!

I couldn't help but think this had been a bad idea. As if from a long way off I heard Thanuel's voice ring out, yelling at Mayrin.

All of a sudden I was jerked off my feet and into the air towards my left. With gritted teeth I prepared to push off from the wall before I smacked into it. If I didn't keep my feet under me I'd be dragged up the rough side of the stone wall and be nothing more than bloody pulp by the time I reached topside.

My legs connected with enough force that it felt like my knees were blown apart, but the image of my bloody misshapen form reaching the wall top was strong motivation to keep my legs going. On and on I ran sideways up the wall getting closer and closer to the top of the wall as Mayrin's horse pulled the rope upward.

Suddenly the wall top was there and all I had time to see was the wide-eyed stares of the warriors gathered there. Perhaps this had been poorly thought out after all.

If I overshot the wall top I'd plummet to my death on the Valley side of the wall. That thought had me letting go of the rope. There was a quiet moment then, when blessedly no further exertion was required of me.

I landed on the outstretched hands of the warriors on this part of the wall, who narrowly saved me from going over the other side. I was out of air and energy and ill-prepared for the jubilant shouting tumult that had erupted on the wall all around me.