"Terence West - Wraiths 1 - Darkness" - читать интересную книгу автора (West Terence)

тАЬTonight,тАЭ Cole paused, тАЬwe fight!тАЭ
Wild cheers erupted among the men as they clanged their weapons together and
stamped their feet. Turning back to the battlefield, Cole saw the first of the
golden-eyed demons break free of the trees. Taking a deep breath, he gripped his
horseтАЩs reins tightly in his armored hand. Pointing his sword forward, he dug his
spurred heels into the horse sending it surging ahead.
тАЬCharge!тАЭ
As ColeтАЩs army of Wraiths raced across the green field, they caught the first
glimpse of their enemy. Looking like nothing more than fragile, gray, reanimated
corpses, each creatureтАЩs eyes burned a shimmering gold that illuminated the night.
As the creatures spilled from the eternal darkness of the forest onto the battlefield,
the men quickly spotted a few who had previously been among their ranks. Several
of the creatures wore shattered bits of armor and shreds of white fabricтАФthe
traditional color of the Wraith. To ColeтАЩs horror, the demons began to change. Their
demonic forms melted away in favor of healthy pink flesh and clothes that were not
previously there. They quickly began to mimic the appearance of ColeтАЩs army.
Cursing under his breath, Cole locked his eyes onto one of the men he knew was an
enemy and pushed his horse faster toward the fray.
As the battle was joined, a fallen horseтАЩs scream shattered the cool evening air.
The creatures surged ahead into ColeтАЩs ranks, clawing and destroying as they went.
Moving almost too fast for the human eye, the first wave tore through the Wraiths
with pure, animal ferocity. Men were ripped from their mounts and flung across the
battlefield like childrenтАЩs toys, while others never had the chance to strike. It was as
if a dark tide washed into the army and sent them sprawling helplessly across the
ground.
Several of ColeтАЩs men fought ahead undaunted, their silver blades carving a
swath through the darkness. As a man was picked off from behind, Sir Gerard, one
of the few of ColeтАЩs fellow knights to join the Gwyliad Wriaeth, lifted a fallen banner
from the ground. Holding it high as he cut and slashed, he forged ahead, even
though his horse had been killed. Five men followed GerardтАЩs lead and fought
brilliantly through wave after wave of oncoming demons. However, luck was not on
their side this night. One by one, the creatures dismantled the unit.
Holding the banner in his left hand, Gerard struck ahead with his sword,
embedding the blade deep in the heart of a golden-eyed soldier, now more
determined than ever. Snapping his gaze to the right, he saw three pairs of gold eyes
materialize out of the darkness. Ripping his sword free of the demon, he spun on his
toes just in time to cut down the first and second attacker. The third leapt over the
bodies of the other two and came crashing down onto GerardтАЩs chest. The knight let
out a grunt of pain as the breastplate crumpled into his ribs under the force of the
blow. Focusing his eyes on the creature pinning him in place, he could see nothing
but the glistening, pearl-white fangs. Mustering every bit of saliva left in his mouth,
Gerard spit at the creatureтАЩs face. тАЬI die for the glory of Her Majesty.тАЭ
The creature sneered, тАЬYou think so?тАЭ
Snapping GerardтАЩs head to the side, the creature lunged for his throat. Gerard
gnashed his teeth together as the creatureтАЩs fangs broke through the flesh of his
neck.
Slashing down with his sword, Cole easily lopped the head from his first target.
Bright blue flame surged from the creatureтАЩs body as it writhed on the ground in
agony. Slowly, red embers began to flit into the air as its body was reduced to ash.
Snapping his head around, Cole struck again and again. As an unholy blue fire