,,¡ƃɹǝqɯɐlℲ,,

Prince Wilhelm's burning sword roared as he cut the area between the two meeting factions. Under normal circumstances, he would burn a man to a cinder and slice metal like butter.

The shield-bearing elite moved forward, and, with the shield glowing, deflected the fire. Upon contact, the prince's spell dissipated like flickering smoke. No one burned. However, the horses still spooked, and this bought enough time for Elin to spin her horse and gallop to safety with Walter.

"Shit," Walter said. He held his breath in between words, clamping down his pain.

"I'll get you to a healer immediately, hold on!" Elin said, spurring the horse.

"Wait, turn around."

"What? No! We're leaving--"

"I'm going to counter-attack! Turn around, Elin!"

She hissed under her breath and yanked the reigns. The horse stopped and spun.

,,¡ǝlᴉssᴉW ɔᴉƃɐW,,

Elin watched the blue orb streak to the archer. Again, the shielder moved to intercept, and the magic missile shattered against the flat metal.

"Anti-magic enchantment, huh?" Walter muttered, and pulled his arm against his chest.

"We should leave!"

"Not yet," Walter said, "They're not approaching. Now that I have some distance, they can't move forward safely."

Prince Wilhelm turned as well, and his horse sprinted away. General Tybalt's archer notched an arrow, aimed at the fleeing prince, and loosed.

,,˙ǝlᴉssᴉW ɔᴉƃɐW,,

Arrow and orb smashed together. The arrow shaft splintered into fine slivers under the magic missile's small explosion. With the prince's escape covered, he sped away without being harmed.

"Did you see that?" Walter asked.

"No? What?"

"The pieces of the arrow continued forward on their path and didn't change direction when my magic missile struck it. More than likely, it's like my magic and doesn't miss."

Elin nodded and turned the horse.

Even with his injury, Walter decided to cover for the prince's retreat. She cursed herself for the oversight, but she couldn't raise any feeling of guilt. Anger flooded her mind. The prince's stupidity resulted in Walter's wound.

They rode by the front line and to the trailing medical wagon. Priestess Evelyn waited for them and helped Walter dismount. Lower ranked nuns scurried about by her command, fetching and assisting, while Priestess Evelyn focused on healing.

"Lady Elin? Sir Walter?" Prince Wilhelm approached the two, "General Tybalt is making his move. It's time. The main army marches forward, and he's sending cavalry to flank. We need the two of you to deal with it."

"Walter's not healed yet!" Elin said.

Walter pushed off Priestess Evelyn, and said, "Make sure it won't bleed and tie it off with a sling."

Elin shoved him back down, and yanked on Priestess Evelyn's hands to make her continue her magic, "Walter!"

"Remember when you said, 'Wouldn't you fight for your home?'" Walter said.

"I'll do that for you," Elin grit her teeth, "Please don't play the warrior."

"You can't convince me, then stand in my way."

Elin's fist tightened, "Fine."

General Tybalt breathed easy after he withdrew to his army.

Thousands of men on both sides held back by the merest of restraints. War demanded competent leadership, but fighting inherently contained momentum. Once unleashed, the mass of soldiers on both sides would engage and fight until one side's morale faltered, and ordering them to stop would be futile.

His side demonstrated their professionalism. Rangville's soldiers maintained their ranks. Wilmand's warriors, on the other hand, nearly rushed forward despite the orders and threats of the noblemen in charge.

The cheap shot at the wizard would hurt his honor, but, after General Tybalt, the grim expressions of his men proved to him they agreed, and dismayed at the lost opportunity to kill him. They were willing to kill and die; they were not enthusiastic about wasting lives.

Still, the exchange didn't lack results. The wizard was injured, and the prince used his magic. More importantly, he witnessed the wizard's ability, so he could confidently counter it.

"Ian, take your bow and join the cavalry. The wizard will attempt to stop their charge. Rex and Doge, your jobs are to contain the paladin until we crush Camp Wolf."