BlackThorn's Doom Read Online Free

lasted several hours longer speaking softly about the road ahead.
    Suni watched them long into the night until they too lay down to rest. He remained awake, his task now doubled with two charges to watch over. He sat near the door his back pressed against the stone. He spent the night pondering what Marcos had said. No matter what choices he would make from this moment onward, his vow had been forever changed.

Chapter Two
    On the fifth day of the siege the Morne attacked once more. Charging forward in the predawn hours beneath a lethal cloud of arrows, they gained the walls foundations with horrendous losses.
    The men atop the fortification concentrated their arrows on those Morne who bore grapples and ladders. The Morne died by the thousands but they pressed on. When it appeared that their advance had slowed, the ranks parted and hundreds of Rock Trolls lumbered forward.
    The giant brutes slammed the crude ladders against the wall and held them in place with their immense strength. Arrows bit deep into their flesh but they ignored the wounds and prevented the ladders from being toppled.
    Morne rushed upward and were cut down by the swordsmen on the rampart. A distant horn sounded and the giants clambered up to the rampart.
    The men fought valiantly but the trolls swung huge cudgels that swept them from the walls. The great eyes of the Trolls burned with hatred and joy as they killed any man foolhardy enough to stand before them.
    The knights of Ril’Gambor charged forward under Prince Jerudan’s direction. They slammed into the giants and with hammers and maces they held the line, slowing the troll advance.
    “We have to drive them back!” Prince Gaelan shouted to his men. “To the ladders!” He cried leading them in a charge to aid the knights.
    Where the giants had gained the walls the Morne followed. The fighting was furious. The enemy had captured the southern half of the wall, pressing towards the tower at its center.
    Men died by the hundreds, brave warriors crushed by the devastating blows of the giants.
    The armor worn by the knights was affording them some protection from the cudgels, but only if it was a glancing blow. A direct hit crushed the steel and the fragile body within it.
    Gaelan watched in horror as Jerudan took a savage blow to the chest that lifted him from the rampart and sent him sprawling onto his back a dozen feet away. His breastplate was torn open revealing the quilted padding beneath.
    Men hurried to the Princes side and pulled him to safety. Stunned and badly bruised he slowly gained his feet.
    “Are you alright?” Gaelan asked rushing to his side.
    “I should be dead.” Jerudan gasped still catching his breath. “My father’s smiths forged this steel well.” He said fingering the ruined plate in amazement.
    Three giants burst through the line and charged directly for them.
    Gaelan and Jerudan fought side by side. Their weapons a silvery blur in the early morning gloom. Their blades struck often cutting deep bloody gashes in the Trolls’ thick hides. The Trolls grew enraged and despite their wounds they pressed forward.
    Gaelan was forced backwards; his feet became entangled in a discarded grapnel. Stumbling to keep his balance he fell onto his back his sword knocked from his grasp by the cudgel-wielding giant.
    The giant leapt forward its massive club raised for the killing strike.
    Gaelan raised his arm in a futile effort to ward off the blow.
    Lord Hurin slammed his shoulder into the Troll’s chest with such force that both he and the beast were carried over the parapet, plunging to their deaths amid the chaos at the walls base.
    Gaelan had no time to mourn the loss of a trusted ally. Snatching up his sword he gained his feet in time to meet the charge of another giant. His arms burned with exertion and sweat stung his eyes. He knew he was no match for the charging monster.
    The Troll closed the distance in three giant strides. He grinned wickedly exposing a mouth full of