Death Relay, Wolf King in the Trap

Light hunched over his horse's back, gripping the Holy Silver-trimmed Signal Flag with both hands.

A Shadowgnaw Werewolf had torn two gashes in the horse's neck. Blood ran down its legs and dripped onto the dark purple frozen earth.

Its shoulder muscles twitched with every step. It had already lost thirty percent of its speed.

Light heard footsteps cracking the frozen ground behind him. He calculated the distance and time. Less than fifty paces. A little faster.

Please, old friend!

Once they crossed the line ahead, the first part of the mission would be done.

Ulgan pursued them from behind, while the Banner Guard Knights around Light began carrying out their contingency plan to intercept stragglers.

The first knight reined in his horse and turned back, holding an Ironbound Oak Shield across his body.

Ulgan swung a forelimb down onto the shield.

Bang!

The shield caved in first. Its ironbound rim curled back, and the whole thing exploded a moment later.

Knight and horse flew sideways into a ruined stone wall. The horse's neck snapped on impact. The knight slid down the wall and did not rise again.

The second knight fired a Flying Anchor Winch. Its Refined Steel barb struck Ulgan's bone armor, throwing off a shower of sparks.

Ulgan caught the cable and yanked it back.

The knight was dragged out of his saddle. His back hit a broken wall, his armor caved in, and a muffled crack came from his chest.

He was not dead yet. His hand found the Glare Illuminator at his waist and tore it open.

Boom!

Blinding white light burst through the Gray Fog. Ulgan faltered for half a second.

Light used that half second to gain a little ground. He raised the flag in both hands and swung it.

Two artillery positions