Blom kept his promise. With three hundred soldiers, he held back the pursuing Rat Swarm for a long time.
The cost was that none of them would ever return.
Even with the pressure eased, the Ratfolk covering the hills kept whittling down the force trying to break through. Every mage carried a Magic Musket, firing into the endless Rat Swarm.
That was a Rat Tide. Killing a hundred Ratfolk made no difference to it, but losing one person meant your numbers truly had fallen.
As night descended, the mages, whose stamina was even worse than an ordinary person's, became a burden after a full day of flight. They slowed the entire force.
Georgina said to Nina, who had come back to guide her, "Go on. Don't worry about us."
"Don't say something so stupid."
The mages could run no farther and volunteered to hold off the Rat Swarm.
"No!"
Femi's answer was the same as Nina's. "Unless we're dead, nothing will happen to you."
Mages were precious assets. Whether they remained with the Auxiliary Legion in the future or not, at least for now they were exhausted comrades, and Femi had to protect them.
The warriors could barely lift their blunted longswords, and the front line was about to collapse. This time, there was no basement for them to hide in. Then Illymoyas descended from the sky.
She brought word that Annan was coming to rescue them. Even knowing help was at least several days away, they were heartened.
"Hold on! Lord Annan will be here to help us soon!"
The Blue Dragon's return eased the pressure somewhat. Many Slave Rats faltered before her Dragon Might.
Illymoyas swooped low, sweeping her Lightning Dragon Breath again and again through the densest parts of the Rat Swarm. Then a streak of Fel