Chapter Ninety-Eight - I'll Avenge You, Mama, Papa. I swear with your Graves

Ella's POV

Chaos engulfed the valley as our allied forces collided with the dark mass of River's new army in a deafening clash of fangs and steel.

Screams and howls split the smoky air as blood began soaking the muddy ground beneath stamping feet. War's demon was unleashed and would not be sated until one side lay broken.

I lost track of my brave mates in the churning press of bodies all around, able to focus only on keeping my own skin intact minute to brutal minute. Duck, pivot, slash - no time to assess the overall tide or strategies. Survival depended on lightning reflexes and willingness to spill blood before having mine spilled in turn.

A burly brute came at me swinging a spiked mace, murder blazing in his tiny eyes. I dove and rolled just as the weapon whistled past my ear, coming up to hamstring the fool before he could finish his follow-through. He toppled howling, my blade finding his thick neck next to end his miserable cries.

No time to dwell on remorse. Already the ne