Chapter 23: Battle of Hesn-Bauerdorf part 2

POV Smith

I stayed quiet as I crept through the deserted side streets of Bauerdorf. With the 5th, and 6th companies preparing traps ahead of the main line it hadn't been too difficult to slip away. I let my hand rest on the hilt of my sword as a pair of u dead limped past the entrance to the alley.

I'd muffled my armor as best I could before I'd entered town, I'd probably have removed it if I was being completely honest. But that might have aroused a bit of suspicion from the troops.

I crept to the end of the alley and used a shard of a mirror to peek around the corner. A few dozen undead shuffled about with little regard for order but I found what I'd come here for. In the middle of the street caressing a fallen corpse was a figure in a dark robe, they held a gnarled staff and muttered softly to themselves.

The corpse jerked and twisted suddenly as it was infused with new life. As it rose to its feet I heard an unpleasant cackling come from the Necromancer.

There. Killing that fucker would turn these undead into a mindless horde. I tightened my grip on my sword for a moment before letting it go as the Necromancer turned and started walking away. My hand drifted to the flintlock pistol, but the Necromancer disappeared around a corner.

I muttered a curse and started moving through the side streets yet again. I'd missed my chance and I didn't have the time for another. This bullshit with the undead could have been over, or at least seriously mitigated. Alas it was not to be.

I crept in the shadows, flitting behind fences and crawling through ditches to avoid the undead. Getting caught here would be terrible. If I'd gotten that Necromancer I'd have been forced to make a run for it. But at that point the risk would have been worth it. But with the Necromancer still alive, attempting to fight a whole army by myself sounded like suicide.

I neared the edge of town when I heard a shrill scream from the house I was walking past. I froze and looked for the undead but saw none. I listened, staying quiet trying to identify who'd screamed. There was a fearful whimpering coming from the house, the moans of the undead and what sounded like boards being pried loose. After a moment or two more I heard more undead approaching and I sighed softly.

"Sorry kid…" I muttered under my breath as I moved further from the house. With every window boarded, I had little hope of saving the poor sod. They'd have to figure it out themselves. I was almost out of sight when I saw the Necromancer walking towards the home. I paused, briefly before ducking into a nearby shed.

"Lucky Child of Bauerdorf, tell the people of Hesn they are next." They used some magic to demolish the door and undead pried a little boy from the house crying and screaming.

"No!" The kid screamed as he kicked and punched. He reached for the house, trying to return to its safety. I had a clear shot at the Necromancer, I grabbed the hatchet by the door and crept outside. I'm sorry little one…

The hatchet flew true, burying itself in the upper shoulder of the Necromancer. He and the undead whirled to face me. I drew and leveled my pistol. Crack… the head snapped back, an arch of crimson ichor spraying from the side of the Necromancer's hooded head.

With the Necromancer's death the undead went ballistic. They howled and raced towards me, but even more turned on the boy in their midst. He was torn apart. I drew my blade and dispatched the undead as they came at me, moving so I only ever faced two at a time. With this group dispatched I raced over the the Necromancer. I knelt by them and plunged my sword into their chest. With the kill confirmed I gave myself a few seconds to take what items seemed magically, the staff, mask, and two rings.

I looked down at the bloody corpse of the Necromancer, she looked young. Maybe fifteen or sixteen. I forced down my surprise and grabbed a small bound book from her satchel and left as the undead began to converge on my location.

"Sorry kid…" I glanced at the mutilated corpse of the little boy as I got the hell out of there.

I returned to the scouting companies without much difficulty. I grumbled to myself as I lay in a narrow ditch that these troops couldn't find an enemy if they stood in front of them. I watched as a whole platoon walked right over my position and grumbled to myself.

It wasn't like I'd gone out of my way to make the perfect camouflaged position. I'd smeared some mud on my exposed limbs and dove into a ditch, then threw some branches over my back. I'll fix this disgraceful failure later. But first some revised planning was in order when I got back to camp…