'Evolution: The gradual development of something from a simple to a more complex form'

  Chu watched from the side as Bon hammered the small plate on the anvil. The beads of perspiration on the round blacksmith spread contagiously to the spectators from the visible heat of the forge. The clang and spark from the clashing metals ended with a final blow of the heavy hammer.

  "This is the eleventh one since last night. Does this meet your description?"

  "Hmm... It looks better than the rest. Lucy, hand me the iron slug so I can test it."

  Chu muttered while inspecting the rectangular plate. Avoiding the hot surface, he placed the round slug on it while flashing a grin as it remained stationary.

  "Finn, take it and this here drawing. I want you to etch the lines and symbols on the plate, but remember to mirror it as I showed you."

  "Yes Boss, I'll also handle the polishing."

  "Good, take a room in the barn and have it done. Old Hodge will help you. Miki, organize a guard shift for Finn. This work requires absolute secrecy."

  Chu chatted a little with Bon and Halter before leaving the blacksmith. Passing the bustling and occupied warehouse, a hooked-nosed, tall man exited the crowd gathered near the outside well.

  "Young Master Chu, how are you today? Do you need us to handle anything?"

  "Greetings, Chief Drey. Have the villagers settled in the warehouse? Send word to your appointed officials to always have a watch placed on the windmill and the surroundings. Unless you find some brave souls willing to ride to Karst, this is the best I can offer."

  "Thank you, Master Chu, this much is enough, the villagers send their gratitude."

  Chu nodded while the man bowed and retreated. Yesterday on learning about the powers behind the token, this man had literally kowtowed out of the tent in terror. The respect borne through fear offered him a glance at the true power which the Emperors of old convinced their population.

  Walking towards the guarded east gate on the trampled snow, Chu thought three hundred additional mouths would strain him dearly, but Clod came to the rescue. The farmer retained a few sacks of grains from the last goblin trade to begin stockpiling a granary.

  Clod reported Pug had sent word when the goblins arrived to trade for the winter. He credited the goods for the entire season while relaying a message. The tribes who settled in the northern lands reported by a crow that their scouts discovered the wind blowing over the human villages carried a stench of blood. The Shaman who remained in the ruins with three of the larger tribes said the bones foretold impending danger.

  This warning caused Clod to tighten the defenses and also lowered their casualties of being caught unaware on the outside. The large teen didn't consider that even the village would not be spared.

  In the evening Chu sat at his regular position in the workshop.

  "The entrails used in the multishot required changing, while we reinstalled the repeating crossbows on the towers."

  "I set the schedule for the guards on the towers from our own company. Captain Joss and Stykes are also handling the defense of the windmill and warehouse. I allowed the mercenary leader Sweeto to guard the eastern gate and use five horses from the barn to scout the surroundings."

  Chu integrated himself into his familiar position while nodded at the report from Halter and Miki. He patted the golden locks of the little girl swinging her feet by his side. Hope closed her blue eyes in return while seated on the chair.

  "I estimate the Military will require over a month to send reinforcements to Karst. Maybe in two months, we might have scouts roaming near the farm. By then we can send off the villagers."

  Chu said.

  "I don't think we have that much time."

  Ming interrupted him while walking into the workshop with Sweeto in tow. A face of worry rested on the burly mercenary leader.

  "The scouts found fresh tracks on the road near the Brown farm. They didn't wait to investigate further but swear the claw marks match those left by the demon beasts in the village."

  Chu jolted from his chair.

  "It's similar to how we found the scout near the villa. For aggressive beasts, however, they seem mighty cautious. But why bypass the villages and Karst for an isolated place like ours?"

  He frowned while reasoning out a cause. Since he possessed adequate manpower, Dyna and her wolves enjoyed a rest. The redhead occupied a room in the barn under house arrest while concocting potions. The human-hungry Bitzers had no reason to track him personally.

  So was this an isolated hunting pack like the one which raided the villa?

  "Notify Captain Joss and Stykes for a meeting. Captain Sweeto, recall your men from their scouting missions. Out in the open, they serve only as food for those vicious demons. Most likely they will raid us tonight according to our past experience."

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  Chu ordered.

  Overcoming a pack of Bitzers with this crowd should be a given, but most of these refugees arrived weaponless. The majority escaped the village with only the clothes on their backs. He never had the foresight to store weapons in bulk since the storeroom contained mostly ammunition for the crossbows.

  Chu never catered on arming a battalion.

  He did, however, have large stockpiles of wood...

  ***

  "The stables for the horses outside the fence are protected with thick, wooden posts like the ones on the wall. It would take the demon beasts some time to break through."

  "Our large stable is built with defense in mind. The large doors, however, serve as the weak point. There is a large loft above the enclosed stables used to store hay. Move a few of the villagers in there for the night. Captain Joss, you and your men will climb the roof and defend the building with crossbows. Place four guards inside with spears to lead a defense from within."

  "Stykes, you and your six companions will standby the east gate with swords and wooden spears. You will follow the instructions relayed from the command platform."

  "Sweeto, split your party into four divisions. They will cover the defense under our towers. Drey, round up the villagers and return them to inside the walls or in the stables, otherwise, our defense will be stretched. Have the able-bodied men carve out wooden spears and organize bonfires. You should know firsthand what a dozen Bitzers are capable of. I also have a project for you to handle."

  Chu rattled out information and different instructions to the leaders while bending over a map of the farm. Behind the wooden walls, he found a sense of security.

  ***

  A large, round, moon floated in the sky, casting a reflective light onto the surrounding snow. The stillness of the night broke with a faint cough or the crackle from the blazing bonfires. Chu entrusted Miki with the command platform and walked to the east gate.

  Most of the men huddled around the bonfires like packed sardines. Some used the opportunity to rest. Chu chatted briefly with Toll who controlled a multishot deck and Rugol who led one of the dozen-strong spearmen groups. Unlike the excited anticipation on their faces, most of the men wore somber and fearful expressions.

  He clambered up the rampart at the east gate to meet Sweeto and Sykes wrapped in thick cloaks while warming themselves near an iron brazier. About fifty feet away, the shadowy figure of Captain Joss did the same on the stable roof. Most of the guards on the stable clumped around the row of six chimneys for warmth. Farmer Clod never skimped on providing his farm animals with the very best of care.

  "It's past midnight from the looks of the moon. Do you really think they will attack? Maybe Hans made a mistake. Since the village and farms are deserted, the wild beasts from the forest might forage for food."

  "No, your scout Hans spoke the truth."

  Chu replied. Dyna departed and returned earlier with a confirmation. He had warned her not to track the beasts since he feared the outcome.

  His relation with these men improved vastly after displaying the token. Serving under the Tower Mage enhanced an adventurer's portfolio, especially when the person exhibited a firm and dominating aura. No sane adventurer would refuse.

  "Over there! I see something over there!"

  A shout turned their attention to the source. A villager pointed with a look of dread out over the fields. Chu followed the finger past the submerged fields while squinting his eyes. At the edge of his periphery, the shadows flickered over the snow. Like a creeping mist, darkness engulfed the silvery white surface.

  Chu blinked a couple of times to confirm his eyes. Only when the darkness separated on the outskirts of the fields did he comprehend the true strength and number of his adversary. Turning to the horrified faces beside him, he barked his orders.

  "Sound the alarm and then have the men ready on the walls."

  "Prepare for battle!"

  ***

  A terrible howl swept across the grasslands.

  The dreadful signal launched the Bitzers into an organized frenzy. Experience over the past few months in attacking villages scattered the horde into smaller packs. Using their superior speed and uncanny abilities to dodge arrows, the demon beast would first prod and test the defenses. While searching and finding a weakness in the fences, they would then concentrate on ripping it to shreds.

  By attacking multiple points they reduced the number of fatalities before breaching the walls.

  The Bitzers soon realized the flaws in their plan on attacking this isolated farm.

  Firstly, the farm differed from the lengthy village palisade which lacked adequate defensive manpower. Secondly, this small farm allowed the defenders to cover every sector with ranged attacks. And lastly, they faced a Commander who played chess seriously.

  The narrow ramparts circled around the fence, allowing movements until the exits. Chu shuffled around, following the orders from the central command.

  The voice of a girl sent messengers scrambling to all corners while relaying the command.

  "Launch the multishots. Let Bon at the east end cover the stables, everyone can assist the others."

  "Multishots use the markers and attack!"

  The Bitzers dashed towards the farm, impeded by the high snow. Far from the attacks of the human archers and crossbows, the packs circled around the palisade. The ravenous ones, enticed by the unexpected thick presence of humans, received a boost from the wafting fear behind the walls. A warning tingle, however, soon screamed from their innate senses.

  Bounding towards the farm in their typical weaving run, the sky became enveloped by whooshing sounds which followed a series of twangs. The Bitzers churned the snow while avoiding the danger from above, but how could they hide from the barrage of simultaneously launched arrows?

  Howls of a different tone echoed around the farm as arrows nailed into the unfortunate victims. The Bitzers at the rear of the horde never expected the humans to assail them at this distance. The packs spearheading the probes escaped the deadly shower but slowed on encountering a solid pasture fence ringing the farm. The four-foot high fence never deterred the agile demon beast as they either leaped or scrambled across.

  Their actions induced another series of mournful wails causing shivering hearts to tremble. No matter how nimble nor how keen their sensing ability, the Bitzers could not navigate the rows of wooden stakes hidden under the snow. The injured numbers increased between the wall and the fence as Bitzers stumbled about howling while leaving dark footprints of blood on the snow.

  "Attack, aim at the injured ones. Don't let them escape!"

  "Commander, the Bitzers are focusing on the small north gate!"

  "Sweeto, send a party to the gate. Use swords or spears to keep them away. Let an archer ward them off from above."

  "Relay an order to the mutishot platforms north and west to hold fire after the second volley. A large group of Bitzers seems to be gathering a the edge of the fields."

  While Miki received and transmitted her orders from the central platform, Chu climbed the rampart near the north gate. Peering into the darkness under the guidance of Lucy's finger, his eyes opened wide. Out in the open, four large Bitzers, double the size of the surrounding pack, raised their heads and howled. The subordinates behind them parted in silent reverence while allowing a larger creature to emerge.

  The size of the hulking, lion-sized creature did not scare him.

  What did dip Chu into a pool of terror was when the beast raised itself onto its hind legs and pointed a claw as if towards him. His legs buckled under the spouting droplets of induced perspiration.

  "Is that? It can't be!"