The sun flared over the horizon, blinding him for a moment. Erik Eriksson shifted his stance, taking the measure of the warriors on either side. They seemed like a seasoned lot, their armor well-crafted and their weapons honed sharp. He gripped his bow and notched an arrow. The battle was coming. He could feel the anticipation among the ranks swelling their number into a throng, warriors jostling in position, checking their weapons, watching the horizon.
A horn sounded and they surged toward the enemy, some riding, others, like Erik, running ahead, weapons at the ready. Their enemy poured over a hill, a seething mass of murderous intent. Erik cheered, bolstering the warriors at his side. He raised his yew bow and sent an arrow whistling toward the onslaught. “For Odin!”
“I thought that was supposed to be a spear?” Jason, running next to him, sword drawn, flashed him a feral grin.
“Too far away for spears, yet, boy.” Erik fired as he ran, closing the distance. He spotted two of the enemy veer off from the others and pointed. “To the east!”
“I see them. Let’s fall back and defend our rear. Keep them from splitting us in two.”
Erik shouldered his bow and unsheathed his sword, settling a round shield on his left arm as they ran. The enemies ahead were preoccupied with plundering a cache of supplies and didn’t see death coming for them. Erik cleaved one with a mighty blow while Jason made quick work of his own opponent with a lightning fast whirling dance of his blade.
“They’re down. We should rejoin the main group. We’re a little exposed out here, alone.”
Erik laughed. “Scared, boy? You’ve been to battle with me before. No one with any sense about them would dare cross swords one-on-one with me.”
Jason sighed. “It’s not one-on-one I’m worried about, my lord. Besides, all the best plunder is in the village to the north. That’s where we should head.”
“Plunder, eh? Why didn’t you say so? Lead the way.”
Jason led them back the way they had come and swore soundly.
“What?”
“We’re too late. They’ve broken through and we’re cut off from our force. We need to fall back and find a way around.”
Erik puffed up his chest and scoffed. “No falling back. You and I will fight them all.”
“Erik, that’s not a very good—”
“To me, boy!” Erik raised his sword high and said something anatomically improbable about the nearest enemy’s mother. The approaching warriors turned as one and converged on them where they stood back to back.
“This is gonna hurt.”
Erik let out a hearty laugh and swung his…
He swung his…
He swung…
“What the hell is wrong with this thing. I can’t move!”
Jason sighed with a hint of a smile at the desk next to him. “You have lag, my lord.”
“What the hell is lag? Why can’t I do anything?”
“Your computer is running behind the game server for a minute. It’ll clear up in a second.”
“Running behind, here, give me yours.” Erik reached his large hand across the space between the desks and grabbed Jason’s mouse, slamming it down on his desk and clicking furiously.
“That’s not how that… oh whatever.” Jason slouched in his chair and glowered at his master.
Erik cursed and threw the mouse. “Yours is broken, too.”
“Well, it is now.”
“Oh, wait. I can see again. Hang on! Why are we dead? We didn’t even fight! This game of yours is ridiculous. You actually enjoy this mess?”
“Not as much today as most, my lord.”
Erik glared at the boy. “Make it work again. Put us back into queue and get us back in another battle. I do not die to, what did you call it?”
“Lag, my lord.”
“That. I don’t die to that.”
Jason sighed. “This is gonna be a long day.”