The old man hobbled down the road...

Polorium realised that this was a foe beyond him and the only way to win this battle was to take down this old man as soon as possible. He leapt forward and unsheathed his sword, and he swung the sword and cleaver in wide motions, sending enemies rolling down the plain, and ran toward Aurelius.

Head up, mane of white hair blowing in the wind, Aurelius stood his ground proudly, ignoring the pain caused by the wound on his shoulder, bleeding copiously and staining his cuirass.

The force of their blows, inflicted and taken, overrode the din of battle, the dull clang of Aurelius’ sword parrying frantically against the joint assault of Polorium’s cleaver and sword.

Polorium took a powerful swing towards Aurelius’ head, which he ducked, in turn thrusting forth his own sword at Polorium’s exposed flank…missed… it was knocked off course by his adversary’s cleaver as Polorium’s sword sought once again his neck. Blocking the blow with his shield, his shoulder giving him infinite agony, Aurelius managed to smash Polorium full in the face with the fist that held the sword, sending him reeling backwards. Polorium recovered quickly, nose streaming with blood, furious at being thwarted by an old man, he flew into another flurry of attacks. Aurelius evaded these, finally managing to knock Polorium’s cleaver out of his hand with a deft slice from his blue-bladed sword, now shining purple from the blood it had drawn in the assault. He spun around a full revolution and bestowing Polorium with a stinging kick to the jaw that knocked him off balance. Polorium fell backwards, but in contempt he threw a dagger at one of Aurelius’ troops, striking his collarbone and killing him instantly.

Aurelius’ dashed towards Polorium’s fallen form, kicking away the cleaver that lay nearby, and stooped quickly, sensing movement behind him. Polorium was enraged beyond