Free The Zulani Empire: The New Chronicles of Elemental Magic by Andrew Wood

Zulani soldiers were now preparing themselves. On noticing them form ranks, the order went around the wall to prepare for the attack.
    The robe figure stood staring at the city for a few minutes, and when no reply had come forth, he turned about and walked away. The Zulani infantry moved forward, and the Murati longbow men readied themselves on the wall. As they drew back their massive bows, they prepared to fire. They held, delaying so their targets would move a little closer, but were left waiting as the Zulani infantry halted. Eventually those atop the wall were ordered to relax their bowstrings. No sooner had they done this, than a mass of dark haired beasts ran out from behind the cover of the enemy shield wall.
    The size of a large ape, but the teeth and claws of a far more viscous creature, they bounded toward the wall. The order was quickly given to fire, but with many of the archers holding longbows it was several seconds before the first wave of arrows was airborne. The creatures moved quickly, and as a result, those defending missed their targets. Those archers with standard bows did have some success in hitting a handful of the beasts. The creatures spread out as they neared the wall, making it more difficult for the archers to hit them.
    As they finally reached the wall, the beasts leapt up, and using their strong claws climbed the stone. The beasts appeared to climb, nearly as quickly as they could run, and within a few seconds, dozens of them were running amok across the top. The archers wielding the clumsy longbows had to quickly drop them and rely on the infantry on the wall to defend them from the attacking creatures. All around the perimeter skirmishes broke out, as the Zulani pushed again. This time hundreds of riders thundered past the still stationary Zulani infantry.
    As the riders approached the wall, they slowed just a little, to release hundreds of arrows up to the top, where the creatures were still making a nuisance. One thing was certain from these early exchanges, and that was how quickly the attackers had learned from their previous engagement with the Murati. Just as it appeared the defenders were getting the upper hand in their fight, a second wave of the ape like creatures was sent forth.
    Once more, they moved quickly across the ground and scampered up the city walls with ease. The second wave however, did not aide those already on top, but merely dropped down the other side into the city streets. As they landed, they quickly dispersed into varying directions, making it difficult for the defenders to track them down.
    Panic immediately struck those non-combatants in the streets of Onay. Screams filled the air as the beasts quickly pounced on unarmed women and children, using their powerful claws and jaws to lethal effect. This time they were not used to merely pin down their prey, but to kill it. Extra soldiers were quickly ushered from the garrison out into the wide city streets to track them down. The beasts moved to quickly for the foot soldiers to keep pace, as those creatures within the walls all headed for the centre.
    The palace gates were still open when the first of the strange beasts came into view. It jumped high into the air before slamming into one of the guards on duty. The man thumped to floor and cried out as a vice like jaw ripped out his throat. The others on duty had barely time to draw their swords before another came. The first beast was taken down by two critical strikes, but the guard's victory was short lived, as the others quickly joined the fight. In a matter of moments, several of the creatures were already inside the palace walls and heading inside the building.
    Back on the outer wall, the first wave of beasts that still survived, jumped back off the top and retreated in the direction they had came. Swarms of mounted archers still swung in and out of range, firing their arrows at the defenders in the mayhem. The Zulani infantry moved forward heading toward the