Free Reborn: Demon's Heritage by D. W. Jackson

number of knights who heard the commotion started to gather.
    “What is going on?” Matt asked as he came up the stairs to find Ash holding Marilyn against the ground.
    “She tried to kill me,” Ash said as he let the knight go and quickly took a step back.
    When Matt looked at Marilyn, she just sneered at him. “He is a demon and the enemy of all humankind, why shouldn’t I kill him?”
    Matt let out a heavy sigh as he pulled his sword free from its scabbard. Without a word his sword flashed and Marilyn’s head flew up and over the edge of the battlements to fall on the ground below. After cleaning his sword, Matt turned and bowed down before Ash. “Lord Hawkwing, I ask your forgiveness. For one under my command to draw their blade against you, I have no excuse.”
    Ash was still shocked but he had a clear enough mind to know that it wasn’t the man in front of him that had meant him harm. “Matt, no need for this,” Ash said shaking his head. “Get off your feet and get some rest. We have enough worries without the added weight of guilt holding us down.”
    Matt stood and gave Ash a warm smile though it was obvious what had transpired still weighed heavily on his mind.
    Not knowing what to say, Ash started back down the stairs to return to his tent and if possible to get some sleep, though he didn’t think it likely. There was just too much going on in his mind.
    Ash found Allice still sleeping soundly when he entered the tent and with a shake of his head, he took his place next to her taking some small comfort in the warmth from her body.
    That night as Ash slept, a warm sensation covered his body and a pain shot through his heart. His dreams were disturbed and he felt a sense of loss.

8-8
    The next morning Ash was woken well before the sun rose by the sounds of shouting. He didn’t know why, but Ash still felt a pain in his chest when he woke. It was as if the whole world had darkened slightly. At the same time, there was a slight ray of hope building. It was a confusing feeling and one that Ash didn’t understand. Shaking his head, Ash shook Allice slightly until she opened her eyes.
    Ash couldn’t help but smile as he watched Allice wipe the sleep from her eyes. “Morning Ash,” Allice said as she laid her head against his shoulder.
    “Allice, today I want you to stay in the tent,” Ash said as he stood from the bed.
    “Yes master,” Allice said quickly but Ash could tell that she wasn’t happy with his order.
    After getting dressed, Ash quickly left the tent and joined the large group of knights that had gathered on top of the walls. It didn’t take him long to find Matt among the others. “Are they going to attack?” Ash asked as he moved to stand beside the knight captain.
    “They are starting to form up ranks,” Matt said, his eyes never leaving the field. “I am guessing that we have less than an hour before we are under siege.”
    “What is the plan?” Ash asked, trying to keep himself calm while his heart was pounding wildly. He had been in a number of fights, but never had he felt that death was nearer than it was at this moment. They were easily outnumbered forty to one and with little hope of reinforcements. Their death was almost assured, the only question was how long could they hold out. Every day they could keep the enemy at bay was one more day the capital had to reinforce their defenses. The main question in Ash’s mind was not how he could survive, but how to keep Allice from perishing along with the rest of them. She was not the only non-combatant in the fort, but they made up less than twenty people within the compound. As long as the enemies adhered to the rules of war, the civilians would not be touched, but nothing would stop a stray arrow from taking a life.
    “Right now we have all the soldiers lining up with bows. When the enemy charges, they will try and reduce their numbers. If the enemy is smart, they will send the fodder first to test us. They will most