Racing through forest, meadows, and hillsides, I finally reached the great plain. I looked down to the raging battle and was paralyzed by a dreadful sight. Our force could barely assemble. They were rounded from all sides. Slain to their feet were heaps of disintegrating demons, dead bodies of our soldiers, dead elephants, and horses and the ashes of burning chariots.
This was the horror of wars. Where should this madness end? Was this harvest of death and dying not enough?
I could feel it. The ground was trembling. New hordes were coming. Like a stampede of elephants, they came over the mountains, crossing the river—demons and giants and beasts. Both the big monsters and the small glorified in their master's game.
"Take arm!" Issarak's voice rang from somewhere I couldn't see. I knew h
