It was almost sunrise and night was only beginning to fade away when the creatures came. This was always the way it happened. The creatures always arrived with a disgusting urgency. They looked vaguely humanoid, but without faces, and with an extra hand protruding from their chest area, and razor sharp claws on all three hands. The only thing that always announced their arrival was usually the black swirling hole in the sky as if they had been waiting all night to show themselves. Luckily, the capital had devices that could be used to predict the general area of the next attack, so the army would be ready when it happened.
Immediately the portal opened, the camp around him snapped to life. Some men drew their swords, while others took positions. Someone even threw up behind the mess tent. Well, there was always that type of soldier, usually the new ones, who were yet to experience a real battle. Alrik didn't blame them. The creatures were hideous and hungry. Battling them was no joke. Some people called them demons, but they were just blood thirsty beings from another dimension.
"Heads up," Alrik commanded as he grabbed his gauntlets.
He knew they had less than five minutes before the first wave would hit their front lines.
By the time the creatures reached the outer field, the soldiers were already in formation and holding a line. Alrik took his usual place near the front, where the chaos would be more.
He was usually the one always at the front. The other soldiers that were part of his inner circle, used to argue about it before, but now they just didn't bother. When Alrik moved, the others just followed. He had that kind of pull.
Alrik charged towards them and his group followed. It was such a smooth fight that they moved through them like water. It seemed like the best fight they had yet, because of how many of the creatures they had fallen to the ground. As they were fighting, one of the newer boys paused to stare at one creature. He looked as if he was either surprised or in awe. Alrik caught the boy looking, from the corner of his eye.
"Keep your eyes forward, and your sword up." he said simply. The boy nodded and resumed fighting.
After three hours, the field was finally quiet again. They had lost fifteen men, but it could have been worse.
Alrik was sure he could hear something funny. He tried to shake it off and stay in his victory. He wiped his blade on a corpse's cloak and turned his eyes to the west ridge, and that was exactly when the arrows came.
He dodged on instinct as one of the arrows flew past his ear. The scout who was behind him was the unlucky one who got hit by the arrow that Alrik dodged. He dropped to the ground without a sound, with a black arrow buried deep in his throat. The arrow had an insignia he immediately recognised.
"Valdera," Alrik muttered with a malicious frown. Of course it was Valdera.
The nation of Valdera had been their bitter rival for years now, and they never missed even the smallest chance to try and claim power, especially after portal battles. Every time a portal closed, the land it left behind sometimes became rich with minerals and rare elements, which was very valuable. And every time, after the battle, Valdera found some excuse to start a war over it. Other countries also tried to fight once in a while, but the kingdom of Valderra were the worst aggressors. But this time, it was too early. This had to be the doing of an insider.
Alrik went back to the main camp where other soldiers had gone to stay. Immediately he got in, he saw that the atmosphere was tense, as if there had been some kind of argument going on. As soon as he stepped close to the others, he was immediately put in chains.
"What's going on here? What is the meaning of this? Get these chains off me immediately." He commanded, but no one complied.
"Alrik Zerdon, you are being accused of theft, and treachery to the nation of Velmora. We have reason to believe that you sold sensitive military secrets to Valderran soldiers to aid their latest ambush. And because of this, we not only lost lives, but a valuable national war treasure."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I never had contact with the enemy. And it was my battalion that was attacked. I almost died trying to protect this country. I am no traitor! I don't even know what was stolen." Alrik tried to plead his case.
"Silence, traitor. All the evidence has already been submitted. You are responsible for the theft of the Zerdon heirloom sword."
"Why would I want my family's heirloom sword stolen? It belonged to my ancestor who fought and slayed the first portal beast."
"There is no need to deny it. You are the only one of Zerdon blood here, who knows the code to the sword safe. If you don't tell us the truth right now, and lead us to your accomplices, you alone will take the fall for it."
He was warned, but all he could do was stare incredulously. "I am not a traitor. I am not a thief."
"Very well. For the sake of your valour in battle, you will not receive the death sentence. But as of this moment, you are dismissed with dishonour, and will forever bear the brand of a traitor. Get him out of this camp."
Alrik was dumped in the dirt with his belongings.