Hundreds of hobgoblins slammed into the outer stone while those behind them continued pushing forward. Bodies pressed together until the base of the wall became a churning mass of muscle, crude armor, and raised clubs. Several creatures broke away from the horde and struck the gate hard enough to make the reinforced structure shake, but it held beneath the assault.
Kael stepped closer to the battlement and looked down. His instincts reacted before he fully understood what he was seeing, and he tilted his head just as a fist-sized stone flew past the side of his helmet and struck the wooden housing of the ballista behind him.
The impact cracked the outer panel. Several more stones followed before the fortress officer shouted, "Shields!"
Soldiers carrying kite shields rushed forward, positioning themselves around the ballista crews before raising their shields. Another volley struck the wall, rocks hammering against wood, iron, and reinforced leather.
