For a second, the students stared. Then chaos erupted.
"Form up! Melee to the front!" Aethelstan's voice rang out, authoritative but edged with strain. He moved to the center, shield raised. "Bromm, left flank! Deron, right! Spellcasters behind!"
But the order was more aspiration than execution. Bromm, the dwarven Berserker, let out a booming laugh and charged ahead of the forming line, his greataxe held high. "I'll crack the first one for you!"
"Bromm, I said hold!" Aethelstan shouted, but it was too late.
Bromm reached the lead Construct and swung with all his might. It was a powerful, straightforward blow. The Construct raised a thick arm to block.
CLANG!
Stone chips flew. The Construct staggered but didn't fall. Its other arm swung around in a ponderous, heavy arc. Bromm, off-balance from his own reckless swing, took the brunt of it on his shoulder.
The impact was brutal, knocking the breath from him and sending him stumbling backward into the churned earth.
