Part 27 (2/2)

On all sides, the Tsurani were pressing in, save the middle, where Jeurin was withdrawing. This forced the Dasati to press forward in a large circle, with those Deathknights caught in the middle unable to reach the Tsurani. Suddenly the majority of the Dasati were forced to watch helplessly as the surrounding Tsurani cut and hacked down every Deathknight before them. Now, if they pushed forward, all they achieved was to shove their own men into the waiting Tsurani line.

The most senior Deathknight in the centre looked around, helpless, uncertain of his next move; an experience no Dasati had ever encountered before.

Alenburga watched all this in admiration. 'That young man is worthy of any honour the Emperor wants to give him,' he said to Kaspar and Erik.

'They all are,' said Erik.

The Dasati were now forced together in an even tighter cl.u.s.ter, and Alenburga waited to see a break between those now surrounded by the Tsurani and those still streaming down the trail from the Black Mount. When a break occurred, he said, 'Signal Miranda it is time!'

A Tsurani soldier standing nearby picked up a very tall post upon which a banner of bright green hung, and began waving it back and forth.

On a distant hill, Miranda saw the signal and shouted, 'Now!'

As coordinated as court dancers, a dozen Great Ones of the Empire of Tsuranuanni rose up as if being carried by a giant invisible hand. Reaching down with their magic, they raised two additional magicians each, so that thirty-six of the most powerful magicians on this world floated high in the sky, giving them an un.o.bstructed view of the gap between the river trail and the plains beyond the foothills. As she had expected, Miranda saw the lines of Dasati were broken, and those in the gap were slowing, waiting to see what was occurring in the battle less than half a mile ahead of them, while their commanders decided what to do next. She was no student of military tactics, but she had witnessed enough battles to realize that the Dasati were even worse than the Tsurani at coordinating large number of warriors. She was not certain exactly what Kaspar's plan was in every detail, but she understood enough of it to realize it was working.

'Forward!' she cried and signalled them to move on.

In formation, thirty-seven magic-users of enormous power swept down to a position high above the invading Dasati, and from there began to rain death on the invaders.

Jommy turned to Tad and Zane as Servan raced back from the battle to join them. 'Look at that!' he shouted. In the distance, above and behind the battle was a great display of lights and energies, towers of flame and pillars of smoke rising up, almost blinding the onlookers.

Tad grinned at his companions. 'Don't get Miranda mad.'

'Come on,' said Zane, pointing to the command position. 'We need to get back.' The four youngsters, together for the first time in months, were enjoying their new role as leaders of men while still testing their capabilities. Jommy was by far the most confident, being the eldest and most experienced, but right now they were inexperienced youngsters being given a huge amount of responsibility.

The Tsurani command structure was in tatters, as every ruling lord save a handful, had been obliterated by the Dasati raid on the High Council. Those left alive were in key positions around the Empire, but at this particular battle no seasoned veteran leader was present. Worse, most of the houses of the Empire had lost their First Advisors, Force Commanders, Force Leaders, and others in the dead lords' retinues who would have been valuable a.s.sets in this struggle.

Now tens of thousands of Tsurani soldiers awaited commands from foreigners, relayed by other foreigners, to inexperienced leaders, aided by soldiers roughly of the rank of corporal or minor sergeant in Midkemian terms. The few Strike Leaders and Force Leaders who were still alive had been placed in critical positions and were desperately trying to coordinate those soldiers under their command.

'So far it seems to be working,' said Zane, pointing to where the Dasati were being drawn into a tighter group.

The four rode back to the command position, in time to hear General Alenburga shout, 'Archers! Pick your targets!'

The word was relayed, and the Las.h.i.+ki archers the finest in the Empire shot high into the air so that the arrows fell straight down into the middle of the Dasatis' congested position. They were helpless to defend themselves against such an attack.

Jommy drew up his mount, jumped down and tossed the reins to a lackey. Rus.h.i.+ng to where the general staff was arrayed, he saluted the officers and said, 'Orders have been relayed, General. They wait your signal.'

'Not yet,' said the crafty old soldier from Novindus.

Kaspar looked from Erik to Alenburga and saw in their expressions the same murderous satisfaction he felt at trapping a large force of Dasati and destroying them, without incurring worse casualties.

More and more arrows rained down on the centre of the Dasati formation and Erik said, 'I find it impossible to believe they don't have s.h.i.+elds.'

'I don't begin to guess how these creatures think,' answered Alenburga. 'All their swords look like hand-and-a-half. Maybe they've become so tradition bound, variation isn't encouraged, or even allowed.'

Kaspar said, 'If the vision I had is real and so far nothing shows me it wasn't they are a strange and twisted people who gave up innovation centuries ago.'

'Or maybe they just think they're invincible?' suggested Erik.

In the distance they could see the flying magicians were continuously pounding away at the contained force of Dasati hemmed in along the river above the plain.

Kaspar laugh was a bitter sound. 'Another hour of magic raining down from above and they'll lose that vanity.'

'Perhaps,' said Alenburga, 'but what I want to know is where are their Deathpriests and why aren't they answering the magicians' attack?'

Miranda was tiring but she was still energized by her chance to lash out at the enemy. Not since the war against the Emerald Queen's army had she felt this outraged or so focused in her anger. Down there were those who had put her husband and her eldest son at risk, captured her and subjected her to insult and indignity; she was more than happy to be the architect of their chastis.e.m.e.nt.

But she found that focus was becoming increasingly difficult with each pa.s.sing moment, as fatigue began to rob her of much-needed energy. She took a moment to glance first to one side, then the other, and saw that some of her fellow magicians were also beginning to show signs of exhaustion.

Gathering as much energy as she could muster, Miranda cast down a huge ball of crimson energy. This served two purposes. Firstly, it was causing serious harm to a large number of Dasati now held up in the river pa.s.s, with their way downward stalled by the immobile forces in front of them, and their way back to the Black Mount jammed by those following behind. And secondly, it signalled to Alenburga that it was time to unleash the cavalry.

The ma.s.sive red flash was also seen by the Lord of the Tolkadeska, a sixteen-year-old lad who had never been in a serious fight in his life, let alone a battle. He tried to keep his voice from breaking as he raised his sword and shouted, 'Forward!'

A thousand hors.e.m.e.n hidden in an arroyo west of and just to the rear of where the Dasati line of march had been severed moved out in orderly fas.h.i.+on. The boy leading them might be without experience, but the riders of the four houses that followed him were not. They were veteran hors.e.m.e.n all. Horses had come to Kelewan during the Riftwar, Kingdom mounts taken as prizes. Kasumi of the s.h.i.+nzawai had been the first n.o.ble to understand the value of cavalry and House s.h.i.+nzawai had been the first to breed horses on Kelewan.

Like Kasumi, many Tsurani n.o.bles quickly became mad for horses across the Empire, and in the decades since then, more horses had come through the rift from Midkemia via trading. Now the Tsurani prided themselves on having light cavalry the equal of any on Midkemia, including the legendary Ashunta hors.e.m.e.n of the Empire of Great Kesh.

Every rider was as anxious to answer this insult to their nation's sovereignty as those on foot. They were eager to join the battle and drive out the invaders. As the first thousand moved out, two other companies took up position, ready to reinforce when ordered.

Young Lord Harumi of the Tolkadeska made a prayer to Chochocan, the Good G.o.d, asking not to shame his ancestors by failing in his mission. He raised his sword and shouted, 'Charge!' and none of those nearby noticed that his voice broke.

Hooves slammed the soil like thousands of hammers at a forge, and the ground shook. Dasati Deathknights on their right flank felt the vibration before they could hear the sound because of the havoc raining down from above as the magicians in the air kept throwing every evil spell of destruction they could conjure at them.

The Tsurani cavalry slammed into the left flank of the Dasati, turning a slow retreat into a roiling ma.s.s of confusion: On foot each Dasati was the match of dozens of Tsurani, but when they were confronted by cavalry, the odds of their attackers were significantly improved. Dasati Deathknights were bowled over and sent flying into the ma.s.s of their own forces retreating up the trail. The fury of the onslaught drove dozens of Deathknights off the trail and down the steep embankment, landing many in the river, where they were pulled under by the weight of their armour.

Lord Harumi of the Tolkadeska lashed out with his sword and was easily blocked by an experienced Deathknight, who then quickly reached up and grabbed his leg, pulling him from the saddle. Slammed hard to the ground, the young ruler of his house didn't have time to raise his sword in defence as the Deathknight drove the point of his sword through' the traditional laminated hide armour of a Tsurani ruler, ending a line of Tolkadeska lords going back over a thousand years. Those around him took note that the boy brought no shame to his lineage and when he died, his voice didn't break.

Alenburga said, 'Good. They're retreating.' He turned to Zane. 'Ride to the front and remind our eager Tsurani captains that they are not to enter the last valley at the river's head if they get that far.' As Zane saluted and turned to run to his horse, the old general added, 'And try not to get killed.'

'Sir!' Zane snapped a salute as he left the make-s.h.i.+ft command post.

Erik said, 'That went well.'

'Yes,' said Kaspar. 'But it was just one battle.'

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