260 The Cost of Caring (1/2)
The Castonian side was protected by a forest to the back and stakes and towers to the front. If things go awry, they could go back to the forest and keep a rearguard to shield the retreat.
Roar, Tear, Dawn and Steelsword were the front line, only twelve thousand men in all as Erik took each of the four legion's cavalry detachment. The undermanned Goldentooth and the Cantonese allies were on the right flank while Apple was on the left.
All of the cavalry were collected into a single unit of five thousand placed on the far right side. Erik personally command them.
The Wismarine front line moved forward, slowly like a creeping beast. The elephants remained stationary and their cavalry, a force equal to Erik's, trotted in front of apple in the left flank.
Erik fastened his helm. The crest was topped with horsehair dyed bright purple. His cape was azure, fluttering proudly. His horse snorted, the muscular Tulosan stallion seemed to understand the coming bloodshed.
He looked at the enemies. Their front line would collide with Tear, Roar, Steelsword and Dawn soon enough. The elephants and Sarah's personal guards remained stationary.
”Hold!” Erik said to the Castonian cavalry. He could see their eagerness to bleed the enemies. But not yet. He must wait for Sarah's next move. ”We wait.”
***
Dawn Legion, Union's Center
Bourgis breathed dust. He breathed sweat. Steel.
His back was straight and his eyes were stern as he watched the Wismarine host approach. They extended in a long line of spears and swords. They walked in such a manner unique to trained soldiers.
They were many, too many to count. Though Bourgis doesn't count. Soldiers do not count. A soldier stands his ground and obeys orders. Dies if he has to.
But it was to be admitted that the sight of the enemies strained his courage a bit. Nobody wanted to die. Life was a gift from the Omniscient. Even a veteran General like him still wanted to live another day. The Wismarine soldiers were difficult opponents. They wore proper armor, had proper training and were led by proper officers. They were proper soldiers.
The enemies were now crossing the stakes. Some shouted in pain after stepping on caltrops.
Bourgis raised his hand and dropped it swiftly. The ballistae and crossbowmen began their barrage. Arrows flew, blotting the sun. The whistling was loud. The Wismarines raised their shields. They were disciplined, Bourgis could see. Most arrows just bounced off the shields but scattered cries confirmed some hits. The crossbowmen again reloaded. The strings of their crossbows emitted a weird stretching sound. They loosed arrows again. This time, more Wismarines fell, the arrows going through gaps in their armor and shields. But where one man had fallen, another came to take his place. They were endless.
The enemies continued, trudging amidst arrows and caltrops. They soon reached the trench. It was a shallow trench the height of a person. But it was wide and steep. Caltrops were also scattered in it. At least a hundred of the frontmost Wismarines awkwardly crossed it.
”Set it alight” Bourgis said.
***
Apple Legion, Union's left flank
”The trench is burning sire” Said one of the Prefects to Tref.
”Why, yes. It is burning. Vanadian Hellfire is such a terrible thing. For the enemies that is.”
”The Wismarines are burning” One of the Centurions added.
”That's the idea. Burn them.”
”And what would happen if the fire was put out?”
Tref dallied his response. The Wismarines knew what to do. Most of them were already shoveling piles of dirt into the flame. It would be a bad thing if the Hellfire flame was extinguished.
”We need not concern ourselves with that. It's our comrades' problem” He looked to the front. ”These lads are our problem”
The Wismarine cavalry were just a few hundred pace to their front. They were idle- for now.