Part 24 (2/2)

Shaking his head, James replies, ”No. But if you want your freedom, you'll have to fight for it.” He gestures to the armament laid out on the ground and says, ”Any who will fight for their freedom, see the men over there and you will be given the opportunity.”

Men have already been designated to aid in the distribution of the weapons. As the freed slaves begin moving to either the crossbows or the other weapons, Raiders begin handing them out. Those who choose the crossbow are given a crossbow, a brace of bolts and are being grouped into squads of thirty. The ones able to wield the other weapons such as swords and knives are grouped together in one unit.

Once the squads are formed, they are taken from the compound and through the wall where they begin learning the rudiments of wielding a crossbow. The fighters on the other hand, most already know how to wield their weapon of choice. One young lad of about thirteen stands with a short sword in hand and despite the seriousness of his expression, appears like he's never held one before.

”Think they'll do the job?” James asks Illan. They've moved off to the side away from the hustle and bustle going on in the arming process.

”We'll see,” he says. ”Anyone's first battle is always the toughest. We'll know after that.”

While the new additions are armed, escorted out through the hole in the wall and begin practicing, Illan sends forays into the city for some much needed supplies. In the immediate vicinity of the slaver's compound are many business which yield sufficient quant.i.ties of food, equipment and other necessities that their force requires.

Wagons are also commandeered to haul the additional supplies. Many are used strictly to carry barrels of water. Seeing as how their force will be reduced to moving at the speed of the slowest person, wagons will no longer be a hindrance.

Citizens of Korazan are seen here and there as they keep an eye on the invaders, but other than watching from a window or peering around a corner, no hostile move is made. James wonders what became of all the slavers that had been at the compound. The number of dead slavers couldn't account for half of the ones he saw here during his last visit. Gone to ground most likely until they leave.

Once word comes that the pursuing army is now less than an hour away, they begin taking their force out of Korazan and getting it into position in the field. Those unable to join in the fight remain within the slaver's courtyard. To protect them, Illan has a squad of crossbowmen and the unit of newly armed fighters remain with them in the event of an attack from the city.

The ground around Korazan is fairly flat with some scrub brush and stunted trees doing their best to survive in the dry environment. With no high ground of which to speak of, Illan forms the ranks a couple hundred yards away from town. In the center stands Jiron with his fighters, Delia and her slingers are just behind. To either side sit Ceadric and his raiders. The newly formed squads of crossbowmen stand behind the Raiders. In their loincloths and slave garb, they are a stark contrast to the armored riders before them. If the situation wasn't so grave, it would almost be funny. But there's nothing amusing about the determination exhibited by each of the crossbowmen. Totaling over three hundred, what they lack in skill their numbers should readily make up for.

At the fore, Illan stands beside James. ”Scouts say their numbers haven't increased,” he says.

”That's still twice ours though,” counters James.

”Not any more,” he says with a nod toward the crossbowmen. ”Besides, we have you.”

”There is that.”

To the east a dust cloud rises from the approaching army. Delia and her slingers move to stand before the others, each carries a pouch at their hip containing two crystals. They wait as the Empire's forces continue to advance.

Several hundred yards away, the enemy army comes to a halt when they see James and the others already arrayed for battle. Trumpets sound as their force moves into position for attack. Over a thousand men-at-arms, several hundred cavalry, and ten score crossbowmen make ready their a.s.sault.

After several minutes, the army before them finally gets itself into attack formation. Then the horn sounds the attack and they begin moving. ”Here they come!” Potbelly announces.

”We can see that,” mutters Jorry in reply.

”Yeah,” states Uther, ”does he think we're blind?”

James pays little heed to the good natured bickering between them. To Delia who stands before him he says, ”After you send the crystals flying, fall back.”

She simply nods her head in reply, all the while keeping her eyes on the advancing army. When they've covered half the distance between them, she hollers, ”Ready!”

Her slingers place their free hand on the pouch containing the crystals. When they are within a hundred yards she yells, ”Now!”

Each of the slingers removes a glowing crystal from their pouch and places it in the sling's pocket. Twirling the sling rapidly over their heads for a second, they let fly their crystals toward the advancing soldiers. The crystals fly through the air and land a dozen yards before the front rank of men.

”Again!” she hollers.

Once more, her slingers remove a glowing crystal from their pouch and send it flying to land near the others. As their second crystal is released, each turns and hurries back through the soldiers behind them.

After the first crystal was removed from the pouch, James began counting down from sixty. Each of the crystals has a sixty second delay before going off. The forward line of men charging toward them comes ever closer to the crystals lying on the ground. When James reaches ten, the front line races past the crystals.

”Ready bows!” Ceadric cries out, never once taking his eyes off the enemy. Hedry's archers, as well as the newly formed crossbow units, prepare to launch their deadly missiles.

Eight.

”Fire!” commands Ceadric as hundreds of deadly projectiles are loosed.

Seven.

Men fall as the hail of deadly projectiles find their marks. An answering swarm of bolts emerges from the rear of the advancing army.

Six.

”Ready s.h.i.+elds!” Men up and down the line raise s.h.i.+elds to ward off the attack.

Five.

The bolts fall and many are deflected by the raised s.h.i.+elds. Two are deflected by the s.h.i.+mmering s.h.i.+eld James erects around himself to ward off the attack.

Four.

”Nerun! Wylick! Now!” commands Ceadric.

Three.

Two bands of horseman charge forward, angling to bypa.s.s the advancing men. Those enemy soldiers on the fringes alter their course to intercept.

Two.

”Fire!” comes Hedry's voice as another barrage of deadly missiles is released into the charging men. A hundred or more men fall as the missiles find their targets.

One.

The leading edge of the attack men is now no more than a dozen yards away. ”Make ready!” Illan hollers as he draws his sword to meet the charge.

Crumph! Crumph! Crumph! Crumph!

Explosions erupt in the ma.s.s of charging men throwing hundreds into the air only to fall back to earth lifeless. The momentum of the attackers falters as the concussion rolls through them. Two seconds later, the second volley of crystals detonates and more men are taken out.

Knowing what was going to happen, James and the others are braced for it. No sooner than the concussion rolls by than Illan hollers ”Charge!” The remaining line of horses bolts forward into the now somewhat rattled army.

”For Madoc!” riders yell as they wade into the ranks of the Empire's soldiers and the fight is joined. Hack and slash, men strike out as each side tries to kill those of the other.

James takes slugs and begins peppering enemy soldiers as they become available in the churning melee. Jiron, now on foot, is a blur as his knives dance in and out. Blocking the attack of one only to turn and sink a blade into the exposed side of another.

Another rain of bolts falls from the Empire's crossbowmen before the riders of Nerun and Wylick are among them. Riding them down, the Raiders soon halt the hail of the deadly bolts.

<script>