John Carr - Siege of Tarr-Hostigos

"So be it, Grand Master. Kill some Hostigi for me!"

Captain-General Mythross pulled up beside him as Soton wheeled and rode down hill. Styphon's House had been generous, not only with food and gold but with Styphon's Own Guard as well. Almost half of all the Temple Bands, about nine thousand men in all, were under Mythross' command. Another eight bands accompanied Roxthar's Investigators, which were now acting as a rear guard. If the Grand Host lost here, there would be little military resistance to Kalvan from Styphon's House.

Phidestros grinned; he liked playing for big stakes.

"Not that I would question the wisdom of your orders, Grand-Captain General, but is it wise to place my entire command at the center behind the Sacred Squares? Might they not be better employed supporting the Grand Master or as an anchor for Marshal Zythannes' wing should his resolve melt in the heat of battle?"

Phidestros carefully studied Mythross' face for duplicity. Unlike Grand Commander Xenophes, he had served in the ranks as a mercenary for twelve winters and risen as high as Captain-General on his own merit before committing to the Temple Guard. However, like Xenophes, he was known to have Roxthar's ear and should this battle be lost his support might be all that would save him from the Investigation. Phidestros judged him sincere.

"I have complete confidence the Sacred Squares will hold the center. On the other hand, I am concerned about the steadfastness of these Ros-Zarthani, who have little experience facing cannon and salvo fire. I would like Styphon's Own Guard to be near at hand should heart leave them in the heat of battle."

Mythross answered him with a toothy smile. There was little love shared between the Temple Guardsmen and the Holy Order of the Zarthani Knights, since both bodies viewed themselves as the martial arm of Styphon's House on Earth. Mythross would pray on his knees all day for a chance to save Soton's bacon from Kalvan's troopers.

"You may well prove to be the right foil for the Daemon's witchcraft." Phidestros took that as a high compliment, coming from the commander of the Red Hand. He pointed down at the forlorn hope, the forward arquebusiers and skirmishers, who were already within range of Kalvan's army. "As long as they are properly used, it is the common soldiers who will win this war for us."

General Hestophes bit down on the end of his pipe as he watched the three Hostigi batteries tear gaping holes in the advancing Styphoni horse. For a moment his view was obscured as the wind changed and a cloud of gray smoke drifted between him and the front lines. Then just as quickly it was blown aside by the wind and he could see a banner-bearer, with the Princely flag of Arklos, blown off his horse.

One of the commanders, smarter than the others, had sent mounted arquebusiers and some of them dismounted and began shooting at the Hostigi gunners. A score of Hostigi riflemen returned fire with a vengeance and within moments most of the Harphaxi dragoons were down. One forward surge of mercenary cavalry swarmed over a four-pounder and its crew, then everyone disappeared in a great cloud of smoke as someone blew the gun.

"By Styphon's Beard, there's a gunner who should have been a cavalryman!" Captain-General Pylonnos shouted. Pylonnos was commander of the Kyblosi Army since Prince Tythanes had never fully recovered from the gut wound he suffered at the Battle of Chothros Heights.

Hestophes said a quick prayer to Galzar, asking that the valiant Hostigi gunners, who had blown up their own gun to keep it from being captured, be given a place of honor in Galzar's Great Hall.

"When do we sound the retreat, General?" asked the head musician.

The Royal Batteries were firing irregularly now, but they still tore ragged gaps in the swirling Styphoni cavalry.

"Not yet." Hestophes turned to one of his aides. "Colonel Sythros, fire the rocket. It's time for our surprise!"

"Yes, sir!"

The rocket banged and sputtered upward in a zigzag.

"Now!" he cried, and his trumpeters sounded retreat.

The Hostigi infantry and cavalry of the right wing beat a hasty retreat. Only the officers knew about the 'surprise,' but Hestophes suspected, by the way the troopers wheeled their horses, that most had learned of the plan. He didn't really care, since it was obvious by the way the Styphoni were beginning to boil after the retreating Hostigi that they didn't have a clue as to what was coming.

The big guns were quiet. The artillerymen had been given orders to halt firing and run for cover upon hearing the trumpets call. For the first time in a candle, the swirling white and black smoke began to clear.

Suddenly there was a great boom, as if someone had smashed a war hammer into his helmet. The earth shook! Water and earth exploded over the top of the hill.

Hestophes had to grip his reins with all his might to keep his horse from bolting. Others weren't so lucky and found themselves heading directly toward the descending wall of mud, rolling trees and raging water. He said a quick prayer to Galzar when he saw the muddy wave slam into the Styphoni line, throwing horses and men aside like tiny dolls. Many of the men went down to stay, weighted by heavy armor or pinned beneath their horses. Others climbed trees or dragged themselves up out of the muck that was left behind by the quickly receding wave of muddy water.

Almost as fast as it had begun the flood passed, leaving the ground a sodden mess of dead, wounded and dazed troopers. The waters lost most of their force by the time they reached the Holy Squares, sowing more disorder and confusion than death. However, at least a third or more of the entire Styphoni wing was either dead or down.

Hestophes dropped his arm. Trumpets shrilled and the ground trembled to the drumbeat of thousands of galloping horse hooves. The iron men of Ulthor and Old Hostigos on their beer-wagon destriers were in the front rank and they smashed into the churning mass of panic-stricken Styphoni horse. Men cried, horses shrieked, pistols banged.

The Ulthori heavy cavalry, followed closely by the King's Heavy horse, the Royal Lancers and the Nostori Princely Bodyguard, drove a wedge into the fleeing Styphoni light cavalry. The Styphoni horse tried to turn and retreat only to find themselves forced into the muddy ground, riding over their own wounded and dead, or pinned by the front ranks of their own infantry battle-line, the Holy Squares.

The only way out for the cavalry was to the left, skirting the edge of the Styphoni flank. Those soldiers who were at the flanks tried to move aside. Most of the infantry, however, were trapped between the retiring horse and their own advancing ranks: a vice grip pressed tight by the slowly advancing juggernaut of Hostigi men-at-arms.

In the ongoing melee the Styphoni horse, most armed with empty pistols and swords, were severely out-weaponed and out-armored by the Hostigi, who had lances, big sabers, maces, hammers and full or three-quarter armor. This was the kind of fighting these armored lobsters were designed for and the Styphoni retreat quickly turned into a full rout. Hundreds of Styphoni troopers were spitted or thrown from their saddles as they turned and tried to follow their fellows in escape.

Soon there was a steady stream of riders moving to the left flank and escaping. Hestophes was appalled when the Ulthori iron hats followed in pursuit. Hestophes signaled the trumpeters to call a halt.

The Ulthori heavy cavalry acted as if they were deaf and continued their pursuit. The Royal Heavy Horse appeared to halt momentarily, but were spurred on by the charging Ulthori Bodyguard, resplendent in their silvered armor and green plumes.

"Pylonnos, stop those iron heads! Bring them back here where they can do some good."