L. Modesitt - Cyador’s Heirs

In the meantime, the shieldwall closes behind the Meroweyan armsmen who have carried the logs and survived, but does not withdraw. Behind it, Lerial can see and sense two more groups of armsmen coming forward. He looks at the single long trunk spanning the stream and wonders why Altyrn has not sent anyone to dislodge it, before realizing that if it took more than ten men to carry and raise the trunk, the majer isn’t about to risk the number of rankers it would take to move the trunk-if it even could be moved, buried as it is the soft earth of the riverbank.

Although another shieldman falls to a javelin, and two Meroweyan armsmen go down, the third group of armsmen manages to raise the end of the third tree trunk into the air, but it tilts and comes down-hard-on the bridge abutment in front of the trenches of first company, bounces, the end splintering somewhat before it half rolls, half slides, off the abutment and into the stream, where it lies wedged at an angle between the western bank and the stone abutment, where the splintered end is several handspans underwater.

“Captain!” comes a call.

Lerial turns. Altyrn is practically beside him in the trench.

“Pull out second company. Mount up and head north along the east bank. There are at least five companies coming from the north. They must have crossed more than five kays upstream.”

That means he had scouts out that far. “You want second company to move north and stop them?”

“You most likely can’t stop them. Do your best to slow them and make them take casualties. The elders are here. They may be able to help with the storm.”

Help with the storm? Lerial nods, recalling the rains that had slowed the efforts of the Meroweyan wizards in burning through the edge of the Verd.

“Try not to lose to lose too many rankers. Oh … and stay a good two yard from the water.”

“Yes, ser.”

Altyrn gives a brisk nod and heads up the trench in the direction of fifth company. Lerial turns to Korlyn. “You heard the majer. Pull your squad back to the horses and mount up. Send a ranker to pass the order to the other three squads.”

“Yes, ser.”

As Korlyn turns to pass the orders, Lerial looks back to the stream and is dismayed to see that the Meroweyans have managed to position another trunk across the river, but, thankfully, it is a good yard away from the first one. Still … if they keep doing it, they’ll eventually have a bridge of sorts. He looks up to see that in the narrow clear space directly above him and the river, the clouds have thickened so that he can see almost no patches of clear green blue. Yet he has no sense of additional order or chaos moving in the clouds, only that the patterns of order and chaos that are always within rainstorms are, somehow, more deliberate. Trying to figure that out or learn how they do that will have to wait.

Once he is sure that all his squads are complying with the orders and some of fifth company is moving down into the trench area held by second company, Lerial hurries back to where the gelding is tied and mounts up. Then he leads the company through the woods to the north, not coming out onto the clearer area just above the bank until they are a third of a kay north of fifth company. There is no sense in letting the Meroweyans know that the defenses have been weakened. This way, they may just believe that Altyrn has shifted his troopers. Although Lerial can sense the main body of the attackers is still facing Altyrn, that body definitely feels smaller to Lerial’s senses, considerably smaller, than it did days earlier, suggesting that the Meroweyans are not only attacking from the north, but also from the south. Lerial just hopes that a great number of those in the south are having difficulty with the ford trap set by Altyrn.

At the rumble of thunder, Lerial glances up, then tries to sense what may be different about the clouds, but can only feel what he might call smoothness in places. Technique-technique so good that it goes almost unnoticed.

While he can sense the Meroweyans ahead, he does not call a halt for another half glass, until the attackers are less than a kay ahead. “Second company! Halt!”

“Squad, halt!”

“Squad leaders! Forward!”

Once the four are gathered around him on their mounts, he explains, “Our orders are to slow the Meroweyans. They’ll be here shortly. Here’s what we’ll do. First squad will be forward, on foot with bows. The formation will be two lines, staggered, so that each ranker will have a view of the enemy. Behind them will be second squad. Fourth squad will be third, and third squad last. All squads will be on foot when they’re in the front rank. To begin with, first squad and second squad will be on foot.” Lerial has learned that being on foot allows greater range and accuracy for an archer, and he wants the greatest accuracy possible. “Fourth squad will hold first squad’s mounts, and third squad will hold second squad’s mounts.” Lerial again looks to Korlyn. “When I give the order, you’re to shoot for the men behind the leading armsmen. Shoot deliberately, but quickly. Korlyn, let me know when your men are down to one shaft. Have them each save one shaft. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ser.”

“Then you’ll withdraw to the rear and mount up, and then each man will take one or two, as necessary, of fourth squad’s mounts and take a position behind third squad. Second squad will shoot down to one arrow per man, and then withdraw and hold third squad’s mounts.…” When Lerial finishes, he asks. “Are there any questions?”

“Ser … ah … what do we do after third squad withdraws?”

“We withdraw back downstream and take up a position on the flank of fifth company. That’s unless the majer has other orders for us by then. Any other questions?”

“No, ser.”

“Then go form up.”

Lerial watches as they do, hoping this plan will work better than the last one he designed by himself. Then he rides up and stations himself just at the edge of the trees, even with the front line of first squad.

After a short time, Korlyn calls out to Lerial, “Ser … the ground’s too soft on the lower slope closer.”

“What about a five-man front near the top of the bank?”

“I’d say that would be better, ser.”

“Go to a five-man front … and pass it back to second squad.”

“Yes, ser!”

It seems like more than a glass has passed before the Meroweyans come into view, but it is likely only about a third of a glass. While the sky continues to darken, there is no sign of rain. Lerial estimates that there are probably five companies in all, as Altyrn has said, and they extend back close to a hundred yards. Once again, they advance with foot-bearing shields, but these armsmen carry smaller round shields on their left arms and blades that look somewhat longer than sabres.

Shields and blades make sense with the softer and uneven ground. It also may be that they only have so many troopers with heavy shields. In addition, he can sense the faint chaos mist.

Lerial continues to watch as the Meroweyan foot move forward at a measured pace. He is trying to judge at what distance he should have first squad open fire and wonders when the white wizard will loose a fireball. From what he can tell, there is likely only one with the approaching force, but he has been wrong before in judging what he has faced.

At a hundred and fifty yards, Lerial orders, “First squad! Ready bows! Stand by to fire.”

“First squad, standing by,” replies Korlyn.

With just under a hundred yards between the forces, the Meroweyans break into a trot or lope toward the outnumbered first squad.

“First squad! Fire! Fire at will!”

In moments, several of the attackers are staggering or down under the continuing assault of war arrows. At least one has tripped on a sawed-off stump or the like, and the attack is slowing, if only slightly.